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If you live longer than the average person, then you could be said to have longevity. Striving for your maximum potential age is the goal of longevity. This potentially can be reached by practicing healthy behaviors and attitudes. Longevity is defined as “long life” or “a great duration of life.” The term comes from the Latin word longaevitās. In this word, you can see how the words longus (long) and aevum (age) combine into a concept that means an individual who lives a long time....

Hypertensive retinopathy is a complication of having chronic hypertension, or high blood pressure and affects the blood vessels in the retina. The retina is the clear, photosensitive tissue that lines the back of the eyeball. The retina processes and transforms light into nerve impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain where we interpret the impulses as vision. When our blood pressure remains high for too long, the blood vessels in our body and particularly in the eye may harden or become thickened....

Roughly 6.5 million people in the U.S. live with chronic skin wounds, which are often difficult to treat. But on September 3, Purdue University researchers announced the development of a portable wound care system for people who suffer from antibiotic-resistant chronic wounds. Key Takeaways A team of researchers created a portable system that treats chronic wounds via ozone therapy. About 6.5 million people in the U.S. live with chronic wounds.Certain pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes, can lead to chronic wounds....

You might expect many things after having a baby, such as being sleep-deprived and having stretch marks, but you might not have expected having acne eruptions and having to deal with pimples. Why does this occur? Acne After Pregnancy Is Normal The sudden appearance (or reappearance) of pimples can be narrowed down to one word—hormones. Acne is triggered by hormonal changes in the body. That’s why people often start breaking out during puberty, around the time of the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, and immediately post-pregnancy....

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common digestive disorder characterized by abdominal pain, cramping, and changes in normal bowel function, including bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation. About 12% of adults in the United States have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). So far, scientific support for the claim that any remedy can treat IBS is fairly lacking, but several of them are frequently used. Enteric-Coated Peppermint Oil Enteric-coated peppermint oil is widely used for irritable bowel syndrome....

A study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in November, 2021, has found that for some people, the symptoms of seasonal allergies or allergic rhinitis can be lessened by wearing a face mask. Key Takeaways A study shows that many allergy sufferers noticed a significant decrease in their symptoms when wearing masks at the beginning of the pandemic.However, the research did not consider how much time people spent outdoors or away from other people because of following social distancing and quarantine guidelines....

“Second sight” refers to a temporary change in vision during early cataract development. Before vision deteriorates, vision, especially close-up reading vision, improves significantly. Some patients report very clear near vision without the use of reading glasses. Near vision refers to vision for objects 2 feet or closer to the viewer. These changes occur because the proteins and other compounds that make up the lens begin to change structure. This, in turn, changes the way light refracts through the lens, causing a temporary improvement in near vision....

Wearing a face mask does not lead to carbon dioxide poisoning despite some people’s belief face coverings are a health risk, a new study finds. Key Takeaways Wearing a mask will not lead to carbon dioxide poisoning, even in individuals with lung disease.Breathlessness while wearing a mask may simply be related to increased activity or temperature, or general discomfort.Mask-wearing is necessary in order to curb the continued increase in COVID-19 cases....

A sucking chest wound is a hole in the chest—from a gunshot wound, stabbing, or other puncture wound—that makes a new pathway for air to travel into the chest cavity. Treatment for a sucking chest wound requires two things: keeping air from going in while still letting extra air out. This can involve sealing the chest and monitoring for signs of a collapsed lung. A sucking chest wound is extremely dangerous....

We all hope to have the privilege of growing older. With that privilege comes great responsibility to care for your body and mind, which is why we’re dedicating this digital issue to aging well. A body in motion has the likelihood of staying in motion, so movement—while seemingly simple—is a significant part of staying healthy as you get older. This doesn’t come without challenges, though. Pain, brittle bones, fatigue, and much more can influence your movement aspirations....

The liver is the heaviest organ in the body and one of the largest. It’s located in the upper right portion of your belly under the ribs and is responsible for functions vital to life. The liver primarily processes nutrients from food, makes bile, removes toxins from the body, and builds proteins. It metabolizes many drugs. It breaks down fat and produces cholesterol. It converts glycogen into glucose. It creates immune factors necessary to fight infection....

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a questionnaire that is used to evaluate sleep problems. If you have concerns about your sleep, your healthcare provider may have you answer the questions as part of your medical workup. The questionnaire includes an assessment of different aspects of your sleep, as well as some features of your daytime functioning. The result is used to get an idea about the quantity and quality of your sleep....

The pudendal nerve is the main nerve that serves the perineum, which is the area between the anus and the genitalia (the scrotum in men and the vulva in women). It carries sensory information (sensation) from the external genitalia and the skin around the anus and perineum. Additionally, it transmits motor signals, which cause movement, to several pelvic muscles. Anatomy The pudendal nerve is the second lowest of the 31 spinal nerves....

Transient osteoporosis of the hip is a condition that occurs for unknown reasons. The condition is characterized by a spontaneous onset of hip pain associated with X-ray signs of osteoporosis and MRI evidence of bone inflammation. The head of the thigh bone, the femur, loses bone density and strength. Transient osteoporosis of the hip usually resolves on its own within six months to a year. It is a very different condition from age-related osteoporosis....

The words “bone bruise” describe a condition also known as bone marrow edema or bone contusion. Many patients find these words confusing. What does it mean to have a bone bruise? Bone Bruise There is controversy about exactly what a bone bruise is. Are they all the same, and why do they occur? Prior to MRIs being performed, there was no test for a bone bruise, and, therefore, the condition was not well recognized....

When someone complains of a headache, healthcare professionals often jump to common etiologies of head pain, like tension-type headaches or migraines. But, what about those rare primary headache disorders? Do you suffer from a headache disorder that has puzzled even your neurologist or headache specialist? Let’s take a closer look at primary headache disorders other than migraines, tension-type headaches, and cluster headaches. Remember, a primary headache occurs on its own or independently....

Wheat plays a predominating role in the diets of most people. Cereal for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, pasta for dinner, with pretzels, cookies, and cakes serving as snacks, make for a pretty wheat-packed day. In the low-FODMAP diet for IBS, all products containing wheat needed to be avoided during the initial elimination phase of the diet. For a person eating a typical Western diet, this restriction would certainly seem very daunting....

Cardiologist consultations are typically recommended by a patient’s primary care physician in response to either heightened risk factors for cardiovascular disease or symptoms that indicate it may already be present. Because heart disease is America’s number one killer—affecting over 30 million people—physicians are keenly aware of the stakes in detecting or diagnosing it. Risk Factors Major risk factors for heart disease, such as one or more immediate family members being affected as well as high blood pressure or cholesterol readings, may prompt your primary physician to refer you to a cardiologist....

It’s not exactly something you would keep track of, but most people pass gas between 13 and 21 times a day. It can happen even while you’re asleep. Gas is part of the natural digestive process. However, many people find gas embarrassing, particularly if they pass an excessive amount of gas. It’s true that some foods cause someone to produce more gas than others. In particular, foods with a high fiber content are frequent offenders....

As students head back to the classroom, schools are grappling with how to keep them safe from COVID-19 while maximizing in-person learning time. Key Takeaways Some school districts are allowing students with exposure to infected individuals to stay in class, as long as they wear mask and test negative for a week.The approach is meant to keep students in classrooms while keeping transmission low.New research suggests this approach is as safe as requiring close contacts to quarantine or self-isolate....