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Folic acid is a water-soluble form of vitamin B9. It is the synthetic form of folate, a nutrient found in certain foods, and is used in vitamin supplements. Folic acid is an important nutrient that the body uses to generate, replicate and repair cells, including DNA. Deficiencies in folic acid are particularly problematic during pregnancy when the body must quickly produce lots of new cells. Red blood cell production is also very sensitive to folic acid levels, and low levels of this nutrient can lead to certain types of anemia....

Latent celiac disease is diagnosed when you have inherited the genes for celiac disease but have not yet experienced any signs or symptoms of the autoimmune disorder. The diagnosis of latent celiac disease is made when blood tests are positive for the condition but a visual examination of your intestines reveals no damage to the villi that line the organ. As such, it is unlike silent (subclinical) celiac disease where there is a loss of villi but no symptoms....

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time where people can learn more about the importance of colorectal cancer screening, prevention, and treatment. Key Takeaways Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide.During National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, people can take proactive steps to reduce their risk.Certain dietary habits, like limiting alcohol, eating whole grains, and including fish in the diet, may help. While some factors that increase your risk of developing colorectal cancer are completely out of your control, like your family history, other risk factors are not....

As many people know, exercise can help prevent a number of degenerative diseases. It can elevate your mood and help you lose weight. With all these great perks, who wouldn’t want to maintain a regular exercise program? But, for a person with degenerative spinal arthritis, pain when doing weight bearing activities may be all it takes for you to decide to skip your scheduled exercise activity. Exercise for Spinal Arthritis With spinal arthritis, finding an exercise program that doesn’t put pressure on your vertebrae may help you improve your day to day functioning, as well as decrease your pain levels....

Weight loss surgery (also referred to as bariatric surgery) is a procedure to help improve the health of someone who is dealing with obesity and the medical issues related to it. By using this surgical intervention to remove excess weight, patients may be able to reverse or improve conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and more. Most patients who have weight loss surgery lose anywhere between 15% to 30% of their starting weight, but maintenance measures like establishing a healthy diet and exercise routine are needed beyond surgery to help keep the weight off and improve health long-term....

Each week, Verywell explains a term from health, medicine, science, or technology. Morbidity How to say it: Morbidity (mor-BID-it-tea) What it means: How many people have a certain disease in a population. Where it comes from: Latin, morbus, “disease” Where you might see or hear it: When you hear about a disease outbreak in the news, one piece of information that scientists keep an eye on is how many people in a population get sick....

The prospect of losing your hair can be overwhelming when undergoing chemotherapy. It may be even more distressing to hear you may possibly lose your eyelashes as well. Eyelashes are an important feature for most people. They frame the eyes and, as with all hair, can be central to a person’s self-image and sense of self-esteem. Eyelashes aren’t just for looks- losing them can potentially cause an increased risk of damage to the eye and possibly even decreased vision, as the protection eyelashes provide is lost when they fall out....

While deaf or partially deaf students in the United States can attend any college in the country, many are drawn to schools that specifically serve deaf students. In addition to offering more resources and classrooms tailored to deaf and partially deaf learners, these schools provide a sense of identity, understanding, and pride for their students and alumni. Instructors may be deaf, partially deaf, or hearing, and communicate using American sign language (ASL), spoken language, finger spelling, printed and visual aids, and online resources....

For many people, Halloween means lots of sweet treats and sugar. But for those who are managing diabetes, celebrating this spooky holiday can become a bit stressful when trying to keep your blood sugars in check. Key Takeaways Moderation and careful consideration of food labels are important for managing diabetes during Halloween.The timing of candy consumption matters, as does the frequency of checking blood sugar levels.Dietitians suggest eating treats that have more substance than pure sugar, like candy with nuts....

If you’re looking for an Accutane alternative to treat your acne, you probably will fall into one of two categories. You either are looking for a substitute brand to Accutane, or you want a medication that does not contain Accutane’s active ingredient isotretinoin. No matter which camp you fall into, you’ll find all the info you need here. Accutane Alternatives The medication that most of us know as Accutane hasn’t actually been sold under that brand name since 2009 when the company stopped selling the medication....

