Hypoxia and hypoxemia (low blood oxygen) facts Hypoxia is a state of insufficient oxygen supply for normal life functions, and hypoxemia is a state of low arterial oxygen supply. Hypoxia is a condition or state in which the supply of oxygen is insufficient for normal life functions; hypoxemia is a condition or state where there is a low arterial oxygen...
How Do You Know if You Have a Sinus Infection (Sinusitis) or COVID-19 Coronavirus?
What is a sinus infection vs. COVID-19 coronavirus? If you have symptoms like nasal congestion and swelling around the bridge of nose and eyes, you may have sinus infection. But if you are experiencing shortness of breath or chills along with other symptoms, you may have COVID infection. As doctors and researchers continue to learn more about COVID-19 and the...
How Long Is Shingles Contagious and How Is It Treated?
What is shingles? Shingles blisters usually scab over in seven to 10 days, at which point they are no longer contagious. If you do get shingles, there are options for medications as well as at-home care to help address symptoms. Shingles is an itchy, painful rash that usually occurs on one side of your body and/or face. Approximately one in...
How Do I Know if My Baby Has Thrush?
What is thrush? Thrush is a fungal infection that occurs in the mouth and throat. You know if your baby has thrush if you notice white patches on your baby's mouth, tongue or throat. Other signs include fussiness or refusal to nurse or cracking or redness on the corners of your baby's mouth. Under normal conditions, the body contains millions...
Is It My Period or Implantation Bleeding?
What is your period vs. implantation bleeding? Implantation bleeding usually happens under two weeks post-conception. It is usually much lighter than period bleeding, lasting only a day or two, and looks like spotting instead of a full or heavy flow like your period. When you notice vaginal bleeding that you’re not sure is from your period or pregnancy, it can...
What Is the Difference Between Ischemic Stroke and Hemorrhagic Stroke?
What is a stroke? A stroke is a bleeding or clotting event that interferes with blood flow to the brain. An ischemic stroke is when blood vessels to the brain become clogged. A hemorrhagic stroke is when bleeding interferes with the brain's ability to function. A stroke is a medical condition where there is an interruption in blood flow to...
What’s the Difference Between Chickenpox and Shingles?
What are chickenpox and shingles? The difference between chickenpox and shingles is that the first time you get infected with the varicella virus, you get chickenpox. Shingles is a condition you can develop if you've already had chickenpox. Chickenpox and shingles are two infectious diseases that are often confused with one another. That’s because they’re caused by the same virus,...
Birth Control Methods: Pill, Implant, Barrier, Side Effects & Effectiveness
Birth control pills can be an effective method to prevent pregnancy.Source: Getty Images Facts you should know about birth control Readers Comments 2 Share Your Story Birth control methods can be broadly classified into barrier methods (that prevent sperm cells from reaching the egg), methods that prevent ovulation such as the birth control pill, and methods that allow fertilization of...
Can Diarrhea Be an Initial Symptom of COVID-19?
What is COVID-19? COVD-19 is a contagious infectious illness that causes widespread symptoms. Diarrhea is one of the most relatively common but less well-known symptom of COVID-19. COVID-19 is highly infectious, even before people start to show symptoms. It also has a host of different symptoms that aren’t commonly recognized. Many cases of COVID-19 are mild, but it’s important to...
How Do They Remove a Cyst From Your Ovaries?
What is an ovarian cyst? Most cysts are benign, go away on their own, and do not require treatment. If your cysts are persistent and begin to impact your quality of life, your doctor may want to perform surgery for ovarian cyst removal. Cysts are small fluid-filled sacs and can appear anywhere in your body. Cysts that grow on your...