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Knowing what you may look like as you age if you smoke or spend a lot of time in the sun might encourage you to adopt healthy habits while you can. The rate at which skin ages depends on many factors, including genetics, diet, hormonal factors, and lifestyle factors like tobacco smoking and exposure to environmental chemicals and the sun’s radiation. While fast-forwarding the aging process can be a fun (or frightening) party game, there’s research that seeing your future self this way can help jumpstart healthy behaviors (like quitting smoking) in the present....

Alois Alzheimer is the person credited for identifying Alzheimer’s disease in 1906. Alois was born on June 14, 1864, to Edward and Therese Alzheimer. Their family lived in southern Germany. After graduating with his medical doctor degree, Alzheimer took a position at the Community Hospital for Mental and Epileptic Patients in 1888. In 1903, a colleague, Emil Kraepelin, asked Alzheimer to join him at the psychiatric hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich....

If you’re struggling with constipation—one of the most common digestive troubles—a do-it-yourself massage might bring you relief. Performing self-massage on your abdomen could potentially ease constipation in a number of ways, such as by stimulating the muscles involved in producing bowel movements and soothing chronic stress (an issue closely linked with many digestive complaints). Constipation is usually defined as having a bowel movement fewer than three times per week. In addition to stress, certain lifestyle issues can lead to constipation....

The maxilla is a bone which helps to make up the skull. It is specifically located in the mid face, forms the upper jaw, separates the nasal and oral cavities, and contains the maxillary sinuses (located on each side of the nose. One of the maxilla’s most important functions is to make up the architecture of our faces and to support the rest of the viscerocranium. It technically consists of two pyramid shaped bones that are fused together in the middle....

Minipress (prazosin), a drug commonly used to treat high blood pressure and urinary retention, has been shown in some studies to be safe and effective in managing nightmares and sleep disturbances in people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Minipress appears to block the production of norepinephrine, a chemical that triggers the body’s “fight or flight” response to threats, both real and perceived. By doing so, people with PTSD may enjoy fewer nightmares without interfering with their blood pressure (as many sedatives do)....

Neurosyphilis occurs when a syphilis infection spreads to the central nervous system. Syphilis is primarily thought of as a sexually transmitted infection that causes sores known as chancres. Syphilis can also affect the central nervous system (CNS)⁠—the spine and the brain. When this happens, it can cause serious or even debilitating symptoms. Neurosyphilis can happen during any stage of a syphilis infection. Symptoms Symptoms of neurosyphilis are highly variable. They depend on which nerves are infected with the syphilis pathogen....

Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), also referred to as pseudo-seizures, are sudden episodes that resemble epileptic seizures. The difference is that epileptic seizures are caused by changes in the electric activity of the brain, while non-epileptic seizures are believed to have a psychological cause, rather than a physical cause. PNES is a complex disorder that is difficult to diagnose and treat. The term psychogenic non-epileptic seizures describe the experience itself because people who have PNES often feel as if they are having seizures, although the episodes are not correlated with altered EEG activity....

Reglan (metoclopramide) is a medicine used to prevent nausea and vomiting, including nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy. It is also used to treat gastroparesis, a digestive problem associated with diabetes. The injectable form of metoclopramide is used to help diagnose some gastrointestinal problems by: Making it easier to access the small intestine via the stomachAiding radiological examination of the stomach and small intestine Before Using This Medicine You should discuss the risks of taking metoclopramide with your healthcare provider so that you can weigh them against the benefits....

If you’ve been working with my posture training series, you know that the pelvis, ribcage, and spine are connected, and each play an important role in correcting posture issues. We’ll now take this idea further. In this exercise, you’ll be flexing and extending your spine as a whole. If you are wondering what the posture training series is, or are intrigued by the idea, why not catch up by trying these simple posture awareness exercises:...

If you’re starting to go bald, it could feel like you’re losing a piece of your identity. Understanding the cause of your excessive hair loss can help you decide if treatment options are right for you or if your hair will grow back. Here are some common causes of hair loss in men. Surgery or Illness If you recently underwent a major surgery or are recovering from a serious illness, hair loss is normal....

