Beverages, along with diet and other lifestyle factors, can influence many processes in the body that affect diseases, the authors note, citing the way coffee or tea seem to decrease inflammation while other drinks alter the gut microbiome, which interacts with the immune system. RELATED: 7 Foods That Fight Back: Immune System Boosters Pomegranate Juice Is Especially Intriguing for RA Juices from fruits rich in naturally occurring antioxidants found in certain plants, known as polyphenols, have gotten extra attention from researchers....

“The physical symptoms can hamper intimacy,” explains Nilanjana Bose, MD, a rheumatologist at Lonestar Rheumatology in Houston. That may include: Joint pain and stiffnessFatigueVaginal drynessErectile dysfunctionNegative body imageDepression and other emotional issues “The emotional aspect of dealing with a chronic condition can also easily make someone feel not up to it,” says Dr. Bose. Sexuality is an inherent part of human nature, though. It contributes to our well-being and self-identity....

“A healthy gut is usually functioning properly when you have a bowel movement one to two times daily that is well-formed and easy to pass,” says Rosia Parrish, ND, a naturopathic doctor based in Boulder, Colorado, who specializes in natural and complementary medicine. These daily bowel movements should be free of symptoms like diarrhea, constipation, and loose stools. Other signs of a healthy gut include being free of rectal symptoms like hemorrhoids and abdominal symptoms such as gas, bloating, and abdominal pain....

“Over four decades of research has clearly demonstrated that social isolation and loneliness are both associated with adverse health outcomes,” Crystal Wiley Cené, MD, MPH, lead author of the scientific statement, said in a statement. “Given the prevalence of social disconnectedness across the U.S., the public health impact is quite significant,” Dr. Cené said. The very young and very old may be particularly vulnerable, the AHA notes in its scientific statement....

But that all changed after Rynearson gave birth to her daughter in 2014. “Pregnancy had put me in remission, but when my daughter was 9 months old, I started to get really sick,” she says. “It was clear that my disease went from mild to severe pretty quickly.” Her doctor suggested that she go on a biologic, a type of drug that can prevent inflammation. The medication, according to her doctor, showed great results in people who had similar disease progression....

Stress has long been associated with marital conflict and behaviors that can put a strain on relationships, such as being overly critical, showing anger or impatience, or breaking promises. What the new study suggests is that stress may also impact how much spouses pick up on these negative behaviors. “We found that individuals who reported experiencing more stressful life events outside their relationship, such as problems at work, were especially likely to notice if their partner behaved in an inconsiderate manner,” said the lead author, Lisa Neff, PhD, of the University of Texas at Austin, in a statement....

Just because you have one of these genes doesn’t mean you’ll become obese, but in combination with certain behaviors (like eating a lot of fried food or not exercising) you might be more likely to become obese than someone else who has similar habits, but doesn’t carry that gene. While exercise is known to be one of those behaviors you can do to reduce the risk of becoming obese — in people who are genetically predisposed to obesity and those who are not — a new study tells us a little bit more about some of the obesity measures exercise helps prevent in those at higher risk....

But people with chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as those with acute medical problems other than COVID-19, still needed access to healthcare, and in short order, telemedicine began to emerge as an alternative to in-person care. Telemedicine lets people access health services remotely, usually from their homes, by telephone or by video chat on a smartphone, tablet, or computer screen. It has existed in various forms for decades, but its use expanded tremendously in 2020....

Unfortunately, there is still no screening test, such as a blood test, that can reliably detect pancreatic cancer — much less small lesions, precancers, or early-stage tumors. What’s more, noticeable pancreatic cancer symptoms that might raise a red flag, such as jaundice, rarely develop until the cancer has spread. When symptoms finally appear, they often mimic those of other, much more common illnesses, potentially delaying diagnosis even further. If you’re not feeling well and not improving, talk to your doctor about the persistent symptoms you are experiencing....

