Category: Health & Fitness

Teething: Tips for soothing sore gums Is your teething baby keeping you up at night? Understand how to soothe sore gums and care for your baby’s new teeth. By Mayo Clinic Staff When a baby’s teeth start coming through the gums, it’s known as teething. Teething might make your baby drool, act cranky and want to chew on things. It may cause gum pain. Here’s how to help your baby get through the teething process with a smile. What’s typical? Many babies start teething around 6 months of age. Others start teething a few months later. The two bottom front teeth called the lower central incisors are often the first to appear. The two top front teeth called upper central incisors usually come in next. Often, teething doesn’t cause symptoms. But teething babies can have symptoms such as: Drooling more than usual. Chewing on objects. Acting cranky. Having sore or tender gums. Getting a face rash. Having a slight rise in temperature but no fever. Many parents and caregivers think that teething causes fever, diarrhea and crying. But these symptoms often have causes other than teething. Talk with your baby’s healthcare professional if your baby cries a lot, gets diarrhea, or has a rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius). What’s the best way to soothe sore gums? If your baby doesn’t seem comfortable while teething, try these simple tips. Rub your baby’s gums Use a clean finger or wet gauze to rub your baby’s gums for two minutes. The pressure can ease your baby’s discomfort. You can rub the gums as often as needed. If your baby is older than age 1, rub the gums with a piece of ice wrapped in a wet cloth. Cool gums with chilled items Chill teething rings, pacifiers, or wet washcloths in the refrigerator. Do not freeze them. These chilled items can soothe a baby’s gums. To help prevent cavities, don’t dip these items in sugary substances. While your baby chews these items, watch to make sure your baby doesn’t choke. If your baby is older than age 1, you can offer a chilled piece of soft fruit such as a banana or chilled berries in a small mesh teether. But do not use hard foods that could cause choking. Also do not use ice or frozen pops because these can cause frostbite of the gums. Make sure any teething rings are filled with distilled water instead of gel in case your baby’s new teeth put a hole in a ring. Try pain relievers made for babies If your baby is very cranky, you can give infants’ or children’s pain medicines such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). Stop use of the medicine after 1 to 2 days. Longer use can damage the liver or kidneys. Try cup feeding If your baby usually breastfeeds but doesn’t want to do so because of teething pain, try putting the breastmilk in a cup. You can feed your baby from the cup as needed for a short time. Or you could use a spoon or a syringe. What treatments should I not use? To keep your baby safe, do not use: Remedies such as homeopathic teething tablets. Research hasn’t shown that topical gels and teething tablets can help teething babies. Some homeopathic remedies may have higher amounts than labeled of an ingredient called Atropa belladonna. This ingredient can cause seizures and trouble breathing. Teething medicines that have benzocaine or lidocaine in them. These pain relievers can be harmful, even fatal, to your baby. Teething necklaces, bracelets or anklets. These items pose a risk of choking, strangling, mouth injury and infection of the skin. Do I need to call my baby’s healthcare professional? Teething can usually be handled at home. But call your baby’s healthcare professional if your baby: Seems very cranky or cries a lot. Has trouble eating, drinking, or sleeping. Gets diarrhea or has a fever. Has symptoms that become worse. How do I care for my baby’s new teeth? Run a soft, clean cloth over your baby’s gums twice a day. Do this after the morning feeding and before bed. The cleansing can keep food debris, sugars, and germs from building up in your baby’s mouth. When your baby’s first teeth appear, use a small, soft-bristled toothbrush to clean the teeth twice a day. You can start using a toothpaste containing fluoride, but only use an amount that’s about the size of a grain of rice. Once the first tooth comes in, ask your baby’s dentist or healthcare professional if your child’s teeth would benefit from a dental product called fluoride varnish. This is a higher concentration of fluoride applied by a healthcare professional. Until your child is good at spitting out extra toothpaste, continue using an amount that’s about the size of a grain of rice. Once your child can spit, you can use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Be sure to schedule your child’s first dental visit at or near your child’s first birthday. At this visit the dentist likely will: Tell you about tooth-healthy foods. Show you how to brush and the amount of toothpaste to use. Talk about preventing tooth trauma from things such as falls as your little one starts to walk. Talk with you about pacifier use or finger sucking. Ask how teething is going and offer recommendations. Check your baby’s mouth to make sure it’s healthy. Remember, regular dental care during childhood helps start a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.   Children’s health information and parenting tips to your inbox. Sign-up to get Mayo Clinic’s trusted health content sent to your email. Receive a bonus guide on ways to manage your child’s health just for subscribing. Click here for an email preview. Subscribe Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have

