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You may have been hearing some of the buzz surrounding essential oils. Are they just what you need or is it all just hype? Let’s take a look at what essential oils are, what research says about their effectiveness for IBS symptoms and what you should know in terms of safe use. What Are Essential Oils? Essential oils are liquids that contain distilled plant compounds. The word “essential” refers to the fact that these compounds are seen as the “essence” of the plants, not that they are “essential” for health....

Because Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia can make it difficult to learn new things, maintaining established, consistent routines can be calming and reassuring, for both the person with dementia and those around them. Routines are often associated with our procedural memory (how we do things) and long-term memory. So, since Alzheimer’s typically first affects the short-term memory, people are often able to remember a familiar routine well into the middle stages of Alzheimer’s....

Does fear play a role in your migraines? Do you find yourself panicking when you encounter a migraine trigger, like a change in weather or an alcoholic beverage? Let’s take a closer look at a study on cephalalgiaphobia—a psychiatric condition in which a person has an intense fear of developing a headache. Overview A study in The Journal of Headache and Pain examined the relationship between cephalalgiaphobia and migraines. The authors defined cephalalgiaphobia as “the fear of having a headache attack during a pain-free period that may induce patients to use analgesic in the absence of pain to prevent headaches and to improve their performances....

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications, commonly referred to as NSAIDs (pronounced en-sayds), are some of the most commonly prescribed medications, especially for patients with orthopedic conditions such as arthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis. These medications are available over-the-counter (e.g. Ibuprofen, Motrin, Aleve) or as a prescription (e.g. Celebrex, DayPro, Relafen). NSAIDs are effective at both pain relief (analgesia), and to reduce swelling (anti-inflammatory). How They Work Medications that work to reduce inflammation come in two major categories:...

A colon stricture is a narrowing of part of the colon, the organ that forms the large intestine. Strictures can cause a bowel obstruction, hindering your ability to go to the bathroom and eliminate gas and solid waste. They occur in people with colon cancer or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Strictures can often be corrected, but they can be life-threatening if left untreated and block the colon completely. Read on to learn more about colon strictures, including causes and treatment....

Scientists are looking into what makes someone part of the “never COVID” cohort. This is the name researchers have given people who were exposed to the virus—without or before vaccine protection—who have never contracted the virus. Researchers are trying to understand why some people never get COVID-19 despite exposure. One study is exploring whether genetic factors play a role in making someone immune to the virus. Another study investigated preexisting immunity, potentially brought on by infections with other coronaviruses....

Seizures are a risk following head trauma. Also called traumatic brain injury, head trauma can range from mild (such as a concussion) to severe. Severe injuries have a higher chance of causing a seizure. About 10% of people who experience a traumatic brain injury that’s severe enough for them to be hospitalized will end up having a seizure. Most of the time, it happens within the first few days or weeks after the accident....

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that typically only affects the face and eyes. It is characterized by broken blood vessels, redness, and pimples. Rosacea usually starts when someone is 30 to 60 years old and is more commonly seen in people with fair skin. There are several factors, called triggers, that can make rosacea worse. Some of the most common triggers are sunlight, alcohol, and stress. This article will discuss rosacea triggers, and how to manage and treat flare-ups....

Acupuncture is sometimes used as an alternative treatment for eye health problems. Many people see results and benefits of acupuncture on their overall eye health. Studies show that acupuncture can help treat eye conditions such as dry eye syndrome. What Is Acupuncture? Acupuncture is a procedure in which thin needles are inserted through a person’s skin at specific points on the body. Scientists are not sure exactly how acupuncture works but it has been shown to provide pain relief and alleviation of nausea secondary to cancer treatments....

Verywell Health: Will losing weight lower my heart disease risk? This article is part of Health Divide: Heart Disease Risk Factors, a destination in our Health Divide series. Meet the Expert Jessica Shepherd MD, MBA, FACOG is a board-certified OB-GYN and the Chief Medical Officer for Verywell Health. She is the founder and CEO of Sanctum Med + Wellness, a wellness concierge practice, and is affiliated with Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas....

From the very start of the HIV epidemic, there have been concerns about the transmission of HIV through biting and bloodsucking insects, such as mosquitoes. It was a natural concern given that many diseases, such as malaria and Zika fever, are readily transmitted through an insect bite. However, this is not the case with HIV. Epidemiological studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta have shown no evidence of HIV transmission through mosquitoes or any other insects, even in countries with extremely high rates of HIV and uncontrolled mosquito infestations....

Conductive hearing loss happens when something blocks sound from getting to your inner ear. Hearing loss affects over 30 million adults in the United States, and it can vary in severity. Some people may not even realize they have hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss only accounts for a portion of all hearing loss. While not all forms of hearing loss can be reversed, conductive hearing loss is sometimes treatable. This article will take a closer look at conductive hearing loss and examine its causes, diagnosis, and treatment....

Crystal methamphetamine (crystal meth or “ice”) is a potent stimulant drug that can damage the heart. Meth causes blood vessels to narrow and spasm, dramatically increasing blood pressure and heart rate while damaging the heart muscle at the molecular level. As a result, cardiovascular disease is the second-leading cause of death among crystal meth users following accidental overdose. Crystal meth can independently increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, cardiac arrest, and sudden death....

Diarrhea can make birth control pills less effective. If you use oral birth control, even one episode of diarrhea can slightly increase your risk of becoming pregnant. This article explains how diarrhea can negatively affect birth control. It discusses when you should use backup contraception. It also talks about other birth control options. How Diarrhea Interferes With the Pill Oral contraceptives work by changing your hormone levels. This stops you from ovulating (releasing eggs from your ovaries)....

If you have lupus and are in need of financial assistance for treatment, there are a number of avenues you can explore. It’s important to note that there is never a guarantee that you’ll be eligible for these programs or that they will suit your specific need, but it’s always worth looking into potential help with lupus-related costs. Economic Impact of Lupus The Lupus Foundation of America estimates that nearly 1....

Dermatitis herpetiformis is one of the itchiest skin rashes known. The celiac disease-associated condition is caused by an autoimmune reaction to gluten, the protein found in wheat, barley and rye, and occurs in about 12.5% of people with celiac disease. The rash, which usually appears as clusters of itchy red bumps and water-filled blisters, can occur anywhere on your body, but most frequently appears on the buttocks, knees, elbows, lower back and the back of the neck....

Guidelines for the management of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) were released in September 2015, as part of a collaborative effort between the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR). The guidelines are the first set of international recommendations for the treatment and management of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica. Overview It is estimated that about 711,000 American adults have polymyalgia rheumatica—a condition that can come on quickly or gradually....

A halo nevus is a mole that is surrounded by a round, symmetric area lacking pigment or a halo. The halo itself has sharply demarcated borders. There are no melanocytes or cells that make melanin, in the halo area. Halo nevi develop spontaneously, usually in adolescence, on the trunk, but sometimes on the palms and soles. A person can have just one halo nevus or several halo nevi. Halo nevi are usually benign....

In a new study, researchers analyzed the health effects of endurance exercise like biking or running and how it stacks up against resistance exercise like weightlifting. The verdict: Endurance exercise is better for your heart. Key Takeaways A new study suggests endurance exercise is better for your overall heart health than resistance training.Endurance exercise can include activities like running or cycling.Experts stress the importance of mixing up your exercise routine. For the study, researchers looked at the mitochondrial activity of 30 people who were either assigned to an endurance training group, a resistance training group, or a control group....

According to the American Art Therapy Association, “Art therapy is a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art-making to improve and enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. It is based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem, and self-awareness, and achieve insight....