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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can cause a rash, hives, or other skin problems like firm lumps called rheumatoid nodules. The severity of skin involvement indicates how severe the disease is. In addition, the medications that treat RA may also affect the skin. It is very important to bring skin issues to your healthcare provider’s attention as they are signs that rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are not well-managed. This article looks at some of the skin problems associated with rheumatoid arthritis, including those that can arise because of the medications you take for your RA....

If you suffer from chronic pain, there are some bad habits, like smoking, that may worsen or intensify your pain. In fact, smoking can put you at a higher risk of experiencing chronic pain in certain areas of your body, especially your back. In fact, smokers make up over half of people who get help for chronic pain, even though only 18% of Americans smoke. As of Dec. 20, 2019, the new legal age limit is 21 years old for purchasing cigarettes, cigars, or any other tobacco products in the U....

In a preliminary study, researchers found that a drug used to treat cholesterol may reduce COVID-19 infection by as much as 70%. Key Takeaways New findings indicate that an existing drug may reduce COVID-19 infection by up to 70%.The drug works by inhibiting the virus from binding with human cells.Researchers are now testing how well fenofibrate works against COVID-19 in clinical trials. Scientists tested whether various drugs that are already on the market for other uses may reduce COVID-19 infection....

At least 150 people died in a Halloween crowd crush in Seoul this weekend. When media outlets first broke the news, the tragic event was first described as a “stampede,” but it’s now described as a crowd surge or crush. What are the differences? Key Takeaways More than 150 people died in a crowd crush in Seoul last weekend.A stampede implies there’s space to run, while a crowd crush means there’s little to no room to move or even breathe....

Newborn babies are examined to ensure there are no conditions that require treatment at a young age. There are a number of conditions found in newborns that can indicate problems with the musculoskeletal system. If these problems are diagnosed early and treated promptly, long-term issues can often be avoided. Hip conditions are one area of particular concern. Hip joint development is not complete at the time of childbirth, yet if the joint is not properly aligned, there is a high likelihood of the joint not developing properly....

The term “tunnel vision” is used to describe a constricted field of vision where you are able to see straight ahead, but vision to the sides, or peripheral vision, is lost. Also referred to as peripheral vision loss or tubular vision, tunnel vision is much like looking through a small tube. Individuals with tunnel vision often have a difficult time navigating in dim lighting, like when in a dark movie theater....

For those with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), extreme sun sensitivity is at the heart of a variety of symptoms from severe sunburn that occurs with just a little sun exposure to high risk of skin cancer. Some may also experience eye effects, as well as progressive nerve effects. Those with XP have mutations in the genes that repair damage to their DNA. Since their DNA does not get repaired as it should, they end up with cumulative damage....

Under new rules just issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), you no longer need a positive COVID-19 test to get a prescription for Paxlovid, an antiviral drug that treats the virus. The FDA revised the emergency use authorization (EUA) for both Paxlovid and Lagevrio on Wednesday. Fact sheets regarding the updated EUA note a “removal of the requirement for SARS-CoV-2 viral testing.” The reason why a test is no longer necessary is unclear....

Earlier this month, a federal appeals court ruled to overturn the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ban on the use of electric shock devices on people with disabilities at a Massachusetts residential school. Key Takeaways A federal appeals court ruled in favor of overturning the FDA’s ban on electric shock devices used by a Massachusetts residential school.Electric shock devices are used as behavior modification tools to interrupt self-injury or aggressive behavior....

If you’re allergic to peanuts, simply picking up their scent won’t cause an allergic reaction. But there is a catch: If the air you sniff contains peanut dust, it might. Luckily, and contrary to popular belief, small peanut particles like this are not typically airborne. However, they can make their way into a whiff in certain circumstances. This article looks at what you react to when you have a peanut allergy, what research shows about allergies and odors, when and why peanut dust and particles can be a problem, and what impact cooking peanuts has on your potential to react....