LDH is a blood test that measures the amount of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), an enzyme, in your blood. Chemically, LDH works to convert pyruvate to lactate in your body. You may be familiar with lactate, as it is what accumulates in your body after a heavy workout and makes you feel sore. Overview In general, LDH is measured to check for tissue damage in areas such as your heart, liver, kidney, skeletal muscle, brain, and lungs — all of which, if injured, elevate the level of LDH in your blood....

Exercise is one of the most effective ways of promoting brain health and slowing age-related cognitive decline. Unfortunately, most people don’t get enough of it. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HSS), only 33% of adults hit the recommended amount of physical activity. Key Takeaways Researchers identified GPLD1, a brain-boosting enzyme, that increases with exercise in mice and humans.After a transfusion of this enzyme to sedentary mice through blood plasma, the mice became smarter....

When avoidance measures fail or are not possible, many people will require medications to treat their allergic rhinitis symptoms. The choice of medication depends on several factors outlined below: How severe are your symptoms? What are your symptoms? What type of medication will you take (over-the-counter, prescription)? Is the medication needed daily or intermittently? What side effects might you experience from the medications? Oral Antihistamines This is the most common class of medications used for allergic rhinitis....

An endometrial biopsy is a procedure where a small tissue sample is taken from the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium, to be studied under a microscope. The endometrial tissue is examined for abnormal cells or for hormonal effects on the endometrium. The uterine lining is thin after menses, and as the ovaries prepare for ovulation, estrogen levels rise, which increasingly thickens the endometrium. After ovulation occurs, the endometrium enters the luteal or secretory phase, which means that the lining has undergone a series of changes which will prepare it for a possible pregnancy....

The incidence rates of most types of cancer are higher in men than in women, but that difference is typically attributed to lifestyle factors. Now, a long-term observational study shows that even after factors like smoking and alcohol use are accounted for, rates are still higher in men than in women. Key Takeaways Men are at higher risk of most types of cancer, even when lifestyle factors and behavioral choices like smoking and alcohol use are accounted for....

The singer Celine Dion announced on social media that she is diagnosed with a rare disease called stiff person syndrome (SPS) after having to cancel her concerts due to the condition. Key Takeaways Celine Dion said she was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome (SPS), a rare disease that creates intense stiffness in a person’s muscles.People with SPS may face extreme challenges in performing daily tasks as their condition progresses.Dion said she hasn’t been able to use her vocal cords to sing the way she used to because of the condition....

Summer travel is on the minds of many Americans, but not all vacation destinations are created equal in the face of a pandemic. Before booking your stay, there are a few factors you should consider—including vaccination status—to minimize your chances of spreading and catching COVID-19. Key Takeaways Vaccination status should play a major role when deciding to make your travel plans this summer.You should avoid crowded and shared common spaces.Vacation rentals may be safer than hotels or resorts, especially for those who haven’t been vaccinated....

About 40% of all chronic spine pain is related to a problem in one or more intervertebral discs. If you have chronic neck or low back pain, there are many causes that can be contributing to it. If you don’t have a herniated disc, another potential cause could be discogenic pain. Discogenic pain is thought to occur in relationship to disc degeneration, a condition in which the physical and chemical properties of the disc slowly deteriorate....

Sensing that something bad is about to happen—a feeling of impending doom—is a typical symptom of anxiety. If this feeling is interfering with your daily life and is unrelated to a real potential for danger, it may be a sign of a medical issue. This article will describe impending doom, symptoms to watch for, and why someone may experience this feeling. You’ll also learn when to call a healthcare provider. What Are Feelings of Impending Doom?...

If you’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia you’ve probably heard about flares. Or instead, you may be wondering why sometimes your condition gets much worse almost out of the blue. What exactly are fibromyalgia flares, what symptoms may occur, what are the common triggers, and how can you best cope? Definition For most people with fibromyalgia, the symptoms vary from day to day. Over time there are periods when the symptoms are at their worst, and other times when they are much milder (short-term or long-term remissions....