This may reduce the risks of infection, inflammation,nosebleeds, and nasal congestion. The instructions typically say you should usedistilled waterin the humidifier, but people often wonder about other options. This article explains why you should use distilled water in your CPAP machine. Illustration by Brianna Gilmartin for Verywell Health Illustration by Brianna Gilmartin for Verywell Health Can You Use Tap Water With a CPAP Humidifier? Minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron are what make your tap water “hard....

Key Takeaways Turmericis a golden spice with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. But how do you make turmeric even more powerful? By adding black pepper. Photo Illustration by Lecia Bury for Verywell Health; Getty Images. Research suggests thatcurcumin, a natural substance in turmeric, may not be absorbed well by the body. But piperine, a compound found in black pepper, can help increase curcumin absorption. The next time you cook with turmeric, think about grabbing the pepper grinder....

Illustration by Theresa Chiechi for Verywell Health Causes Occasional heartburn is normal. Other symptoms that need diagnosis include: Tell your healthcare provider when and how you experience symptoms. Heartburn Vs. Heart Attack Heartburn can feel like the chest pain that often accompanies a heart attack. Illustration by Theresa Chiechi for Verywell Health Staying hydrated helps with overall digestion. However, drinking large amounts of water at once can make heartburn worse....

Bunions are often painful and can limit toe movement. Bunions form gradually, but a flare of bunion pain may occur suddenly. You may not notice it until you experience a sudden flare of pain. Elena Popova / Getty Images Without treatment, the bunion will get worse over time and cause you pain and discomfort. Over time, the bump will also become more pronounced and painful. Signs and symptoms of a bunion include:...

But collagen isnt anything new. Youve been making it your whole life. So, why the need to promote collagen on store shelves? Hoxton / Sam Edwards / Getty Images Is it something you should be buying? First, consider if your body is already making enough collagen on its own. As you age, your body naturally makes less collagen. The slow-down can start in your mid-to-late 20s. That causes a variety of conditions that we usually accept as part of getting older....

This article discusses the causes and risk factors of finger locking and when to see a healthcare provider. Locked fingers develop when there are issues withtendonsin the hand, which are tissues that connect bones and muscles. When there’s a problem with these tendons, your fingers can lock up in the trigger finger position. Images we create and what actually happens are always beautiful when we have imagination / Getty Images...

Thinning hair is common and often treatable. sruilk / Getty Images What Causes Thinning Hair? Thinning hair usually results fromalopecia (hair loss). sruilk / Getty Images If youve noticed that your hair looks less full, it may be because youre losing strands of hair. Sometimes, thinning hair can occur without hair loss. Treatment is most effective when its started soon after you notice hair loss. Treating thinning hair will depend on thecause of your hair lossand may take some trial and error to determine....

Instead, most ergonomic chair customers base their purchase decisions on color, style, and price. Here are some tips to adjust your office chair so that it decreases your back and hip pain. The height adjustment is the primary way you have to change the angle of your hip joint during sitting. Musketeer/Digital Vision/Getty Images When you adjust your height, you adjust the degree of flexion at your hip joint. A recent study measured the load that sitting has on simulated spinal discs....

If you have thyroid disease, your thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels can fluctuate from time to time. Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin Thyroid Disease Progression Fluctuations inTSH levelscan occur as your thyroid disease progresses. Even when treatment is started, thyroidautoantibodiesmay continue to attack the thyroid gland. Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin In some cases, these attacks come in episodes known as flares. At other times, the assault may be persistent, progressively undermining the function of the thyroid gland....

The recipe for date caramel is simple. Is Date Caramel Healthier Than Coffee Creamer? Sugar content aside, date caramel shines due to the nutrients in dates. Tom Werner / Getty Images Are There Any Downsides To Date Caramel? Though dates are nutritious, you shouldnt necessarily think of date caramel as healthier than your favorite coffee add-ins. While date caramel does provide some health benefits, it can also be high in sugar....

The LAD supplies a significant portion of the heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood. Just as your cells require oxygen-rich blood, your heart does also. The LAD runs on the left side of the heart before traveling down its front surface. Illustration by Mira Norian for Verywell Health In over half of people, the LAD also wraps around the bottom of the heart. The sensation is often reported as crushing, pressure-like, tight, squeezing, dull, or heavy....

Wild lettuce is part of theAsteraceae(Compositae) family and is closely related todandelion. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Verywell / Getty Images What Is Wild Lettuce and What Does It Do? Verywell / Getty Images No supplement is intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease. Wild lettuce is a plant or weed that is similar to sowthistle and dandelion. It is sometimes used as an herbal supplement....

The clear sap inside this plant’s hollow stem containsfurocoumarins, which can cause asunburn-like skin rash calledphytophotodermatitis. Albert Fertl / Getty Images What Exactly Is Phytophotodermatitis? Reproduced with permission from DermNetwww.dermnetnz.org2023. Albert Fertl / Getty Images Phytophotodermatitis is a skin reaction sparked by contact with a plant containing light-activated chemical compounds. Wild parsnip sap works the same way. Any skin area this phototoxic sap touches becomes hypersensitive to sunlight. Reproduced with permission from ©DermNetwww....