Capsaicin—the active ingredient in chili peppers—is sometimes used to help relieve certain types of pain. When applied to the skin (topically), capsaicin temporarily blocks the way your body interprets pain messages. Research suggests that capsaicin may relieve pain for a variety of arthritis and musculoskeletal-related conditions, including muscle strains and sprains, fibromyalgia, headaches, joint pain, and diabetic neuropathy. Some studies have also indicated that using capsaicin could help improve symptoms of psoriasis and relieve nerve damage pain from conditions like shingles and HIV....

Sipping a fizzing glass of champagne or a soothing glass of red wine during the holidays can be a pleasurable experience. But sometimes, alcohol ingestion can induce a headache, within as little as three hours after consumption. While you may be familiar with that dreaded, uncomfortable hangover headache after an evening of drinking one or more alcoholic beverages, a cocktail headache occurs that same evening and does not typically correlate with the quantity of alcohol consumption....

Editor’s note: Below you’ll find release of the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Tracker originally published April 6 2021. Visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Tracker homepage for the latest data. The United States is now vaccinating over 3 million people against COVID-19 every day. And Friday, April 2, brought a new milestone: 4 million doses were reportedly administered. For the first time since Verywell started this tracker, the country is using over 80% of the doses available—the most efficient rate we’ve seen yet....

New research suggests that COVID-19 vaccines that are delivered through the nose—referred to as intranasal vaccines—can offer even more protection than intramuscular injections given in the arm. And as the possibility of booster shots looms ahead, there is heightened interest in a nasal spray replacing a needle. Key Takeaways A review of experimental COVID-19 vaccines suggests that there are benefits to getting them through the nose instead of the arm.Intranasal vaccines may be the best way to get a booster dose....

Downward facing dog pose (or down dog for short) is a basic yet challenging yoga pose that provides numerous benefits, and a pose that beginners and veterans alike are constantly working on improving. Keeping this in mind, it’s normal if your down dog is not a perfectly accomplished piece of work. As with any yoga pose, the idea is to work toward perfection. The benefits lie in the process of getting there, rather than having arrived....

Could laser treatment for psoriasis be the answer to finding relief for those dry, itchy patches? If you have stubborn psoriasis, you’ve probably already tried medicated creams, oral medications, and light therapy. Here’s what you should know about excimer laser treatment and how to seek it out. What Is Phototherapy? Phototherapy means treatment with light. For decades, phototherapy generally relied upon surrounding the patient with full-length fluorescent light bulbs in a specially designed cabinet....

The fifth metatarsal is the bone on the outside of the midfoot at the base of the small toe. The proximal end of the fifth metatarsal (proximal means closer to the center of the body) is easily felt as the bump over the outside part of the midfoot. This part of the fifth metatarsal bone is prone to injury. The fifth metatarsal is the most commonly fractured of all the metatarsal bones....

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says people who are fully vaccinated no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance whether they are inside, outside, in a small group, or large group. The updated guidance was announced on Thursday, May 13, at a White House briefing. Key Takeaways New CDC guidance says fully-vaccinated people do not need to wear masks or physically distance indoors.Despite the new guidance, states and businesses may set their own rules....

While the sudden, unexpected death of a loved one can unleash a torrent of anguish and grief, a family member or friend who departs from the living over days, weeks, months or even longer can prove just as traumatic for survivors because of anticipatory grief — the sadness felt in advance of the death. Tips for Coping With Anticipatory Grief Here are a few of the emotional challenges you might encounter as you attempt to cope with the impending death of your loved one, and suggestions to help you deal with them....

When removing an unwanted tattoo, time may not be on your side. Though you may want to quickly delete an ex-lover’s name or a design that you have outgrown, you need to give your body time to heal between laser treatments. This article will review the process of laser tattoo removal, and how to choose the treatment that is best for you. How Laser Tattoo Removal Works When a laser removes a tattoo, a high-intensity beam breaks up the ink or the pigment colors that make up the tattoo....