Occasional diarrhea is nothing to worry about. The causes of diarrhea can range from a stomach flu to a specific meal or ingredient you ate that didn’t sit well. Because certain foods can worsen symptoms, it’s good to know the foods you should eat when you have diarrhea — and what you should avoid. (1)
You want to eat plain, simple foods, especially in the first 24 hours, says Peter Higgins, MD, PhD, the director of the inflammatory bowel disease program at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
“It is best to eat thicker, bland foods, including oatmeal, bananas, plain rice, and applesauce,” he says.
The FDA has approved seven different kinds of prescription medication for weight loss.
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound)
Tirzepatide belongs in the GLP-1 medication family. It keeps you feeling fuller for longer, slows digestion, and lowers appetite. Mounjaro is the brand of tirzepatide medication prescribed to patients with diabetes, and Zepbound is the brand prescribed to those who are overweight or have obesity.
Tirzepatide is taken as a weekly injection. Your healthcare provider may teach you how to use it at home, or you can go to their office for injections, in which a small needle is inserted just under the skin in the fatty areas of your stomach, thighs, or upper arm.
In one meta-analysis, researchers found that people taking tirzepatide lost 21 more pounds than those who didn’t take it.
Serious side effects like low blood sugar are rare. More often, people report gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Between 40 and 50 percent of people on tirzepatide have these side effects, depending on their dosage.
Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus)
The popular injectable medications Ozempic and Wegovy belong to the semaglutide family. They are essentially the same medication, except Wegovy has a slightly higher maximum dosage. These drugs work by prompting the release of insulin, which manages your blood sugar levels. It also slows down stomach emptying, which helps you feel fuller, longer.
Ozempic and Wegovy must be injected into fatty areas once a week. A meta-analysis of over 3,500 people found that those who injected semaglutide had almost 12 percent more weight loss than who took a placebo. Smaller studies suggest that Rybelsus, which is semaglutide in pill form, may not offer the same level of weight loss.
Common side effects of semaglutide are pretty mild, says Primack. Most commonly, they include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Constipation may also occur, but it is rare. In some cases, more serious side effects may arise, such as:
Stomach paralysis
Upper stomach pain
Swelling that makes it hard to breathe or swallow
Rapid heartbeat
If you experience these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider right away.
Liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda)
Liraglutide works similarly to semaglutide. It regulates blood sugar by releasing the right amount of insulin and also slows down stomach emptying. With a full stomach, it’s easier to eat less, which helps you lose weight.
You have to inject liraglutide into fatty tissue once a day. This is more frequent than other options. A meta-analysis of 12 studies showed people taking liraglutide lost about seven pounds more than those who took a placebo. Another analysis suggests that liraglutide may work less well than semaglutide.
Common side effects include moderate nausea and diarrhea. Other less common side effects include:
Blood sugar changes
Headache
Heartburn
Constipation
Vomiting
Stomach pain
Increased feelings of depression
Mood changes
Phentermine-Topiramate (Qsymia)
A combination of phentermine and topiramate, Qsymia works by decreasing appetite and making you feel fuller for longer.
Qsymia comes as an extended-release pill. You take it in the morning, and its contents slowly release throughout the day. According to a meta-analysis of six studies, phentermine-topiramate offered an average weight loss from almost 8 to 18 pounds, depending on the dosage.
The most common side effects of Qsymia include:
Changes in taste
Tingling, itching, burning, or prickling in your extremities
Dry mouth
Trouble staying focused
Irritability
Dizziness
Constipation
Numbness
Headache
Naltrexone-Bupropion (Contrave)
Bupropion-naltrexone combines medications used for depression, quitting smoking, and substance and alcohol addiction. These drugs work together within the brain to manipulate the brain’s hunger center and reward system, which helps control appetite and cravings.
Contrave comes as a capsule, and it usually follows an escalating schedule. That means you’ll take one pill in the morning for a week, then two a day the next week. After that, you may need to increase your dosage to two pills in the morning, then again at night. Your provider will give you details on your dose schedule.
A meta-analysis of 10 studies found people taking naltrexone-bupropion lost an average of 11 more pounds than those who took a placebo.
Most commonly, Contrave side effects include nausea and vomiting, constipation, and headache. Less often, people have reported dizziness and insomnia. More serious side effects include heart problems, thoughts of suicide, and seizures. Contrave’s manufacturers recommend keeping a low-fat diet around the time you take the medication to lessen your chance of seizures.
