What's new

Oral fungal infection: Spotting trouble early

Would you have thought that poor-fitting dentures might help to trigger an oral fungal infection? The more common causes of oral thrush, however, are serious diseases like cancer and its treatment. An immune system that is weakened by HIV can also make fungal infections more likely. This new fact sheet will give you a quick overview of matters of oral hygiene and the drug treatment options. To the fact sheet

Preventing oral thrush in people with cancer: Available options

Oral thrush (an oral fungal infection) is one of the most common adverse effects of cancer treatment. Chemotherapy can attack mucous membranes and weaken the immune system. This makes it easier for fungus to spread. Can antifungal drugs (antimycotics) prevent this from happening when used during chemotherapy or radiotherapy? We have summarized the current state of research. To the research summary

Quitting smoking and maintaining your weight: Is it possible?

“If I quit smoking, I’ll probably gain weight!” – this concern is not totally unfounded. But there are ways to stop smoking and still keep your weight down over the long run. Our updated research summary has has some information on how to make that happen. To the research summary

Advanced breast cancer: What are the advantages or disadvantages of eribulin?

Eribulin (trade name Halaven) was approved in Germany in March 2011 for the treatment of locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer if the disease has progressed further despite prior treatment with medication. More

Type 2 diabetes: What are the advantages or disadvantages of linagliptin?

Linagliptin (trade name: Trajenta) was approved in Germany in mid-2011 for use in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus whose elevated blood sugar levels cannot be adequately controlled by dietary changes and exercise. More

Pulmonary fibrosis: What are the advantages or disadvantages of pirfenidone?

Pirfenidone was approved in Germany at the beginning of 2011 for the treatment of mild to moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in adults. Read about its advantages and disadvantages here.

Ticks: How dangerous their bites really are

Ticks can carry disease, but a bite from one of them will usually not result in any harm to your health. And the risk of getting TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) is much lower than that of developing Lyme disease. We explain the differences between TBE and Lyme disease, how likely it is to get sick after being bitten by a tick, and who might benefit from a TBE vaccination. Please note that this information reflects the situation in Germany and may not be applicable to other parts of the world. To the fact sheet


Removing ticks: Useful information

There are tweezers, cards and small hooks all specially designed for removing ticks. Simply click below to find out how to use them in the right way, as well as what it means if a small dark dot remains after a tick has been removed. To the information


What can you do about chronic sinusitis?

Always having blocked sinuses can be a real annoyance. Treatment may test your patience, but it might be worth trying out some medications to relieve your symptoms. Nasal steroid sprays, for example, are better than their reputation. They are used topically and have considerably fewer side effects than medications taken in tablet form. You can read here about which other treatments can also help. To the fact sheet


Why are all pregnant women offered a test for gestational diabetes?

The risks posed by gestational diabetes were often greatly exaggerated in the past. It is now clear that even if women do have high blood sugar levels during pregnancy, the vast majority of them will have an otherwise normal pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby. We explain here how gestational diabetes is diagnosed and what women who do have high blood sugar levels can do. To the fact sheet

Find answers to frequently asked questions on gestational diabetes and the test here.


Acute sinusitis: New research on treatment

Sometimes a common cold will develop into acute sinusitis. We looked for new research on treatment – and have found some conclusive trials. To the updated fact sheet


Acute sinusitis: Antibiotics not always the first resort

There is usually no point in using antibiotics to treat acute sinusitis. This is because the condition is most often caused by viruses, and antibiotics simply do not work against viruses. Antibiotics may be a good idea, however, if you develop certain complications – you can find out which complications in our updated research summary.


Expressing breast milk: Personal preference is the deciding factor

Which is better: expressing breast milk by hand or using an electric or manual pump? Expressing breast milk may make it easier to integrate feeding the baby into your daily routine. And it can also help mothers if their child is not drinking enough. Read about the different techniques in this updated text.


