Skin turgor refers to the elasticity or firmness of your skin. When you pinch the skin on your hand, it should spring back to normal once you let go. How quickly it returns to normal is how you can measure your skin turgor. When your skin turgor is decreased, or your skin does not bounce right back, it could be a sign that you are dehydrated. Causes Assessing skin turgor can be a way to diagnose dehydration....
If you’re trying to manage your weight for health reasons around the holidays, a new study suggests that making prunes part of your favorite festive treats might help. Key Takeaways A new study found that people who snacked on prunes felt less hungry and ate fewer calories overall than people who ate other foods.Eating foods that promote feelings of satisfaction can support your weight management goals.If you don’t like prunes, walnuts, chickpeas, and oats are other satisfying foods that can help....
Coughs can be irritating and disrupt your daily life. Although they can be caused by many things, coughs that are caused by respiratory infections such as colds and the flu can last three to eight weeks. This article explains six options for relieving the symptoms of a cough. Cough Suppressants Over-the-counter (OTC) medications called cough suppressants provide relief by suppressing the reflex that causes a cough. However, very little research has been done to prove that these medications actually provide any benefit....
A comorbidity is a physical or mental disease or condition that coexists with a primary disease. Comorbidities ranging from hypertension and obesity to liver disease and sleep apnea are common with type 2 diabetes: A recent study of more than 1.3 million people showed that nearly 98% of adults with type 2 diabetes have at least one comorbid chronic disease and almost 90% have at least two (known as multimorbidities)....
Chronic pain can make it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, let alone get things done. That’s why energy conservation is so important. Learn about this technique that can help you manage your energy and feel better in spite of chronic pain along with tips to put it into practice. Energy in the Bank When occupational therapists use the term “energy conservation,” they are referring to managing your body’s energy levels....
Equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFPT), also known as horse therapy and equine-assisted psychotherapy, is a form of psychotherapy (talk therapy) that uses horses as instruments for therapeutic healing. This hands-on therapy uses tools, props, and other creative methods that allow a person to reenact and explore past experiences. Typically, the equine therapist does not offer solutions but gives a person a safe space to reflect on what they notice and feel during the session....
For the first time, a breathalyzer can be used to help diagnose COVID-19. And it delivers results in less than three minutes. Key Takeaways The FDA has authorized the first-ever breathalyzer test for COVID-19.The test, which must be administered by a professional, can provide results in under three minutes.While the test appears highly accurate against Omicron, the FDA says positive results should be confirmed with a PCR test. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday granted emergency use authorization to the device, called the InspectIR COVID-19 Breathalyzer, for people 18 and older....
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to meet with an expert panel in early November to help determine if a controversial drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease should get approved for consumer use. The drug, known as aducanumab, was studied in clinical trials last year that were halted. The drug’s maker, Biogen, later released data suggesting the drug is actually effective at slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. UPDATE On November 6, FDA’s panel of outside experts concluded that the clinical data did not support the approval of Biogen’s Alzheimer’s drug, aducanumab....
An herb treasured for its warming and pain-relieving properties, ginger (Zingiber officinale) is often said to relieve menstrual cramps and period pain. Not just a possible solution for menstrual complaints, ginger has also been found to quell post-surgery nausea, relieve osteoarthritis pain, and aid in the prevention of morning sickness. Why Is Ginger Used for Menstrual Cramps? Research suggests that compounds found in ginger may help to protect against the increases in inflammation, by inhibiting the body’s production of prostaglandins (a class of pro-inflammatory chemicals involved in triggering the muscle contractions that help the uterus shed its lining)....
Goitrogens are naturally-occurring chemicals found in many plant-based foods. Consuming high amounts of these substances on a regular basis may have an impact on your thyroid health, so it’s worth understanding how they affect thyroid function and whether or not it makes sense to limit your intake of goitrogenic foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and others. Common Goitrogenic Foods The key goitrogen-rich foods are vegetables in the cruciferous category; some fruits, nuts, and grains also contain these substances....
Tight hamstrings can affect your back by pulling the pelvis down and decreasing the amount of lumbar curve. Fortunately, the answer to this is simple in most cases—stretch. Here are instructions you can follow if you’re a beginner or your hamstrings are super tight. And if your hamstrings are very tight you will need a towel big enough to fit around your thigh about one and a half to two times....
Period underwear brand Thinx settled a class action lawsuit last week regarding the presence of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their products. Key Takeaways A class action lawsuit against Thinx is highlighting how period underwear brands can’t always prove their products are free of harmful toxins, despite marketing claims. The chemicals of concern, called PFAS, are human-made compounds that persist in the environment and human body. Many brands don’t know their products contain PFAS....
Human growth hormone plays many roles in the body, and having a deficiency of it can lead to a high total cholesterol and a higher LDL cholesterol level. Synthetic HGH abuse by athletes without deficiencies may be problematic. How Does Human Growth Hormone Affect Cholesterol Levels? Human growth hormone (HGH or GH) is a chemical produced by the pituitary gland in your brain. HGH stimulates bone growth in childhood, allowing children to grow to a normal adult height....
If you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), you will need to use dietary measures, and possibly medication, to manage the symptoms of both conditions. Studies suggest that between 25 to 32% of people with IBS will experience both disorders. Because IBS and GERD share many of the same characteristics, as many as 81% will experience an overlap of symptoms. This can sometimes lead to a delay in the diagnosis of the co-existing (comorbid) condition and a delay in starting the right treatment....
The terms left-brained and right-brained refer to the two hemispheres of the brain’s cerebrum. The left hemisphere generally focuses more on speech and language, while the right hemisphere manages creativity and spatial relation (e.g., the ability to focus on a rabbit in a forest without noticing each tree). Some believe that certain people have certain personality traits or skills because one side of the brain is more dominant. But finding some skills challenging does not mean that one side of the brain is weak....
If you are new to getting your period, you may be wondering why girls have periods in the first place, how long a menstrual cycle is, and how often periods happen. You may also be surprised that your first periods didn’t start on exactly the same date every month or last for the same amount of time. The truth is, when you first start menstruating, it’s normal for your periods to be a bit irregular....
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition that causes a person to have self-image issues and difficulty understanding their role in the world. BPD also causes severe mood swings and impulsive behaviors. This condition affects about 2% of the population in the United States. Mentalization-based therapy (MBT) is a type of psychotherapy used to treat people living with BPD. This article discusses mentalization-based therapy used to treat people with borderline personality disorder—how it works, what the benefits are, and what to expect during therapy sessions....
Monogamy is defined as the state of having only one sexual or romantic partner. Monogamy may be used to refer to romantic relationships or sexual relationships where the defining characteristic is that a person has only one partner. People of any sexual orientation can engage in monogamous relationships. The only thing implied by the term monogamy is that the relationship consists of two people who are romantically and/or sexually exclusive....
Numbness can be an unexpected and bothersome reaction to surgery. The Cleveland Clinic defines numbness as “a loss of feeling or sensation in an area of the body.” It can interfere with normal activities, so don’t ignore the sensation. Sometimes, numbness may occur with tingling or a “pins and needles” feeling. Together, these form a condition known as paresthesia. Call your healthcare provider immediately if you weren’t forewarned about the potential for feeling numbness or tingling....
Pfizer on Monday released new data showing that its COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in children between the ages of 5 to 11. Update Pfizer on September 28 announced that it had submitted vaccine efficacy data on children ages 5-11 to the FDA for emergency use authorization. Key Takeaways Pfizer released new data on the safety and efficacy of its COVID-19 vaccine in young children and said it will apply for FDA authorization....