Orlistat (Xenical)
Orlistat prevents your intestines from absorbing some of the fat in the food you eat. Instead of being absorbed and stored by the body, the fat exits through your stool.
This medication comes in capsule form, which you take by mouth three times a day. You can take orlistat with each main meal that includes fat. Orlistat works well when taken during your meal or one hour afterward, but doses can be skipped with missed meals.
Orlistat’s weight loss benefits rank lower than the other options. In one large high-quality study of over 3,000 people, orlistat caused 2.4 percent weight loss after four years of taking it.
Most of orlistat’s side effects come from the retention of fats in your intestines. These include:
Fatty stools
Frequent bowel movements
Gassiness
Inability to hold in stool
You can avoid some of these effects by adding a fiber supplement to your diet.
Setmelanotide (Imcivree)
Setmelanotide belongs to a class of medications called melanocortin 4 (MC4) receptor agonists, which signal the brain to decrease appetite and increase metabolism. This weight loss medication has only been approved by the FDA for people with certain genetic disorders.
Imcivree is not frequently prescribed, Primack says, because those genetic conditions are rare. “There are probably only a couple hundred people in the country who would need it,” Primack says. Taking setmelanotide typically involves an injection once every morning in the fatty areas of the stomach, thighs, or upper arms.
A small study found that 80 percent of people taking setmelanotide for severe obesity from one genetic disorder lost at least 10 percent of their body weight at the one-year mark, while 45 percent of those taking it for a different disorder lost 10 percent or more.
The most common side effects include nausea and skin reactions at the injection site. Other, more serious side effects call for immediate medical attention. These include unexpected, frequent, or long-lasting erections for men and an increased libido for women.
Some claim alkaline water can have some pretty impressive benefits, from better hydration to cancer prevention, but the research is mixed.
1. Alkaline Water May Help With Hydration
In one small study of 12 male university students, researchers found those who drank natural alkaline water (the kind with minerals) for three days before intense physical activity were better hydrated than those who drank tap water.
Drinking any kind of water is important for athletes, because dehydration can worsen performance, lower coordination, and cause muscle cramps. As long as you’re hydrating, drinking alkaline water can’t hurt, says Alex Oskian, RDN, a registered dietitian and a nutrition coach in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.
“If a product helps you consume more water, especially if the product isn’t harmful in nature, then hydration will improve since more water is consumed,” says Oskian. But more research is needed to show that alkaline water hydrates better than regular water.
2. Alkaline Water Might Combat Acid Reflux
Since alkaline substances neutralize acid, drinking alkaline water can combat the symptoms of high acidity in your stomach, but not for long. “The contents of the stomach are very acidic; so, consuming a product that will help reduce the acidity can provide some temporary relief,” says Oskian. “However, it likely will only be a temporary solution; maybe a few minutes at most.”
It’s important to know that alkaline water may be dangerous when consumed along with certain medications, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Check with a healthcare provider before you combine alkaline water with any meds.
3. Alkaline Water May Prevent Bone Loss
As people age, many start worrying about bone loss, also known as osteoporosis, which can make bones brittle and more likely to fracture, especially in women after menopause. Your body needs to keep your blood pH between 7.35 and 7.45.
One way your body does this is by releasing calcium into your bloodstream, which leaves less to keep your bones strong.
In one study of 100 women (post-menopause), those who drank alkaline water daily for three months while taking supplements had stronger bone strength scores than those who took supplements only. “When combined with calcium supplementation and bone health medication, research does show drinking alkaline water provides some improvements for bone loss,” says Oskian. Research doesn’t tell us yet if alkaline water alone can do the same.
4. Some Claim That Alkaline Water Is Detoxifying
We are frequently exposed to toxins, either through our own body’s by-products or by what we eat or drink. Any increase in hydration can help your body flush out toxins, but studies haven’t yet proven that alkaline water does this better than any other kind, says Oskian.
5. Early Research Suggests Alkaline Water May Offer Cancer Protection
Some studies suggest cancer can’t grow well in alkaline environments, and some experts have asked whether an alkaline diet (including alkaline water) could make our bodies unfriendly to cancer, preventing its development. The biggest problem with this theory is that alkaline water doesn’t change your blood pH, so drinking it is unlikely to affect cancer cells one way or another.
