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Abortion, including use of abortion pills at home, is very safe. Medication abortions involve either a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol or misoprostol alone. Mifepristone has about a five-year shelf life, and misoprostol lasts about two years. Illustration by Zoe Hansen for Verywell Health Some people wonder if they should stock up on abortion pills before Trump takes office next year. Heres what you gotta know. Do You Need a Prescription for Abortion Pills?...

Air purifiers are devices that filter air quality. They are helpful for people withallergies,asthma, and other respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. Air purifiers do work to filter pollutants from the air, but there are limitations to be aware of. Olelole / Getty Images Olelole / Getty Images What Does an Air Purifier Do? Types of Air Purifiers HEPA Filters HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air filter. It is one of the most effective and studied air purifiers on the market....

As with many medications, hormonal contraceptives can have interactions that affect how well they work. There is a common misconception that allantibioticscompromise the efficacy ofhormonal contraceptives. Though there is an exception, the truth is that most antibiotics will not affect your birth control. Getty Images /megaflopp The one exception is rifamycins, a pop in of antibiotic taken to treat tuberculosis. When taken together, rifamycins can interfere with how hormonal contraceptive methods prevent pregnancy....

While antibiotics more commonly cause nausea and diarrhea than constipation, some people will experience constipation from antibiotic treatment. However, it’s relatively uncommon. Antibiotics can cause significant changes to themicrobiome, resulting in stomach-related side effects. Getty Images /MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images/ Contributor Antibiotics also increase the risk ofClostridioides difficileinfection (previously calledClostridium difficile), often referred to asC. This infection can cause severe diarrhea and other complications. Less commonly, they can cause constipation....

The reason why is because of their effect on the brain. Here’s what it’s crucial that you know. Which Antihistamines May Lead to Weight Gain? Photo Illustration by Zack Angeline for Verywell Health; Getty Images Experts say they are less likely to contribute to weight gain, too. But they emphasize that short-term use of antihistamines is generally not problematic. If long-term use is necessary, you should speak with a healthcare provider about potential side effects and risks....

Rapid at-home COVID-19 tests (or rapid antigen tests) have become increasingly popular over the past few months. These tests can be bought over-the-counter andadministered at home,providing results in 30 minutes or less. They can also put you at ease before attending any gatherings where you may put other people at risk. wayra / Getty Images That said, don’t store for them too long because they have an expiration date. wayra / Getty Images...

Black walnuts come from the black walnut tree (Juglans nigra), which is native to North America. Black walnut (not the same thing as Englishwalnuts) has long been used in complementary and alternative medicine. The kernels of the nuts are thought to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. Verywell / Getty Images Yet research is lacking to support health claims for black walnut. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says....

You may have heard rumors that Bluetooth headphones can cause cancer. To date, the evidence supporting these claims is weak. In the brain, excessive exposure to ionizing radiation can lead to the formation of a tumor called ameningioma. Bloom Productions / Getty Images By comparison, X-rays emit frequencies ranging from 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz. That is roughly 1 million to 1 billion times the frequency emitted by cell phones....

Collagenis a protein that is found in many parts of the body, including the cartilage between bones. The research on the effectiveness of collagen in these conditions is mixed but shows promise. Jose Luis Pelaez Inc / Getty Images What Is Collagen? Jose Luis Pelaez Inc / Getty Images Collagen is known as the most abundant protein in the body. Many people, therefore, takecollagen supplementsto preserve their skin health. Similarly, low collagen levels can loosen cartilage and tendons, making them more vulnerable to injuries....

But copays really add up when you have ongoing health conditions. And you may be wondering: Do copays count toward your health insurance deductible? Does Your Copay Count Toward Your Deductible? Highwaystarz-Photography / Getty Images How do you know for sure? First, check yourSummary of Benefits and Coverage. Pay close attention to the math in the examples. But in general, you should expect that your copays will not be counted towards your deductible....

When an individual has diabetes, some symptoms can affect their overall health. These can come from the condition itself, other health issues, and the side effects of certain medications. Dizzinessis one symptom that diabetics may experience. Verywell / Laura Porter The brain depends on blood sugar to function properly and as an energy source. The hormones that the brain depends on to raise blood sugar levels are norepinephrine and epinephrine....

The consumption of energy drinks can contribute to the formation of kidney stonesas can many other foods and beverages. Other ingredients like guarana, B vitamins, and artificial sweeteners can do the same. What Are Energy Drinks Made Of? Nattu / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 Others containsucrose(table sugar) made from sugar cane or sugar beets. Sugars like these can contribute to the formation of uric acid stones by decreasing thepHof your urine....

Some manufacturers have either extended expiration dates for the tests or recalled ineffective ones. If youre using an expired test, double-check the control line shows up, Ostrosky added. Manufacturers may extend expiration dates after the tests initially hit the market. Photo Illustration by Joules Garcia for Verywell Health; Getty Images The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintainsa listof COVID at-home tests with extended expiration dates. If your test result shows up as positive on an expired test, youre likely positive, Alan said....