Written by Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP | Reviewed by Christina Palmer, MD Key takeaways: Castor oil has been used for centuries in traditional medicine as a natural substance thought to have healing properties.There is evidence that castor oil can help relieve constipation, induce labor, and soften skin. Some people use castor oil to promote hair...
by Swrajit Sarkar, The Conversation Credit: Markus Winkler from Pexels Social media is obsessed with the type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic. But Ozempic’s ability to control blood sugar isn’t the reason it’s so popular online. Instead, the drug is trending because it has been shown in clinical trials to cause weight loss in diabetic patients...
Caroline Apovian, MD Many patients with obesity blame weight gain on their metabolism. The reality is that metabolism can be blamed for weight regain after people try to lose weight! As we age, our metabolism does slow down; sometimes we think it stops working. Caroline Apovian, MD Metabolism, or resting energy expenditure, is directly related...
Male or female, young or old, a surprising number of us can’t make it till morning without a toilet break. Some simple changes could help David Cox Every week, Hussain Al-Zubaidi, a GP, will see at least one patient who suffers from nocturia, the medical term for needing to get up in the night to...
Written by Maria Robinson, MD, MBA | Reviewed by Samantha C. Shapiro, MD Key takeaways: Nail changes, like discolorations, dents, and thickening, are common symptoms of psoriatic arthritis.Nail symptoms of psoriasis can be uncomfortable and make it hard to work with your hands.Different treatments can help with nail changes of psoriatic arthritis, but it can...
Written by Mobola Kukoyi, MD, MPH | Reviewed by Karla Robinson, MD Key takeaways: An abscess can occur anywhere in the body. A bacterial infection — usually Staphylococcus aureus (staph) — is the most common cause.Many times you can treat an abscess at home with warm compresses, pressure, and proper wound care.You may need to...
“Crepey skin” refers to skin that looks thin, wrinkled, and similar in appearance to crepe paper. Causes include aging, UV radiation, and more. Using sun protection, moisturizing the skin, and applying topical retinoids may help manage it. Although similar to wrinkles in many ways, crepey skin is a different skin condition that can occur as...
MICHIGAN MEDICINE – UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Participation in recreational activities — including golfing, gardening or yard work, woodworking and hunting — may be associated with an increase in a person’s risk for developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a Michigan Medicine study finds. While many activities were associated with increased ALS risk, several were sex...
There is currently no cure for atrial fibrillation. However, treatments, such as beta-blockers and electrical cardioversion, can help control symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular heart rhythm. If it causes symptoms, people may experience a faster heart rate, dizziness, or chest pain. This article looks at whether there...
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that affects the large intestine. There are different subtypes, depending on the exact symptoms. Two examples include IBS with constipation (IBS-C) and IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D). The exact cause of IBS is not fully understood, but healthcare professionals believe several factors can contribute to its development....