“More research is needed to support this specific claim,” says Oskian. “Currently, research and medical professionals do claim that food or water can’t change the body’s pH levels much since the system is tightly regulated.”
The following cognitive symptoms are associated with schizophrenia.
Memory Problems
Cognitive symptoms relating to memory are extremely common, affecting as many as 98 percent of people with schizophrenia.
“Memory issues can manifest as difficulties recalling recent events (short-term memory) or remembering information from the past (long-term memory),” says Joel Frank, PsyD, a clinical neuropsychologist in private practice in Los Angeles. “Everyday tasks such as remembering appointments, finding items, or following instructions can become challenging.”
Attention Deficits
Research shows that attention deficits are very common among people with schizophrenia.
“These difficulties could involve struggles maintaining focus on tasks or conversations, being easily distracted, or having trouble shifting attention from one task to another,” says Dr. Frank.
Impaired Social Cognition
Social cognition refers to our ability to interpret social cues, understand the perspectives of others, and respond appropriately to social situations, says Frank. “Schizophrenia can affect this ability, leading to misinterpretations of others’ intentions or difficulties in managing social interactions,” he says.
Impaired Executive Functioning
“Executive functions refer to a set of cognitive processes that include problem-solving, planning, organizing, and decision-making,” says Frank. “Schizophrenia can impact these abilities, making it harder for individuals to plan their day, make decisions, or solve problems.”
Language Difficulties
Cognitive abilities that usually evolve throughout adult life, such as language, appear to deteriorate over time among people with schizophrenia.
Some people with schizophrenia may speak very little, even when forced to interact with others. They may also speak in a monotonous tone or have trouble organizing their thoughts and words in a way that makes sense to others. This can sometimes result in jumbled speech.
Concentration Issues
“Concentrating for extended periods can be particularly challenging for people with schizophrenia,” Frank says. “They may find it hard to engage in activities that require sustained mental effort, such as reading, studying, or even watching a movie.”
Figuring out how diet culture has shaped your lifestyle — from your eating habits to how you talk about your body — is a crucial first step in avoiding its negative effects on your well-being, Zumpano says.
If you feel diet culture has had a negative effect on you, here are six ways you can shift your mindset and learn to treat your body and mind better, even in the face of body shaming and diet scrutiny.
1. Talk to a Registered Dietitian, Especially if You Have a Health Condition
If you feel diet culture has caused you to struggle with food or weight-related issues, consider consulting a registered dietitian, say Zumpano and Cordella.
This is an especially important step if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other medical conditions that may affect your appetite, metabolism, and physical activity. It’s in these instances that participation in fad diets or other unhealthy trends around weight loss and fitness on social media or elsewhere could be even more harmful to your health.
“My No. 1 recommendation would be to see a dietitian,” Zumpano says. “We’re educated in nutrition, we can tailor people’s diets to their goals, and we make sure you’re meeting all your macro- and micronutrient needs.”
Registered dietitians can factor in insulin, blood sugar levels, and triglycerides if you have diabetes or heart disease, for example. They can fine-tune your eating patterns in a medically supervised way and help you with any nutrition-related goals you have.
If you need help finding a registered dietitian, consider using the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH) Health at Every Size provider directory. Note: ASDAH owns the trademark to Health at Every Size.
2. Be Skeptical About What You See on Social Media
Don’t believe everything you see on Instagram, TikTok, and other social media sites. Think critically about the content you’re viewing and who created it, says Nasrawi. Social media platforms are often inundated with brands trying to sell you something and influencers who are paid to promote certain products and lifestyles to you.
“See their credentials before taking what they say at face value if they’re giving out nutrition advice,” says Nasrawi. “People can be motivated by sponsorships over the health of their viewers.”
Or shift away from diet and lifestyle content altogether on social media, says Zumpano. Instead, go to trusted, science-based organizations for credible information, such as the Cleveland Clinic or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, she suggests. If you have a health condition, seek information from relevant organizations like the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association.
3. Don’t Fall for ‘Quick Fixes’ or One-Size-Fits-All Approaches
Diet culture promotes a stark black-and-white stance on nutrition and body ideals — food is either “good” or “bad” and you’re either “slim” or “fat.” This limited thinking doesn’t work, and it could damage your health in the long run.
