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Establishing the stage of your COPD helps your doctor decide on the best treatment plan to help you better manage your illness and your health. The GOLD Criteria has been modified in the last few years to more accurately classify people with COPD, according to Norman Edelman, MD, a core member of the program for public health at Stony Brook Medicine in Stony Brook, New York. “Originally, the GOLD Criteria were just based on the degree of airway obstruction that we found on breathing tests,” says Dr....

Your pancreas is an organ that’s part of both the digestive system and the endocrine system. The digestive system, which breaks down food into tiny components that are then absorbed into the body, is made up of numerous organs in addition to the pancreas, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines. The endocrine system is a collection of many different endocrine glands, such as the thyroid gland, testes, and pituitary gland, which secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream....

Without proper treatment, RA can cause long-term damage to joints and serious damage to your whole body with persistent pain and possible disability, says David Pisetsky, MD, PhD, a rheumatologist and professor of medicine and immunology at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. Over time, there’s a high risk of joint deformity and lost function. On the flip side, the right treatment plan can go a long way toward preventing long-term damage and preserving joint function: “With current treatment options, most people can have good control of symptoms and reduce RA progression,” Dr....

The continued popularity of the ketogenic, or “keto,” diet, which is a high-fat and very low-carbohydrate diet, takes this new embrace of fat to the extreme. On this diet, followers strive to get 75 percent of their calories from fat, 20 percent from protein, and 5 percent from carbs, though other versions of keto mandate different ratios. So fat is no longer feared — in the case of keto, it’s celebrated....

New findings on the benefits of the anti-inflammatory ITIS diet, described by the Arthritis Foundation as a “supercharged Mediterranean diet” and the “Mediterranean Diet 2.0,” showed improvements in joint pain and swelling, as well as one of the more difficult to treat symptoms of RA: fatigue. Although the study was small, these results are promising, says Roxana Coras, MD, a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine and the lead author of the research, which was presented in November 2021 at the American College of Rheumatology Convergence virtual conference....

Happily, pumpkin is a trend your body can get on board with, too. This fall vegetable is high in many of the essential nutrients your body needs, including fiber, notes the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Most Americans fall short on this crucial nutrient, averaging around 15 grams of fiber per day, about half the recommended amount, reports UCSF Health. Adding more vegetables to your diet, including pumpkin, can go a long way toward meeting your dietary fiber needs....

Our seasoned TippiTV participants know just how important healthy lifestyle habits can be for their physical and mental health. For instance, Harmon, a dedicated yogi who plans to open a wellness retreat in California, recently started getting into kundalini yoga, which, he explains, involves more breath work. “When I feel pain, I start to breathe a little more rapidly. When I’m in a relaxed state, I breathe slower,” he says....

In short, our feet are the foundation for a healthy and active life. So when psoriasis involves the feet, it’s a serious problem. When Psoriasis Affects the Feet Psoriasis is a condition caused by an overactive immune system that triggers abnormal skin cell growth. Normally, skin cells grow and shed in a monthly cycle. With psoriasis, the skin cells grow and build up on the surface of the skin, forming plaques and scales....

Here are some options you can discuss with your doctor, including some common remedies you can try at home. (1,2) If they do bother you, some at-home remedies may help you deal with them. Using a Water Flosser One of the best methods recommended by doctors for dislodging tonsil stones is doing so with a water flosser. It’s a great way to remove them without gagging, and it doesn’t involve any sharp implements....

— Laynie, Michigan Anxiety can increase heart rate and thus lead to heart pounding (also known as heart palpitations). Also, some patients develop symptoms of indigestion following gallbladder surgery due to a condition known as postcholecystectomy syndrome; if the indigestion increases your anxiety, then this may be related to your palpitations. However, I would recommend that you see a cardiologist for evaluation, since palpitations could also be symptoms of an electrical disturbance of the heart....

