Unfortunately, you do need to add charcoal to your list of things to worry about when you have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Many charcoal products contain a form of starch—it’s there to help hold the charcoal pieces together and to provide for a controlled burn. And wheat starch is one of the common starches used for this purpose. Now, wheat starch doesn’t contain much gluten, but it does contain a tiny bit....
Each year in the United States, more than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs. More than 800,000 seek medical treatment for their injuries. Dogs may bite for several reasons. They may be afraid, sick, or in pain. They may also bite out of aggression. Regardless of the reason, it’s important to know how to handle a dog bite. Without proper treatment, there’s a high risk of serious illness or injury from a bite....
Magic mushrooms have earned all the hype recently, but regular mushrooms like white button, shiitake, and portobello also have tremendous health benefits. People who eat mushrooms may have a lower chance of developing anxiety and depression, according to a large observational study. Key Takeaways A large study found that people who eat mushrooms have a lower chance of anxiety and depression.But eating more mushrooms doesn’t necessarily cure depression, according to the researchers....
In light of a global increase in cases of hand eczema, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) is emphasizing the importance of incorporating moisturizing as the final step in the handwashing process. In fact, the AAD published a study officially recommending this step on November 5. Key Takeaways Hand eczema cases have increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.New guidelines suggest hand cream or ointment should be applied after washing your hands or using hand sanitizer....
Most everyone has heard the term flu season—in the United States, it’s in the fall and winter—but many people have also experienced symptoms they thought were caused by the flu during other times of the year as well. The flu is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused specifically by influenza viruses. You can get influenza any time of year. However, although it is possible to get the flu during the spring or summer, it is extremely unlikely if you haven’t been traveling....
A stroke can result in a variety of long-term and short-term outcomes. One of the more challenging consequences of a stroke is a group of symptoms referred to in almost a dozen terms, including hemiagnosia, unilateral vision attention, and neglect. Neglect is the more common term used to describe a stroke survivor’s lack of attention to or lack of awareness of one side of their body or one side of their environment....
You’ve invested time in finding the right occupational therapist. During the OT evaluation, you advocated for a plan of care best suited to meet your goals. Now, as you begin treatments, you find yourself being seen by a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA). So, what exactly is a COTA? COTAs play a vital role in many occupational therapy settings. In fact, they may be the occupational professionals who you spend the bulk of your time with....
Ependymoma is diagnosed using physical and neurological examinations, imaging, and other diagnostic tests. Several different healthcare providers may be involved, including neurologists and neurosurgeons. While they a rare type of tumor, ependymomas can develop at any age, and occur more commonly in children than in adults. Self-Checks It is impossible to diagnose an ependymoma without diagnostic testing. Many symptoms of ependymoma are similar to those of other medical issues. Also, symptoms can take months to years to develop....
Follistim AQ (a man-made form of the naturally occurring hormone that controls female reproductive processes like ovulation and egg development) is commonly used to treat infertility in women who cannot ovulate and do not have primary ovarian failure. Using the Follistim pen for the first time can be overwhelming, especially if you are not familiar with it. Use the following instructions to make the experience easier. Steps for Use Assemble all of your necessary supplies....
A healthy male discharges millions of sperm in a single ejaculation. During sexual intercourse, of all those millions of sperm, only a couple hundred will make it to a mature egg that is ready to be fertilized. It is important to remember that there is still a lot to learn about male fertility. We do know that a lot of the things that make sperm healthy are the things that are healthy for men anyway....
It can be one of the most frustrating early experiences in using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to treat sleep apnea. You are committed to the treatment, but you find yourself being undermined in the night. You diligently put your CPAP mask on as you go to bed, but you wake up in the middle of the night, and sure enough: it has come off. It may be lying on your pillow, blowing air purposelessly, or even across the room....
Learning how to measure your penis correctly helps ensure that you buy condoms that are properly sized and fit snugly. This not only involves measuring the length of your penis from the tip of the head to the pubic bone but also the width and girth (circumference) where the penis is widest. You need to do so with a ruler or measuring tape while you have an erection (stiff penis)....
Intraarticular hyaluronic acid injections are one of the treatment options for knee osteoarthritis. What do we know about the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid for the hip? Have hyaluronic acid injections been studied for other joints or is it primarily used to treat knee osteoarthritis? Hyaluronic Acid Injections Are FDA-Approved for Knee Osteoarthritis but Not for Hips Hyaluronic acid injections have been FDA approved for many years as a treatment for knee osteoarthritis....
The most common symptom associated with liposarcoma is a painless, slow-growing lump that forms under the skin. This cancer commonly originates in the thighs, behind the knees, and in the abdomen. Sometimes, tumors can grow rapidly and put pressure on the organs and tissues around or near the tumor. This article will explain the symptoms of liposarcoma and when to see your healthcare provider. Frequent Symptoms The most common symptom of liposarcoma is a painless lump....
With so many combination birth control pills available, how do you know which to use? Most are equally effective, so the best choice for you will likely come down to which is likely to produce no (or very few) side effects. The healthcare provider who prescribes your contraceptive will be your ultimate guide, but it’s always wise to be as informed as possible about any drug you take. In this guide to making an informed decision about which birth control pill is best for you, you’ll find a review of the differences between the types of pills, the potential side effects of each, and more....
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is one of the two recognized types of sleep. It is differentiated from non-REM sleep by vivid dreams, paralysis of most of the body’s muscles, and preserved movement of the eyes and diaphragm. It occurs at intervals of 90 to 120 minutes throughout the night and becomes more prolonged towards morning. The last third of the night often has an increased presence of REM sleep and it is common to wake from it in the morning....
Reminiscence refers to the act of recalling memories from the past. It is a familiar activity to everyone, but reminiscence can be highly beneficial for people with Alzheimer’s disease. It can support self-esteem and develop interpersonal skills. This article explains what reminiscence therapy for Alzheimer’s disease is, its benefits, and types, and how to incorporate it into everyday life. What Is Reminiscence Therapy? Reminiscence therapy was introduced in the late 1970s....
Serous otitis media (SOM) is when liquid or mucus in the middle ear blocks the eustachian tube, a channel that would otherwise be able to drain fluid and equalize pressure in the ear. The fluid build-up can cause discomfort or hearing loss. If it doesn’t resolve, ear tubes may be needed. SOM is also called otitis media with effusion (OME), fluid in the ear, middle ear effusion (MEE), or secretory otitis media....
It can be tricky to tell the difference between symptoms of the stomach flu or food poisoning and symptoms of a glutening. In many cases, the symptoms overlap quite a bit: DiarrheaStomach painFatigueHeadache You can watch for a few key clues that may help you determine what’s going on, and whether or not you should call your healthcare provider. Stomach Flu and Food Poisoning Start Suddenly Despite its name, the “stomach flu” isn’t really a form of the respiratory illness influenza....
Alzheimer’s ultimately affects all parts of the brain but each person is affected differently as the disease progresses. In part, this is due to the nature and extent of the damage being caused to different areas of the brain. Each section of the brain is known as a lobe. Here, we examine the effects of damage to the four lobes of the brain: frontal, occipital, parietal, and temporal. Alzheimer’s is characterized by predominant damage to the temporal lobe of the brain, and often the extent of damage extends to other areas....