Migraine fact sheet especially for children and teenagers

A pounding headache, nausea and sensitivity to light– all typical symptoms of a migraine. Worrying about having migraine attacks can be stressful too. We have updated our answers to five frequently asked questions about migraines in children and teenagers. For instance, which drugs can help and what can trigger migraines. To the updated fact sheet


Which drugs can relieve the pain

Research has shown that ibuprofen and acetaminophen (also called paracetamol) are the most effective painkillers for children and teenagers with migraines. They can relieve the pounding headache pain. There are also other drugs that have been developed especially for treating migraine symptoms. But most of them are not approved for use in children. To the updated research summary


Medication for preventing migraines: Research shows weak effect

Some children and teenagers have such bad migraines that they are often not able to do everyday things like going to school in the morning or playing football in the afternoon. Many of these young people then take medication that is supposed to prevent migraine attacks. But does it really work? Researchers have found that the effect is not all that great. To the updated research summary


Prevention of migraine attacks without using medication: Does it work?

“I always get migraines when I eat chocolate” – some boys and girls suspect that certain things trigger their migraine attacks. Keeping a migraine diary is one way to find out what could be causing migraines. But there are a number of other things that children and teenagers can do to reduce the likelihood of having a migraine. To the updated research summary


Chronic hepatitis C: What are the advantages or disadvantages of boceprevir?

Boceprevir was approved in mid-2011 for people infected with certain hepatitis C viruses. It is taken in addition to current standard therapy and aims to stop viruses from reproducing and thus prevent complications from hepatitis C. More


Angina pectoris and heart attack: What are the advantages or disadvantages of ticagrelor?

Ticagrelor was approved in Germany in late 2010 for use in people with unstable angina pectoris or heart attack. It is taken in addition to acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and aims to lower the risk for further heart and blood vessel disease. More


Living with metastatic breast cancer

Being diagnosed with “metastatic breast cancer” comes as a great shock for most women. This diagnosis often causes worry over both their own future and that of their family. They also often need answers to urgent questions: What treatments can be an option? What kind of professional support can help? With a focus on the German health care system we explain what practical and financial support services and options are available. To the article


Brief overview: Facts on diagnosis and treatment

For readers who want to get an overview first, we have briefly summarized the facts on metastatic breast cancer. Read about examination and treatment methods, and about life with the disease. To the fact sheet


Dealing with helplessness: Fact sheet for partners

Many people with someone in their family who is severely ill know this: you want to carry the burden of suffering and sorrow for your partner, but do not know how. It is understandable that you feel helpless. You can find out more about possibilities to support your partner with cancer, but also about dealing with your own anxieties and limits here. To the fact sheet


Anything but easy: Saying goodbye

Some women try to avoid looking at the finiteness of life. Others feel the need to deal with saying goodbye and dying – for example, by writing down their life story for their children and grandchildren. It is important to find a way that is right for you. These considerations might help you. To the fact sheet


Chemotherapy: What exactly is it?

A treatment for cancer, strong drugs, a reason for hair loss – many people have a vague idea about what chemotherapy is. We explain how it is done, why the fear of side effects is often greater than necessary, and when ointments may be used for chemotherapy. To the information


Where to get hope: Three interviews

People who are affected by a certain disease are often interested in the experiences others have had with it. Informed Health Online talked with two women and one husband about living with metastatic breast cancer. To the interviews


“Victory”, “defeat”, “battle”? – The effect of headlines about cancer

What is your reaction when you read that “Ms. X has conquered cancer” or that “Mr. Y has lost the battle against cancer” in the newspaper? And what effect might these kinds of headlines have on people with cancer? We have asked Ms. Schulte these questions – she is Honorary Chairwoman of the German organization Frauenselbsthilfe nach Krebs (Women’s self-help after cancer). Read her thoughtful answer. More


Things that can help when back pain does not go away

Low back pain usually gets better on its own within a few days or weeks. But what can you do if it doesn’t? What might be a good choice then – massages, painkillers, or physiotherapy instead? We have put together information on which of the many treatment options are known to help in chronic low back pain. Plus: things that typically trigger pain, and how to keep yourself active. To the fact sheet


Low back pain: Six warning signs of serious causes

Many people have low back pain at some point in their lives. It is usually harmless. But sometimes it is caused by a serious condition: impending nerve damage, for example, may be experienced as numbness or paralysis. Find out what other warning signs are worth paying attention to and what conditions they may indicate. To the information


Diagnostics: Why doing more is not always better

Laboratory tests, imaging techniques, measuring electrical activity – there is a long list of modern diagnostic methods. It can be important to have as accurate a diagnosis as possible to see whether symptoms are a sign of a serious disease and how the disease might progress. Yet it is worth taking a critical look at these tests. Because it is not only drugs that can have side effects, tests can have them as well. More


