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Working from home means Americans are more sedentary than ever. All that time spent sitting down can have repercussions, from heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Key Takeaways Experts say walking is enough physical activity to help maintain a healthy lifestyle.Walking can help prevent chronic illness as well as improve depression, anxiety, and stress. The good news is that taking a walk can offset those health problems. “If walking is all someone does, it could be sufficient,” Melody Ding, PhD, MPH, associate professor at the University of Sydney with expertise in epidemiology and chronic disease prevention, told Verywell via email....

Shoulder dislocations are common injuries, especially in young, active people. Latarjet surgery can be done to prevent repeated dislocations. Once someone has dislocated their shoulder once, recurrent (or repeat) dislocations can become more and more common. Some people develop such severe instability of the ball-and-socket shoulder joint that dislocations can occur with simple activities or while sleeping. Each time the shoulder dislocates, further damage can occur to the joint. For this reason, people who have recurrent shoulder dislocations will usually have surgery in an effort to stabilize the joint and prevent future dislocations....

“Myoclonus” is a term used to describe sudden, often brief, involuntary spasms or twitching of a muscle or group of muscles. Myoclonus is not a disease; roughly 72% of the time it is considered a clinical sign of an underlying condition or a reaction to medication. This article looks at myoclonus symptoms, its causes, treatment, and when to seek medical care. What Is Myoclonus and When Does It Occur? Myoclonus is sudden, involuntary spasms of a single muscle or group of muscles....

Rosacea is usually constant, but it can come and go or flare up at times. Some areas of skin affected by rosacea, especially the nose can become thickened over time. Complications, such as infections or bleeding, are rare, but they can occur if the skin is not well taken care of. Less often, rosacea may be associated with mild discomforts, such as a burning sensation, but the cosmetic issue tends to be more distressing than the discomfort....

“Feed a cold, starve a fever.” The proverb dates all the way back to 1574, when a dictionary writer named John Withals wrote, “fasting is a great remedy of fever.” It’s believed that this old saying stemmed from the belief that eating food warmed the body during a cold, while avoiding food cooled the body when it was overheated. This, however, is a remedy of the past that should stay there....

When you’re lonely, it feels bad. But why? A groundbreaking study published last week in Nature Neuroscience tells us that the craving we feel for human companionship starts in the same part of the brain that drives the desire for food. Key Takeaways Recent evidence suggests that loneliness triggers the same cycle of reward and craving as food.The region of the brain that is stimulated by food cravings is also the part that lights up when we are lonely and crave human interaction....

One of the most common types of blood pressure medications is known as a diuretic. These medicines lower your blood pressure by helping your body get rid of excess water and salt through your kidneys, allowing your heart to pump better. Diuretics are commonly known as “water pills” and they treat several conditions, including hypertension (high blood pressure), heart failure, and kidney problems. For blood pressure, they may be used alone or added to another medication....

Telehealth provides an effective way for people with eczema to check in with a dermatologist when in-person visits aren’t possible, necessary, or desirable. Examples of telehealth visits include video calls, phone calls, and exchanging text messages and photos of your condition and medical history with your dermatologist through a patient portal or app. Learn more about telehealth for eczema, its benefits and challenges, preparing for your visit, what might happen during your visit, and more....

The Anterior Drawer Test for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) stability is a special test for your knee. It is designed to help you or your healthcare provider determine if you have sprained or torn your ACL. (A sprain is a tear to a ligament. The terms “ligament tear” and “sprain” are used interchangeably.) The Anterior Drawer Test is often used by your physical therapist or practitioner after a knee injury to test the integrity of your ACL....

Anal cancer is an insidious and growing concern among people living with HIV, especially among gay and bisexual men. Symptoms can start out subtly at first, often with itching around the anus, much like the itching one might associate with hemorrhoids. Later it can become painful or exhibit signs of bleeding. Eventually, a cancerous lesion can open, resulting in what is known as malodorous drainage. Unfortunately, this is the point when most people finally decide to see a doctor, by which time the cancer is usually quite advanced....

