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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and gas may be reduced by practicing yoga. Emerging research on yoga for IBS shows it can improve both physical and emotional symptoms of the chronic digestive disorder. In fact, studies show yoga may be more effective than medications used to treat IBS. This article discusses the benefits of yoga for IBS. It explains the science behind yoga’s positive impact on IBS symptoms....

Back acne and body acne are common problems. About 10% of people have acne at some point. While it most often starts during puberty, acne has gotten more common in adults. The chest, neck, shoulders, upper arms, and even the butt are common places to get pimples. And back acne is so common it even has its own informal name: bacne. This article explains the causes of back and body acne and how to treat it....

Calcific tendonitis is a condition that causes the formation of a small, usually about 1-2 centimeter size, calcium deposit within the tendons of the rotator cuff. These calcium deposits are usually found in middle aged individuals (age 30-60 years). Calcium deposits are more common in women (about 70%), more common in the right shoulder than the left, and more common in patients who have endocrine disorders (such as hypothyroidism or diabetes)....

If you are wondering whether you can get pregnant with an intrauterine device (IUD), the short answer is yes, but it’s uncommon.IUDs are small, flexible devices shaped like the letter T that are inserted into a woman’s uterus by a healthcare provider—are one of the most effective reversible methods of birth control available. That said, around one out of 100 women with an IUD get pregnant each year, with the highest risk occurring within the first year following the insertion....

A clinical trial is one that involves human participants and seeks to answer specific questions about a type of medical intervention. This can be a drug or other type of treatment, such as nutritional changes or massage. Double Blind In the context of a clinical trial, double-blind means that neither the patients nor the researchers know who is getting a placebo and who is getting the treatment. Because patients don’t know what they’re getting, their belief about what will happen doesn’t taint the results....

Dry skin on the elbows is a common occurrence, and along with dry skin, you can get ashy elbows. Usually, this is nothing to worry about. You can reach for your favorite product, such as a lotion, body butter, or oil, to help ease the condition. If the dryness is excessive or it doesn’t go away, there could be an underlying condition such as eczema, psoriasis, or diabetes. This article discusses easy fixes for dry elbows and when to reach out to your healthcare professional for help....

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first interchangeable biosimilar insulin product to give people with diabetes a lower-cost, generic option to costly brand name insulin. Key Takeaways The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Semglee, a biosimilar form of insulin. As a generic, it can be automatically swapped for the price brand-name versions to help patients save money.Doctors applaud the move, saying it addresses a major cost barrier for people with diabetes....

On May 26, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Myfembree as the first once-daily treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding that is associated with uterine fibroids. Key Takeaways Uterine fibroids are noncancerous tumors that develop in or on the muscular walls of the uterus. Myovant Sciences and Pfizer launch Myfembree, the only once-daily treatment available for people with fibroids. Myfembree was approved by the FDA on May 26, 2021, and is currently available in the United States....

The fear of toads and frogs is called ranidaphobia. Having a fear or phobia of frogs is considered a specific phobia, which is a type of anxiety disorder. People who experience a specific phobia have an irrational and excessive fear of something that poses a minimal danger. When a person has a phobia of a specific thing (in this case, frogs), they may or may not realize their fear is irrational....

Most healthcare providers recommend that people who have lupus receive the flu vaccine every year, just like anyone else. If you have lupus, you could be at a higher than average risk of becoming sick with the flu, especially if you’re not vaccinated. The flu vaccine is safe and effective for people who have lupus. However, it might not provide as much protection for you due to your immune disease—so avoiding exposure is important, even after you get vaccinated....

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is secreted by an ovarian follicle as it gets ready to release an egg during the menstrual cycle. The hormone also goes by the name Müllerian-inhibiting substance. AMH levels are directly related to how many small follicles are found on the ovary each month. These are called antral follicles. This article will cover how AMH can be used to help diagnose a person with a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)....

On average, most people should stop drinking caffeine four to six hours before bed. People who are especially sensitive to this stimulant may want to stop earlier in the day or avoid caffeine altogether. Figuring out how long before bed you should stop drinking caffeine may take some trial and error. If, for example, you moved your last cup of coffee up to 4 p.m. but you are still having restless nights, you may need to push that up even more (or switch to decaffeinated)....

When faced with a diagnosis of celiac disease, people will often ask their healthcare providers how much gluten they’re allowed to eat. Unfortunately, there’s neither an easy answer to the question nor a one-size-fits-all strategy that will work for everyone. In the end, it’s not so much about how much gluten you can eat but rather how little it may take to negatively impact you. The Threshold for Safe Gluten Intake While the typical Western diet consists of 10–20 grams of gluten per day, some people can get very sick by eating even a tiny amount of regular bread or other gluten-containing foods....

If you have diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D), you know well the feeling of panic that can accompany the sensation of impending diarrhea. The anxiety of not making it to a restroom in time can make the feeling worse, increasing abdominal cramping and intensifying the sense of urgency. Luckily there are some things that you can do when experiencing IBS diarrhea urgency to help calm your system until you can safely make your way to a bathroom....

An otolaryngologist is a medical professional that has received specific training to treat disorders of the ears, nose, throat, as well as the head and neck. Commonly referred to as an ENT (standing for ears, nose, and throat), otolaryngologists represent the oldest specialty of physicians; having their first meeting held in 1896. Otolaryngologists now belong to an organization known as the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS). With more than 12,000 ENTs practicing in the United States, how can you identify the one that will be the best for you?...

In response to the emergence of the new Omicron variant, the Biden administration intends to make rapid, over-the-counter COVID-19 tests more affordable to Americans. Key Takeaways The Biden administration announced that Americans with health insurance can get their at-home COVID-19 tests reimbursed.The policy will also provide 50 million free tests to community health clinics and rural health centers for Americans without insurance.More details regarding the policy are expected to be released in January next year....

“Do not drink alcoholic beverages while taking this medication.” You’ve probably seen this warning label on medication you’ve taken, and the label doesn’t lie. Alcohol and prescription drugs don’t mix. Even the combination of alcohol and over-the-counter medications can lead to severe health problems. If you take prescription painkillers regularly, you risk a dangerous drug interaction every time you drink alcohol. In short, alcohol and pain medication are a deadly combination, so it’s best not to mix them....

Keratinocytes are the most common type of skin cells. They make keratin, a protein that provides strength to skin, hair, and nails. These cells form in the deep basal-cell layer of the skin, and take about a month to reach the surface. It is normal for many of these cells to die off in the process. But it’s also possible for their cell division to go awry, leading to what are sometimes called “keratinocyte cancers....

If you have joint pain on the left side of your body, it could mean you have a type of arthritis in which symptoms appear on just one side instead of both sides. This is known as asymmetric arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis, or PsA, is one of those types of arthritis. In a study of 126 patients with PsA, 53.1% of people who had PsA symptoms experienced them on just one side of their bodies....

Lip exercises are an important component of therapy for dysphagia, or the impairment of swallowing. Dysphagia can occur as a result of neurological or muscle disease affecting the muscles and functions involved in the ability to swallow. If left unaddressed, dysphagia can be a serious health problem that can cause choking or limit your ability to eat certain foods. Exercises, including lip exercises, can help improve your ability to safely swallow....