Observing your child shake, space out, or pass out from a seizure is frightening. Children can develop seizures from a fever, a neurological condition such as epilepsy, a head injury, or a congenital condition (one that is present at birth). Seizures Signs and Symptoms Depending on the type of seizure, a child can experience a wide variety of symptoms. Some signs of seizures are easy to recognize, such as shaking and losing consciousness....
According to a recent survey from the American Heart Association (AHA), men who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in a public location receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from a bystander 45% of the time. Women, in comparison, receive bystander CPR in only 39% of cases. As a result, men have a 23% higher survival rate. Key Takeaways Women are less likely than men to receive CPR from a bystander in the event of an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, often due to unfounded fears and misconceptions....
The obturator nerve is a major peripheral nerve in your thigh. It’s responsible for some leg movements (motor function) as well as sensation (sensory function). This nerve is formed by portions of the lumbar plexus, which is a complex network of nerves that emerge from the lumbar region of the spine, which is in your lower back. Anatomy Your spinal nerves emerge from the spinal cord, then travel between your vertebrae to get to the rest of your body....
Earlier this month, the pharmaceutical company Novavax shared that its two-dose COVID-19 vaccine was 90.4% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19, based on results from its Phase 3 clinical trials. Key Takeaways Novavax shared that its two-dose COVID-19 vaccine was 90.4% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19, based on results from its Phase 3 clinical trials.Approving additional COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. can provide Americans with more options and increase the demand for shots globally....
Okay, I admit that I am little obsessive when I come across new products that help make contraception use even easier. So you can only imagine how ecstatic I become when I stumble upon cool birth control apps or even when birth control manufacturers find clever ways to bring awareness to contraception—in what I like to call “modern day birth control.” Why Contraception Reminders Are Important One of the main reasons why contraception fails is because it is not being used correctly—this is especially the case when it comes to hormonal birth control methods....
Although a healthy vagina has a scent, which may change or get stronger during sexual arousal, it should not have an unpleasant smell. A strong or foul vaginal odor or a change in vaginal odor may be signs that you have an infection. Several vaginal infections, both sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexually associated infections, can affect vaginal odor. If the smell of your vagina has changed or become unpleasant, or if you have a change in your vaginal discharge, it’s a good idea to call your healthcare provider....
Vision correction refers to one of several methods used to improve blurred vision caused by refractive error. Some people need vision correction to correct a refractive error. A refractive error occurs when the eye doesn’t bend light correctly (refract) as it enters the eye, resulting in a blurred image. There are several disorders that involve refractive error. Near and Farsightedness Nearsightedness or farsightedness occurs when the shape of the eye is abnormal....
Auto-inoculation, or self-inoculation, occurs when a person transfers a disease from one part of their body to another. Self-inoculation frequently happens when someone scratches or rubs a sore and then touches uninfected skin. Many diseases can be spread by self-inoculation in this way, including chicken pox. In these cases, self-inoculation may be similar to transmission by fomites. For example, imagine that a person ends up with HPV under their nails. In such a circumstance could transmit it either to a partner (fomite transmission) or themselves (self-inoculating)....
When you get your COVID-19 vaccine, take a minute to ask your vaccinator what health profession he or she is in. You might be speaking to a midwife or podiatrist. Key Takeaways In order to expand the pool of vaccinators as supplies increase around the country, the White House has added to the list of health professionals who can administer the vaccines. The additions to the list include professionals like veterinarians, dentists, podiatrists, and midwives....
If you have been given a new medication by your healthcare provider, such as one for pain, it is possible you may see the abbreviation “ATC” on the prescription, especially if you have just undergone a surgical procedure or you have pain from cancer. You may be wondering what that means. ATC stands for “around-the-clock.” Around-the-clock (ATC) medication is defined as medication that is given at regularly scheduled intervals throughout the day....
The COVID-19 vaccine is finally rolling out, with people who live in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities, receiving the vaccine first (alongside healthcare workers). As some parts of the country begin approaching phase two, allowing for the vaccination of those aged 65 and older, many are wondering when it’ll be safe to see family again—especially grandparents. Key Takeaways Older adults are receiving the COVID-19 vaccine first....
The Paleo Diet is a way of eating that is based on trying to eat like our hunter-gatherer ancestors did. The theory behind the diet is that our bodies evolved to eat what was available at the time — vegetables, fruits, and lean meats. Paleo Diet proponents purport that these hunter-gatherers were quite healthy and fit, with strong bodies and teeth, and did not suffer from the diseases of modern-day....
Hoarding is a behavior that is seen periodically in Alzheimer’s and other dementias, such as frontotemporal dementia, where individuals gather and stockpile things. They might not be willing to part with useless papers, keeping them all piled around furniture. They also might stock up on food and store it continually until it’s rotten, and then still be unwilling to dispose of it. Hoarding can sometimes go hand-in-hand with constant rummaging through belongings....
A fatty tumor, medically known as lipoma, is a noncancerous (benign) growth of fat tissue under the skin or, less commonly, in an organ. It occurs when there is an overgrowth of adipocytes (fat cells) in any place of the body where fat cells grow. Fatty tumors can happen at any age but are more common in people between the ages of 40 and 60 years old. Men tend to be more affected than women....
HIV is an enveloped virus. That makes it different from many other retroviruses. It doesn’t just have a protein coat. Instead, when HIV leaves a host cell it takes part of that cell’s plasma membrane with it. That bit of membrane becomes the HIV envelope. However, the HIV envelope isn’t only made up of components from the host. It is also made up of HIV envelope proteins. HIV envelope proteins include gp41, gp120, and gp160....
Receiving Holy Communion is an important part of Christianity, as it is meant as a remembrance of Jesus Christ. However, the communion wafers used as the Holy Sacrament contain wheat, which can pose a problem for individuals who have a wheat allergy or Celiac disease. Taking Christian Holy Communion If You Have a Wheat Allergy or Celiac Disease Taking Christian Holy Communion if you have a wheat allergy depends in part on your denomination and in part on your church’s willingness to work with you....
If you have a condition such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and are planning to travel, you may need to take supplemental oxygen with you. When you are traveling on an airplane, by train, or on a bus, or staying in a hotel, you need to be aware of considerations and possible restrictions. As you prepare for a trip with supplemental oxygen, check that your equipment and devices are permitted for use during your travel and at your destination....
Although it may seem like a pretty simple function, swallowing is one of the most complicated tasks that your body performs. The process requires delicate coordination between your brain and certain nerves and muscles, and issues with swallowing can have a major effect on your overall quality of life. Cranial Nerves and Muscles Involved in Swallowing Swallowing occurs in three sequential phases, all requiring the careful coordination of muscles in the mouth, pharynx (your throat), larynx (your voice box), and esophagus (the tube that carries food from your throat to your stomach)....
What would we be without our memories? If you didn’t remember where you’d been, or those you cared about, would you still be who you are now? What if you forgot how you normally respond to others, everything you’ve learned in school or what you’ve learned to do throughout your life? Our ability to remember and learn is among the most fundamental and significant of our brain’s abilities. Not only does the brain permit us to experience everything around us, but it also allows us to re-experience our past....
If you have difficulty sleeping during pregnancy, you may want to learn about treatment options. Certain conditions such as insomnia and restless legs syndrome (RLS) may occur more frequently during pregnancy. Other sleep disorders such as narcolepsy and sleep behaviors known as parasomnias may persist through pregnancy and require treatment. It is important to understand how the safe use of medications during pregnancy is determined. Then, you can consider what options your healthcare provider might have to treat your condition and help you to sleep better....