Dietary supplements for erectile dysfunction: A natural treatment for ED? Some herbs claim to help erectile dysfunction. Find out the facts before trying one. By Mayo Clinic Staff Erectile dysfunction, also called ED, is trouble getting and keeping an erection that’s firm enough for sex. ED is common, and treatments such as prescription medicines are available. But maybe you’ve seen advertisements for herbs or supplements that claim to boost sexual performance. Could they work for you? Erectile dysfunction supplements and other natural remedies have long been used in various cultures. But they haven’t been studied or tested nearly as much as prescription medicines for ED. Prescription medicines include sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil, tadalafil (Cialis, Adcirca, others), and avanafil (Stendra). These are known as PDE5 inhibitors. Some supplements can cause side effects. They also can affect other medicines and health conditions. And the amount of the active ingredient can vary greatly from product to product. That’s why it’s important to talk with your healthcare professional before you try a new supplement. Your healthcare professional can find out if it’s safe for you and can recommend the right amount to take. Don’t use supplements for ED that lack proven benefits and pose a potential risk for harm. Here’s a guide to erectile dysfunction herbs and supplements: Studied in people, positive results, generally safe Herb or supplement Does it work? Safety L-arginine Some research shows that taking high doses improves erectile dysfunction by helping blood vessels open wider for better blood flow.  Side effects may include stomach pain, bloating, headache, insomnia and diarrhea. Don’t take L-arginine with sildenafil. Ginseng Panax ginseng may improve sexual function in people with erectile dysfunction. A cream preparation is used for premature ejaculation.  Panax ginseng has many active ingredients in it. It appears to be safe when used for up to 6 months. Insomnia, headaches and vertigo are common side effects. Propionyl-L-carnitine Studies have shown that propionyl-L-carnitine combined with sildenafil might improve erectile function better than sildenafil alone.  Propionyl-L-carnitine is likely to be safe when used for up to 6 months. DHEA Some early research shows that dehydroepiandrosterone, also called DHEA, helps for erectile dysfunction that’s linked with high blood pressure or that doesn’t have a clear cause.  Long-term or heavy use of DHEA may be linked with some cancers. Use of DHEA at low doses for a short time, such as up to 6 months, can cause side effects such as acne, headache, insomnia, mood changes and upset stomach. Yohimbe Small studies suggest that use of this ingredient from the bark from an African tree can improve ED that has various causes.  This herb has been linked with dangerous side effects. These include agitation, increased blood pressure, fast or irregular heartbeat, heart attack and seizures. Do not use yohimbe without a healthcare professional’s guidance. Ginkgo Ginkgo may boost blood flow to the penis. But there’s not enough proof that it helps for erectile dysfunction.  Side effects can include dizziness, digestive symptoms and headache. Rarely, ginkgo may raise the risk of bleeding and irregular heartbeats.  Horny goat weed, also called epimedium Substances in the leaves of this herb have been used to improve sexual performance. But there’s not enough evidence to show that it helps for ED.  Side effects can include dizziness, dry mouth, nosebleed, thirst and vomiting. This herb also may affect heart or breathing functions. Our caring team of Mayo Clinic experts can help you with your health concerns. Visit Mayo Clinic Men’s Health to get started. Get the process started Be wary of ‘herbal viagra’ Many products that are sold without a prescription claim to be herbal forms of Viagra. Some of these products contain various amounts of ingredients like those in prescription medicines. Such ingredients can cause dangerous side effects. Some products have the real medicine in them, and the medicine should be given by prescription only. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has banned many of these products. But some risky erectile dysfunction remedies are still on the market. Be cautious and talk with your healthcare professional Just because a product claims to be natural doesn’t mean it’s safe. Many herbal remedies and dietary supplements can cause side effects. They also can have dangerous effects when taken with some medicines. Talk with your healthcare professional before you try a supplement for erectile dysfunction. That’s extra important if you’re taking medicines or you have a long-term health condition such as heart disease or diabetes.   From Mayo Clinic to your inbox Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview. Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Subscribe! Thank you for subscribing! You’ll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry Jan. 03, 2025 Show references Petre GC, et al. Dietary supplements for erectile dysfunction: Analysis of marketed products, systematic review, meta-analysis and rational use. 2023; doi:10.3390/nu15173677. Tainted sexual enhancement and energy products. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. URL: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/medication-health-fraud/tainted-sexual-enhancement-and-energy-products. Accessed Sept. 17, 2024. Rakel D, et al., eds. Erectile dysfunction. In: Integrative Medicine. 5th ed. Elsevier; 2023. URL: https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Sept. 17, 2024. DHEA. NatMed. URL: https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com. Accessed Sept. 17, 2024. L-arginine. NatMed. URL: https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com. Accessed Sept.