Sore throat: Antibiotics often do not make sense

An itchy or sore throat is usually the first sign of a cold. Many people take antibiotics to get rid of it quickly. But the current state of knowledge shows that there are good reasons to not take antibiotics for simple sore throats at first. More


Collecting, evaluating, deciding: How to make use of medical knowledge

Have you ever wondered why there are hardly any recommendations at Informed Health Online? In our in-depth feature we take a look at Peter and Karl – two middle-aged men who both have been diagnosed with high blood pressure – to show you why we prefer to not give specific advice. We instead see our role as looking at the available evidence to provide you with medical knowledge so that you can make your own decisions. But we'll let you be the judge. To the feature


Birth control pill: Is weight gain just a myth?

This myth has been especially hard to dispel: women who use the pill gain weight. Yet there has never been any scientific proof of this – and it remains unproven to the present day. Our updated information explains what might have caused people to believe in the extra pounds theory and why it is so difficult to convince them otherwise. More


Regaining strength and fitness: What can help after a stroke

Even after a stroke, physical fitness shouldn’t be taken lightly. Being fit helps you do exercises that benefit recovery. Read our revised information about what current trials on the benefit of exercise as part of stroke rehabilitation have to say. More


Ankle instability: Finding the best treatment

A moment’s carelessness and it has already happened: your ankle is twisted. This can sometimes result in chronic ankle instability. One possible cause is that the ligaments have grown back together too loosely. There is no reliable answer as to whether surgery is better than physiotherapy based on the latest research – but we can say which treatment will get you back on your feet faster if you have had surgery. To the updated research summary


Tasting, swallowing, speaking: This is how the tongue works

Many people still believe that we taste “sweet” on the tip of the tongue, and “bitter” in the area close to the throat – but this is wrong. We know today that our sense of taste is spread rather evenly over the tongue. Science has also found out what other types of taste we can sense. Find out what “umami” is and what other jobs the tongue does in this feature.


Bowel cancer screening: Yes? No? Maybe?

Campaigns regularly draw attention to bowel cancer screening. But how big is the risk of getting bowel cancer and even dying of it? And how can screening change it? You can find detailed information on the advantages and disadvantages of the tests and how they are done in this article.


At a glance: Detecting bowel cancer and its preliminary stages

For those readers who prefer to get a quick overview first, we have summarized the most important information on bowel cancer screening. More


Newer drug for treating high cholesterol levels: Benefits not clear

High cholesterol – a lot of people worry about it. With good reason, because it is considered to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease like heart attacks and strokes. If cholesterol levels do not go down enough as a result of a healthier diet or more exercise it is possible to use medication. A newer drug can apparently lower cholesterol levels. But does it also help to prevent complications? To the research summary


Moderate or near normal: New information on lowering blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes

Experts agree: lowering blood sugar levels is fundamentally a good thing to do for people who have type 2 diabetes. Yet the best treatment strategy is open to debate: some advise aiming for “near normal” levels, while others recommend lowering blood sugar less. Is one of these two strategies better? We have put together information on what the research says here. To the research summary


Skin cancer: On the benefits of one imaging technique in malignant melanoma

Malignant melanoma is quite rare, but it is more aggressive than other kinds of skin cancer. Some experts believe that it can be better treated, when it can be determined with more accuracy how far it has spread or whether there are recurrences. Can a positron emission tomography (PET) scan help in doing this? To the research summary


Good to know: Preventing gingivitis and its consequences

Bleeding gums are usually harmless. But they are sometimes an indication of gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). We explain how gingivitis is caused and what treatment options are available if the inflammation has already affected other parts of the tissue supporting the teeth. To the fact sheet


Treatment after a heart attack: Combinations with ASA

There are a number of different drugs available for treating and preventing heart attacks. Trials now show that a drug that was introduced in 2009 can reduce the risk of further non-fatal heart attacks better than an older drug. However, the new drug also has some disadvantages. More


Babies and children: What can you do about acute middle ear infection?

Most parents are familiar with this situation: a child in pain and screaming a lot at night can be very unsettling. This is frequently caused by acute middle ear infection. This video is about what you can do for your child when this happens.


Hammers and anvils: This is how the ear works

We can close our eyes, but not our ears. But their job is not only to keep us constantly connected to the outside world. Find out what else the ear can do and how it is designed in this video.