Eczema is not a single skin condition, but rather a family of conditions that cause the skin to become swollen, irritated, and itchy, according to the National Eczema Association (NEA). It is very common, with more than 31 million Americans having some form of eczema, the organization reports. One symptom, blisters, occurs in response to inflamed or damaged skin, explains Peter Lio, MD, a dermatologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago....

Enemas, such as the well-known Fleet enema, treat constipation by introducing fluid into the intestines through the rectum. The liquid softens impacted stool, while the enema nozzle loosens the rectum. That combination will stimulate a large bowel movement. Constipation Relief: Types of Enemas Nearly all enemas for constipation use a blend of water and some other substance that helps dissolve or lubricate impacted stools as well as keep the intestines from absorbing the water....

With 21 committee members voting in favor and one abstaining, the decision cleared the way for the United States to have a new immunization option for protection against the novel coronavirus. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines rely on a relatively new technology that uses mRNA, whereas the Novavax shot is a protein-based vaccine (similar to the flu shot); public health advisers hope its proven development technique will persuade many who are unvaccinated to finally get their shots....

She mounds them on her morning avocado toast, packs them in her lunch, and throws them into anything her family eats for dinner. Sneaking in vegetables is a habit she encourages for her patients with prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. (Although she confides that she rarely brings up her personal habits with patients.) Dr. Kim has dual roles at Stanford, treating patients and leading clinical research in diabetes and nutrition, which she began under the mentorship of Gerald Reaven, MD, a Stanford endocrinologist who pioneered the concept of insulin resistance....

But these days, some people won’t eat just any kind of butter — they want grass-fed butter, a variety that promises more health benefits and better taste than the traditional type. Here’s what you need to know before trying this health food trend. How Grass-Fed and Regular Butter Differ The primary difference between grass-fed and regular butter is whether the cows used to produce the butter were allowed to graze on grass or were fed a diet of grains, says Rye, New York–based Malina Linkas Malkani, RD, founder and CEO of Malina Malkani Nutrition....

Here are 10 common habits that can harm your health, and what to do instead: 1. Never Exercising “If you aren’t active, you’ll eventually become out of shape — something that, over time, can make even normal daily activities harder to do,” says MeiLan K. Han, MD, national spokesperson for the American Lung Association and a professor of internal medicine in the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor....

There are those for whom MS was already a diagnosed part of life when their current relationship began, and there are those for whom MS became a new third wheel after the coupling was established. Of course, there’s also a subset of people who have experienced both a former relationship during which MS was diagnosed, and a current one that began after MS got its hooks in us. I fall into this group....

People usually see their first psoriasis symptoms between ages 15 and 30. About one-third of patients are younger than 20, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF). While it’s less common, younger children can get psoriasis as well. The NPF estimates that about 20,000 youngsters under age 10 are diagnosed with the condition each year. The numbers may be even higher, according to Kelly Cordoro, MD, a professor of dermatology and pediatrics and the division chief of pediatric dermatology at the University of California in San Francisco....

Read on if you want to avoid falling for pink ribbon scams and learn other ways you can participate this month. Do Your Research This month, Perkins encourages people to be knowledgeable about where they’re investing their time and money. “Too many different corporations have profited off of a person’s illness. Off of breast cancer. Off of the pink ribbon,” she says. According to Perkins, organizations should be clear about what donations are funding, and this information should be featured on their websites....

In addition to making a great, naturally sweet snack, watermelon can be used in savory dishes — but cutting it down to size takes some know-how. Follow these steps for the best way to cut watermelon. How to Cut It: Watermelon Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad Serves 4 Ingredients 1 mini watermelon (or ½ regular watermelon), rind removed, cubed (about 4 cups)2 English cucumbers, peel intact, chopped¼ cup crumbled feta cheese2 limes, juiced2 tbsp grapeseed oil or light-flavored olive oilKosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste2 tbsp chopped fresh mint...

