Although there's no special psoriasis diet, some people find that certain foods worsen their symptoms or that others improve skin inflammation.

It can be difficult to determine what exactly is changing your psoriasis symptoms because the condition itself tends to fluctuate over time — with periods of remission alternating with times when your psoriasis becomes worse.

A National Psoriasis Foundation review of 55 studies that included more than 4,500 people living with psoriasis reported one strong food-related recommendation: reducing caloric intake if you are overweight or obese.

Other studies have found that some people who have psoriasis may also be sensitive to gluten — a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. In these people, avoiding gluten may ease their psoriasis symptoms. If you are concerned about gluten sensitivity, ask your doctor about tests you can take to either confirm or rule out this condition.

If you are planning to make changes in your diet, it's a good idea to discuss details of these changes with your physician to ensure the plan is reasonable and obtainable. Continue with your other medical treatments for psoriasis as discussed with your doctor.

Psoriasis is less common in populations whose dietary staples include cold-water fish containing omega-3 fatty acids. But study results have been mixed as to whether fish oil supplements can reduce inflammation and improve psoriasis signs and symptoms, such as itching and scaling. Studies suggest that fish oil delivered by a needle in a vein (intravenously) can decrease the severity of symptoms of some types of psoriasis. But fish oil taken orally doesn't seem to have the same benefit.

Side effects of high-dose fish oil supplements can include a fishy aftertaste, heartburn and nausea. Fish oil affects blood clotting, so if you're taking blood-thinning medication, talk with your doctor before trying it.

There's no medical or hygienic reason for removing some or all of your pubic hair. But the removal process can be painful and cause many side effects, including:

• Genital itching, sometimes severe
• Genital burns from waxing
• Abrasions or cuts during shaving or waxing
• Stubble, rash, bumps and ingrown hairs
• Bacterial infections
• Increased risk of contracting or transmitting viral infections, such as herpes simplex or HPV, due to cuts or skin irritation that make the skin more susceptible
• Contact dermatitis from shaving products

If you're considering removing your pubic hair, ask your doctor for guidance to help minimize the side effects.

Blood pressure readings are given in two numbers.

• The top number is the maximum pressure your heart exerts while beating (systolic pressure).
• The bottom number is the amount of pressure in your arteries between beats (diastolic pressure).

The top number (systolic) minus the bottom number (diastolic) gives you your pulse pressure. For example, if your resting blood pressure is 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), your pulse pressure is 40 — which is considered a normal and healthy pulse pressure. Generally, a pulse pressure greater than 40 mm Hg is abnormal.

Measuring your pulse pressure may help your doctor predict if you're at risk for a heart event, including a heart attack or stroke. If your pulse pressure is greater than 60 it's considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, especially for older adults.

Stiffness of the body's largest artery, the aorta, is the leading cause of increased pulse pressure in older adults. High blood pressure or fatty deposits on the walls of the arteries (atherosclerosis) can make your arteries stiff. The greater your pulse pressure, the stiffer and more damaged the blood vessels are thought to be.

Treating high blood pressure usually reduces pulse pressure. Following a healthy lifestyle is also important. Heart-smart strategies include getting regular exercise, not smoking, limiting alcohol and reducing the amount of salt in your diet.

It's common to gain weight after you stop smoking, especially during the first several months — but it isn't inevitable.

Smoking acts as an appetite suppressant and may slightly increase your metabolism as well. When you quit smoking, your appetite and metabolism return to normal, which may lead you to eat more and burn fewer calories.

Also, your ability to smell and taste food improves after you quit smoking. This can make food more appealing, which may lead you to eat more. And if you substitute snacking for smoking, the calories may quickly add up.

To avoid weight gain when you quit smoking, make diet and exercise part of your stop-smoking plan. It may help to:

• Get moving. Include physical activity in your daily routine. Regular exercise not only burns calories but also helps relieve withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
• Make wise food choices. Plan good-for-you meals that include plenty of fruits and vegetables. Eat smaller portions. Limit sweets and alcohol.
• Choose healthy snacks. If you're hungry between meals, opt for healthier snacks, such as fresh fruit or canned fruit packed in its own juices, low-fat air-popped popcorn, or fat-free yogurt.
• Work with a dietitian. If you're overweight or a heavy smoker, talk with your doctor about the possibility of receiving personalized weight management support from a dietitian.

Above all, remember that the health benefits of being smoke-free far exceed the problems associated with even moderate weight gain.

Yes, Alzheimer's disease usually worsens slowly. But its speed of progression varies, depending on a person's genetic makeup, environmental factors, age at diagnosis and other medical conditions.

Still, anyone diagnosed with Alzheimer's whose symptoms seem to be progressing quickly — or who experiences a sudden decline — should see his or her doctor. The doctor will look for complicating conditions or factors that can cause a rapid — but possibly reversible — progression of symptoms in someone with Alzheimer's disease. The doctor will also make sure that other causes of rapidly progressive dementia are excluded.

