Turf toe is a painful injury to the base of the big toe that typically occurs in athletes who play field sports, such as football, baseball or soccer. Turf toe describes an injury to the joint at the base of the big toe when an athlete forcefully jams his toe into the ground or bends his toe backward, beyond its normal limits. The injury often occurs on a grass or artificial turf playing field which is why the name “turf toe” was adopted....
Walk through the aisles of your local pharmacy, and you’ll notice an array of over-the-counter antibiotics in the form of creams, salves, and ointments (think Neosporin and Polysporin). However, just because you can freely purchase these products and apply them ad libitum doesn’t mean that they work well. Furthermore, the improper use of topical antibiotics can pose a public health hazard in the form of increased antibiotic resistance. Overall, topical antibiotics have very few appropriate (evidence-based) uses....
Surgery is expensive, and you may be wondering why it is so costly. While some procedures are less expensive than others, none are cheap and some cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. There are many costs associated with surgery that patients are aware of, but there are additional fees that are not so obvious. Some surgeries that are commonly paid for by the patient, such as plastic surgery and weight loss surgery, may be offered at a flat all-inclusive rate, but that is the exception rather than the rule....
Vaccines that help boost the immune system are an important public health strategy that protects against infections. Despite efforts to make a vaccine for the common cold, one has yet to be developed. This article will explain some reasons why a cold vaccine has not yet been created, as well as why we may not need one. It will also explore what studies have found about cold vaccine development. What Are the Challenges in Making a Cold Vaccine?...
Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, the #DepressionMealCheck hashtag has been trending on TikTok. People on the social media app are sharing meals that they lean on when they are experiencing depression and have little mental and physical energy to put toward cooking. Key Takeaways On social media apps like TikTok, people are sharing their go-to depression meals when they have little mental and physical energy for cooking.There are easy, low-effort tips you can try to make your meals more nutritious....
An innovative test could help healthcare providers provide earlier intervention for patients having a heart attack. Preliminary research shows that a new saliva test can identify markers of heart damage in a patient’s saliva more quickly than the standard blood tests. Key Takeaways Troponin is a marker for heart damage.A new saliva test for troponin promises to be faster than standard blood lab testing.Faster troponin results could lead to earlier treatment and improved outcomes for some patients who have heart attacks....
A phone call a day can go a long way in soothing feelings of loneliness. A new program, called Sunshine Calls, aims to help adults who’ve been struggling with isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key Takeaways A new program found that regular phone calls improved the mental health of adults who are at increased risk for loneliness, anxiety, and depression.The people who made the calls were given minimal training in empathetic listening and were assigned to make regular calls each week to adults who were clients of a Meals on Wheels program....
Could you imagine being allergic to money? It sounds like a great excuse for not being able to find a job, being in debt or maybe even the reason why you can’t repay your friend the $50 you owe him. To most people, having an allergy to money seems nothing more than an excuse—and a bad one at that. Like something your teenage son would say when you asked him to mow the lawn to earn his allowance, right?...
The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations allow you to bring medications, including liquids and injectable epinephrine (like EpiPen AuviQ or Symjepi), through airport security. As you prepare for your trip, you should be aware of some DOT regulations before you fly. Have Your Labels on the Medication If you are traveling with prescription medication, always be sure that your medication includes a label from the manufacturer or the pharmacy where you had your prescription filled....
Ambulatory typically means “the ability to walk” but in the context of surgery, it refers to patients who are able to leave the hospital the same day as the surgery, without being admitted to the hospital. Ambulatory surgery is referred to by other names, commonly called minimally invasive surgery, outpatient surgery or same-day surgery. When you hear someone refer to same-day surgery, they mean an ambulatory procedure. While minimally invasive surgery is technically laparoscopic surgery, the term is often used interchangeably with ambulatory surgery....
Apple cider vinegar is a home remedy that some believe can effectively treat a yeast infection (also known as vaginal candidiasis). A yeast infection is a common condition that occurs when Candida albicans, a type of fungus normally found in the vagina, suddenly overgrows. Some test-tube studies have suggested that apple cider vinegar can neutralize fungi like C. albicans due to its high acidity. But, would the same be true if taken by mouth or applied topically?...
People who experience sudden episodes of tachycardia (rapid heart rate) often have one of the many varieties of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). The term SVT encompasses a large variety of cardiac arrhythmias that typically start and stop quite suddenly and that are almost always non-life-threatening, but that can be significantly disruptive to your life. Atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) is a common type of SVT and is particularly common in children. What Is AVRT?...
Bilberries are a fruit closely related to blueberries, native to Europe. Also known as whortleberry, huckleberry, or European blueberries, bilberries are often eaten fresh or made into jam, juices, or pies. Bilberries are also available in powder, juice, or supplement form. What Is Bilberry Used For? Rich in antioxidants known as anthocyanins and polyphenols, bilberries have been used for medicinal purposes ranging from eye conditions to diabetes. Bilberry is often touted as a remedy for eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, dry eyes, age-related macular degeneration, and retinitis pigmentosa....
Fewer than 10% of people with carcinoid tumors have or develop symptoms. The possible symptoms of carcinoid tumors depend on where the tumors are located in the body and which chemicals are secreted in the bloodstream. If the carcinoid tumor is located in the digestive tract, symptoms may include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. However, if the carcinoid tumor is in the lungs, symptoms can include trouble breathing, chest pain, wheezing, redness, or a feeling of warmth on the neck (skin flushing)....
A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that schools without masking requirements are 3.5 times more likely to have a COVID-19 outbreak than those that required masking when the school year began. Key Takeaways A new CDC study shows that schools without mask requirements are 3.5 times more likely to have COVID-19 outbreaks.Mask-wearing is especially crucial since not all children are eligible for the vaccine yet....
Over the last couple of weeks, a promising trend has emerged. COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality rates are all on the decline after each of these indicators peaked across many U.S. states earlier this month. Key Takeaways Infection, hospitalization, and mortality rates fell last week for the first time in months.With the rapid spread of new viral variants, however, the U.S. may see surges in the months ahead.Public health experts say wearing masks, social distancing, and vaccines are the best tools to continue driving down rates of infection and death....
Caffeine has remained an elusive culprit when it comes to migraine prevention. Some people strictly avoid caffeine for fear it may trigger an attack, while others swear by their morning cup of joe. While experts are working hard to sort out the perplexing link between caffeine and migraines, the answer they are finding, unfortunately, is not as simple as labeling caffeine, “migraine friend or foe.” Instead, emerging research suggests that caffeine is NOT a migraine trigger if consumed in moderation....
It may seem like an odd question, but how does neck size affect sleep? Women often don’t know their neck size, and men may use the measurement to buy collared dress shirts. Surprisingly, the size of your neck may be useful in determining your risk for various sleep disorders, including snoring and sleep apnea. This is likely true for a few reasons. Learn about the role of your neck size in the anatomy associated with sleep-disordered breathing disorders like obstructive sleep apnea....
Vaccination can be a controversial topic to some, but America might never have won its independence without it. The story of George Washington inoculating his troops against smallpox illustrates why it is important to immunize enough people to keep diseases from spreading and altering the very course of history. Smallpox at Valley Forge History has shown us how the spread of disease could have altered the birth of a nation....
You probably recognize if you need to lose some weight, but how might weight loss improve your sleep? And how much weight do you need to lose? From snoring to sleep apnea, weight loss can have significant benefits and lead to better rest. Discover how weight loss may improve your sleep and reduce your risk of sleep apnea. Excessive Weight Can Ruin Your Sleep For those who are overweight or obese, this excessive weight can be ruining your sleep and your health....
