Autism spectrum disorder is currently classified into three levels, and those levels describe how much support a person needs. The three levels are Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3, and they replaced older categories like Asperger’s syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder in the DSM-5, published in 2013. The levels are not a measure of … Read more

A toothache rarely waits for a convenient moment. The fastest home relief usually comes from an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, a cold compress on the outside of the cheek, and rinsing with warm salt water to clear debris. These measures can calm pain for hours, but they do not treat the cause. … Read more

Pseudomembranous colitis is inflammation of the large intestine that produces raised yellowish-white patches, called pseudomembranes, on the inner lining of the colon. It is almost always caused by toxins made by the bacterium Clostridioides difficile (formerly called Clostridium difficile), usually after antibiotics have disrupted the normal gut bacteria that keep C. difficile in check. Treatment … Read more

That burning, non-stop “I have to go right now” feeling has a name: urinary urgency. When it comes with a urinary tract infection, the fastest way to stop the urge is to treat the infection itself. No home remedy removes the urge as quickly or as reliably as antibiotics your doctor prescribes. Until those take … Read more

Waking an older adult gently means speaking their name in a calm, normal voice from a few feet away, giving them time to respond, and never shaking them or shouting. If they are hard of hearing, speak louder and lower rather than higher. Approach from the front where they can see you. If they do … Read more

A colonoscopy itself usually takes about 30 to 60 minutes. You should plan for the entire visit to last around two to three hours, including check-in, sedation, the procedure, and time in the recovery area. Most people feel back to normal within a day, though the sedation can leave you groggy for several hours afterward. … Read more

You cannot safely give yourself period cramps, and no medical treatment exists to induce them on demand. Period cramps — called dysmenorrhea — are a symptom of the uterus contracting, driven by hormone-like compounds your body releases during a menstrual cycle. Cramps happen as a result of that cycle, not as something you can switch … Read more

You cannot reliably throw up on command, and trying to force it carries real risks. The gag reflex can be triggered by touching the back of the throat, and some people can vomit by stimulating that area or by using specific breathing and positioning techniques. But there is no safe, medically recommended method for making … Read more

Testosterone levels in American men have been declining for decades, and the drop is steeper than aging alone can explain. A man born in the 1970s tends to have lower testosterone at the same age than his father did at that age. Researchers have documented this across multiple large populations, and the pattern holds even … Read more