Such conditions and factors could include:

• Infections, such as pneumonia, a urinary tract infection or a sinus infection
• Reaction to some prescription medications, such as anticholinergics, narcotic pain relievers, sedatives, corticosteroids and some antidepressants
• Fatigue or lack of sleep
• Social or environmental changes, such as moving or the presence of new medical care staff or family members
• Vitamin deficiencies, including B-12, thiamin, niacin and folate
• Depression
• Thyroid problems, such as hypothyroidism
• Additional neurological conditions
• Autoimmune neurological disorders and paraneoplastic disorders, which are conditions that can cause rapidly progressive dementia

Seek a prompt and thorough medical evaluation to determine the exact cause of rapidly progressing symptoms. Additional treatment may be required, and it may be possible to reduce or reverse symptoms.

While the U.S. has one of the safest public drinking water supplies in the world, concerns over lead and other contaminants have led some to seek alternatives to tap water. As a result, drinking unprocessed water, also referred to as raw or live water, has become a trend.

Raw water often comes directly from springs or streams and is not treated as tap water is. Proponents of raw water say it contains beneficial bacteria and natural minerals.

However, public health experts warn that water from springs, streams and rivers can contain disease-causing bacteria, as well as viruses and parasites. Diarrhea is the most common illness linked to contaminated water and causes more than 500,000 deaths globally each year.

Infants, young children, pregnant women, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of illness from contaminated water. For these individuals, treated water is a safer choice.

If you are concerned about the safety of your local water, you can request a water report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, from your local water utility. This report lists the levels of contaminants that have been detected in the water and whether the system meets federal and local safety standards.

Sometimes the terms "reactive airway disease" and "asthma" are used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. Often, the term "reactive airway disease" is used when asthma is suspected, but not yet confirmed.

Reactive airway disease in children is a general term that doesn't indicate a specific diagnosis. It may be used to describe a history of coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath triggered by infection. These signs and symptoms may or may not be caused by asthma.

Describing a condition as reactive airway disease in part reflects the difficulty in establishing a diagnosis of asthma in certain situations — such as during early childhood. Although it's possible for infants and toddlers to have asthma, tests to diagnose asthma generally aren't accurate before age 5.

Reactive hypoglycemia (postprandial hypoglycemia) refers to low blood sugar that occurs after a meal — usually within four hours after eating. This is different from low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) that occurs while fasting.

Signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia may include:

• Hunger
• Pale skin
• Weakness
• Shakiness
• Sweating
• Lightheadedness
• Anxiety
• Confusion

If you use insulin or other blood sugar lowering medications to treat diabetes, hypoglycemia after eating may mean that your medication dose needs to be adjusted.

For most people with reactive hypoglycemia, the actual cause isn't clear. But, the symptoms of this condition may relate to what food was eaten or variations in the timing of the food moving through the digestive system. Other possible causes of reactive hypoglycemia include alcohol, certain surgical procedures (gastric bypass or surgery for an ulcer), inherited metabolic disorders and some tumors.

Generally, a medical evaluation is done to learn if symptoms are caused by low blood sugar and if so, whether symptoms get better when blood sugar returns to normal. Additional testing may need to be done if you have more-serious symptoms.

Reactive hypoglycemia usually doesn't require medical treatment. However, any underlying medical condition will need to be treated. Dietary changes often help lessen your symptoms. Try making changes to the timing and composition of your meals, such as:

• Eating a balanced diet, including lean and nonmeat sources of protein, and high-fiber foods, including whole grains, fruits and vegetables
• Avoiding sugary foods and processed simple carbohydrates, such as white bread or white pasta, especially on an empty stomach
• Eating food when drinking alcohol, if you drink
• Eating several small meals and snacks throughout the day, about three hours apart during waking hours

Taking prescription oral erectile dysfunction (ED) medications recreationally — without a medical need — carries possible health risks. For example, you could:

• Get counterfeit drugs. Currently, oral ED medications, such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn), require a prescription. Obtaining these medications without a prescription, such as from an unlicensed online pharmacy, puts you at risk of taking a medication that might contain no active ingredient or the wrong medicine.
• Have an adverse effect or drug interaction. Prescription erectile dysfunction medications might not work or might be dangerous for you if you take nitrate drugs, if you have very low blood pressure (hypotension), or if you have heart disease or heart failure. It's important to talk to a doctor before taking any prescription ED medication. A prescription erectile dysfunction medication could also cause a severe reaction if used with other recreational drugs, such as cocaine.
• Become psychologically dependent on the medication. Some research suggests that men who use ED medications recreationally might begin to lose confidence in their ability to achieve and maintain an erection without them. Recreational use of ED medications could also cause men to develop unreasonable expectations for their erectile performance.

Prescription oral erectile dysfunction medications aren't intended for recreational use by men who don't have ED. If you're concerned about your ability to achieve or maintain an erection, talk to your doctor. He or she can help determine if you have an underlying condition that needs treatment or if you might benefit from medication or other treatments.