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Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 not only protects pregnant people but their babies too, more research is finding. A new study shows that pregnant women who get the vaccine pass on antibodies to their newborns. Key Takeaways New research finds that women who received the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy passed on high levels of antibodies to their babies.Umbilical cord blood was analyzed for a specific antibody to detect whether immunity was passed from a mother to child....

The knee joint is often injured in sports activities and athletics and these injuries can be quite severe. In describing an injury to the knee, sometimes people use the words their knee was “blown out,” but what exactly does that mean? The truth is, I can’t tell you exactly what that means. Saying someone has a blown out knee is the same as saying they had a bad knee injury or suffered a traumatic knee injury....

In Texas, unprecedented cold weather has left people in homes without heat. While many wore double layers of clothes and huddled under blankets to keep warm, others took risks to heat their homes. Key Takeaways The recent extreme cold weather and power outages in Texas combined to leave people freezing in their homes. Some people turned to dangerous heating alternatives that led to fires or carbon monoxide poisoning.Any device for heating, or a source like fire, needs to be used correctly and must be properly maintained....

“Akinesia” means “lack of movement.” It is a condition in which you have an inability to perform certain movements due to problems in the parts of the nervous system that control movement. Akinesia is sometimes referred to as “freezing” because it causes immobility in certain parts of the body or certain muscles. For example, someone with akinesia may have a temporarily frozen facial expression or freezing of gait (the way a person walks)....

Systemic fungal infections continue to be a major cause of illness and death in people with HIV, while superficial or uncomplicated infections are commonly noted. Among the opportunistic fungal infections most frequently associated with HIV: CandidiasisCryptococcosis (including cryptococcal meningitis)HistoplasmosisCoccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) A number of other fungal infections (including aspergillosis, penicillosis, and blastomycosis) are also common in later-stage disease, most often in people with CD4 counts below 250. There are a number of drugs commonly used to treat HIV-related fungal infections....

When it comes to screening for breast cancer, the first point of detection is often the patient themselves. By learning how your breasts feel “normally,” you’re better equipped to notice lumps or bulges that require medical attention. This article is part of Breast Cancer and Black Women, a destination in our Health Divide series. Below, Doru Paul, MD, PhD, an oncologist who focuses on individualizing care and improving the prognosis of cancer treatments, describes the importance of checking yourself for breast cancer, and how early detection can lead to a better prognosis....

While cancer is caused by many factors, diet, in particular, has a profound effect on a person’s risk. Key Takeaways Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, but knowing which dietary pattern can reduce the risk of developing cancer remains a challenge.In a recent study, researchers reviewed available data focusing on the plant-based whole food diet and the ketogenic diet. They looked at how both diets relate to cancer risk and outcomes for cancer survivors....

Chronic pelvic pain has a variety of potential causes – some are female-only (endometriosis and uterine fibroids), but other disorders and diseases equally affect both women and men. These include scar tissue irritation from abdominal surgeries, pelvic fractures or even irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Here are some of the most common types of chronic pelvic pain. Female Disorders Often when women experience chronic pelvic pain, the cause is dysfunction in one or more of the sexual organs....

If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), you may also have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a sleep disorder characterized by episodes of paused breathing during sleep. Research has shown that there is a physiological link between the conditions, the combination (comorbidity) of which is known as COPD-OSA overlap syndrome (OVS). While either of these issues can have its own impact on your health, each can exacerbate the other. Together, they can compound concerns such as decreased oxygen levels, cardiovascular issues, and more....

Receiving the news that you have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can be a very difficult time for some, with the emotional aspects of the disease bearing as much weight as the physical ones. In the end, HIV affects the whole body—physical, emotional and spiritual—and often forces an individual to examine who they are as a person and what they believe. Religion and spirituality are central to many people’s lives and, when faced with an HIV infection, can provide a newly infected person a means to cope or come to terms with his or her disease....

