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But vitamin D is crucial for many other reasons, including helping the immune system function, according to the National Institutes of Health. This may explain the connection between vitamin D and psoriasis, a disorder of the immune system. Researchers have found that people with plaque psoriasis often have lower than normal levels of vitamin D, says the Mayo Clinic. Not having enough vitamin D doesn’t necessarily cause psoriasis, says Suzanne Olbricht, MD, the chief of dermatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston....

Why might this happen? “It is believed to be an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system destroys the melanocytes, resulting in white patches,” says Michele Green, MD, a dermatologist in private practice in New York City. Anyone can potentially develop vitiligo. It affects men and women of all races and ages, though in most cases the white patches associated with vitiligo start to show up before one’s 20th birthday....

What Are Blueberries, and Where Does the Fruit Come From? Thanks to these antioxidants, regularly consuming blueberries may boast a number of health benefits, research suggests. Help Lower Your Risk for Heart Disease Help Boost Brain Function Play a Role in Lowering Your Risk for Type 2 Diabetes Help You Maintain Healthy, Strong Bones Play a Part in Helping Prevent Some Cancers Have the Potential to Improve Your Mood Sometimes, you may stumble upon blueberries that are reddish or greenish in color....

When you’re diagnosed with asthma, your doctor will evaluate the severity of your condition — for some people symptoms show up only on occasion in response to very specific triggers; and for other people, asthma symptoms are present much more often. Beyond differences in severity, there are also a variety of types of asthma with differing symptoms and triggers that can lead to discomfort (even though asthma is considered a single condition)....

Vancomycin is an antibiotic that is commonly used to treat these infections, but as with a number of other bacteria that have developed antibiotic resistance — the ability of certain germs to fight off the drugs that have been formulated to kill them — enterococci has learned to adapt and prevail against the drug. These hard-to-kill bacteria are called vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). Bloodstream infections can cause: FeverChillsBody achesRapid pulse and breathingNausea and vomitingDiarrheaDecreased urination...

Remission of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has generally been defined as gaining control of inflammation and ending your symptoms and flares, which allows you to enjoy a better quality of life, according to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. The organization estimates that about 50 percent of people with Crohn’s disease will be in remission or have mild disease over the five years after treatment. Now though, experts point out that there are many different ways to determine whether a person is in remission — and symptoms are only one piece of the puzzle....

1. How Many Calories Are in a Banana? One medium banana (about seven inches long) comes in at 105 calories. “A banana is a perfect 100-calorie snack,” says Jennifer Davis, RDN, a regional supervisor of medical nutrition and dietary services for Kaiser Permanente in Honolulu, Hawaii. 2. What’s Actually in a Banana? Well, it is mostly carbs — and that’s actually a great thing. (One medium banana packs 27 grams of carbs....

If you want to know the differences between psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, and other mental health professionals, here’s an overview. Practicing psychologists go through years of education and supervised training before they’re able to practice. That makes psychologists some of the most highly trained mental health professionals, steeped in evidence-based techniques and research, explains Lynn Bufka, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist and associate chief of practice transformation at the American Psychological Association, where she works on healthcare policy issues and improving mental health care delivery....

Inflammation occurs naturally as part of the body’s immune response. When your body is fighting an infection or injury, it sends inflammatory cells to the rescue. This results in those classic signs — swelling, redness, and sometimes pain. That’s completely normal and natural. (1) As long as the body stays in control, that is. The story changes when inflammation lingers and never fully goes away. This chronic inflammation means your body is always in a state of high alert, and it can trigger some major health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer....

When the immune system is weakened from AIDS, the body may have difficulty fighting off certain cancers or viral, fungal, or bacterial infections, and these conditions may prove fatal. Stage 1: Acute HIV Infection Within the first two to four weeks after HIV infection, about two-thirds of people will experience symptoms that feel like a really bad flu. As the immune system rallies to fight off the virus, fever may develop along with additional symptoms, such as sore throat, swollen glands, mouth sores, rashes, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, and muscle and joint pain....