Any person, company, or diet that promises you’ll lose weight quickly or forces you to commit to strict calorie restriction or cutting out entire food groups is not sustainable. “Spreading the message that there’s just one universal way of eating that will solve everyone’s problems is really, really dangerous,” says Cordella.
“It has to be a lot more individualized, and there are a lot of nuances that you have to consider,” Cordella explains. “We all have a unique makeup, so just because one diet works for one person doesn’t mean it’s going to work for someone else.”
If you want or need to make weight changes, your goals should be slow, steady, and sustainable. Remember: As mentioned earlier, restrictive diets can lead to weight cycling patterns that are hard to stop.
4. Choose Whole Foods, Not Diet Foods
Instead of forgoing carbs or counting calories, shape your meals around whole foods. You’re better off adopting an eating pattern that steers you away from packaged, highly processed diet foods as a rule of thumb, Cordella says.
For instance, rather than load up on things like protein bars, low-carb crackers, or sugar-free ice cream, instead reach for nutritious, whole foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and lean meats, and nuts, seeds, and olive oil, Cordella suggests.
She points to the Mediterranean diet as a general guide to use when you’re grocery shopping. It’s important to note that the Mediterranean diet is not a restriction-based or fad diet. Rather, it’s a science-backed, heart-healthy eating pattern centered on nutritious, plant-based foods in your diet. It also emphasizes eating meals with family and friends and enjoying conversation together.
There are many ways to incorporate these types of foods into your life, and there’s no one right way to do it. These foods can be prepared many different ways with a variety of different seasonings.
5. Reframe the Way You Think About Food
It’s important to center your eating patterns and your mindset on fueling your brain and body rather than simply trying to be as thin as possible.
One way to do this is by asking yourself if what you’re eating makes you feel energized, helps you focus on work or exercise, and lifts your mood instead of making you feel lethargic, Cordella suggests. A holistic approach like this can help you reframe the way you view food and weight, she adds.
According to Zumpano, other important questions to consider, beyond weight loss or the number on the scale, include:
“How’s my mental health?”
“How are my memory and cognition?”
“How’s my sleep?”
“How well am I recovering from exercise?”
“How are my blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol?”
6. Work Toward Body Acceptance
Body acceptance is a movement geared toward counteracting the negative effects of diet culture on self-esteem and helping people focus on their overall health rather than their body size. A practice of body acceptance can improve a negative relationship with eating, food, and weight.
There are a lot of different ways to practice body acceptance. For instance, work on catching yourself anytime you engage in “fat talk” (talking about body weight or size in a negative or disparaging way) with yourself or with friends and family, and replace these words with kinder, more complimentary thoughts about your body.
Try not to edit your photos before posting them on social media, and understand that there are many different body types that are healthy, Cordella says. Or, instead of creating a goal to lose 10 pounds, consider a goal to strengthen and tone your body or to cook more at home instead of dining out.
Finally, remember that there are many factors at play when it comes to weight. Genetics, lifestyle, and socioeconomics are all moving parts that can play a role in one’s health journey.
“Believe that ‘healthy’ comes in every size, and that it’s not necessary to fit societal expectations,” Cordella says.
Sparkling water and seltzers such as LaCroix and Topo Chico are often seen as a healthier alternative to soda because they don’t contain sugar or artificial sweeteners. They may even boost metabolism by increasing the uptake of glucose (or sugar) in cells, aiding weight loss, according to a new Japanese study.
However, the effects of sparkling water on metabolism are small, and drinking fizzy water on its own without making any other diet or exercise changes isn’t likely to help anyone lose weight, the research concluded.
Sparkling Water Slightly Changes Blood pH Levels
Akira Takahashi, MD, a researcher and physician at Tesseikai Neurosurgical Hospital in Shijonawate, Japan, designed the study to investigate what happens in the body when people drink sparkling water.
Carbonated water, also known as seltzer or fizzy water, is water that has been infused with carbon dioxide gas (CO2) under pressure. This process creates bubbles and gives the water its signature effervescence.
Although many people report feeling fuller after drinking seltzer, scientists aren’t clear on how the drink may impact blood sugar levels or how this might contribute to weight loss.
To find out more, Dr. Takahashi compared the process of drinking sparkling water with dialysis, a process in which a machine filters blood to remove waste and excess water when the kidneys no longer can adequately perform this function.
His data showed that when carbon dioxide enters the blood and red blood cells, it changes the pH. The slight increase in alkaline in the blood allows the cells to absorb a little more glucose, which lowers blood sugar levels.
