Category: Health

SOURCES: Aaron E. Glatt, MD, chair, Department of Medicine, chief of infectious diseases, and hospital epidemiologist, Mount Sinai South Nassau, Oceanside, NY; spokesperson, Infectious Diseases Society of America.  Luis Ostrosky, MD, chief of infectious diseases and epidemiology, UTHealth Houston and Memorial Hermann; spokesperson, Infectious Diseases Society of America.  Andrew L. Geers, PhD, professor of psychology, University of Toledo, Ohio. CDC spokesperson. James Swann, spokesperson, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). Federal Register: Meeting, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Sept. 12, 2023.  CDC: “Getting a Flu Vaccine and a COVID-19 Vaccine at the Same Time,” “Check-in with Dr. Cohen,” “Risk Assessment Summary for SARS CoV-2 ... Read more

Sept. 5, 2023 – You may have heard of the three most common forms of skin cancer — basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma — but there is a rarer and deadlier form known as Merkel cell carcinoma. The passing of popular singer and songwriter Jimmy Buffett, who died Friday at age 76 from Merkel cell carcinoma, has thrust this form of skin cancer into the spotlight. But what exactly is it? What are the warning signs, how different is it from other skin cancers, and how does it cause death? WebMD reached out to one of the ... Read more

Over the past 2 decades, treatment options for multiple myeloma have increased dramatically. That’s led to an uptick in survival rates. While there’s still no cure for this blood cancer, more than 90% of those who have it respond to treatment. Many now live for 10 years or longer with the disease.   Despite these encouraging facts, your odds for successful treatment and survival vary a lot, based on: Your age Your overall health at the time of diagnosis The stage at which the cancer is diagnosed The type of treatment you get And race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status can affect ... Read more

Though she didn’t yet know the term “toxic,” Rashawnda James knew something was very off about her relationship with her mother when she was just 13 years old. “I realized that in the conversations at school that they were talking as though their parents were around a lot,” she says. James says that wasn’t true of her parent, who had an addiction to crack cocaine. “There were times when I had to go search for my mother because I didn’t know where she was,” James says. “I felt responsible for my mom. Once I made that connection, I knew it ... Read more

Say it loud, and say it proud: Me, me, me! OK, maybe you don’t want to shout it, but it is that important. Fitting in time for yourself is essential to do your healthy habits. Take charge of your health and happiness, and you’ll lower your stress, become more productive, and have more energy. You may think “it’s all about me” is selfish. But consider this: Other people benefit from your “me time,” too. Do things that feed you mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and you’ll bring greater patience and a more positive attitude to your relationships. You’ll become a better ... Read more

By Neil M. Bressler, MD, as told to Keri Wiginton Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss for people over 65. We have excellent treatments for the wet form of AMD. But until recently, we haven’t had any therapeutics to target the root cause of geographic atrophy, an advanced form of dry AMD. The pegcetacoplan (Syfovre) injection is the first-ever FDA-approved drug to slow the progression of GA. It’s a shot you get in your eye every month or every other month. We expect to see the approval of a second, similar drug called avacincaptad pegol ... Read more

You can still live a full life with geographic atrophy (GA). Even though your vision may be different, GA doesn’t lead to total blindness. You can use your remaining vision and make certain adjustments to stay active and independent.  How You May Feel at First If you’ve been diagnosed with GA, it’s normal to struggle with feelings of sadness or worry. “My initial feelings were that of complete devastation,” says Jill Adelman, who lives in Turnersville, NJ, has GA, and advocates for people with vision loss through the BrightFocus Foundation.  For Adelman, learning to accept a GA diagnosis took time. ... Read more

With the right social support around you, managing life with geographic atrophy (GA) may be easier. GA can affect many of your daily activities, such as cooking, driving, paying bills, using your computer, and working. You might not be able to do everything the same way you used to. “Social support is critical to adapting, both logistically and emotionally,” says Sam Dahr, MD, director of the Retina Division with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. Why Connection Is Important   It can be challenging to manage the emotions that come with GA. After being diagnosed with GA, some people feel depressed, ... Read more

If you think migraines timed to your menstrual cycle are just something you have to suffer through month after month, think again. “Menstrual migraine is a common phenomenon and there are very useful treatments to make this a more comfortable time,” says Huma U. Sheikh, MD, a headache specialist and CEO of New York Neurology Medicine. How can I tell if it’s menstrual migraine? If your migraine starts anywhere from 2 days before your period to 3 days after, you have menstrual migraine. But you can also get migraines at other times, like when you’re ovulating, Sheikh says. Menstrual migraine ... Read more

Sept. 1, 2023 — An alarming gap bedevils menopause care in the United States – thanks to enduring myths about hormone replacement therapy and flaws in how new doctors are trained. The result: Countless women grapple with the physical and emotional toll of this life transition. These shortcomings have led to an influx of doctors moving from traditional practice to virtual startups that focus on women’s health issues, treating patients who come to them desperate and frustrated after years of unresolved issues. The solution is often so simple it is almost maddening, specialists say: vaginal creams containing low-dose estrogen, which ... Read more