A dash of cinnamon can enhance the flavor of an apple pie, but there may be more to this familiar spice than meets the tastebuds. There are studies to suggest cinnamon may help to reduce the levels of glucose (sugar) in blood —findings that could be particularly good news for people with diabetes. The jury is out on whether cinnamon truly has a hypoglycemic (blood sugar lowering) effect, but the research is promising....
L-arginine is a supplement available at many retailers and online shops that is claimed to have beneficial effects on blood pressure. This article explains what L-arginine is and whether the evidence supports its use for treating high blood pressure. What Is L-Arginine? L-arginine (also known simply as arginine) is an amino acid that the body uses to produce the chemical nitric oxide. This chemical is a potent vasodilator, which means it helps keep blood vessels open....
The Boston Naming Test is a screening tool that can help assess cognitive functioning. It often is part of several tests that are used to evaluate a person if there is concern that they have Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. The author of the Boston Naming Test is Sandra Weintraub. The original Boston Naming Test consists of 60 black line drawings, presented in order from easiest to most difficult, that the test-taker has to identify....
Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that most often is used to relieve pain and bring down fevers. While you may have reached for it to get relief from frequent migraines (or any kind of headache, for that matter), this common analgesic also may have some usefulness as a prophylactic migraine medication—meaning it may prevent or at least decrease the number of migraines a person has. It’s rarely the first drug prescribed by a healthcare provider to head off headaches, as there are several other medications that have been studied more extensively....
There is some evidence that lemon juice can slow the conversion of carbohydrates to sugar, thereby preventing a spike in blood sugar. Even so, the effect is relatively small, and lemons have not been shown to be an effective home remedy for either type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. This doesn’t mean that lemons aren’t healthy options for people with diabetes. In fact, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) classifies lemons and other citrus fruits as “superfoods” rich in fiber and vitamin C....
Niacin is an essential nutrient that most people get through diet. Also known as vitamin B3, it helps keep your skin and nervous system healthy. It also helps turn food into energy. A niacin deficiency is a serious, life-threatening condition that is most common in countries where food is scarce. It can also happen if you have certain health conditions or trouble accessing nutritious foods. This article discusses signs of niacin deficiency and how to increase niacin in your diet....
Elena Rios, MD, MSPH, MACP, is the President and CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association. Here, she explains why disparities in vaccine rates among Latinx adults exist, and the actions that her organization is taking to address them. As we see a small but increasing number of influenza virus cases for the 2021-22 flu season, the seasonal flu immunization is the most important vaccine for Hispanic people to get in addition to the COVID-19 vaccination....
Ovulation pain, or mittelschmerz, is an ache or pain—sometimes with discharge or spotting—that may be caused by blood and fluid from a rupture of a follicle on the ovary. It may also be caused by the fallopian tube contracting or the egg bursting from the follicle. One in five women experience pain during the time of ovulation. Typical ovulation pain occurs around the middle of your cycle—day 14 in a 28-day cycle—and lasts anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of days....
It may come as a surprise to you that there are Medicare Advantage plans with $0 monthly premiums, but they exist. To make an informed choice, if you’re considering enrolling in one, you should know how they work. There are also special considerations for when you can enroll in them or change plans. Why Do Premium-Free Plans Exist? Medicare Advantage plans offer the same coverage as Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and B) does....
If you have spinal arthritis in your low back, you probably don’t have to be told how painful and limiting it can be. Osteoarthritis (anywhere in the body) starts with the erosion of the cartilage in joints. (Cartilage is a softer-than-bone substance that provides lining and cushioning in the joint space; the joint space is the area between the two bones that comprise the joint.) When osteoarthritis progresses, your cartilage may erode entirely so that bone moves on the bone as you go about your usual routine....