But the glucose reduction is minimal, said Takahashi in a press release.
“Given this minimal glucose reduction, the impact of CO2 in carbonated water is not a standalone solution for weight loss,” said Takahashi.
Even so, “I’ll be interested to see where this research goes,” says Kate Donelan, RD, registered dietitian at Stanford Healthcare in California, who was not involved in the study. ”People with diabetes might be interested in this research as it can impact their efforts to manage blood sugar,” she suggests.
Sparkling Water May Help You Feel Full
Beyond the impact on metabolism and blood pH levels, there are reasons why people looking to lose weight may turn to sparkling water.
“General weight loss advice recommends increasing intake of fluid, fiber, and protein as a means of amplifying satiety with lower calorie intake,” says Donelan.
“There’s some research to suggest that the carbonation found in sparkling water increases satiety more than other fluids by increasing stomach distension,” Donelan says.
Usually people don’t like bloating, but that feeling of fullness can lead them to eat smaller portions or avoid unnecessary snacking, says Donelan.
“Anecdotally, most people do report increased stomach distention after drinking carbonated drinks, so I think the concept that it can increase satiety without increasing calories is valid,” says Donelan.
Sparkling Water May Affect a Hunger Hormone
Not all research supports the idea of carbonated water as helpful for weight loss. Some studies suggest drinking sparkling water raises levels of the hormone ghrelin in the body, which can increase hunger — “although the significance of this is unclear,” Donelan says.
The stomach releases the hormone ghrelin to signal to the brain that it’s empty. Ghrelin levels increase between mealtimes and decrease when the stomach is full.
One study that included lab rats and 20 humans concluded that carbonated drinks increased the hormone. People who drank either unsweetened or artificially sweetened carbonated drinks had triple the blood levels of ghrelin compared with those who drank plain or degassed sparkling water.
Is Sparkling Water a Healthy Choice for Weight Loss? Depends on What You’re Replacing
“In nutrition, we can never look at a food alone and judge it ‘good’ or ‘bad.’ We have to consider what you would eat instead,” says Donelan.
“Drinking sparkling water is a very realistic way to contribute to weight loss goals, especially if these drinks are replacing sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda, juice, and sports drinks,” says Donelan.
Drinking Any Kind of Water With Food Could Help You Eat Less
“Drinking fluids with meals for help with portion control could be one small and achievable goal that a person sets on their journey to a healthier weight,” says Rebecca Beaudoin, RDN, a nutrition therapist with Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska, who was not involved in the study.
Sparkling water might not be an appealing option for people who don’t want to feel bloated, she says — in which case, opt for tap water.
For people who enjoy sparkling water, Beaudoin recommends including it along with other strategies that help with weight loss or management, such as reducing overall calories, increasing physical activity, and adding more fruits, vegetables, fiber, and nutrient-dense foods to your daily diet.
“I often remind patients that it is the overall pattern of their diet and lifestyle, not one specific thing, that makes the most impact on our health,” says Beaudoin.
While there are plenty of protein options for your burger, from beef and turkey to meatless alternatives, buns are usually an afterthought.
“Most of the time a bun is made from white bread, which isn’t exactly adding any nutrition to a meal that is already highly processed — so there’s lots of room for improvement,” says Karen Ansel, RDN, Syosset, New York–based author of Healing Superfoods for Anti-Aging.
A typical white hamburger bun has 26 grams of carbohydrates — all refined — and just under 2 grams of fiber. This means that typical hamburger buns not only lack nutrition, but that they are also a no-no if you’re on a low-carb diet.
Fortunately, there are a lot of low-carb options. “If you’re looking to cut down on calories or carbs, you can always choose a thinner bun or do an ‘open-faced’ burger or dog with only half the bun,” says Christy Brissette, RDN, Chicago-based president of 80 Twenty Nutrition.
If you’re not that into bread buns anyway, you’re in luck. Because of eating fads like going gluten-free, plant-based, or keto, there are plenty of naturally low-carb, plant-based bun alternatives at your disposal.
Whatever your reason, our list of delicious bun alternatives can help make your burger a little healthier. We list the raw nutrition data for each veggie, but keep in mind that the nutrient values may change somewhat as you process, season, and cook them. Still, the alternatives below are healthier than a simple white bread bun.
For those with obesity, the answer to this question is pretty straightforward.
