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Smoking is the greatest risk factor for developing lung cancer, but that doesn’t mean non-smokers are completely protected from the disease. In fact, globally, about 25% of lung cancer patients have never smoked. In many ways, lung cancer in non-smokers is a different disease than lung cancer in smokers with causes, treatments, and survival rates differing significantly among those who have never smoked or smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime compared to current or former smokers....

What Is Lybalvi? Lybalvi is a combination prescription medication that contains two medicines (olanzapine and samidorphan). Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic, while samidorphan is an opioid antagonist. Olanzapine blocks the activity of two naturally occurring brain chemicals: dopamine and serotonin. Samidorphan blocks opioid receptors with some agonist (binding) activity at kappa- and delta-opioid receptors. Lybalvi is used only in adults to treat: Schizophrenia Short-term mixed/manic episodes of bipolar I disorder (alone or in combination with medications like lithium or valproate) Mixed/manic episodes that happen with bipolar I disorder long-term Lybalvi is not to be used in individuals with dementia-related psychosis, as it increases their risk of death....

Most women who go through menopause won’t develop a major mood disorder. But many will experience some mood problems before, during, and after menopause when hormone levels fluctuate. These hormonal shifts can begin as early as perimenopause (the period right before menopause). There are several ways that your mood can be affected by the hormone changes and other events around menopause. Understanding why this happens can help you cope. This article reviews what causes mood swings during menopause and ways to help relieve them....

It’s not uncommon for people to be unaware that their home has a mold problem. If you have allergic asthma and a mold allergy, however, your body may sound an alarm. Mold spores are microscopic and easily airborne, and breathing them in can trigger symptoms and prompt severe asthma attacks in those with these two conditions. If you find that your asthma is suddenly worsening and you can’t pinpoint why, mold may be to blame....

Diabetes isn’t the only problem that can develop as a result of high blood sugar. Over time, excessive amounts of glucose (sugar) and fats in your blood can lead to many complications, including painful nerve damage. Nerve pain that comes along with a diagnosis of diabetes is referred to as diabetic neuropathy. Many types of neuropathy exist, but this particular variety results from uncontrolled diabetes. It can cause pain, numbness, and burning or tingling sensations....

Pain during bowel movements can cause anxiety. First, you may worry about the next trip to the bathroom. Second, you may worry that something is really wrong with your health. An occasional twinge while defecating might not be a big deal. But ongoing or severe pain is a sign something is wrong. You shouldn’t ignore it. This article looks at some common causes of pain during bowel movements. Anal or Rectal Pain Sometimes, pain during bowel movements has to do with pushing the stool out of your body....

A new study shows that hospitalized patients who tested positive for COVID-19 were more likely to experience shortness of breath, fatigue, and type 2 diabetes after contracting the virus. Key Takeaways A new study identified the different symptoms and conditions that may arise after contracting COVID-19. Long-term symptoms and conditions can be more common for patients with severe COVID-19. More studies are needed to confirm whether individuals with long COVID are more susceptible to breakthrough infections....

Phalloplasty is a lengthy surgery that can take anywhere from six to 12 hours. The procedure may require several stages, and a number of different techniques may be employed. If you’re planning on undergoing this procedure, it’s important to understand what happens on the day of surgery. Before the Surgery Phalloplasty patients typically arrive at the hospital early in the morning—about two hours before the procedure itself—and will change into a hospital gown....

Porphyria [por·fee·ree·uh] is a group of disorders caused by abnormal function of the enzymes involved in the production of heme. Heme is a major component of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying component of red blood cells. Heme is also produced in the liver, where it is used in the production of various important cytochrome enzymes that help synthesize and break down hormones. The production of heme in the bone marrow and liver will normally create a certain amount of porphyrins, but if the heme-producing enzymes are out of balance, porphyrins can build up and become toxic....

Sickle cell trait is the condition of carrying only one copy of the gene that causes sickle cell disease. Having only one copy of the gene does not cause the disease. Sickle cell disease is a hereditary blood disorder that affects people who have genes coding for an abnormal formation of the hemoglobin molecule, which carries oxygen in red blood cells. People who have sickle cell trait may have a parent, child, or other family members with sickle cell disease....

