Posts

Unsurprisingly, movie theater attendance has plummeted since the beginning of the pandemic. But as vaccine rollout steadily increases—with 16.9% of the U.S. population already fully vaccinated—you may be able to see a summer blockbuster or two on the big screen in the coming months. Key Takeaways Experts say that most fully vaccinated people can go to the movie theater safely if precautions are taken.You should consider your medical history and local case rates before deciding to go to theaters again....

Notwithstanding complications, you can usually have sex a couple of weeks after undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer, or a month or so after undergoing surgery for prostate cancer (known as radical prostatectomy). With that said, people who undergo prostate cancer treatment often experience sexual dysfunction, including the loss of libido (sex drive) and erectile dysfunction (ED). For these individuals, it can sometimes take a year or more before they can engage in satisfying sex, during which time counseling, ED medications, and other treatments may be needed....

Flu vaccines are recommended for everyone. Because the influenza virus changes and mutates, these vaccines are necessary every year. Young kids are considered at “high risk” from the flu. They are more likely to become seriously ill or die if they get it than older children and adults. So it is even more important that they are vaccinated against this potentially deadly virus. You may be surprised to learn when you take your young child for their flu vaccine, that they actually need two....

Ileoanal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA)—or, as it’s more commonly known, J-pouch surgery—has become the preferred type of surgery for many people who have ulcerative colitis and who require surgery. This type of surgery may also be done for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or certain cases of colorectal cancer. However, for people diagnosed with the other form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s disease, a J-pouch is usually not considered a viable option....

There are self-care strategies that may aid in helping to prevent prostate cancer, the third most common cause of cancer-related death in men. Located below the bladder, the prostate is the gland responsible for producing fluid for semen. Risk Factors One of the first steps of prostate cancer prevention is learning the key risk factors for prostate cancer. Those risk factors include: family history of prostate cancera diet high in red meat and/or high-fat dairy productsobesity Prostate cancer risk rises rapidly after age 50, and almost two out of three incidences of prostate cancer occur in men over age 65....

On April 13, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended a temporary pause on the administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine while health officials investigate six reports of a rare and severe blood clot. Key Takeaways This week, U.S. health officials recommended a pause in the administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine due to the development of 6 rare cases of a severe blood clot....

A supplement called 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), or oxitriptan, has been considered among one of the alternative treatments for headaches and migraines. The body converts this substance to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), also known as serotonin, a neurotransmitter that mediates mood and pain. Serotonin, Migraines, and Headaches Low serotonin levels are typically found in those with depression, but migraineurs and people with chronic headache disorders can have low serotonin levels too— both during and in between attacks....

Gladys Velarde, M.D. Dr. Velarde is a member of the American College of Cardiology Prevention, Disparities of Care Work Group, and on the CardioSmart.org editorial board. Dr. Velarde’s clinical interests include heart disease in women and other populations along with preventive care. These experts participated in our Health Divide: Heart Disease Risk Factors, a destination in our Health Divide series. Dr. Velarde answered the following questions in this Health Divide on heart disease risk factors:...

Black walnuts (Juglans nigra) are a type of tree nut said to offer a number of health benefits, including improved cardiovascular health measures. These nuts contain tannins, a class of substances with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They’re also high in unsaturated fat and protein. Though research does not support the use of black walnut in preventing or treating health conditions, black walnut extract has long been used in herbal medicine. Some recommend the supplement form to help treat certain illnesses, including infections....

People with tinnitus may soon be able to silence the noises in their heads by downloading a phone app that trains the brain to unfocus on the sounds they’re hearing. Key Takeaways A mobile digital therapy app worked better at improving tinnitus than conventional treatment methods, according to a new clinical trial.The mobile therapy is designed to teach the brain to defocus on noises only people with tinnitus can hear.Using a digital phone app for tinnitus treatment may help in reducing the cost and travel time to visit a clinic and increase a person’s quality of life....

A friend or loved one has had a total hip replacement surgery, and while recovering in the hospital, a physical therapist enters to start the rehab process. Watching your loved one grimace as he or she gets up and walks with their new hip makes you feel helpless. What can you do? How can you be an active helper in someone else’s total joint rehab without being overbearing or getting in the way?...

In an effort to outline what is known about the circulating COVID-19 variants, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with several other government agencies, has established a classification system for variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Key Takeaways The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has established a classification system for COVID-19 variants based on the level of threat they pose to the public.Variants are classified as being of interest, concern, or high consequence....

If you’ve had any type of colectomy surgery (in which part or all of the large intestine is removed), chances are you’ve been told you need to follow a colectomy diet. As your colon heals from surgery, there are foods that are easier and harder to digest. Some foods may help ease your symptoms, while others may make them worse. Knowing the difference between the two can help you feel better and return to a more normal way of eating more quickly....

Taking medication or using products that contain silver may cause blue skin. If silver builds up in the body over a long time, it can cause a condition called argyria. Although rare, argyria causes tissue to turn a bluish-gray color. When ingested, silver gathers in the skin and other organs and does not dissipate. It usually begins with the gums but can also affect the eyes, skin, nails, and internal organs, leading to a permanent change in skin color....

Changes to your sex life are not uncommon following a diagnosis of cancer. This may be a result of side effects from your leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma, or it may be a result of the treatments you are undergoing. Fatigue, loss of sexual interest, pain, changes in appearance, and loss of fertility are all side effects that are common in both men and women with a cancer diagnosis. However, there are some sexual side effects that are specific to men....

CureVac, a small German company that first pioneered mRNA technology for medical use two decades ago, may offer another mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccine to fight coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). CureVac is working toward finalizing late-phase clinical trials of CVnCoV, its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. While details on the effectiveness of the vaccine in humans are not complete yet, it has been shown to be highly effective in protecting against the virus and its emerging variants in animals....

Cyanosis is a medical term to describe blue, grayish, or purple skin, lips, or nail beds. It occurs when there isn’t enough oxygen in your blood. Cyanosis is a symptom of various heart and lung conditions, autoimmune disease, and drug overdose. The blue tinge of cyanosis means your muscles, organs, and other tissues may not be getting the oxygen they need to operate properly. In some cases, cyanosis can indicate a serious medical concern....

Erythrodermic psoriasis is a rare, but very severe, form of psoriasis. It causes a widespread, bright-red rash that is itchy and painful. Skin will peel off in large sheets. Erythrodermic psoriasis can have life-threatening complications and must be treated by a healthcare provider. Erythrodermic psoriasis is sometimes called exfoliative psorasis. Symptoms Erythrodermic psoriasis is a severe variant of the more common plaque psoriasis. This skin condition is quite rare, but when it does develop it’s very serious and includes the following reactions:...

Estrogen is the major sex hormone in cisgender women and it impacts more areas of your health than you may realize. It goes beyond fertility and sex-related functions to mood, bone strength, and even heart health. Hormones are chemicals produced by your body that act as messengers that help control and coordinate how your body works and responds to your environment. You have special glands in your body that produce and release hormones when signaled by your brain....

The Persian Gulf War began in 1991, but more than 170,000 veterans are still battling Gulf War syndrome. They battled stigma and disbelief for years. Finally, a congressionally mandated panel concluded that Gulf War syndrome (GWS) is in fact a physiological illness and not a psychological condition. Veterans with GWS are also more prone to fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS), as well as a few other conditions....