“If you have obesity, even if you’re metabolically healthy, it’s reasonable to try to lose weight,” Klein says.
Looking beyond metabolic health, he says people with obesity are at increased risk for age-related mobility impairments, joint problems such as arthritis, dementia, and some cancers (such as liver and uterine cancers) compared with people who do not have obesity. “I think it’s very rare to find a person who has obesity who would not benefit from losing weight,” he says.
Other experts echo his sentiments.
“Eventually, high weight takes its toll,” says Steven Heymsfield, MD, a professor of metabolism and body composition at Louisiana State University’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge. “People who have obesity their whole lives often need new hips and knees, or develop other functional problems, and healthy weight loss can prevent that to some extent.”
Everyone, at every size, benefits from eating a healthy diet with more whole foods and few ultra-processed foods. Likewise, getting regular exercise, a good night’s sleep, and generally moving more (and avoiding sedentary behaviors) are healthy behaviors. If adopting these healthy habits leads to weight loss in someone who has obesity, that’s almost always a good thing, he says.
But when it comes to people who are overweight, as opposed to those with obesity, the benefits of weight loss are less certain. Especially if a person who is overweight is living a generally healthy lifestyle, trying to drop weight may not always lead to health benefits, says Flegal.
Regardless of your body size, if your healthcare provider recommends that you lose weight, Klein says it’s helpful to ask a few questions.
“Ask what is the benefit of me losing weight, or why should I do this,” he says. “If they say your triglycerides are high, your blood pressure is on the edge of being abnormal, you have a family history of diabetes or you have prediabetes — all of those are major indications for weight loss benefits,” he says.
On the other hand, if your parents had obesity and “lived to 100 without major diseases,” and your body resembles their bodies — and you’re metabolically healthy — Klein says losing weight may not improve your metabolic health.
A Down syndrome test is used to discover whether an unborn baby has Down syndrome, a genetic condition caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. Down syndrome occurs in about 1 out of every 1,000 live births.
Babies with Down syndrome have a range of physical and intellectual differences. They’re also at higher risk for certain health conditions, such as cancer and heart defects.
Prenatal testing for Down syndrome is entirely optional. The decision to undergo prenatal testing for Down syndrome can be a deeply personal one.
Screening Tests During Pregnancy
Screening tests measure the risk that your baby will have Down syndrome. They don’t result in a diagnosis — they tell you if a condition, like Down syndrome, might be present.
Prenatal screening tests for Down syndrome include:
Blood Test This test measures levels of certain hormones and proteins in your blood that may indicate a genetic condition such as Down syndrome. Doctors perform this test during the first or second trimester, along with standard prenatal testing.
Ultrasound A nuchal translucency test uses ultrasound to measure fluid on your baby’s neck. More fluid than usual may indicate Down syndrome. Doctors typically perform this test during the first trimester.
Diagnostic Down Syndrome Tests
If your screening tests show a high likelihood of having a baby with Down syndrome, or if you have other risk factors, your doctor may recommend diagnostic testing. The American Academy of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends that providers offer all pregnant women, regardless of age and risk factors, the option of diagnostic testing first, bypassing screening tests.
Down syndrome diagnostic tests include:
Amniocentesis Your provider examines your amniotic fluid for irregularities, specifically three copies of chromosome 21. Amniotic fluid is the liquid that surrounds and protects the fetus in the womb. It contains some cells shed by the fetus so doctors can examine the chromosomal makeup of these cells in order to determine the makeup of the fetus as well. Doctors perform this screening test during the second trimester.
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) Your provider takes cells from your placenta to examine your baby’s chromosomes. The placenta is an organ that forms in the womb during pregnancy and contains the same genetic material as the fetus. This test is done during the first trimester.
Percutaneous Umbilical Blood Sampling (PUBS), Also Called Cordocentesis Doctors test fetal blood from your baby’s umbilical cord for genetic information. This is the most accurate prenatal test for Down syndrome, and is sometimes used to confirm amniocentesis or CVS results. The test usually occurs between 18 and 22 weeks of pregnancy.
For someone with an inflammatory disease like RA, applying heat may seem counterintuitive. But since heat works to reduce muscle tension and stimulate blood circulation, many patients find that applying something warm — even if it just means warming your clothes in the dryer before dressing, or lying with a heated blanket prior to getting up in the morning — simply feels good on the joints.
