Most teen girls and adult women who suffer from acne develop a sort of love-hate relationship with their makeup. You rely on it to help cover up acne pimples that make you feel self-conscious. On the other hand, if you’re not careful makeup can actually create more of the very blemishes you are trying to conceal. How can you ensure your makeup isn’t sabotaging your efforts to clear your skin? These six tips will help prevent makeup from breaking you out....
If you have an injury to your knee or elbow, you may benefit from working with your physician to get the best treatment for your condition. One common treatment for knee and elbow joint injuries is to apply a compression brace. The compression brace worn over your knee or elbow can help stabilize the joint, decrease swelling to your joint, and allow you to painlessly engage in otherwise painful activities....
A blocked tear duct occurs when the nasolacrimal duct, which drains tears from the eye into the nose, gets blocked (because of infection, trauma, etc.) or, more commonly, is blocked from birth (congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction). Causes Newborns and younger infants commonly have some matting in their eyes and may have a lot of tearing. Although often blamed on pink eye, watering eyes without symptoms such as red eye are more commonly caused by a blocked tear duct, something referred to as dacryostenosis....
Urosepsis is a condition where a urinary tract infection (UTI) leads to a systemic infection that spreads throughout the body through the bloodstream. The severe effect of this systemic infection is referred to as sepsis. As many as 25% of individuals who develop sepsis are found to have had a UTI as the source of the condition. Urosepsis is very serious and can quickly become life-threatening. Even with rapid diagnosis and treatment, urosepsis can develop into an infection that is difficult to control with medication and supportive treatment....
What role does stress play in the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)? Could these diseases be partially psychosomatic (“in your head”)? Does stress cause IBD? If you have IBD, you may have had someone tell you that you should “relax” or that you should learn to manage your stress. Perhaps someone has even told you that your stress was a direct cause of your IBD. This is because, in the past, it was widely believed that there was a psychological component to IBD....
Rationing means that you are limited in what you are allowed to purchase. It was used during World War II to ensure the troops had enough supplies while those at home could only buy limited quantities of butter, sugar, or gasoline. It may surprise you to learn that rationing takes place today in health care. Healthcare rationing is used by health insurers, the government, and individuals to save money. Some would even argue healthcare rationing supports the greater good....
Following a low-cholesterol diet may require you to make a number of changes to the way you currently eat. While some red meat choices are, in fact, high in cholesterol and saturated fat—and, therefore, not recommended for this type of eating plan—a low-cholesterol diet doesn’t have to be entirely red meat-free. The key to incorporating red meat (beef, pork, lamb, veal) into your diet without negatively affecting your blood cholesterol levels is to be selective about the meat you choose to eat....
Insulinomas are rare tumors that form in the pancreas, an organ that regulates the production of certain enzymes and hormones. The hormone that is primarily affected by this condition is insulin, which controls blood sugar levels. An insulinoma tumor tends to be small and is usually noncancerous. The tumor may cause excess insulin to be produced, even when blood sugar is low. Symptoms of insulinoma tend to appear when blood sugar starts to dip too low....
Fibromyalgia (FMS), chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) frequently go together. No one really knows why, but we do know that all three conditions can include imbalances of the chemical serotonin, although in FMS and ME/CFS it’s an imbalance in the brain, while with IBS it’s in the gut. Like FMS and ME/CFS, IBS by itself can be debilitating and can impose a lot of restrictions on your diet and lifestyle....
Calling 911 for any purpose other than to report a true emergency could result in criminal penalties. Each state has different punishments for 911 misuse, but in the worst cases, abuse can lead to jail time and stiff fines. It is important to everyone’s safety that emergency services’ time and energy are spent where they are needed. Calling 911 for anything other than its intended purposes can threaten that. Penalties for Misusing 911 If you ever find yourself compelled to call 911 for something that isn’t a true emergency, like complaining about a rude salesperson, you should think again....
If you stop medications to lower your cholesterol, does that hurt you? Cholesterol-lowering drugs have benefits, but they also come with a few side effects, as do most medications. This may lead you to wonder if it’s worth it. In other cases, you may have been taking cholesterol medication for a year or longer. Your healthcare provider says your blood levels are perfect and you feel fine. Is staying on your drug regimen really necessary?...
Swollen lips can be caused by allergic reactions, injuries, chapping or sunburn, infections, and cysts called mucoceles. Some causes can be serious or even life-threatening, while others may be minor and resolve on their own. The swelling comes from either inflammation or built-up fluid under the skin. This article looks at some of the causes of swollen lips and when you should see your healthcare provider. Allergy Swollen lips are a symptom of oral allergy syndrome (OAS)....
Are you thinking about lying on your health insurance subsidy application so you’ll get a bigger subsidy (aka, premium tax credit) or so you’ll qualify for a subsidy when you’re not eligible? Here’s why you shouldn’t. You’ll get caught.You’ll have to pay the subsidy back.You may be guilty of fraud, a punishable crime. How You’ll Get Caught for Lying About Your Income. When you apply for a health insurance subsidy, your subsidy amount is based on an estimate of your income for the upcoming year (or for the current year, if you’re applying during a special enrollment period)....
There is a complex interplay between our minds and our bodies in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This is not because IBS is “all in your head,” but rather because of the vast interconnectedness of our minds and emotions with our digestive systems. This brain-gut connection has prompted the use of various mind/body treatment options as potential treatments for IBS. The Mind/Body Connection in IBS Research efforts have attempted to better understand how illnesses interplay with both our bodies and our minds....
Two Americans have died this spring from Powassan virus, a deadly tick-borne disease that has become much more prevalent in this century. Only 27 cases were identified worldwide in the second half of the 20th century. In 2019, there were 43 cases identified just in the United States. Key Takeaways Powassan virus is becoming more common in tick-infested areas of the country. The disease is rare, but in severe cases, the fatality rate is 10%....
The prostate is a small gland (about the size of a walnut when it has not been enlarged in size by disease) that wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body. The nerves vital to erections go around the lateral edge of the prostate. The prostate is also connected to the ejaculatory ducts and contributes to parts of the semen. While it is small, different areas of the prostate have different functions....
Sleep apnea is a common condition that disrupts breathing during sleep, often leading to pauses followed by gasping or choking. Those aware of these events may say they wake throughout night feeling like they simply can’t breathe, but many are only made aware of such breathing disruptions because their partner notices them. Instances of stopped breathing while asleep that last 10 seconds or more are called apnea events. If episodes of that duration only involve partially blocked breathing during sleep, they are called hypopnea events....
The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the epidermis. Sometimes referred to as the horny layer of the skin, the stratum corneum is composed mainly of lipids (fats) and keratin, the protein comprising human hair and nails, as well as structures such as horns, hooves, and claws of animals. As such, the stratum corneum primarily functions as a barrier between the deeper layers of skin and the outside environment, preventing toxins and bacteria from entering the body....
Having a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) designed for travel offers convenience and ensures uninterrupted treatment of sleep apnea while you are on the road and even camping. However, travel CPAPs are typically costly and vary in how effectively they work compared to your at-home unit. There are many different travel CPAP machines sold online or through specialty medical supply stores. This article looks at the different features of four popular travel CPAP machines:...
The serotonin dysregulation many of us with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) experience can cause myriad symptoms. Now, let’s take a look at what might be able to help. You can influence your serotonin levels in 4 ways: DrugsSupplementsFoodSunlight Drugs for Serotonin Dysregulation You’ve probably heard of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). These drugs don’t add serotonin to your system. Instead, they’re designed to slow down a clean-up process in your brain that keeps serotonin around longer, meaning more of it is available to your neurons (brain cells) at any given time....
