by Asit Kumar Mishra, Marie Coggins, The Conversation Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain During winter, many of us use fragrances to help create a cozy, festive feeling in our homes. From gingerbread, cinnamon and pine scented candles to frankincense and myrrh diffusers, it’s becoming increasingly popular to use scents to evoke the Christmas spirit. The UK home fragrance...
Category: <span>Patient Education</span>
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Mucus and snot are more important than you think, researchers say
by Jenny Ryltenius, Karolinska Institutet Credit: CC0 Public Domain When you hear the words mucus and snot, you might think of colds, snails or drooling babies. But the runny, sometimes sticky substance often plays a vital role in our lives, and mucus also has the potential to be a medicine. From the moist passages of the...
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ADHD medications affect children’s appetites. Here’s how to manage this
by Daryl Efron, The Conversation Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) impacts the ability to maintain attention to tasks. Often, it also involves impulsive behavior—saying or doing things without stopping to think first—as well as hyperactivity. ADHD is the most common developmental disorder in childhood, affecting 5–8% of children worldwide. Not all children and adolescents with ADHD...
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An update 1=on the recalls and illnesses in the salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers
by David J. Neal Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Since last week’s recall of cucumbers across the United States and Canada, more cucumbers have been recalled and more people sickened with salmonella. Here’s the latest on the situation: What other cucumbers have been recalled? Last Wednesday’s SunFed Produce recall of whole cucumbers from Sonora, Mexico, grower Agrotato S.A. de C.V....
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Changes to Medicare in 2025
Several changes to Medicare will occur in 2025, including a cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, expanded mental health care services, and increased caregiver support. These changes aim to improve access to care and reduce financial burdens for people using Medicare. Medicare is a cornerstone of healthcare for millions of Americans, providing health insurance for...
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What makes oatmeal the ideal breakfast for heart health and weight loss?
by Mayo Clinic News Network Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Oatmeal is a nutritious, inexpensive and versatile way to incorporate whole grains into the diet. Oats made history when they became the first food with a Food and Drug Administration health claim label in 1997. This claim was related to heart health and showed that intake...
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How to avoid eye infections—and what to do if you get one
by Charlotte Codina, The Conversation Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Sir Elton John recently revealed on ABC’s Good Morning America that he lost the sight in his right eye after suffering from an eye infection. With poor vision in his left eye too, John said. “It’s been four months now since I haven’t been able to see.” Reassuringly, the...
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Many people don’t measure their blood pressure properly at home—here’s how to get accurate readings
by Niamh Chapman, Dean Picone and Eleanor Clapham, The Conversation Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Measuring your blood pressure at home means you can take readings over several days to get a better picture of your health, instead of one-off measurements at the doctor’s clinic. It’s important you follow specific steps to get an accurate reading. But our...
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Pediatrician explains whooping cough
by Shreya Doshi, MD, MBBS Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. The infection attacks the lining of the breathing passages. People can get whooping cough any time of year, but generally infections are seen in late summer and fall. Symptoms of...
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Salmonella outbreak triggers recall of cucumbers in 26 states
by Robin Foster Sixty-eight people have been sickened and 18 have been hospitalized in a salmonella outbreak linked to whole cucumbers sold in 26 states and parts of Canada. “Epidemiologic and traceback information shows that cucumbers grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico, including recalled cucumbers from SunFed Produce LLC, may be contaminated...