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Nicotine is a powerfully addictive drug, and is the main reason it can be so hard to quit smoking and using other tobacco products. If you want to quit but are struggling with the effects of nicotine withdrawal, you may find it helpful to use a nicotine replacement product (so-called nicotine replacement therapy, or NRT) or a prescription drug that doesn’t contain nicotine. Prescription Drugs to Help You Quit Smoking There are a variety of doctor-prescribed drugs that can help you quit smoking....

I often refer to it as wanting to be “normal” in our abnormalities. Our symptoms can be so absurd sometimes that we’re almost surprised to hear that someone else is trying to cope with the same manifestation of our malady. The same, too, can be said of social aspects of the disease. We seem to fit into the world around us on a diminishing order of magnitude as the disease progresses....

Though relatively rare compared with other types of cancer, testicular cancer is the most common cancer affecting American men between the ages of 20 and 34, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Testicular cancer tends to have a positive prognosis because it can usually be treated successfully. Knowing the signs and symptoms of the disease can help ensure you receive early diagnosis and treatment, which improves your chances of survival....

Any form of exercise is good, says Shailendra Singh, MD, a rheumatologist in Batesville, Arkansas, because it helps people with psoriatic arthritis improve their pain, maintain their range of motion, enhance their mood, and lessen their risk of joint deformities. But tai chi offers something else: It helps those with psoriatic arthritis enhance their balance and develop better overall functionality, says Stephan Berwick, owner of True Tai Chi, a martial arts school in Falls Church, Virginia, which offers classes in the traditional Asian martial art....

The purpose of the statement was to look at the effectiveness and safety of complementary and alternative medicines — defined by the committee as any medical practice, supplement, or approach that does not conform to conventional medicine — based on research published before November 2021. “These products are not federally regulated, and they are available to consumers without having to demonstrate efficacy or safety to meet the same standards as prescription medications,” said Sheryl L....

What happens after you or a loved one has a stroke, and what can be done to improve the chances of recovery? As soon as possible after a stroke, a specialized team of healthcare providers steps in to help you regain strength, mobility, and the skills you need to live independently. The earlier rehab begins, the better your chances of regaining the highest possible level of independence and productivity. Rehab doesn’t end when you check out of the hospital after a stroke....

Polyposis Polyposis causes polyps (abnormal growths) to develop in your digestive tract. Polyps may develop into colon cancer.Colon cancer Colon cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the colon, which is located at the lower end of your digestive tract.Oligodontia People with this rare genetic disorder are missing six or more primary or permanent teeth. When someone with oligodontia also develops colon cancer or precancerous lesions because of a genetic mutation, it’s known as oligodontia-colorectal cancer syndrome....

From fitness trackers that tell you how much harder you should work to burn maximum calories, to headphones that help you fine-tune your movements, to in-home coaching for boxing and cycling workouts, here’s a look at some of the most anticipated fitness-related tech that was highlighted at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show. Detailed and advanced, these tools are bound to motivate you to get off the couch and into better shape....

The ‘Sense’ of Illness A resident of Chicago’s diverse suburban community of Oak Park, Stigger was completing her master’s degree in education when, she says, she began feeling “tired, faint, a bit off.” Sophisticated and knowledgeable about her family’s medical care, she tried to brush the symptoms off. It didn’t work. “There was a day when I couldn’t breathe and felt extremely fatigued and on the verge of passing out, with my heart racing,” she says....

RELATED: How Is Eczema Treated? The Lowdown on Light Therapy for Eczema Eczema light therapy, or phototherapy, refers to the use of ultraviolet (UV) light to treat the skin rash and itching of eczema. Exposing the skin to UV light suppresses overactive skin immune system cells that cause inflammation, explains Elizabeth H. Page, MD, a dermatologist at Beth Israel Lahey Health and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School in Boston....

Another common blood test is the basic metabolic panel to check your heart, kidney, and liver function by looking at your blood glucose, calcium, and electrolyte levels. To check for heart disease risk, you may have a lipoprotein panel that measures levels of fats in your blood, like good cholesterol (HDL), bad cholesterol (LDL), and triglycerides. A full understanding of your blood test results can help you make good decisions about your diet and lifestyle....