Spitting up in babies: What’s OK, what’s not Many babies spit up. Here’s what’s behind spitting up and when it might signal a more serious problem. By Mayo Clinic Staff You’ve just fed your baby breast milk or formula only to watch the baby spit up what seems like all of it. Is spitting up OK? Find out more about spitting up and what you can do about it. What causes spitting up? Enlarge image Close Infant acid reflux Infant acid reflux If the muscle between the esophagus and the stomach relaxes when the stomach is full, food might flow up the baby’s esophagus. The muscle is called the lower esophageal sphincter. Spitting up is common in babies. During their first three months, about half of all babies do it. The food backs up from the baby’s stomach through the same tube that carries food to the stomach, called the esophagus. This condition is called gastroesophageal reflux, infant reflux or infant acid reflux. A muscle between the esophagus and the stomach keeps food in the stomach. The muscle is called the lower esophageal sphincter. Until this muscle has time to mature, your baby might spit up. This happens mainly when the baby’s stomach is full. What is the difference between spitting up and vomiting? It can be hard to tell the difference sometimes. Most often, spitting up is the easy flow of food from the baby’s stomach back through the mouth. The baby also might burp. Vomiting might happen with spit up, but it comes out with force. It shoots out of the mouth rather than oozing. It seems like my baby is spitting up a lot. Can spitting up affect my baby’s growth? Most often spitting up doesn’t affect a baby’s growth. Does your baby seem well? Is your baby eating and gaining weight? Then there’s little cause for worry. Keep in mind that when you see how much your baby has spit up based on the size of a spit-up stain, it’s easy to think there’s more than there is. Babies most often spit up only one or two mouthfuls of breast milk or formula. Will my baby outgrow spitting up? Most babies stop spitting up by age 12 months. What can I do to ease spitting up? Try these tips: Keep your baby upright. Keep your baby’s head higher than the rest of the body for each feeding. Keep your baby upright for 30 minutes after each feeding. Don’t do active play or use an infant swing right after feeding. Don’t overfeed. Feed your baby smaller amounts more often. Burp your baby more. Burping during and after each feeding can keep air from building up in your baby’s stomach. Watch what you eat. If you’re breastfeeding, your baby’s healthcare professional might suggest not eating dairy or certain other foods. Keep tobacco smoke away from your baby. Tobacco smoke adds to gastrointestinal reflux in adults. Besides maybe making your baby’s spitting up worse, being around smoke is bad for the baby’s health in many ways. Even if your baby spits up, put your baby to sleep on the back. This is to lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, also called SIDS. Don’t put your baby to sleep on the stomach to try to keep the baby from spitting up. Can spitting up be a sign of a problem? Certain symptoms might mean an underlying condition or something more serious than just spitting up. Contact your baby’s healthcare professional if your baby: Isn’t gaining weight. Spits up with force. Spits up green or yellow fluid. Spits up blood or what looks like coffee grounds. Refuses to feed. Has blood in the stool. Has trouble breathing or other signs of illness. Begins spitting up at age 6 months or older. Cries more than usual or is more cranky than usual. Has fewer wet diapers than usual. Treatment depends on what’s causing your baby to spit up. There might be ways of feeding that can help. Sometimes, a healthcare professional might prescribe medicine to treat reflux.   Children’s health information and parenting tips to your inbox. Sign-up to get Mayo Clinic’s trusted health content sent to your email. Receive a bonus guide on ways to manage your child’s health just for subscribing. Click here for an email preview. Subscribe Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Thank you for subscribing Our e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Something went wrong with your subscription. Please try again in a couple of minutes Retry Jan. 14, 2025 Show references Winter HS. Gastroesophageal reflux in infants. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Oct. 21, 2021. Rosen R, et al. Pediatric gastroesophageal reflux clinical practice guidelines: Joint recommendations of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2018; doi:10.1097/MPG.0000000000001889. Acid reflux (GER & GERD) in infants. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/acid-reflux-ger-gerd-infants/all-content. Accessed Oct. 21, 2021. Spitting up (normal reflux). Pediatric Patient Education. https://publications.aap.org/patiented. Accessed Sept. 3, 2024. Jana LA, et al. Spitting up and vomiting. In: Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality. 4th ed. American Academy of Pediatrics; 2020. https://www.aap.org/en/shopaap. Accessed Sept. 3, 2024. See more In-depth Products and Services A Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to Your Baby’s First Years . Source link

