Wryneck occurs when the neck muscles twist beyond their usual capacity, causing the head to tilt. The condition is also known as torticollis or loxia. Wryneck may develop over time. It can also occur after an injury to the area, or because of a reaction to medication. A person with wryneck may find it uncomfortable…
Gastroesophageal reflux disease usually causes heartburn, as well as respiratory and digestive symptoms. Doctors often recommend that people with this common illness avoid drinking caffeine. However, the scientific evidence is not so clear. In this article, we examine the effects caffeine may have on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and investigate whether all people with GERD…
Q. Are calcium supplements safe? A. The short answer is probably yes. Many people, especially women, take calcium supplements in the hope of building stronger bones, but whether calcium supplements prevent fractures remains uncertain. The United States Preventive Services Task Force advises postmenopausal women against taking 1,000 milligrams a day or less for preventing fractures…
Before: Text your friends to tell them that your mother has entered hospice. Tell them that it’s just to get the equipment she needs (a hospital bed, a better wheelchair) and not a sign of her impending death. Pretend you believe it. Brace yourself for the SWAT team of hospice services and providers that descends…
LONDON — Doctors in Britain will be able to legally prescribe medicinal cannabis from Nov. 1, after two highly publicized cases of young, epileptic patients dependent on marijuana-based treatments put pressure on the government to review its policy. The change was announced on Thursday by Home Secretary Sajid Javid, after he called for an urgent…
Compulsive eating is common in the days leading up to a period. Several tips and strategies can help a person curb these cravings. Compulsive eating, or binge eating, is an overwhelming urge to eat more food than necessary. It may involve snacking when not hungry or eating in secret. Some people feel sadness or shame…
The toes and feet bear the weight of the body every day. People may squeeze them into tight-fitting shoes or subject them to pressure while playing sports, making toe cramps a common complaint. When people experience toe cramps, they may be a mild annoyance or so intense that walking becomes difficult. Toe cramps have many…
Image Obesity is linked to an increased risk for colorectal cancer in younger women, new research has found. Colorectal cancer rates have been increasing in people under 50 while declining in older people. No one knows why. In an observational study published in JAMA Oncology, researchers prospectively tracked the health of more than 85,000 women…
Image Credit Omega-3 supplements may help reduce anxiety symptoms, a review of studies has concluded. The analysis, in JAMA Network Open, concluded that people with clinically diagnosed anxiety disorders who took large doses of the supplement — up to 2,000 milligrams a day — benefited most. Researchers used data from 16 studies that compared omega-3…
Image Credit Vitamin D supplements do not help prevent fractures, increase bone mineral density or prevent falls in adults, a large review of studies has found. Those findings come from an analysis of data from 81 randomized controlled trials involving more than 53,000 participants. The researchers believe that clinical guidelines should be revised to discourage…