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As you get older, you may notice that it becomes harder to distinguish between different colors. You may start having trouble reading a menu in a dimly-lit restaurant. While vision changes are normal, they may soon be treatable. Key Takeaways As you age, mitochondria function declines and you produce less ATP, an energy-providing compound.One small study shows that looking into red light for three minutes a day can “recharge” mitochondria and help improve vision in those without an underlying eye disease....

Setting goals is easy— it’s attaining them that’s hard. When you have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, it can seem impossible. The specific challenges that make goals difficult for us include low energy, fatigue, and forgetfulness (brain fog). Some of us have symptoms all the time, which makes it hard to do anything, ever. Others of us have roller coaster symptoms, with brief periods of productivity followed by a crash and doing absolutely nothing....

Increased thirst, urination, or high blood sugar readings are all known signs of diabetes, but the disease can also make an appearance on your skin. Skin tags are one of the little-known skin manifestations of diabetes, particularly diabetes mellitus, or type 2 diabetes. This article will explore what skin tags are, why you might develop them with diabetes, and what you can do to eliminate them. What Are Skin Tags? Skin tags (acrochordons) are typically benign (harmless) growths the color of your skin or sometimes darker....

Imagine that within a day, you rapidly lost your ability to feel or move your legs, or even control your bladder or bowel movements. This terrifying scenario is what occurs to people with transverse myelitis. Transverse myelitis affects between one to five people per million per year. While transverse myelitis is uncommon, it is devastating to the afflicted. Symptoms Like multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis is an autoimmune disorder. The body’s own immune system confuses the nervous system for disease and attacks....

In cases of advanced colon cancer, there are times when a tumor cannot be removed. It is an unfortunate and complicated situation and one that is often fraught with emotion and uncertainty. For anyone faced with an inoperable tumor, it’s important to remember that people can, in fact, live for years with advanced cancer. It doesn’t mean that everyone should suddenly give up because a tumor is inoperable. In more cases than not, it’s just the opposite....

If you live with a condition like osteoarthritis or depression, you may already know how it can affect other aspects of your health, contributing to issues like weight gain, difficulty sleeping, and chronic pain. One remedy said to ease depression, arthritis, and other conditions is the supplement SAMe, also known as ademetionine or S-adenosylmethionine. SAMe is the synthetic form of a compound that is produced naturally in the body from methionine (an essential amino acid) and adenosine triphosphate (an energy-producing compound)....

Black seed — also known by its scientific name, Nigella sativa — is a small seed that comes from a flowering plant by the same name and is found in certain areas of Southeast Asia. Besides the seed, you can also find black seed prepared into an oil or as a capsule, which can be found in the supplement aisle of your local pharmacy or natural foods store. Also known as black cumin, this tiny seed is sometimes used as a spice in Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine, providing flavors to breads, proteins, and other dishes....

Herbal remedies have been used for thousands of years. Since they come from natural sources, you might presume they are safe. However, herbal remedies do not have to undergo the same quality and safety tests that are required for prescription drugs. Therefore, when considering whether or not any herbal remedy is safe, the correct answer is you can’t be sure. Many herbal remedies contain ingredients that are not listed on their product labels....

Von Willebrand disease is the most common inherited bleeding disorder, affecting approximately 1% of the population. Von Willebrand factor is a blood protein that binds to factor VIII (a coagulation factor). When factor VIII is not bound to Von Willebrand factor, it breaks down easily. Von Willebrand factor also helps platelets to adhere to sites of injury. Symptoms Some patients never experience any significant bleeding. Von Willebrand disease is often associated with:...

A tumor—also referred to as a “neoplasm”—is an abnormal mass of tissue formed when cells grow and divide at rates that are faster than usual, or when cells don’t die when they should. Some tumors are benign, meaning that they are not an indication of cancer and don’t spread into surrounding parts of the body. Other tumors, though, are cancerous—or malignant—and do invade other areas of the body via the bloodstream and lymphatic systems....