Choosing a birth control pill Choosing the right birth control pill can be a challenge. Learn the pros and cons of different types of birth control pills. By Mayo Clinic Staff Are you thinking of taking birth control pills? Birth control pills are some of the most used contraceptives. That’s because they work well and they’re easy to use. But there are a lot of choices. How do you know which to choose? Here’s a breakdown of birth control pill types to make it easier to know your choices. What are the different kinds of birth control pills? There are two main kinds of birth control pills: Combination birth control pills. This type of pill has both estrogen and progestin. There are many combination pills to choose from. Your choice depends on how often you want to have periods and the dose of hormones that is best for you. Progestin-only pills. Also called minipills, this type of pill has progestin only. The progestin-only pill doesn’t offer as many choices as combination pills. In each pack of pills, all the pills have the same amount of progestin and all the pills are active. Combination birth control pills come in different mixtures of pills that have hormones, called active pills, and pills that don’t have hormones, called inactive pills. The mix you choose depends on how often you want to have periods: Conventional. Conventional packs most often have 21 active pills and seven inactive pills, or 24 active pills and four pills that aren’t active. You bleed every month when you take the inactive pills. Continuous use or extended use. These packs most often have 84 active pills and seven pills that aren’t active. You bleed only four times a year, when you take the inactive pills. If you don’t want any bleeding, you can choose a pill type that has only active pills or you can skip the pills that aren’t active in each pack. The dose of hormones in the active pills in combination birth control pills either stays the same or changes: Monophasic. In this type of combination birth control pill, each active pill has the same amounts of estrogen and progestin. Multiphasic. In this type of combination birth control pill, the amounts of hormones in the active pills vary. Most combination birth control pills have 10 to 35 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol, a kind of estrogen. People who are sensitive to hormones may want to take one of the pills with a lower dose of estrogen. But low-dose pills may cause more bleeding or spotting between periods than higher dose pills. This is called breakthrough bleeding. Do you need a prescription to get birth control pills? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the first birth control pill you can get without a prescription. It’s a progestin-only pill that the FDA first approved for prescription use only, then switched to being one you can get without a prescription. For other types of birth control pills, including combination birth control pills, you need a prescription from a healthcare professional. What differs in how birth control pills work? Combination birth control pills prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg. They also slow an egg’s progress through the fallopian tubes, thicken cervical mucus and thin the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium. All these actions help keep sperm from joining the egg. Progestin-only pills also slow an egg’s progress through the fallopian tubes, thicken cervical mucus and thin the lining of the uterus to help keep sperm from reaching the egg. Some types of these pills also may keep the ovary from releasing an egg, called ovulation. Are all kinds of birth control pills OK for everyone? No. Your healthcare professional needs to know about your medical history and any medicines you take to find which birth control pill is right for you. Your healthcare professional may tell you not to use combination birth control pills if you: Have just given birth. Are older than age 35 and smoke. Have poorly controlled high blood pressure. Have a blood clotting disorder or a history of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Have had or have breast cancer. Have had a stroke or heart disease. Have diabetes-related complications. Have a liver or gallbladder condition. Have lupus. Have a history of migraine with aura. Have uterine bleeding with no known cause. Will have limited movement for a long time due to major surgery. Take St. John’s wort, or medicines to prevent convulsions or tuberculosis. Had gastric bypass surgery. Your healthcare professional may tell you not to use the progestin-only pill if you: Had or have breast cancer. Have certain liver conditions. Have uterine bleeding with no known cause. Take medicines to prevent convulsions or tuberculosis. Had gastric bypass surgery. Have some forms of lupus. What are the pros and cons of combination birth control pills? Pros Here are some possible benefits of combination birth control pills: Easy to stop if you want to get pregnant. Relief from premenstrual syndrome, also called PMS. Menstrual cramps, called dysmenorrhea, that aren’t as bad. Some relief of acne. Shorter, lighter periods that you can predict, or fewer or no periods. Less heavy bleeding, called menorrhagia, and related anemia. Fewer symptoms of endometriosis. Lower risk of ovarian, endometrial and colorectal cancers. Might help bone health. Less unwanted hair growth, called hirsutism, caused by polycystic ovary syndrome. Cons Here are some possible drawbacks of combination birth control pills: Skipping pills or taking them late may affect how well they work. Don’t protect against sexually transmitted infections. Higher risk of high cholesterol, heart attack and stroke. Higher risk of blood clots. The risk is higher for people who smoke and people older than 35 years of age. Pills that have higher doses of estrogen have been linked to a slightly greater risk of blood clots. Higher risk of cervical cancer and breast cancer for people while they take combined birth control pills. But this risk seems to go