“Gout occurs when monosodium urate crystals precipitate in bones, joints, or soft tissues. These crystals are more likely to crystallize in lower temperatures. As it generally is colder at night, this may be why many gout attacks begin at night,” says Jennifer Sloane, MD, a rheumatologist at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. The sudden onset of pain in a single joint, with accompanying swelling, redness, and warmth around the joint, is such a classic symptom for a gout flare that most doctors can make the diagnosis over the phone....

It is possible that your daughter has post-nasal drip that is irritating her throat, or less likely, there could be swelling in her throat. I suggest you have an allergist evaluate her before you try any new medications. Although Zyrtec (cetirizine) is a wonderful medicine and can be conveniently purchased over-the-counter, it is not doing the trick! She might benefit from a different antihistamine and the addition of a nasal steroid spray and even pretreatment with a saline rinse....

When they examined data from a study group of 379 hospitalized babies under age 6 months (176 with COVID-19, 203 without), researchers found that those born to mothers who were vaccinated had a 61 percent lower risk of being hospitalized than those delivered from unvaccinated mothers. The study authors noted that protection was even greater if mothers received their shots later in pregnancy (21 weeks through 14 days before delivery)....

It’s possible: Some preliminary research suggests taking a vitamin D supplement may play a role in preventing or managing COVID-19. But not so fast. When it comes to using supplements to protect against respiratory illnesses, the research to date has had mixed results. Yet that doesn’t mean you won’t benefit from adding a vitamin D supplement to your diet or taking a socially distanced walk to soak up the sun, which is a natural source of the essential nutrient....

For the study, researchers compared the risk of cancer diagnosis and death for more than 30,000 people with obesity, including more than 5,000 individuals who had bariatric surgery. Surgery was associated with a 32 percent lower risk of cancer and a 48 percent decreased chance of cancer-related death. “Patients can lose 20 to 40 percent of their body weight after surgery, and weight loss can be sustained over decades,” said the lead study author, Ali Aminian, MD, the director of the Bariatric & Metabolic Institute at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, in a statement....

Any kind of activity offers a boost for your body and brain, but unlike other types of aerobic exercise (like jogging or walking), you can make cycling a high-intensity workout without putting as much pressure on the joints. Many of the studies that have looked at how cycling affects health find that cycling just a few days a week is enough to lead to the following health benefits. 1. Cycling Boosts Aerobic Fitness (Without Stressing Your Joints) Cardiovascular or aerobic activity is an important part of physical fitness....

“Pilates has a positive effect on the health of most of the voluntary muscles [skeletal muscles you control] of the body, predominantly the larger muscles,” says Vedant Vaksha, MD, a spine surgeon with Complete Orthopedics in Long Island, New York. “It helps in stretching and strengthening muscles of the forearm, arm, neck and back, hips, thighs, and legs.” But it can also deliver some other lesser known benefits, and ones you may not notice when looking in the mirror....

These numbers are surprising when you consider that fewer than five million American adults identify as Jewish, according to a report from Brandeis University (PDF). And even fewer are observant and keep kosher. What gives? “Some consumers perceive the products to be cleaner or more wholesome,” says Mindy Haar, PhD, RD, chair of interdisciplinary health sciences at New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury, New York. But are they?...

Basically, it’s reducing the number of carbs you eat from your norm. In general, however, a low-carb diet may include 50 to 100 grams (g) of carbohydrates per day, she says. Below that is considered very-low-carb, such as the ketogenic diet, while 100 to 200 g of carbohydrates per day is a moderate-carb diet. If you’re pregnant or nursing, following a low-carb diet isn’t recommended (barring gestational diabetes, in which case, consult your healthcare team)....

More screen time means there’s been a significant increase in blue light exposure. RELATED: Your Work-From-Home Survival Guide for Self-Care Promote alertnessBoost memory and cognitive functionElevate moodRegulate circadian rhythm to enhance healthy sleep (though only when exposure occurs during daytime hours and not too close to bedtime — more on that later) RELATED: How to Help Reduce Your Risk for Skin Cancer Sleep Disruption Exposure to blue light can mess with your circadian rhythm, which can negatively affect sleep....