While out skincare shopping, you have probably come across plenty of products labeled nonacnegenic. It’s also sometimes spelled nonacnegenic, or hyphenated non-acnegenic. Nonacnegenic means “not likely to cause acne.” Nonacnegenic products do not contain ingredients known to clog pores, and do not contain ingredients known to promote acne breakouts. It’s safe to say that products labeled nonacnegenic are a good choice when shopping for skincare products. They are generally less likely to irritate existing pimples and less likely to aggravate acne and make it worse....

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on October 21 that it has expanded its definition of who is considered a “close contact” of a person with coronavirus. Key Takeaways The CDC expanded its definition of “close contact” to include people who have been within 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 for a cumulative total—including many short periods of exposure—of 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period....

There are many potential causes of disrupted breathing during sleep, one of which is central sleep apnea. Because the underlying cause of central sleep apnea is distinct from obstructive sleep apnea, it requires specialized treatment. Discover the most common symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and preferred treatments (such as bilevel therapy) of central sleep apnea. Symptoms Central sleep apnea is a breathing disorder that occurs during sleep and results when the brain fails to activate the respiratory muscles....

While many people are afraid of allergy shots due to their association with routine vaccinations (such as with tetanus or diphtheria shots), the comparison is largely unfair. With many routine vaccinations, the injection is delivered intramuscularly (into the muscle), which is associated with greater pain than shots that are injected subcutaneously (just under the surface of the skin). Allergy shots are given subcutaneously, which tends to be associated with much less pain....

That constant itch may be part of your fibromyalgia or myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Neuropathic itch is a specific type of itch that stems from the nerves and brain, both of which are affected by these conditions. It can be severe and hard to stop. Adding to this is a fibromyalgia pain type called allodynia, which can be triggered by touch or rubbing the skin. Scratching an itch can make the whole area scream with pain....

Total hip replacement surgery is among the most successful procedures performed by orthopedic surgeons. It provides both immediate and long-term relief to persons suffering severe hip arthritis, hip osteonecrosis, or other complex hip problems. Over 90 percent of those who have undergone the surgery report major pain relief and an improved ability to perform routine activities. Moreover, around 80 percent will have a fully functioning device after 20 years. Hip Replacement Use Because of the success of hip replacement surgery, the procedure is now being performed in younger patients....

Until last month, there hadn’t been any major innovation in non-hormonal birth control since the IUD was invented in the 1970s. But on May 22, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new non-hormonal option for women: a prescription birth control gel. Key Takeaways Phexxi, a gel, is a new type of non-hormonal birth controlIt’s intended to be used only when you need itAn early study suggests it’s less effective than IUDs or birth control pills Phexxi, developed by biopharmaceutical company Evofem Biosciences, is considered an “on-demand” type of birth control, meaning you only use it when you need it....

When you have an intrauterine device (IUD) placed, your healthcare provider will walk you through how to check your IUD strings each month. These are the two plastic threads that hang from the device. You cannot see IUD strings, so you must insert a finger and feel for them. Most of the time, missing strings aren’t a sign of anything concerning. But this can mean that your IUD fell out or was out of position, meaning you’re not longer protected against pregnancy....

Interface dermatitis (ID) is a reaction characterized by an itchy rash with small, water-filled blisters. It usually appears on the sides of your fingers. ID is not one disease, but rather a result of an immunological insult or allergic reaction that occurs somewhere else on your body. For example, a fungal infection on your foot activates your immune system, and your immune response triggers ID. Interface dermatitis gets its name because it occurs in a specific area of the skin—the dermo-epidermal junction, a....

Johnson & Johnson is recalling five aerosol sunscreen products after detecting low levels of benzene, a cancer-causing agent, in some samples. Key Takeaways Johnson & Johnson is recalling five aerosol sunscreens that have small amounts of benzene, a carcinogen.People who own these sunscreens should discontinue use and discard them immediately.The company is voluntarily recalling the products. No adverse health consequences have been reported so far. The company urged customers to stop using these products and discard them immediately....