LASIK surgery is performed with a laser programmed to remove a defined amount of tissue from a part of your eye called the cornea. To begin, your doctor uses a special blade — or laser — to cut a flap on the top layer of your cornea, about the size of a contact lens. The flap allows access to the deeper layers of your eye. The laser is used again to flatten certain tissue or to make the tissue steeper, depending on your needs for corrected vision. Finally, the flap is folded back into place and will heal on its own. Source link

Here are general instructions for using a single-dose dry powder inhaler. To begin, remove the inhaler cover. Then hold the base of the inhaler firmly and twist the mouthpiece to open. Push the buttons on each side of the base to test the small spikes within the capsule chamber. These spikes puncture the capsule of medication. Remove the capsule from its foil container and place it in the capsule chamber at the base of the inhaler. Do not put the capsule in the mouthpiece. Twist the mouthpiece back to a closed position. With the inhaler upright and vertical, press the spike buttons once. You should hear a click; that’s the capsule being pierced. Release the buttons and prepare to inhale. Do not shake the inhaler. Bring the inhaler to your lips in a horizontal position. The blue spike buttons should be on the left and right of the inhaler, not top and bottom. Put your lips over the mouthpiece and breathe in deeply and quickly. As you inhale, you will experience a sweet taste and hear the capsule spinning in the chamber. After inhaling, hold your breath for up to 10 seconds. Open the inhaler to check for leftover powder. If some remains, close the chamber and inhale again. After use, remove the empty capsule and throw it away. Then close the inhaler and replace the mouthpiece cover. Your inhaler may come with slightly different instructions. Ask your doctor for a demonstration. Source link

Here are general instructions for using a dry powder disk inhaler. To begin, hold the disk level in one hand. With the other hand, put your thumb in the appropriate notch and push it away from you as far as it goes. The mouthpiece will appear and snap into place. Keep the disk horizontal. Again with your thumb, slide the lever away from you until it clicks. The disk is now ready to deliver medication. Put your lips around the mouthpiece. Breathe in quickly and deeply through your mouth — not your nose. After inhaling, remove the disk from your mouth and hold your breath for up to 10 seconds. To close the disk, put your thumb in the notch and slide it back toward you as far as it goes. The disk will click shut, and the lever will automatically return to its original position. The disk is now ready for your next dose. Your inhaler may come with slightly different instructions. Ask your doctor for a demonstration. Source link

Here are general instructions for using a dry powder tube inhaler. To begin, twist the cover off and set it down. Next, load the dose of medication. Twist the base grip to the right as far as it will go. Twist it back to the left. You will hear a click, which means it’s ready to go. You don’t need to shake the inhaler. Bring the inhaler to your lips in a horizontal position. Put your lips over the tube and take a quick, deep breath. Continue inhaling quickly and deeply. If you need another dose of medication, repeat the previous steps. If you accidentally blow into your inhaler after loading a dose, start over and load a new dose. The tube inhaler is designed to deliver one dose at a time. When you are finished, place the cover back on the inhaler and twist shut. Keep your inhaler dry and store it at room temperature. Your inhaler may come with slightly different instructions. Ask your doctor for a demonstration. Source link

There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview. Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Subscribe! Source link

Here are general instructions for using a metered dose inhaler and spacer. To begin, shake the inhaler five or six times. Remove the mouthpiece cover and place the spacer over the mouthpiece at the end of the inhaler. Put your lips and teeth over the spacer and breathe in slowly. As you do so, squeeze the top of the canister once. Keep inhaling even after you finish the squeeze. Continue inhaling slowly and deeply. After inhaling, remove the spacer from your mouth and hold your breath for up to 10 seconds. If you need another dose of medication, repeat the previous steps. Your inhaler may come with slightly different instructions. Ask your doctor for a demonstration. Source link