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Many people who take arthritis medications are unsure whether or not they are allowed to drink alcohol. Others don’t even think to question if that’s an ill-advised combination. People tend to think that warnings pertain to everyone but themselves. It’s hard to think of yourself as needing a warning, or being fallible, or mortal. Maybe that’s just human nature. Sometimes, we need stern reminders and, unfortunately, tragic events often deliver those reminders....

Our bodies have hormones that regulate every aspect of metabolism, and that includes appetite and weight regulation. Several hormones have been discovered that affect the development of obesity; one of these is ghrelin. What Is Ghrelin? Simply stated, ghrelin is a hormone that stimulates appetite. Thus, anything that increases ghrelin levels will increase appetite, and this can lead to weight gain and obesity. Ghrelin is produced mainly by the stomach and duodenum....

It’s typical for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) to not produce symptoms for several years, and symptoms that do occur are common for many other conditions. A healthcare provider may suspect CLL after doing routine blood work and seeing abnormal results for white blood cells. They’ll then typically perform additional testing to confirm a diagnosis. In this article, learn about the common and rare symptoms of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and the possible complications of this type of cancer....

Disability employment allows individuals who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits to receiving additional income while maintaining their current level of benefits. Disabled workers have three options for work while receiving disability payments: work for an approved employer through the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work program, find a job on their own, or be self-employed. The amount of money they are allowed to make while still receiving Social Security Disability benefits depends upon whether they work for a business or work for themselves, and the state in which they live....

The small intestine is a 20-foot-long tube that is part of the digestive tract and connects the stomach and the large intestine. Because it is so long, it must twist and turn through the abdomen. The small intestine is where most digestion takes place: most vitamins and minerals, as well as fats and some water, are absorbed in the small intestine. Muscle contractions, called peristalsis, move food through the small intestine as it is digested....

Does fibromyalgia cause foot pain? Certainly, with this condition, pain can hit anywhere, at any intensity, at any time. Several studies show that people with fibromyalgia have more foot pain than other people. Foot Pain Symptoms While all kinds of pain are unpleasant, some have a bigger impact on your life. Chief among these is foot pain because walking is an essential function. Some people describe it as: “The bottoms of my feet felt like they were on fire....

Extreme heat can increase the risk of heart attacks, especially for people who are taking certain heart medications. Key Takeaways People who take beta-blockers or antiplatelet medications may have higher risks of heat-induced heart attacks, according to a recent study.The study did not prove that the medications caused this increased risk. Other factors may be at play.Researchers advise people to take caution to try to stay cool during heat waves to reduce risks....

Oral contraceptives—most commonly known as “the pill”—are a popular birth control method. Taken by mouth once a day, these pills are intended to inhibit fertility. How Oral Contraceptives Work Most oral contraceptives are taken for 21 days and are then followed by seven days of placebo pills, or simply a seven-day break from taking pills. During these seven days, menstruation normally occurs. During those initial 21 days, however, your system absorbs the combination of estrogen and progesterone in the pills, which then prevents ovulation (the release of your eggs from your ovaries) from occurring....

You may find yourself limiting your activities due to fatigue if you have osteoarthritis. Studies have shown fatigue to be common among people with osteoarthritis and a factor in their quality of life. Fatigue is typically associated with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other inflammatory rheumatic conditions, but it can be seen in osteoarthritis as well. Effects of Fatigue on Physical Activity in Osteoarthritis A 2012 study showed fatigue was a factor in reduced levels of physical activity in people with symptomatic knee and hip osteoarthritis....

Intrauterine insemination, or IUI, is a procedure where sperm is introduced directly into the uterine cavity around the time of ovulation, in the hopes of producing a pregnancy. Sometimes in the course of fertility treatment, your healthcare provider may recommend that you have an IUI with the goal of increasing the number of sperm that reach the fallopian tubes to increase the chance of fertilization. It can also be used as an additional intervention if “the traditional method” has been insufficient to produce a pregnancy after a few cycles....

