Yuri_Arcurs / Getty Images So,what exactly is a COTA? COTAs play a vital role in many occupational therapy settings. In fact, they may be the occupational professionals who you spend the bulk of your time with. As a client, it can be helpful to understand your COTAs training, their scope of practice, and the perks of seeing a COTA so you can advocate for the best care possible. What a COTA Can Do Your occupational therapist is ultimately responsible for the delivery of OT services....

If you are having problems with your mouth coming open when you try to use your continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, you may wonder, “Should I use a chinstrap with my CPAP?” Learn how chinstraps help improvemouth breathing, dry mouth, and leak from CPAP masks. Consider alternatives as well, including lowered pressures, treating nasal congestion, and the use of a full-face mask. Verywell / Brandon Peters If you use aCPAP machineto treat yoursleep apnea, you may have problems withmouth breathingthat may need to be corrected with the use of a chinstrap....

Key TakeawaysJune is National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month.More than four migraines per month warrants more than just a “rescue treatment” to stop a migraine when it’s happening, according to specialists.Medications designed specifically to prevent migraine can help chronic migraine sufferers have fewer bad days. Key Takeaways June is National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month.More than four migraines per month warrants more than just a “rescue treatment” to stop a migraine when it’s happening, according to specialists....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBenefitsHow Long Should You Walk?Limitations Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Benefits How Long Should You Walk? Limitations Walking is a simple yet powerful form of exercise that benefits both your body and mind. Beyond its physical advantages, such as improving cardiovascular health and lowering the risk of certain cancers, walking offers significant mental health benefits.From reducing stress to boosting your mood, a daily walk can be a transformative practice for your mental well-being....

If you have ever had serious dental work done, it is likely that you had had a dental impression taken dental impressions are very common and are used for a variety of purposes in the dental field. Impressions can be used to create mouth guards, for aligner therapy inorthodontics, and to make whitening trays, crowns, bridges,veneers, dentures, and more.A dental impression is an imprint of the teeth and mouth from which shaped items can be formed....

Medicare and certain private health insurance companies pay for hospitalizations of their beneficiaries using adiagnosis-related group (DRG) payment system. This article will explain how the DRG system works, and how it determines the payment amounts that hospitals receive. When you’ve been admitted as an inpatient to a hospital, that hospital assigns a DRG when you’re discharged, basing it on the diagnosis you received and the treatment that you needed during your hospital stay....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is a Deductible?Family DeductiblesIndividual DeductiblesCost ConsiderationsExclusionsHigh-Deductible Health Plans Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents What Is a Deductible? Family Deductibles Individual Deductibles Cost Considerations Exclusions High-Deductible Health Plans For most family health insurance plans, the whole family has a shareddeductible, and each family member has an individual deductible that counts toward the family deductible. Some plans do not have aggregate family deductibles, and instead only have separate deductibles for each family member, or in some cases, no deductibles at all....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSelf-CheckLabs and TestsImagingDifferential DiagnosesWhen to See a ProviderNext in Heart Attack GuideEverything You Need to Know About a Heart Attack Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Self-Check Labs and Tests Imaging Differential Diagnoses When to See a Provider Next in Heart Attack Guide Heart attack diagnosis begins with recognizing the symptoms and seeking prompt medical care. At the hospital, blood tests can look for markers of heart damage, and an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) can show changes in electrical activity in the heart, another sign of damage or reduced blood flow....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsRisk FactorsTreatmentHome RemediesOver-the-Counter MedicationsPrescriptionsSurgeriesComplementary MedicinePreparing for Your AppointmentFAQNext in Hiatal Hernia GuideCoping With a Hiatal Hernia Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Risk Factors Treatment Home Remedies Over-the-Counter Medications Prescriptions Surgeries Complementary Medicine Preparing for Your Appointment FAQ Next in Hiatal Hernia Guide Ahiatal herniais a condition in which the upper part of your stomach bulges through an opening in your diaphragm.Different types of hiatal hernia, such as aparaesophagealhernia, can require different treatments....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsProtein Supports Weight LossHow Much?Calculating Daily IntakeAdding Protein to Your DietGaining Weight Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Protein Supports Weight Loss How Much? Calculating Daily Intake Adding Protein to Your Diet Gaining Weight You may have been raised to think that weight loss is just a matter of eating fewer calories. But the calories-in vs. calorie-out theory of weight loss has been disproven....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOverview of REM SleepFunctionsLack of REM Sleep SymptomsCausesImpactWhen to See a Healthcare Provider Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Overview of REM Sleep Functions Lack of REM Sleep Symptoms Causes Impact When to See a Healthcare Provider Rapid eye movement(REM) sleepis a stage of sleep. With a lack of REM sleep, symptoms emerge that can affect your health. It can lead tofatigue, irritability, changes in mood and memory, and issues with cognition and problem-solving....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is DSPD?SymptomsCausesHow to Sleep Better Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents What Is DSPD? Symptoms Causes How to Sleep Better Night owls may simply be in the habit of staying up late. Others may have a condition calleddelayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD)that places them at increased risk of adverse health consequences and a diminished quality of life. Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin...

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is a RAST Test?RAST Tests vs. Skin TestsWhat Can RAST Test For?How It’s PerformedAccuracyResultsConsiderations Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents What Is a RAST Test? RAST Tests vs. Skin Tests What Can RAST Test For? How It’s Performed Accuracy Results Considerations A RAST test (radioallergosorbenttest) is a blood test used to check for allergies. It measures your immune system’s reaction to certain exposures (such asfood allergens) and the responses that lead to allergy symptoms....