Posts

The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin. The thickness of the epidermis varies depending on where on the body it is located. It is at its thinnest on the eyelids, measuring just half a millimeter, and at its thickest on the palms and soles at 1.5 millimeters. The Anatomy of Skin The skin’s anatomy is composed of three layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. These layers are home to sweat glands, oil glands, hair follicles, blood vessel, and certain vital immune cells....

What is the relationship between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sleep? Children who have sleep disorders and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have similar symptoms, such as inattentiveness, overactivity, and restlessness. The interplay between these two disorders of ADHD and sleep disorders is significant and one may be misdiagnosed as the other because of the overlap of symptoms. Defining ADHD ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting about 10% of children and 4% of adults....

If you have systemic sclerosis, your healthcare provider may offer you various treatment options to help manage the symptoms, problems, and functional mobility loss typically associated with the condition. Various treatments are available to help gain control—and keep control—of your systemic sclerosis. What Is Systemic Sclerosis? Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the blood vessels and connective tissues in your body, such as collagen. Collagen is a major structural component of your skin and internal organs....

Blood flow restriction (BFR) training is a strengthening technique occasionally used in physical therapy clinics to help gain muscle function after an injury or surgery. It is done by temporarily restricting blood flow to a muscle during exercise. This method is most appropriate when high training loads are not appropriate, such as after surgery, injury, or in cases of significant loss of muscle mass. Blood flow restriction strengthening uses low-intensity exercise to achieve strength gains typically seen with high-intensity training....

If you have a menstrual period, you may have noticed that your IBS symptoms change depending on the time of the month. You are not imagining things—your menstrual cycle and the severity of your IBS symptoms are definitely linked. Like many things having to do with IBS, the connection between IBS and the process of menstruation is not clear-cut. Many people find that their IBS seems to get worse just before they get their period....

Vintage ceramic dishware like clay pots, cups, and plates from overseas may have high levels of lead that can contaminate your food. While lead poisoning is mostly associated with dust and chips from old paint, ceramic dishes and lead-glazed pottery can also pose serious health risks. Key Takeaways Ceramic dishware and pottery from other countries can contain high amounts of lead, making them a source of lead poisoning when they are used to serve or store food....

Wish you could make your sunburns go away faster this summer? Topical solutions like aloe vera and hydrocortisone cream aren’t your only options. Key Takeaways Having a sunburn can be uncomfortable in the short term and can increase your risk of developing certain cancers over time.Eating certain foods after getting sunburnt may relieve your symptoms, help your skin heal faster, and reduce your cancer risk.Foods like carrots, pomegranates, and tomato-based foods have unique health benefits that may help sun-damaged skin....

Over the last few weeks, COVID-19 vaccine efforts have hit a wall. Even amidst a nationwide push for incentives, the number of shots administered daily is stagnant. Key Themes From Our Survey Overall, vaccine acceptance is still plateauing—it hasn’t grown since early April.Getting vaccinated still remains a challenge for many.As Americans return to pre-pandemic activities, many are now taking care of new and ignored health issues. The latest Verywell Health Vaccine Sentiment Tracker shows that overall acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine, the proportion of those surveyed who have or would get vaccinated, has not increased since early April....

In March, Pfizer and BioNTech reported that their COVID-19 vaccine demonstrated 100% efficacy in preventing COVID-19 infections among adolescents aged 12 to 15. Longer-term follow-up data now show that the vaccine remains 100% effective against COVID-19 from seven days to over four months after the second dose. Key Takeaways Follow-up data from clinical trials demonstrate that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is 100% effective in 12- to 15-year-olds even after four months....

Nearly 4% of the population and 8% of children have at least one food allergy. If you are allergic to a food, you are probably very careful to avoid it. But allergens can be hidden in processed foods too, leading to unexpected allergic reactions. Cooking oils, which often appear in processed foods, can be a problem for people with food allergies. Even refined (purified) cooking oils can contain small traces of allergens, and the product’s label doesn’t always make that clear....

Learning that your child has hemophilia (or another bleeding disorder) can be life-changing, particularly if there is no family history of this condition. Many questions may be swirling through your head. A common question heard in the pediatric hemophilia clinic is “can he still play sports?” The short answer is yes, but there are some things to consider. Although spontaneous bleeding is most common in severe hemophilia, bleeding with injury is increased in all forms of hemophilia....

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now says it’s OK to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other vaccines. The news came during a meeting of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in which the committee gave its stamp of approval for children as young as 12 to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Key Takeaways CDC officials now say it’s OK to get the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other vaccines....

Chronic bronchitis refers to inflammation and irritation of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from your lungs. It’s a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Chronic bronchitis causes excess mucus production which can cause breathing problems when it builds up. It is usually the result of prolonged exposure to irritants that can damage your lungs. Smoking is the leading cause of chronic bronchitis, but other factors may increase a person’s risk of developing this condition, such as environmental factors and workplace exposure to harmful substances....

Are you worried that your loved one with dementia has forgotten who you are? Maybe she doesn’t remember your name, you’ve become just a familiar face to her or she doesn’t even seem to recognize you anymore. It can be difficult to watch the cognitive decline in dementia. And when that decline seems to directly affect your relationship with your loved one in this way, it may feel even worse....

Cystoisosporiasis (formerly known as isosporiasis) is an uncommon parasitic infection of the intestines classified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an AIDS-defining condition. Worldwide prevalence is variable, with infections occurring most frequently in tropical or subtropical regions (particularly the Caribbean, Central America, and South Africa). With the advent of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), cystoisosporiasis is considered rare among people living with HIV in the developed world....

While we all know and have likely experienced acne, the explanation of how and why we get pimples can often elude us. All acne is a disorder of what we call the pilosebaceous unit. The pilosebaceous unit consists of the hair shaft, the hair follicle, the sebaceous gland, and the erector pili muscle (which causes hair to stand on end when it contracts). These units are found everywhere on the body except the palms, soles, top of the feet, and the lower lip....

In most situations, Americans have the right to refuse medical treatment. An exception could occur when someone else is subsidizing a person’s income during his or her period of injury, sickness, and inability to work. In most of these cases, a person may not refuse treatment if doing so will interfere with that person’s ability to return to work. This is because refusing treatment means the person will continue to need assistance in order to pay living expenses....

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Impel NeuroPharma’s Trudhesa in early September to treat acute migraines with or without aura. The nasal spray is approved for use in adults. Key Takeaways The FDA has approved Trudhesa to treat acute migraines.In a clinical trial, the medication helped relieve pain in some patients in as little as 15 minutes.Trudhesa is a nasal spray that allows for fast absorption. Trudhesa (generic name: dihydroergotamine mesylate) will be dispensed with a prescription through Trudhesa Direct, a pharmacy partnership and copay program that will deliver the medication to patients’ homes at no additional cost....

Gottron papules are red or violet bumps that form on the outside joints of the hand. They are caused by a rare inflammatory muscle disease called dermatomyositis. In addition to classic skin changes, people with dermatomyositis usually develop gradual muscle weakness in the muscles closest to the body (e.g., shoulders and thighs). This can cause difficulties with getting up from a chair, climbing stairs, lifting things, and combing or brushing your hair....

Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is a common eye problem. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or allergies. Although different types of pink eye share similar symptoms, not all of them are contagious. Only bacterial and viral conjunctivitis are. Pink eye can affect one or both eyes, and is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the tissue that covers part of the eye surface and the inner part of the eyelid....