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If you’re having open heart surgery, there is a chance your healthcare providers will say you will need a chest tube after surgery. This may confuse some patients, as many people associate the need for a chest tube with breathing problems. A chest tube is a large plastic tube that is inserted into the chest through a small hole that goes between the ribs and into the chest cavity. Why a Chest Tube Is Placed A chest tube is placed for a variety of reasons....

As the United States reaches the devastating benchmark of 1 million deaths from COVID-19, some feel the weight of this loss, while others remain desensitized to news related to the pandemic. Key Takeaways As society reopens, people might process grief and trauma from the pandemic very differently.Desensitization or numbness can happen when people have not had the time to process trauma properly.Social isolation during the pandemic has emphasized the importance of maintaining face-to-face connections with loved ones....

A number of natural remedies may help you achieve healthy gums, an important part of your overall wellbeing. When added to an oral hygiene routine that also includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing often, and visiting your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and check-ups, these natural remedies may help fend off gum disease. Causes of Gum Disease In your mouth, bacteria are constantly forming a sticky substance called plaque on your teeth....

With cases of COVID-19 spiking across the country, testing for the virus is likely to go up. So, what’s that going to cost you? Key Takeaways The federal government has set aside money to cover COVID-19 testing for people without insurance, but not every testing site offers the free testing. Out-of-network tests can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. Ask if the lab is in your insurer’s network, and if you get an unexpected bill, appeal to your insurer right away....

Living with axial spondyloarthritis involves more than managing your symptoms with regular doctor’s visits and medications. Joint pain and stiffness that occur with this autoimmune disease will likely interfere with other aspects of your life. This means you might have to change the way you perform daily tasks, job duties, or participate in your favorite leisure activities. Positive coping strategies can help improve your quality of life. This article discusses strategies for managing the emotional and social challenges that can occur with axial spondyloarthritis....

Regular exercise is one of the best things you can do to lower your “bad” (LDL) cholesterol, raise your “good” (HDL) cholesterol, and reduce your risk of heart disease. There are a lot of exercise programs out there. While some of the best exercises to lower cholesterol are discussed in this article, know that most types of activities appear to have a positive impact on your cholesterol. The key is making sure that you choose one that you will regularly do for at least 30 minutes each day....

A new study has found that early treatment with blood plasma donated by people who have recovered from COVID-19—called convalescent plasma—reduced new COVID patients’ risk of needing to be hospitalized by half. Key Takeaways Transfusions of blood plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 (convalescent plasma) appear to lower the risk of hospitalization in some new COVID patients by as much as half (54%).In the study, the transfusions were done on an outpatient basis within 9 days of a person testing positive for COVID....

When your hair doesn’t have enough moisture to maintain its natural shine, it can cause brittle hair that is dry with a lot of split ends. Excessive hair washing, styling products, and blow-drying are common reasons for brittle hair. Hormonal imbalances, environmental factors, and nutrition can also play a role. This article explains the symptoms, causes, and treatment of brittle hair. Symptoms of Brittle Hair If your hair is brittle, you may notice that it has the following characteristics:...

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an important skill to have and one that fewer and fewer people seem to take the time to learn these days. In the end, it only takes a few hours to get basic CPR training either in a classroom or online setting. Others may choose to get certified, in part because they’re interested in learning more and, in some cases, because it can enhance the chances of getting a job....

First recognized in 2009, Candida auris is a yeast (a fungus) that can lead to candidiasis, a dangerous and potentially lethal disease. This fungus becomes especially problematic when it enters the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body. Not only is this condition hard to detect, but it also leads to infections as it spreads. What makes Candida auris alarming is that infections are most often detected within hospitals and clinical environments....

A disseminated infection is one in which a localized infection spreads (disseminates) from one area of the body to other organ systems. While there are systemic infections that can affect the entire body at once, doctors will reserve the term for those infections that are normally constrained to a specific site. Dissemination is used to describe a serious progression of a disease wherein the ability to contain the infection is far more difficult....

People who have been prescribed prednisone may have experienced one of this medication’s most troublesome and talked-about side effects—mood swings. These changes can be so problematic that someone on prednisone who’s ever been diagnosed with clinical depression or another psychiatric disorder may need to be working with a psychiatrist while on the drug. Regardless of mental health history, if a healthcare provider wants to prescribe prednisone, it may help to have an understanding of how it may affect mood....

Researchers have studied Diacerein to see if the medication can slow the progression of osteoarthritis. Disease-modifying drugs are known treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory types of arthritis. But drugs that may modify the progression of osteoarthritis, slowing joint damage and decreasing the chance of disability, remain unproven. Unfortunately, Diacerein has yet to show that the risks outweigh its benefits, and typical osteoarthritis treatments haven’t slowed the disease from advancing....

The facet joints are located between neighboring vertebrae, behind the vertebral bodies. They help stabilize the spine, helping prevent the vertebra from slipping forward and also keeping the spine from twisting too far or extending back too much. The facet joints help control spine movements such as: Flexion Extension Lateral flexion Hyperextension Twisting and rotation Individual vertebrae are connected to one another by intervertebral discs, and pairs of facet joints—two above and two below....

A person is considered to be gender non-conforming if their appearance or behavior is not what would be expected for someone else with their same birth-assigned gender or sex. Not every person who is gender non-conforming is transgender or gender diverse, although the two groups are often combined. People can be cisgender and gender non-conforming. Similarly, many transgender people are highly gender conforming, if given the opportunity to affirm their gender identity socially, medically, and/or surgically....

From personal protective equipment (PPE) to low numbers of nursing staff, the pandemic has fueled shortages across all sectors. Home health agencies and the patients that they serve have been hit especially hard. Key Takeaways The COVID-19 pandemic and low pay fueled a home health aide shortage, leaving many older adults and disabled people without care.Low wages are partly related to reimbursement rates, as home health aids are reimbursed by the patient or by Medicaid....

Abdominal cramping can feel similar, whether from your period or early pregnancy, but experts say there are a few telltale signs that may help you tell the two apart. Becoming familiar with your ovulatory phase will help you distinguish between the two. This article discusses the similarities and differences between menstrual and early pregnancy cramping. Period vs. Early Pregnancy Cramps The familiar ache in your pelvic area is often a reminder that your period is on its way....

It’s generally accepted that one in 133 people have celiac disease, a genetic condition resulting in intestinal damage whenever they ingest gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. However, researchers only recently have identified non-celiac gluten sensitivity as a separate, distinct condition, and some in the medical field are waiting for confirmation of those still-new research findings before accepting gluten sensitivity as a possible diagnosis. It’s also possible that it isn’t the gluten after all — instead, it may be something else in wheat and other gluten-containing grains that are causing some or all reactions for people who are “gluten”-sensitive....

Cold weather can pose significant issues when it comes to managing your chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms. Too-cold temperatures further narrow already compromised airways, leading to a cascade of events that can increase difficulty breathing, mucus production, coughing, and more. Aside from being uncomfortable, these flares and exacerbations of COPD can be dangerous. This, of course, doesn’t mean that you need to avoid the outdoors when cold weather rolls in....

Most of us would expect to have some degree of pain after undergoing surgery. However, when the pain persists beyond what would be considered normal, that is an entirely different—albeit relatively common—situation known as chronic postoperative pain. All told, between 10 percent and 60 percent of people who undergo surgery will experience this. Fortunately, it is a condition that can usually be managed and, in most cases, one that will resolve on its own....