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Inversion therapy is a physical therapy technique in which you are suspended upside down on an inversion table. This can be done under the supervision of a healthcare professional, but there are also tables sold for home use. The idea is that this process takes pressure off the lower back, thereby relieving lower back pain, sciatica, and more. However, controversy remains over how effective and safe inversion therapy is. This article will help you to understand the benefits and risks associated with inversion therapy, and help you to make an informed decision about your care....

There are many routes of medication administration (the way that a drug is placed into the body). Based on the specific medication being used, the rate of absorption desired, and the specific site of action (where the medication needs to have an effect) your healthcare provider or pharmacist will instruct you on the route of administration needed for you. Most drugs are manufactured for a specific route of administration and must be used as directed for safety and efficiency....

Hypoallergenic infant formulas are usually made from cow’s milk, but because of the way they are processed, most babies (and others who need them) can drink them without an allergic reaction, even if they are allergic to cow’s milk. Parents should be aware that, if possible, breast milk is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics as a first line feeding option. Even in infants at risk for allergy, and in infants with intolerance symptoms maternal dietary modifications are recommended before turning to these formulas....

In September 2020 at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, researchers presented a groundbreaking study on Type 1 diabetes (T1D). The researchers concluded that people living with T1D may have more residual insulin-producing cells, or beta cells, than previously thought. Key Takeaways Researchers have found that people with Type 1 diabetes may retain beta cells for much longer than previously thought. Healthcare experts say that the study’s findings do not necessarily mean that insulin treatment and beta cell replacement therapy are no longer needed....

Macrophages are a type of white blood cell that are part of your body’s defense mechanism and also part of the immune response in asthma. They are made in your bone marrow. When a foreign invader, like bacteria, enters your bloodstream, macrophages secrete certain substances in a battle to help kill the bacteria. You can think of macrophages as one big eating machine. They identify, surround or engulf the foreign substance, and then destroy the foreign substance or cells....

Meralgia paresthetica is a condition that can cause burning pain and numbness over the front and outside of the thigh. There is a nerve that passes just over the brim of the pelvis and down the front of the thigh. This nerve, called the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, supplies the brain with information about sensation over the front and outside of the thigh. Causes Meralgia paresthetica is the condition that is caused by compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve....

The Verywell COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Tracker is a weekly look at the status and progress of COVID-19 vaccine distribution in the United States. In this series, we will report CDC data for: Doses distributed to each stateDoses administered to people in each statePeople with two doses in each state These data are pulled daily from the CDC COVID Data Tracker. We also use additional data sources to compare the data above to the population in each state:...

It’s not uncommon to confuse polyps and cysts. Both are abnormal growths that can develop on nearly any part of the body and are generally harmless except in certain situations. But polyps and cysts differ in their material makeup, the types of symptoms they cause, and the treatment options available. This article outlines the main differences between polyps and cysts, providing tips on when to see a healthcare provider for an official diagnosis....

Last fall, experts warned about the potential triple threat of COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases in kids. Now, a new vaccine is showing promise at protecting infants from the latter. Key Takeaways A promising single-dose vaccine is in development for the prevention of RSV in infants.Almost all kids are exposed to RSV by the second year of life and most children experience mild symptoms and recover on their own within 1–2 weeks....

A new study shows that adding pistachios to a behavioral weight loss program can result in positive outcomes like healthier body weight and lower blood pressure. Key Takeaways Eating nuts has been linked to positive health outcomes, including weight loss.According to recent data, people who participated in a weight loss program lost weight whether they consumed pistachios or not. However, those who ate pistachios had lower blood pressure, consumed more fiber, and ate fewer sweets....

The benefits of “the Pill?” Preventing unplanned pregnancies, of course. But that’s not all. Oral contraceptives (also commonly known as simply “the Pill”) contain progestin and may also contain synthetic estrogen. These hormones can help improve or prevent other health conditions. In fact, according to American Family Physician, the non-contraceptive benefits of birth control pills are so important that some patients use the pills exclusively for those reasons. Non-Contraceptive Benefits of Oral Contraceptives Among the health conditions prevented or improved by taking the Pill: Acne Acne is associated with excessive androgen levels, and oral contraceptives reduce the amount of androgen that is available....

The term universal precautions refers to certain steps that medical professionals and others take for infection-control. In other words, universal precautions are the techniques that people use to reduce the risk of transmitting HIV and other infectious diseases. The scientific basis of universal precautions is that individuals should treat any blood or bodily fluid as though it contains HIV, hepatitis, or another infectious agent. In other words, assume that all bodily fluids are dangerous....

Research has shown that antiretroviral therapy (ART) can significantly reduce the risk of HIV in serodiscordant couples (in which one partner is HIV-positive and the other is HIV-negative). Strategies include treatment as prevention (TasP), in which ART reduces the infectivity of the HIV-positive partner, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), in which ART reduces the susceptibility in the HIV-negative partner. The current body of evidence has shown that the benefits of ART can be great in mixed-status couples, effectively eliminating the risk of HIV if the virus is fully suppressed (undetectable)....

Type 2 diabetes impacts 37.3 million people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and this number is on the rise. The CDC predicts that if current trends continue, by 2025, 1 in 5 people in the United States may be living with the disease–doubling the current rate. This article is part of Health Divide: Type 2 Diabetes in People of Color, a destination in our Health Divide series....

If you’ve got allergies, you’re at high risk of developing tinnitus—a condition commonly called “ringing in the ears.” The pitch of this ringing can be high or low, or loud or soft. You might also hear a totally different sound, such as clicking, buzzing, roaring, or even hissing. Learn more about allergy-related tinnitus and how to treat these symptoms in this article. Risk Factors for Allergy-Induced Tinnitus Allergies develop when your body overreacts to a foreign substance in your environment, such as pollen, dust mites, animal dander, and mold....

Rotator cuff tears are a common problem. Studies have shown that 30% of those under the age of 70 and 70% of those over age 80 have a rotator cuff tear. And most do not have symptoms of shoulder pain or loss of shoulder and arm function. Physical therapy is often recommended as an initial treatment for rotator cuff pain. However, physical therapy doesn’t help the torn rotator cuff tendon heal....

Do you know what causes intestinal gas? Simply put, gassiness is a natural part of human digestion and only becomes a problem when it makes itself known at the wrong time. Learn why you have intestinal gas and what you can do if you believe your body is producing too much of it. How Much Gas Is Too Much? If you pass gas between 13 and 21 times a day, you are within the normal range, but it seems a little silly to count how often you fart....

Despite earlier reports claiming a link, researchers from the University College London found no correlation between SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), a rare neurologic auto-immune disorder that can be caused by certain viral and bacterial infections. Key Takeaways Research shows there is not a correlation between COVID-19 and Guillain-Barre syndrome.GBS is a rare autoimmune disorder that mistakenly attacksthe peripheral nervous system, resulting in muscle weakness and possibly paralysis....

Chronic pelvic pain is defined as pelvic pain which has been occurring for at least six months. The pain may be continuous or intermittent. Chronic pelvic pain can be very frustrating and often has a significant impact on your quality of life. Symptoms and Causes There are so many different causes of pelvic pain that it can be hard to know where to begin when someone states they have pelvic pain....

Your menstrual cycle is controlled by hormone signals in the brain. Each month, your ovary will release an egg (known as ovulation) after the egg has matured. The egg enters into the fallopian tube and makes its way down to the uterus with hopes that a sperm will fertilize it. Your monthly menstrual cycle begins on the first day of your period and lasts until the first day of your next period....