“Kids get it by being around each other, kind of rubbing up against each other,” says Suzanne Friedler, MD, a board-certified fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and a clinical instructor at Mount Sinai Hospital’s Icahn School of Medicine in New York City. Just because it’s most commonly found among children, though, doesn’t mean adults are immune to it. They can still contract it — usually by catching it from their children — but the treatment is the same, says Vikash S....

A heart failure diagnosis doesn’t mean your heart has stopped working. It means that your heart is unable to pump enough blood and oxygen to support the other organs in your body, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “I increasingly see patients who present with significant symptoms and signs of moderate to severe heart failure, and if they get on the various drugs that are now available for heart failure and make lifestyle changes, the disease essentially goes into remission, and they don’t notice that they’re having it anymore,” says Larry Allen, MD, the interim head of cardiology and medical director of advanced heart failure at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora....

Some people with secondary-progressive MS, a later stage of RRMS, continue to have relapses, along with a general progression of symptoms and disability. Is It a Flare or a Pseudoexacerbation? MS flares occur when inflammation in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) causes damage to the myelin sheath that protects the nerve fibers, as well as the underlying nerve fibers. To be considered a true flare or exacerbation, a relapse must occur at least 30 days after the previous flare, and the new or recurring symptoms must last for at least 24 hours, per the NMSS....

But IBS affects the large intestine, while SIBO, as the name suggests, is a problem with the small intestine. While researchers are still working to better understand these conditions, many believe there is some overlap and that one may lead to the other. IBS and SIBO: Symptoms and Causes of Each IBS is a common disorder, affecting 10 to 15 percent of U.S. adults, according to the American College of Gastroenterology....

The condition is more common in children and occurs when bacteria enters the skin through an opening or wound. Impetigo can also develop after skin-to-skin contact with an infected person, or from touching items contaminated with the bacteria. (2) You can learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of impetigo and take steps to help stop its spread. For this reason, see a doctor if you suspect impetigo or if you develop any unusual skin problems....

Sharing a hug can benefit us in ways that are both emotional and physical, which is why it’s natural to want to connect through touch. When mothers see their children, it triggers the release of the neurochemical oxytocin, the so-called bonding hormone. “The body can have a similar response with hugging — it gets all the feeling-good hormones flowing,” says Neysa Ernst, RN, the nurse manager of the Johns Hopkins Biocontainment Unit in Baltimore, a state-of-the-art facility designed to care for patients affected by high-consequence infectious diseases such as COVID-19....

Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, nearly one-third of people with psoriasis will eventually develop psoriatic arthritis. If you have psoriasis and develop new joint pain, there’s a good chance psoriatic arthritis is to blame. Here are top psoriatic arthritis symptoms: Psoriatic arthritis can affect multiple joints, producing significant pain and stiffness.Psoriatic arthritis often strikes the large joints in the lower extremities, such as the knees or ankles, although any joint can be affected....

For its 2021 Healthiest and Unhealthiest Cities in America report, the personal finance website WalletHub evaluated 182 U.S. cities according to dozens of metrics pertaining to healthcare, food, fitness, and green spaces. The data collected ranged from the cost of a medical visit and access to healthcare providers to premature death rates and COVID-19 cases. “Other important factors include inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption and the share of adults who engage in physical activity,” says WalletHub’s analyst and communications director Jill Gonzalez....

Ever since David Duchovny and Tiger Woods checked themselves into to a sex addiction treatment center, a lot of women might be wondering if their guy is hiding secrets. After all, if some of the most famous people could conceal their cheating for years, who’s to say regular guys couldn’t? It’s hardly news that men like sex. But that perception – and expectation – can make it tough for women to figure out what’s normal and not when it comes to their man’s sexual demands....

For some people, loss of hair is a very real ramification of the ketogenic (or keto) diet. “The ketogenic diet, which is an extremely low-carb but high-fat diet, is a really restrictive diet,” says Rachel Lustgarten, RD, of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. Keto is not just a different version of a standard low-carb diet, such as the South Beach diet or Atkins, though....