Over the course of the arduous 6- to 12-hour operation, a surgeon then reconstructs the digestive system to permit pancreatic juices, bile, and food to pass through the body. It’s a daunting prospect for anyone with cancer. For a pregnant woman, it’s almost unthinkable. But for Karalayne Maglinte, who was pregnant with her third child when she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2013, the Whipple was a lifeline. As Maglinte prepares to celebrate her daughter Emlee’s fourth birthday, she describes this extraordinary surgery — one of only three published cases of a successful Whipple performed on a pregnant woman — and everything leading up to it....

If your allergies are severe enough to significantly interfere with your quality of life, it’s important to see a doctor who specializes in treating allergies in order to identify what you are allergic to and to gain access to the full range of prescription options. If your allergies are less severe or merely annoying, you may be able to find an effective over-the-counter (OTC) treatment. A pharmacist can help you choose the best option according to your symptoms....

Foreword by Nan-Kirsten Forte, MS, Chief of The Well at Everyday Health Our research shows that chronic stress is a national epidemic for all genders and ages, particularly those who are 25 to 35 years old. To unpack this problem is a matter partly of mental health and partly of physical health. Here’s the hard truth: The causes and solutions to chronic stress are a complex mixture of socioeconomic, environmental, genetic, physical, and spiritual factors....

The study, published March 2 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, examined data from a nationally representative survey of more than 600,000 U.S. adults who were asked about their smoking and vaping habits. Participants were also asked whether they had ever been told by a healthcare provider that they had prediabetes or “borderline diabetes,” slightly elevated blood sugar that isn’t yet full blown type 2 diabetes but makes people more likely to develop this condition....

Apart from the pigment loss on skin and other body parts, vitiligo generally doesn’t cause other physical complications, says Sandy Skotnicki, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Toronto and author of Beyond Soap. But because of the changes in appearance that vitiligo causes, it can often lead to emotional distress. And because vitiligo is generally accepted to be an autoimmune disease, it can be more common in people with other autoimmune conditions and vice versa....

They stand out with eye-catching packaging and equally dramatic marketing — one brand is called Psychedelic Water and has an iridescent label — but do they actually have the mind-bending powers they say they do? We asked experts to weigh in on whether these new drinks are actually healthy or not, and what you should know before you try them. What Are Adaptogens? Adaptogens are nothing new. The term was first coined in 1947 by Nikolay Vasilievich Lazarev, MD, a Soviet and Russian scientist and toxicologist, according to the European Medicines Agency (PDF)....

Because the course of MS can vary dramatically from person to person, it’s hard to know with absolute certainty what the prognosis will be for an individual who doesn’t get treatment. But that lack of predictability doesn’t mean a “wait and see” approach is a good idea, says Justin Abbatemarco, MD, a neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic who specializes in treating multiple sclerosis. “After an MS diagnosis is confirmed, we usually would initiate or recommend some form of treatment, just because we know the outcome for most patients who remain untreated,” says Dr....

Acute cystitis infections are those that begin suddenly. Some people get recurrent or chronic cystitis infections. Causes of noninfectious cystitis include: Interstitial cystitis This chronic bladder inflammation, which is also called painful bladder syndrome, is most commonly diagnosed in women.Drugs Medications, in particular the chemotherapy drugs cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide, can cause cystitis.Radiation Radiation treatment of the pelvic area can cause bladder inflammation.Foreign bodies Prolonged use of a catheter can make you more prone to bacterial infections and tissue damage, both of which can lead to inflammation....

“Soaking in hot springs has been part of human culture for thousands of years,” says Marcus Coplin, ND, a primary care naturopathic physician and the director of hydrothermal medicine for the Balneology Association of North America. Though springs are warm to hot, there is no set temperature — many can be controlled depending on the facility you’re visiting, but some are simply regulated by Mother Nature. Hot spring soaking is known by many names....