A cruise ship carrying 800 Covid-positive passengers recently docked in Sydney after being hit with a major COVID-19 outbreak—a scenario eerily reminiscent of the early pandemic days. It was a stark reminder that the pandemic is not over, and that cruising still presents a certain level of COVID-19 risk. Key Takeaways The risk of a COVID-19 outbreak is higher when a lot of people share a common space, like a cruise ship....

With the possibility of both a stronger flu season and another wave of COVID-19 cases during the winter months in the United States, getting both a COVID vaccine and an influenza vaccine is important. Key Takeaways There is no evidence that this year’s influenza vaccine is causing more or worse side effects than shots from previous years. Last year, the United States had a relatively mild flu season, thanks in part to the pandemic precautions put in place against COVID-19....

Capsaicin is derived from spicy peppers and is what gives peppers their heat. As a topical medication, it’s used for a wide variety of medicinal purposes, including pain. It might sound strange that the hot stuff in peppers can relieve pain, especially if you’re not a fan of eating spicy food. Why would something that causes burning on contact with your tongue help alleviate pain? It sounds contradictory. However, it’s precisely that immediate burning sensation that’s behind capsaicin’s effectiveness....

Shoulder capsule surgery is a treatment option for shoulder instability that doesn’t improve with more conservative, non-surgical methods. Shoulder instability can lead to subluxation (coming partially out of the joint) or dislocation of the shoulder joint. This happens when there is too much mobility of the shoulder joint, and the ball can come out of the socket. In general, there are two categories of shoulder instability: Traumatic shoulder instability: The shoulder can come out of the joint when a healthy shoulder joint is pushed too far, causing damage....

It may seem like an odd thing to consider, but what is sleepiness and what causes it? Does sleepiness suggest the presence of certain sleep disorders like sleep apnea or narcolepsy? And how does sleepiness differ from fatigue or tiredness? Let’s find out. What Is Sleepiness? Sleepiness is the desire to fall asleep. It is sometimes referred to as drowsiness and typically increases the longer we stay awake. To understand what is really meant by sleepiness, consider this extreme example:...

Having diabetes should never leave you grounded. As long as you plan carefully, pack thoughtfully, and, if you’re headed overseas or to another country or will be gone for an extended period of time, check in with your healthcare provider to make sure you’re prepared for all contingencies, you can travel safely. What to Pack Having these items on hand will give you peace of mind and keep you feeling prepared should the unexpected occur....

When trying to conceive, most women want to make sure that they are doing what they can to get pregnant quicker. This is especially true for women with PCOS or women who need to undergo fertility treatment to get pregnant. When potentially investing thousands of dollars and months of time, it is extremely important to do everything you can to help boost your own natural fertility. Regular exercise has been shown to improve fertility in women with PCOS....

Penetrative sex can hurt with age. Especially for people with vaginas, decreased estrogen levels around age 50 can create vaginal dryness and discomfort during intercourse. Could sex toys like vibrators be the magic wand to alleviate pain? Key Takeaways Vibrators may help stimulate and lubricate the vagina for people who struggle with vaginal dryness.Researchers are examining whether vibrator use can affect pelvic floor, urinary tract, and bowel function.Although conversations about masturbation have increased in recent years, self-pleasure remains a taboo topic for many women....

Beer is probably the most popular alcoholic beverage in the world. Although beer sometimes garners a bad reputation due to its alcohol content, it also contains a few surprisingly healthy ingredients. Barley, one such ingredient that is used to make beer, contains polyphenols, which have been linked to lowering cholesterol levels and promoting heart health. There are also some studies suggesting that, in modest amounts, alcoholic beverages such as beer may also be able to improve heart health....

What you do in the time leading up to when you want to go to sleep is just as important as as physically getting into bed, if not more. Creating and sticking to a consistent bedtime routine can help you transition to sleep more easily and relieve insomnia. The most effective way to wind-down before bed can be personal, so it might take some trial and error to figure out. This article covers the benefits of meditation, music, gentle exercise, and other suggestions for how to relax before bed....