A spermicide is any compound that can be used to kill sperm. They are used in many contraceptives and come in several forms, including spermicidal lubricant. External condoms with spermicidal lube used to be a pretty common option for safer sex. However, that began to change once people started to become aware of the potential dangers of nonoxynol-9 (N-9) use. Many spermicides currently available in the United States contain N-9. Other spermicides and spermicidal microbicides are currently under development....

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) include fetal alcohol syndrome and other conditions in which children have some, but not all of the symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome, such as alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND) and alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD). Children who have none of the visible or physical symptoms of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders can have central nervous system symptoms that are just as severe as those of children who have been diagnosed with all of the symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome....

Transient synovitis of the hip joint is a condition that occurs in young children. The cause of transient synovitis is not well understood, but it is likely related to a viral illness of the child. Transient synovitis tends to occur in children younger than 11 years old. It is sometimes called toxic synovitis. That is a scary name, but it isn’t due to being exposed to a toxic substance from outside the body....

Tums is an over-the-counter medication used to relieve heartburn, acid reflux, gas, and stomach upset. Learn when you could take this medication, how should it be used, possible side effects, and when your symptoms may suggest that something more serious is going on. Benefits Tums can be used to provide minor relief from heartburn, indigestion, and gas. Some people also use this preparation as a calcium supplement. How Does It Work?...

Turbinate reduction surgery decreases the size of turbinates, or tiny bony structures within the nose, in order to improve breathing. This same-day procedure is typically performed through the nostrils under local anesthesia. Turbinate reduction is recommended if turbinates are chronically enlarged and block other portions of the nasal airway (hypertrophy). This can cause disorders like sleep apnea, congestion, postnasal drip, and difficulty breathing. The procedure is usually only done if non-surgical measures, such as medications and allergy treatment, do not relieve symptoms....

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGDs) are disorders of the digestive system in which symptoms cannot be explained by the presence of structural or tissue abnormality. FGDs lack identifiable biomarkers, and therefore, like all functional disorders, FGDs are diagnosed based on their symptom picture. Rome Criteria In the past, FGDs were considered to be diagnoses of exclusion, meaning that they could only be diagnosed after organic (identifiable) disease was ruled out. However, back in 1988, a group of researchers and healthcare providers met to devise strict criteria for the diagnosis of the various FGDs....

A mini stroke, also known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), is a brief interruption of blood flow to the brain that improves on its own. TIAs produce temporary stroke-like symptoms, such as weakness on one side of the body or slurred speech, that lasts anywhere from a few minutes up to 24 hours with no lasting damage. TIAs are “warning strokes” that are strong predictors of a stroke. Up to one-third of people who have a TIA go on to have a more severe stroke within one year....

The spoon theory explains the impact of living with chronic illness, chronic pain, and disability on a daily basis. It highlights the differences between living with illness compared to living without illness. This article will explore the meaning and history behind the spoon theory, as well as the theory’s overall significance. Meaning The spoon theory is an introduction to understanding how chronic illness, chronic pain, and disability impact a person’s capacity to perform everyday tasks, engage in work and social life, and meet longer-term goals....

The Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines are being administered across the country, including at medical centers and retail pharmacies. The newly authorized vaccine from Novavax is expected to be available in the coming weeks. Key Takeaways The COVID-19 vaccine is now available in a range of locations.Everyone 6 months and older is eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination.Each state has slightly different plans and regulations for where the vaccine can be administered....

Occasional constipation can leave you feeling blocked up, bloated, and dreading the eventual painful bowel movement. Chronic constipation, on the other hand, means that’s an ongoing or recurring problem. Key Takeaways Using a fiber supplement daily can help treat chronic constipation, according to a review and meta-analysis of 16 clinical trials.The optimal dose of fiber supplement is more than 10 grams per day, with psyllium and pectin supplements being more effective than other types of fiber....