Plus, there’s the fact that reaching for candy to satiate a sweet tooth may be in your genes anyway, says research. Another review suggested that planning for these indulgences may help you stick to healthy eating habits. So go ahead and embrace the sweet season — just do it in a smart way. Plan for when you’ll indulge. Eating it as a planned part of dessert rather than when you’re running around or doing other things — like working, or driving in the car — will help you truly enjoy it....

“We’ve learned that each concussion acts differently, so trying to use a template just doesn’t work for individual patients,” says Andrew Gregory, MD, an associate professor of orthopedics, neurosurgery, and pediatrics at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee. “Usually it’s only in retrospect that you can say how severe a concussion is.” Even the level of impact in a head injury or the location of the impact can’t predict symptom severity or recovery time, according to a study of collegiate football players’ concussions published in February 2018 in the Journal of Neurotrauma....

Chef Vikki took home the title with her Beef Stew with Barley, slashing the calories but none of the flavor! Guest Chef Keoni put up a good fight with his Hearty Beef Stew, using cauliflower to soak up the meaty flavor and drive down the calorie count.

There are a number of different streptococci, which create symptoms ranging from a mild throat infection to a life-threatening infection of the blood or organs. Anyone can be affected, from babies and small children to older adults. Most strep infections can be treated with antibiotics. Streptococci infections are divided into several groups: Group A streptococcus, Group B streptococcus, Group C streptococcus, and Group G streptococcus. Group A strep infections spread through direct contact with mucus from the nose or throat of infected persons or through contact with infected wounds or sores....

Because these meds work by interfering with your blood’s ability to coagulate (clump together), they can either prevent a clot from forming or keep an already-existing one from getting larger. The drawback: If you sustain even a minor injury — say, for example, you cut your finger slicing vegetables — you may have trouble stopping the blood flow. “Any sort of minor trauma that wouldn’t cause any worry in an otherwise healthy person could be a very serious injury for a patient on a blood thinner,” explains Elliott R....

That means that I’ve come to know summer for long, warm evenings that stretch well into the summer nights. It also means that the time of year we’re in now — late fall heading into winter — can have me cursing the dark like our ancient cave-dwelling ancestors may well have done. Dark Mornings Sap My Motivation to Get Up The mornings remain inky black until well after the morning radio news program has signed off and are quickly bookended by the closing in of the velvet drapes of night long before the schools let out in the afternoon....

Vaccination across the nation is now underway, with healthcare workers and those living and working in long-term care facilities among the first to receive the vaccines. Long-term care and nursing home residents make up about 1 percent of the U.S. population, but have accounted for roughly 40 percent of all COVID-19 deaths, and among the general population those older than 50 are more likely to die from COVID-19 than younger age groups....

But there are vital safety precautions to be aware of, says Teresa van Oort, a licensed clinical social worker and the clinical program manager at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. When you have PNH, “Getting a cold could be something that puts you in the hospital for two weeks,” she says. That’s why, “Even before it was ‘cool,’ we encouraged patients to wear masks and gloves on airplanes, wear shoes at the beach, and avoid areas with dirt or microbes....

“While current research and real-world data show that boosters continue to provide a high level of protection against severe disease and hospitalization with omicron, we recognize the need to be prepared in the event this protection wanes over time and to potentially help address omicron and new variants in the future,” said Kathrin U. Jansen, PhD, senior vice president and head of vaccine research and development at Pfizer, in a statement....

Rheumatic diseases, including most forms of arthritis and spondyloarthropathies (inflammatory spinal conditions), are usually painful, chronic, and progressive, which means they get worse over time. Early diagnosis and treatment can slow the progression of many rheumatic diseases. Among the most common rheumatic diseases are: Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) AS is a common type of spondyloarthritis, a type of arthritis that attacks the spine and, in some people, the joints of the arms and legs, according to the American College of Rheumatology....

How To Tell If You’re Having An Asthma Attack An asthma attack usually begins when common asthma symptoms suddenly worsen. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), these symptoms can include: WheezingShortness of breathA feeling of tightness in your chestFatigueCoughing at night or early morningWaking up during the night with breathing difficulty If these symptoms become severe or more frequent, you may be having an asthma attack, which can turn dangerous....