Serious infections from P. aeruginosa primarily occur in healthcare settings, but people can also develop infections from hot tubs and swimming pools. Infection of the lungs (pneumonia)Fever and chillsDifficulty breathingChest painTirednessCough, sometimes with yellow, green, or bloody mucus Urinary tract infections can cause: Strong urge to urinate frequentlyPainful urinationUnpleasant odor in urineCloudy or bloody urinePain in the pelvic area Wound infections can cause: Inflamed wound siteFluid leakage from wound...

“One of the earliest forms of qigong that we have knowledge of is the Five Animal Frolics,” Bouguyon says. After a day of labor, field workers would perform gentle movements to help ease tension in their bodies. They settled on the movements by observing the nearby animals and imitating their motions. Eventually, the practice evolved into an understanding of the TCM concept of meridians, or energy channels, within the body, according to Bouguyon....

Her daughters, Ashley and Wynonna, released a statement to the Associated Press on Saturday, April 30. “Today we sisters experienced a tragedy,” the statement read. “We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness. We are shattered. We are navigating profound grief and know that as we loved her, she was loved by her public. We are in unknown territory.” Naomi’s representative, Adkins Publicity, also issued a statement on behalf of Naomi’s family to Today....

An estimated 5 to 10 percent of people with diabetes have type 1, and most have been managing their condition since childhood. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, but it can occur at any age. Common symptoms of type 1 diabetes include extreme hunger or thirst, fatigue, blurry vision, and weight loss. Once diagnosed, insulin injections and other therapies can allow people with type 1 diabetes to manage their condition and lead long and active lives....

Pregnant women have an increased risk of hernias because of the increased pressure pregnancy puts on the abdomen. Most hernias in pregnant women are external, meaning that they affect the abdominal wall and may be seen or felt as a bulge under the skin. This most commonly happens in the lower abdomen or groin area. (1) Most hernias in both the general population and pregnant women affect the groin, in either what’s known as an inguinal or a femoral hernia....

Many people who want to stop smoking turn to nicotine gum, which research shows can be helpful for smokers who are trying to quit but are struggling with nicotine withdrawal. It was the first nicotine replacement therapy to be approved for over-the-counter sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which gave it the nod back in February 1996, months before nicotine patches were approved for non-prescription use. A Look at Nicotine Gum Choices Nicotine gum is available under the brand names Nicorette and Nicorette DS....

Two weeks later, her husband got better and was cleared to return to his maintenance job. But not Kephart. The 47-year-old patient services coordinator in Sterling, Nebraska, has barely gotten off the couch in the past three months. Her exhaustion and fever remain unrelenting. And new symptoms have developed, including severe nausea. “I used to be so active, walking 20 miles a week, but now I can’t walk around my house without problems....

Anyone who dials the number will be connected to a trained counselor who can help them with their situation, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and will help fund and implement 988. Here’s what Americans need to know about mental health’s new emergency hotline — 988 — how it’ll work, and what will happen if you call....

We mean time spent daydreaming or letting your thoughts wander with no agenda or deadline: downtime. The human brain requires breaks and downtime throughout the day in much the same way our muscles need rest days to recover from an intense workout at the gym. Taking mental breaks throughout the day (where you’re not solving a problem or learning new information) helps boost mood, performance, and your ability to concentrate and pay attention, according to Cleveland Clinic....

Desserts are often described as “sinfully delicious” or “indulgent.” You may have seen foods specifically made to be lower calorie and lower fat than the originals (think banana ice cream, black bean brownies, and other sweet riffs) marketed as “reduced-guilt” or “guilt-free.” “Somehow, we decided that some foods are good and some are bad, and that if we eat them, then our behaviors — and even we as people — are good or bad,” says Jillian Lampert, PhD, RD, a dietitian who specializes in eating disorders and the chief strategy officer of Veritas Collaborative and The Emily Program (both eating disorder treatment centers), who is based in St....