Corey Whelan is a health writer and patient advocate based in New York. She contributes regularly to HealthlIne, Verywell Health, and other client sites
Is Cheese Gluten-Free?
Gluten is a protein found in grains, such as wheat, barley, and rye. In people who have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, gluten can cause:
an immune system reaction
inflammation in the digestive tract
brain fog
fatigue
skin rashes
Dairy products, such as 100 percent natural cheese, usually don’t contain gluten. However, gluten is sometimes added during the manufacturing of some cheeses and cheese products.
Other cheeses may be modified to remove fat or salt. These may have glu...
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“ I started at a very dark pl...
Side Effects of Removing Ovaries During or After Menopause
If you’re at high risk for ovarian cancer, you may be thinking about reducing that risk by having your ovaries removed – what’s known as a preventative bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) (which means the removal of both fallopian tubes and ovaries). No matter what your age, this is a highly personal decision.
The benefits and risks of an oophorectomy are certainly not one-size-fits-all. If you’re considering this procedure, either during perimenopause or after menopause, it may help to red...
Will OTC hearing aids help with tinnitus?
Experts say it's possible but professional help is recommended
Tinnitus can be hard to live with. The ringing, hissing, and buzzing sounds caused by this condition can be loud, incessant, and difficult to ignore. For many people, tinnitus adversely affects quality of life by hampering communication, disrupting sleep, and causing isolation and anxiety.
Hearing loss and tinnitus facts
Hearing loss and tinnitus are strong linked. About 90% of people with tinnitus also have hearing loss, accordin...
Understanding FDA Regulations and What They Mean for Menopause Dietary Supplements
Menopause may be a natural part of life, but it’s not without uncomfortable symptoms. Dietary supplements designed to address certain menopause symptoms can often help, but many may wonder if the supplements they’re taking are FDA vetted or approved, and what the regulatory process is like for bringing them to market.
It’s important that you trust and feel good about the supplements you choose to take. In order to do that, it may help to understand how the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA...
How to Manage Low Self-Esteem
Defining low self-esteem
Causes
Signs and symptoms
Effect on your health
Vs. lack of confidence
Ways to improve self-esteem
Takeaway
Self-esteem refers to your opinion of yourself. Low self-esteem can get in the way of your enjoyment of life and your ability to achieve long- and short-term goals. It can also adversely affect mental and physical health.
In this article, we’ll discuss the characteristics and causes of low self-esteem. We’ll also provide strategies for improving your feelings ab...
Corey Whelan
Clinical Writer, Patient Advocate
Education
BA in Psychology from Brooklyn College, City University of New York (CUNY)
Expertise
Expertise in mental health, reproductive health, geriatrics, and cancer.
Corey Whelan is a patient advocate, freelance writer, and CEO of Corey Whelan Writers, LLC. Throughout her career, Whelan has contributed thousands of articles about health, wellness, and mental health to a broad range of clients. She has also served in various educational roles for nonprofit o...
Insurance and financial assistance for hearing aids
It’s no secret that hearing loss can adversely affect quality of life. If you’re avoiding social situations because you can’t hear well, or find yourself cranking up the TV louder than you used to, it may be time for hearing aids.
Hearing aids are the first line of defense for correcting hearing loss, but can be expensive. For premium hearing aids, the average cost is $2,000-$3,000 per device.
Getting insurance to cover the cost of hearing aids was once an impossible dream, but now, there are...
What is reactive tinnitus?
When external noises trigger or worsen ringing in the ears
Tinnitus (ear ringing) is the perception of phantom sound that doesn’t have an external cause. If you have tinnitus and noises in your environment seem to affect the intensity, you may have what's known as reactive tinnitus.
“Reactive tinnitus is a form of tinnitus that changes in loudness, quality, or pitch, in response to average or even low-level noise,” explains Dr. Brian Taylor, AuD, Senior Director of Audiology at Signia. It can...
Supplements for Fibromyalgia
Treatment for fibromyalgia may include medication, lifestyle changes, and holistic approaches. Herbs and supplements may help, but research is generally older, limited, and lacking in long-term results.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder. Symptoms can include fatigue, brain fog, and widespread pain.
People with this condition often have sensitive, painful points in specific areas of their bodies. They also have chronic pain in muscles, ligaments, and joints. This pain comes and goes over time...
Insomnia: Causes and Risk Factors
What is insomnia?
Insomnia can significantly impact your everyday life. Whether you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, it can affect your overall health, relationships, and work productivity. If you have insomnia, your doctor can help you find out what kind you have. Primary insomnia is insomnia that isn’t a symptom of another condition. Insomnia can be either acute or chronic. Acute insomnia lasts only a few days, or weeks, and chronic insomnia is a long-term condition.
If your i...
Prozac overdose: Avoidance, symptoms, and what to do
Prozac (fluoxetine) is a highly prescribed drug that is safe when taken as directed. Overdosing on Prozac is, however, possible. Taking too much Prozac, or combining it with certain other substances, can lead to seizures, kidney damage, and other complications. When not treated promptly, a Prozac overdose can be fatal.
What Is a Safe Prozac Dosage?
Prozac (generic name: fluoxetine), is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant. If you’re taking Prozac, you’re in good comp...
Best Mattresses Under $500 of 2024
Best Overall
It can be hard to find a budget-priced firm mattress that’s comfortable to sleep on. The Avenco Zone Hybrid Mattress was chosen as our best overall pick because it combines an affordable price with important features like soft and cooling gel foam, edge support, motion isolation, and pressure-point relief. Many customer reviews of this mattress reference a reduction in back pain.
The upper layer is made from eco-friendly modal, a bio-based, skin-friendly fabric made from spun bee...
Medicare coverage and hearing aids
Medicare is a federal health insurance program that covers people who are 65 or older, as well as younger people with disabilities or serious diseases.
However, Medicare does not cover all costs of medical services, which is where the rules get tricky.
There are a number of factors affecting coverage of hearing aids, so it is imperative you take the different kinds of coverage available into consideration.
Understanding Medicare
Medicare (Part A and B), also known as Original Medicare
Medicar...
What Is Follicular Lymphoma?
Follicular lymphoma is a slow-growing form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Lymphomas are grouped into two categories—Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma starts in lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. Follicular lymphoma accounts for 20%–30% of all NHL cases.1
Follicular lymphoma is a chronic condition that is not usually curable. This can be scary to hear. However, people can live many years with follicular lymphoma.
This article will discuss symptoms, diagnosis, and prog...