Heat can be effective because it helps to relax the muscles, the American College of Rheumatology notes.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, when you warm up a sore joint, the heat enlarges your blood vessels, allowing more blood, oxygen, and nutrients to be delivered to the tissues.
Although there aren’t recent studies for rheumatoid arthritis, researchers conducted a study on 35 people with chronic, nonspecific neck pain that was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in August 2020. They found that those receiving thermotherapy with a salt-pack for 30 minutes twice a day for five days (in addition to performing a neck stabilization exercise) improved stiffness more than the control group.
“Gentle heat in the morning can improve your range of motion,” explains Katie Palmer, a physical therapist in Newtown, Pennsylvania. “It can relieve some of the joint pain and the stiffness and prepare your body for exercise or to get up and get moving and out the door.”
One version of hot therapy is the paraffin, or wax, bath, similar to what’s used in nail salons to soften the skin and nails. “The paraffin is heated to a prescribed temperature and then you dip in your hands, wrists, and fingers, and it forms a coating,” Palmer explains. “Then you wrap your paraffin-covered hands and wrists in a little towel, and it gives you a nice moist, deep heat that can help eliminate some of the pain and stiffness of RA.”
Palmer recommends paraffin therapy for the hands when they’re stiff, like first thing in the morning, but not when the joints are inflamed.
Another option: “Applying warm compresses (such as hot water bottles) works in a similar way to a paraffin bath,” Palmer says.
In addition to putting heat on targeted areas, you can also warm up your whole body by taking a warm bath or shower or by swimming in a heated pool.
Because heat can promote inflammation, “[it] should be avoided during an active inflammatory phase when joint temperatures are elevated,” Maggiore says.
RELATED: 10 Ways to Find Relief From Chronic RA Pain
Cold Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis
If your joints are inflamed, it makes sense that something cold could ease the inflammation and thus the pain. The main benefits of cold therapy are reducing inflammation, swelling, and soreness, as well as temporarily relieving joint pain caused by an arthritis flare.
Cold therapy is best during an acute flare, Maggiore says. “Cold therapy is helpful as it can lower joint temperatures, reduce pain, and decrease inflammation,” she says.
Like heat therapy, cold therapy comes in several forms.
One simple method of cooling the joints is a cool-water soak in a tub. Just don’t let the water get so cold that you become chilled.
Cold packs that you place directly on an aching joint include everything from common items — bags of frozen peas or gel packs found at the drugstore — to complete systems of coolers, cooling pads, and devices shaped to certain parts of the body, like the knees and back.
There also are widely available over-the-counter cold sprays and ointments, such as Biofreeze and CryoDerm, that relieve inflammation by numbing the nerves.
But if the cold doesn’t feel good or you can’t tolerate it, stop using it, Maggiore says.
Others who should avoid or limit cold therapy are people with Raynaud’s syndrome, a condition in which small blood vessels in the fingers or toes constrict when exposed to cold. If you have this syndrome, you probably should not use cold therapy on the affected parts of your body.
Always consult your doctor or physical therapist before trying any hot or cold therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.
RELATED: How to Relieve Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Pain
5 Tips for Using Heat Therapy for RA
Use safe heat sources that don’t let the temperature get scalding, including hot towels, hot tubs, showers, or baths, hot water bottles, microwaveable hot pads, and electric heating pads.
To prevent burns, do not use heat for excessive lengths of time (follow the manufacturer’s guidelines).
When using heating pads or hot water bottles, place a towel or cloth on your skin first, to prevent direct contact with the heat source.
Be careful to check your skin for redness often while applying heat, and remove the heat source if redness occurs.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using a paraffin bath device.
5 Tips for Using Cold Therapy for RA
Use a bag of frozen peas, wrap ice in a thin towel, or use commercially available cold gel packs for cold therapy.
Avoid applying ice or cold packs directly to the skin — use a towel or cloth between the cold device and the skin.
To avoid frostbite, do not apply cold for more than 15 minutes at a time.
Allow your skin to return to normal temperature and color before using cold again.
Don’t alternate hot and cold without a break. The Arthritis Foundation recommends waiting a couple of hours between sessions before switching to the other.
If you’re using one of these hot or cold methods and it doesn’t bring relief, or it seems to make the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms worse, talk to your doctor.
Additional reporting by Meryl Davids Landau and Jennifer Geddes.