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are a common sports-related injury, and they often require surgical reconstruction. Without surgery, athletes with an ACL tear may have recurring problems with knee instability. Athletes with a torn ACL often feel like their knee is “giving way” or buckling, especially when playing sports that require cutting or pivoting maneuvers, such as soccer, basketball, or football. But does everyone who tears their ACL need surgery, and can your anterior cruciate ligament heal on its own once it has been torn?...

If you take cholesterol medication, the monthly cost can add up, especially if it’s not available in a generic (unbranded) form. Your overall costs can grow even more if you take medications for other conditions besides your high cholesterol, such as diabetes. The good news is that many cholesterol medications are available as cheaper generic versions. Here, you’ll find a list of generic cholesterol medications, including statins and non-statin drugs that can lower cholesterol....

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that can cause hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). Your thyroid secretes hormones that regulate your metabolism, which is how your body controls energy. If you have a high thyroid hormone level, many of your body’s functions speed up. Fortunately, there are medications that can help control your thyroid activity and reduce the symptoms of Graves’ disease. This article reviews the common and rare symptoms of Graves’ disease, as well as complications that may arise....

Whether it’s dreaming up a small town exit strategy on Schitt’s Creek or plotting a murder on Kevin Can F**k Himself, Annie Murphy’s TV characters always know their next move. But in one major aspect of her personal life, the actress was very much winging it for years. “I full-on stopped birth control and crossed my fingers,” Murphy told Verywell. She wasn’t trying to get pregnant. After a decade of relying on contraceptives like the pill and NuvaRing, she was fed up with the side effects of hormonal birth control....

Direct access to physical therapy means patients can be evaluated and treated by a physical therapist without needing a practitioner or other healthcare provider’s referral. In other words, direct access lets you visit a physical therapist when you feel you need to see one. This article will discuss what direct access is and how it is used for physical therapy services. It will also discuss how direct access differs depending on your health insurance plan and the state where you live....

Children with atopic dermatitis (eczema) have symptoms that come and go. As many children get older, the frequency and severity of symptoms lessen until the condition may seem to be gone. However, the skin often stays dry and is easily irritated. Environmental factors, such as contact with harsh soaps or other chemicals, can bring the symptoms back at any time, even in adults. This article discusses how to recognize eczema in children of all ages....

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks its own healthy tissues. This response is called autoimmunity, and it causes severe inflammation (painful swelling) that attacks the linings of joints. RA can also affect the organs, including the skin, eyes, and heart. Research shows people with RA are more likely to develop underactive thyroid disease, including hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. And that connection appears to go both ways in that people with thyroid disease have a higher risk for RA....

Hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) is a common hormonal condition. One in 300 people in the United States is diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Females and people over age 65 are the groups most often diagnosed with hypothyroidism. While there is no cure, treatment can restore hormone levels and reduce symptoms. This article will explore important facts and statistics about hypothyroidism, including how common it is; who it affects by race, sex, and age; its causes and risk factors; screening and early detection; and mortality....

Skin induration is a deep thickening of the skin that can result from edema, inflammation, or infiltration, including by cancer. Diagnosis of skin induration is made by palpation (feeling the area) and assessing whether the raised area has a hard, resistant feeling. Because there are many different underlying causes of induration of skin, the treatment varies widely. Signs of Induration Indurated skin generally has the following signs: Feels firmer to the touch than surrounding skinAppears thickLooks smooth and shiny The indurated areas commonly appear on the hands and face, but can also be found on the chest, back, abdomen, breasts, or buttocks....

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists “bluish lips or face” (cyanosis) as an “emergency warning sign” of severe, potentially life-threatening COVID-19 infection. However, some social media users have pointed out that patients with dark skin would not be as likely to exhibit this symptom as lighter-skinned patients—even if they were seriously oxygen-deprived. Key Takeaways People with COVID-19 are told to watch for a blue discoloration of the face and lips....