Dry eye occurs when the eyes don’t produce enough tears or when tears evaporate (dry up) too quickly. Your eyes may become red and irritated, and your vision may blur. Research suggests that dry eye and headaches often occur together. In particular, people who experience migraines are more likely to have dry eye, and vice…
STAGE OF APPENDICITIS WHAT IT MEANS Stage 1 The appendix becomes clogged, causing inflammation. Stage 2 The appendix becomes irritated, infected, and swollen. Stage 3 The appendix is necrotic (its tissues have died) due to a lack of blood flow. Inflammation affects the surrounding areas. Stage 4 The appendix ruptures, infecting the abdominal cavity. The…
Canker sores, or aphthous ulcers, are small, painful lesions that develop inside your mouth. They commonly appear after stress, minor mouth injuries, or hormonal changes, as well as with certain vitamin deficiencies. These sores usually resolve on their own. If you’re looking for ways to ease canker sore pain and speed up the healing process,…
More than half of Black and Latina women could be using products that contain formaldehyde, a preservative linked to uterine and some rare types of cancer, a small study found. Researchers found the chemical lurking in daily items like soaps, lotions, and face creams. Formaldehyde is included in a range of items, and personal care…
Check your kitchen and medicine cabinet for the products impacted by four major recalls this week (May 12–18). The items were pulled from shelves due to potential health and safety risks, including Listeria concerns, undeclared allergens, foreign material contamination, and a sterility issue in eye care products. More than 75,000 cases of eye care products,…
When my right knee ballooned to twice its normal size in the summer of 2016, I didn’t know it yet, but it would start an eight-year medical mystery no one could solve. It began as a dull ache, then developed into a stiffness, making walking feel awkward. Within days, my knee was swollen and hot…
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that causes abnormal inflammation around hair follicles, leading to excessive hair loss. The condition may cause nail symptoms, including texture, shape, or color changes. These changes are usually minor and may not affect your daily life. However, some people have more serious nail changes that can cause pain and…
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) occurs when obsessions (persistent, unwanted thoughts) trigger anxiety, causing you to repeatedly engage in compulsions (specific behaviors) to find relief. These cycles can consume your day and detract from your quality of life. OCD has four main subtypes, though you may experience symptoms from multiple types or have symptoms that don’t match…
Decades of evidence suggests that the trillions of microorganisms living in people’s guts, called the microbiome, can influence the brain. And now, new research says they might influence how people feel day-to-day, too. A new study published last month in npj Mental Health Research found that participants who took supplemental probiotics—living microbes—saw an improvement in…
Cognitive decline is a common side effect of heart failure, new research published in Circulation: Heart Failure found. Specifically, researchers discovered a link between a heart failure diagnosis and having problems with a broad range of mental processes, such as memory, paying attention, and planning. “Knowing this will help caregivers and patients prepare better and…