Sports in the deaf community serves two purposes. First, it allows for athletic competition and second, it promotes social interaction. Sports has a long history in the deaf community. For example, Gallaudet University, for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, invented the football huddle in 1894. There are many deaf sports organizations and resources for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, including: Deaf sports organizations at multiple levels—international, national, regional, and state-level teamsDeaf athletic competitionsDeaf sport media sourcesBooks on deaf sports Deaf Sport Umbrella Organizations International: International deaf sport umbrella organizations are multi-country collaborations that coordinate athletic competitions....
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic condition associated with a group of symptoms, including abdominal pain and bowel movement challenges, like diarrhea or constipation. It affects between 10% and 15% of the U.S. population. Key Takeaways Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a common condition that is associated with abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea, and/or constipation.To manage IBS symptoms, there are some dietitian-recommended dietary tips people with IBS can follow that may help....
Think salmon and tuna are the only heart-healthy fish on the block? Think again. Tilapia, which is high in protein, is another delicious, cholesterol-friendly fish that can make a great addition to your diet. Tilapia are native to Africa, where they were first farmed—possibly as far back as the ancient Egyptians. Today, most tilapia is farmed in Latin America, China, Indonesia, and the U.S. South, making it readily available at most American grocers....
Vibrio vulnificus can cause a terrible skin infection. It can cause skin blisters called bullae (which can be filled with blood). What’s more worrisome is that it can lead to a severe infection in the blood. Fortunately, it is quite rare. Every year in the US, people are infected along the East Coast and the Gulf Coast. In Florida in 2013, 41 were infected and 12 died. Acquiring the disease, though rare, is unfortunately quite simple....
People with diabetes now have access to a low-cost insulin from Walmart. The multinational retail corporation on Tuesday released its private brand of analog insulin, ReliOn NovoLog. Key Takeaways Walmart’s ReliOn NovoLog is a new, low-cost insulin for people with diabetes.For people without insurance, ReliOn NovoLog is up to 75% cheaper than competing products.Walmart offers two other types of low-cost insulin through their ReliOn brand, which are made with an older technology....
Millions of people grapple with dry eye—an itchy, burning, and painful condition that happens when the eye doesn’t stay lubricated enough. Dry eye is a chronic condition, but many people experience flare-ups caused by too much time on a screen, dry air, or other environmental factors. If you’re looking for a way to quickly relieve the itchiness and burning, a warm compress for dry eyes can help. Warm compresses relax the eye, reduce muscle spasms, and encourage the production of meibum, the oil that combines with water to make tears....
The anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) is a branch of the median nerve, which is in your arm. The nerve supplies function to most of the deep muscles in the front of your forearm, playing a role in both motor (movement) and sensory (feeling) innervation. Those muscles are critical for controlling the motion of your hand. The anterior interosseous nerve is sometimes called the volar interosseous nerve. (Volar means “palm side.”) Some textbooks treat the AIN just as part of the median nerve rather than an actual branch....
Anemia is a condition in which a person has a low red blood cell count. Some people with aplastic anemia, a very rare form of the condition, will develop skin issues that appear as a rash. “Anemia rash” is not an official term, so your healthcare provider may use the words “petechiae” or “purpura” to refer to your rash, depending on its size and characteristics. Learn more about skin manifestations of aplastic anemia in this article....
Arnold Palmer is best known for being a world-class professional golfer having earned the title of “Athlete of the Decade” in the 1960s by the Associated Press. In the span of his 50-year career, Palmer won dozens of PGA titles and became a long-term spokesman for such charitable organizations as the March of Dimes and the Eisenhower Medical Center Foundation (with whom he had a close association through his friendship with Dwight Eisenhower)....
The part of the brain affected by a stroke corresponds to particular blood vessels. The blood vessels that supply the brain follow a well-defined pattern. Some areas in the brain may receive blood from more than one blood vessel, but usually, one blood vessel provides the majority of blood to a particular brain region. This article provides a list of blood vessels that, when injured, cause a stroke. Blood Vessels of the Brain Carotid arteries: The carotid arteries are in the front of the neck and provide the majority of blood supply to the brain, particularly the front of the brain....