Regional anesthesia is a method of pain prevention for surgeries and procedures. In regional anesthesia, only the area of the body that would feel pain is numbed, allowing the patient to have the procedure while awake or while sedated but still conscious. Spinal or epidural blocks are examples of regional anesthesia. They are injected near the spinal canal to block sensations in the lower body or limbs. Regional anesthesia is different from general anesthesia, which works on the entire body, not just the surgery site, and the patient is conscious during surgery....

In the early 1970s, National Geographic ran an extensive series of articles investigating claims of long-lived people around the world. The Hunza people, who lived in the Hunza Valley in Northern Pakistan, were one of those peoples. They became fascinating case studies of the unique region in which they live. The Hunza Valley is a fertile valley that supports agriculture and provides isolation from the rest of the world, and it’s also located at a very high altitude....

Patients are told that a board-certified doctor is a good choice for a practitioner. Taking the time to check and verify a board membership is worth the effort and will help ensure that the doctor meets at least a minimum competency for handling your health care. There are actually two aspects of verifying a doctor’s board certification that patients should be aware of. Patients need to check the credentials of the doctor and the board from which they are certified....

Pain and discomfort are common after breast augmentation surgery. Recovery from breast augmentation typically takes a little over a month. During that time, you may feel tired and sore and experience bruising. However, these symptoms will fade over time. Sharp, shooting pains, and other discomforts in the breast are also common following surgery. The good news is that you can control most of your discomfort with the medication your surgeon prescribes for you....

Most seniors continue to want and enjoy an active sex life with their spouse or significant other. Maintaining an active sex life can sometimes be a challenge – not because of a lack of desire, but because of changes associated with aging. For older women, vaginal dryness can play a part in decreasing desire for sex. But vaginal dryness doesn’t mean you have to give up enjoying healthy sex life. Causes of Post-Menopausal Vaginal Dryness During a woman’s childbearing years, estrogen helps keep vaginal tissue healthy by secreting vaginal lubrication....

Generally unrecognized and often undiagnosed, hypogonadism can significantly impact relationships. Characterized by low levels of sex hormones, especially testosterone, it can arise due to physical injury, congenital defects, cancer or cancer treatmenst, benign tumors, or as a result of other conditions, such as older age, obesity, and metabolic syndrome (a group of conditions that can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and stroke), among others. What makes this condition particularly challenging for relationships is the way that hypogonadism impacts intimacy....

Ingrown toenails are very common. In fact, an estimated 20 out of 100 people who visit their healthcare provider because of foot problems have an ingrown toenail. Because of the irritation and pain it causes, most people notice an ingrown toenail right away. Treating it early on is key to helping manage inflammation and preventing infection. When infection is present, it’s always important to speak with your healthcare provider or podiatrist to discuss treatment options....

Genetics can certainly play a role in your likelihood of developing osteoarthritis, but they’re not the sole determining factor. This means that while family history influences susceptibility, it does not cause the breakdown of joint cartilage or the inability to regenerate new, healthy joint tissues. Below we’ll explore the types of osteoarthritis, genetic causes, and other important risk factors to consider. What It Is Osteoarthritis refers to the most common type of bone arthritis and has also been referred to as degenerative joint disease (DJD)....

A kidney infection—called pyelonephritis—is a serious bacterial infection of one or both of your two kidneys, which are located in your lower back. The bacterial infestation causes the kidney to become inflamed, producing symptoms like fever, chills, lower back (flank) pain, nausea, and/or vomiting. The diagnosis of pyelonephritis requires a medical history, physical examination, and various laboratory tests, most notably a urine culture. Antibiotic therapy, either at home or in a hospital (depending on how sick a person is), is the primary treatment of pyelonephritis....

COVID-19 research still struggles to illuminate how the pandemic has impacted Asians, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (A/AA & NHPI). The AAPI COVID-19 Project founders recognized this need for more research focused on the Asian diaspora, and sought to make a change. Key Takeaways The AAPI COVID-19 Project seeks to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic shaped the lives of Asians, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the U....