Wellness Readers Digest | Health & Wellness Tips for Everyday Living

Bipolar disorder is a long-term mental health condition that causes clear shifts in mood, energy, activity and concentration, swinging between "up" periods called mania or hypomania and "down" periods of depression. It is usually managed for life with a mix of mood-stabilizing medicine (such as lithium), talk therapy and steady daily routines. With the right plan, many people with bipolar disorder work, study, raise families and live full lives. This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Key takeaways Bipolar disorder involves episodes of mania or hypomania (abnormally high or irritable mood and energy) and episodes of depression, and it often starts between ages 15 and 25. The three main types are bipolar I, bipolar II and cyclothymic disorder, which differ by how severe and how long the "up" episodes are. Mood stabilizers such as lithium and valproate, along with certain antipsychotics, are core treatments; antidepressants ...

Melasma is a common, long-lasting skin condition that causes brown or gray-brown patches on the face, usually on the cheeks, forehead, upper lip and chin. It is driven by sunlight (including visible light), hormones such as those during pregnancy or from birth control, and a genetic tendency. The treatments that work best combine strict daily sun protection, ideally a tinted mineral sunscreen with iron oxides, with prescription creams such as hydroquinone and tretinoin, gentler options like azelaic acid, and sometimes tranexamic acid. This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Key takeaways Melasma is a pigment disorder, not a sign of disease, but it is chronic and often comes back, especially in summer. Sun exposure, visible light, pregnancy, hormonal birth control and family history are the main drivers. Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher, with iron oxides (the ingredient that makes sunscreen tinted) is the base of every treatment plan. H...

Iron deficiency anemia is a condition in which your body does not have enough iron to make the hemoglobin your red blood cells need to carry oxygen, so you may feel tired, weak, dizzy or short of breath. It is usually caused by blood loss, low iron intake or poor iron absorption, and it is confirmed with blood tests such as a complete blood count, hemoglobin and ferritin. Most people are treated with iron pills for several months, while severe cases may need intravenous (IV) iron or, rarely, a blood transfusion. This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Key takeaways Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) . Common symptoms include fatigue, pale skin, cold hands and feet, brittle nails, restless legs and cravings for ice. Blood loss (heavy periods, slow bleeding in the gut), pregnancy, low dietary iron and absorption problems such as celiac disease are the main causes. ...

Most adults need 2,600 mg (women) to 3,400 mg (men) of potassium a day, and the easiest way to get it is from vegetables, beans, fruit, dairy and fish. Foods such as dried apricots, cooked lentils, acorn squash, a baked potato, kidney beans, orange juice and bananas each give you a large share of that amount in one serving. If you have kidney disease or take certain blood pressure medicines, your needs are different, and you may have to limit potassium instead. This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Key takeaways The adequate intake for adults 19 and older is 3,400 mg a day for men and 2,600 mg a day for women, a little higher in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Vegetables, beans, fruit, plain yogurt, milk and fish are the richest everyday sources; one serving can supply roughly 300 to 750 mg. Potassium helps offset the effect of sodium on blood pressure, so eating more potassium and less salt works best together. People with chronic kidney disease, or ...

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that causes sudden, severe pain, swelling, redness and heat in a joint, most often the big toe. It happens when too much uric acid builds up in your blood and forms sharp crystals in and around the joint. Flares can be treated quickly with anti-inflammatory medicine, and long-term uric acid lowering treatment, along with changes to food and drink, can stop attacks from coming back. This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Key takeaways Gout is caused by excess uric acid in the blood, which can form needle-shaped crystals in joints and trigger intense pain and swelling. Attacks often start suddenly at night, usually in one joint, and the pain tends to peak within the first 8 to 12 hours. Common triggers include alcohol (especially beer), sugary drinks, red and organ meats, certain seafood, dehydration and very large meals. Flares are treated with NSAIDs, colchicine or corticosteroids; long-term medicines such as...