On October 12, 2017, less than three weeks before the start of open enrollment for 2018 health plans in the individual market, the Trump administration announced that funding for cost-sharing reductions (CSR, sometimes referred to as cost-sharing subsidies) would end immediately. But nothing has changed about the availability of CSR benefits; health insurance exchange enrollees who are eligible for CSR benefits are continuing to receive them. And as we’ll discuss in a moment, premium subsidies (the other type of subsidy created by the Affordable Care Act) in most states are a lot larger than they would have been if CSR funding hadn’t been eliminated....

What Is Sinemet? Sinemet (carbidopa and levodopa) is an oral prescription medication used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Healthcare providers may also prescribe Sinemet to treat Parkinson’s-like symptoms after encephalitis (brain swelling) or from carbon monoxide poisoning or manganese poisoning. Parkinson’s disease symptoms (e.g., shaking, stiffness, slowed movements) are caused by low levels of dopamine, a naturally occurring brain chemical. Levodopa (one of the medicines found in Sinemet) gets converted to dopamine in the brain....

A bite from a venomous snake is called “envenomation.” These snake bites occur 7,000 to 8,000 times a year in the U.S. Of those, around five people will die from venomous snake bites. It’s critical to get immediate medical attention after a venomous snake bite. Call 911 or head to the nearest emergency room where hospital staff will administer antivenom. The sooner you receive this medicine, the less likely you will experience irreversible damage from the snake’s venom....

Cerebral palsy usually requires ongoing medical treatment, and telehealth can be part of this care. Telehealth has been an option for some components of cerebral palsy care for years, and it has been shown to be feasible and beneficial. The effects of cerebral palsy can be relatively mild, such as a dragging foot or weak hand. But it can also have substantial effects, such as learning challenges, seizures, impaired swallowing, trouble speaking, difficulty walking, or generalized stiffness and tremors....

While many aspects of an appointment with an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) are hands-on, there are several scenarios where the primary purpose of your visit can be accomplished via telehealth. OB-GYNs specialize in reproductive and sexual health care, as well as pregnancy. Examples of appointments that can be done via telehealth include prescription refills, interventions involving breastfeeding and/or tobacco use, and certain types of antenatal care. When to Use Telehealth With an OB-GYN There are a number of scenarios when a telehealth visit with an OB-GYN—or affiliated physician assistant or nurse practitioner—can provide patients with the services they need....

Finding the right treatment for your kids’ xerosis (dry skin) can be tricky. Children’s skin is delicate and dries out more easily than adults’ skin, so they’re more likely to have itchy, red, rough, or peeling skin. Dry skin can be caused or made worse by swimming, sweating in the heat of the summer, or the cold, dry air of winter. Age is an important consideration when looking at moisturizers, too....

Pain has been defined scientifically as an unpleasant, emotional and sensory experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Most types of arthritis are associated with pain that can be divided into two general categories: acute and chronic. Acute pain is temporary. Chronic pain ranges from mild to severe and can last weeks, months, years, or even a lifetime. Chronic pain can be distressing because it affects people physically, emotionally, psychologically, and socially....

An esthetician is a trained technician who specializes in skin beautification. Estheticians (sometimes spelled aestheticians) are not medical healthcare providers. They perform cosmetic skin treatments such as facials, superficial chemical peels, body treatments, and waxing. Estheticians usually work in a spa or salon. With more people seeking non-invasive treatments to help them look more youthful, this occupation is on the rise. There are more than 60,000 estheticians in the U.S. and the demand for them is growing faster than average....

Monocytes are a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infections and other diseases. They are made in the bone marrow, and they work throughout the body. Some health conditions can cause monocytopenia, which is a low number of monocytes. Monocytopenia can predispose you to infections. Monocytopenia usually is associated with abnormalities of other types of white blood cells. This can cause health problems, such as inflammation, severe infections, bleeding, or symptoms of anemia (including fatigue, dizziness, and pale skin)....

A ventilator is a medical device that helps you breathe when you have trouble breathing on your own. A ventilator may be needed when an injury or an illness like COVID-19 impairs your lung function. Ventilators are also used to help you breathe during surgery. Ventilators work by gently pushing air into the lungs and allowing it to come back out like the lungs would typically do in normal breathing....