The radius is the thicker and shorter of the two long bones in the forearm. It is located on the lateral side of the forearm parallel to the ulna (in anatomical position with arms hanging at the sides of the body, palms facing forward) between the thumb and the elbow. The radius and ulna pivot around one another to allow rotation of the wrist. Together, along with the humerus, they create the elbow joint....
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is a hormone that prompts your thyroid gland to produce the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). The hypothalamus, located in the brain, constantly monitors your blood for levels of thyroid hormones, and if it detects too little, it triggers the pituitary gland, also located in the brain, to release TSH. This system of communication keeps your thyroid hormone levels within the optimal range. If you have enough or too much T3 or T4, the pituitary gland slows down the production of TSH, which signals your thyroid to produce less T3 and T4....
If you have health insurance and have needed significant medical care—or sometimes, even minor care—you may have experienced a situation where the company won’t pay. They may deny the full amount of a claim, or most of it. Do you have to just accept their refusal to cover your medical claim? No. There are actually things you can do. This article will explain why health plans deny claims, how you can reduce your chances of a claim denial, and what to do if your health plan does deny a claim for a medical service you’ve received....
Unprotected sex (also referred to as condomless sex) is defined as sexual intercourse without contraception. It also means when the contraception fails (condom tears or forgetting to take your birth control pill). Condomless sex increases the risk of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This article will discuss what to do if your contraception fails, emergency contraception options, and STI screenings. What Counts as Condomless Sex? Condomless sex is not using any type of contraception, which includes:...
There are lots of reasons you might go outside of your health insurance provider network to get care, whether it’s by choice or in an emergency. But depending on the circumstances, getting care out-of-network can increase your financial risk as well as your risk of having quality issues with the health care you receive. While you can’t entirely eliminate your increased risk, you can decrease it if you do your homework in advance....
An aortic aneurysm is a bulging of the aorta, the main artery that travels from the heart to supply blood to the rest of the body. The most common location of an aortic aneurysm is the abdomen. Aortic aneurysms can rupture, leading to catastrophic blood loss and death. If you get prompt medical attention, emergency surgical repair may save your life. An aortic aneurysm that is diagnosed prior to rupture can be surgically repaired, too, with a good prognosis....
Amitriptyline is a prescription oral antidepressant medication that is also sometimes used off-label for treating a variety of conditions, including anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and prevention of neuropathic pain. The amitriptyline dosage for treating anxiety is generally lower than the dose used for treating depression. When you are taking amitriptyline, it’s important that you tell your healthcare provider and pharmacist about any other medication you are taking so you will not have a risk of amitriptyline interactions....
There are several conditions that can cause your eyelid to swell, and two of the most common ones are blepharitis and styes (hordeolums). Both of these problems can be caused by bacteria and have similar symptoms. However, there are ways to tell them apart. Sometimes they have to be treated differently. This article will discuss the similarities and differences between blepharitis and styes. Symptoms Both blepharitis and styes can cause painful swelling or inflammation of your eyelid....
Most cancer screening tests are free for Medicare beneficiaries as long as their doctor accepts assignment. Certain cancers, however, are gender-specific based on anatomy. Cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancers are commonly referred to as female cancers, while prostate and testicular cancers are perceived as male. Depending on their sex assignment at birth, a transgender individual’s decision to pursue cross-sex hormone therapy and/or gender confirmation surgery could affect whether or not they qualify for certain cancer screening tests....
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Monday that the agency is shortening the isolation time for people who test positive for COVID-19 from 10 days to five days . Key Takeaways The CDC is changing its isolation and quarantine guidance, shortening the amount of time you should stay away from others from 10 days to five.The agency says the change is motivated by science demonstrating that most COVID transmission occurs early in the course of illness....
In some ways, the features of cold sore vs. a pimple on the lip line are very similar—so much so that you may easily mistake one for the other, especially in a cold sore’s early stages. Knowing the unique characteristics of the two can help you differentiate these lookalikes. For example, pimples near the lip only occur on the lip line, while cold sores can appear anywhere on or around the lip....
Delirium is a mental state that involves an acute change in attention and awareness. It can be the direct effect of a medical condition or related to a substance. It can cause disorganized thinking, inattention, memory loss, and confusion. Delirium often happens in older adults, especially those hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU). It may also occur due to surgery, side effects from medication, seizures, or withdrawal from alcohol and drugs....
Smoking marijuana and the link to lung cancer isn’t supported by the same body of research that makes clear the link between lung cancer and cigarette smoking. That said, studies continue to reveal new findings about the risks associated with smoking marijuana. Some marijuana users report respiratory symptoms like shortness of breath and wheezing due to marijuana use, and there are studies to suggest marijuana smoke causes lung damage. What’s less clear are the long-term effects of marijuana use....
Did you know that Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage) has a late enrollment penalty? If this penalty gets applied to your premiums, you’ll have to keep paying it for as long as you have Part D coverage, which is usually the rest of your life—it can really add up. This article will explain the basics of Part D and the Part D late enrollment penalty. You’ll learn how the penalty is calculated, when it applies, and how to avoid it....
Mosquito bites are itchy and irritating and trigger a minor reaction in most people that usually fades within days. However, for those who are sensitive or allergic to substances found in mosquito saliva, it can cause a more severe reaction and even scarring. This article will explore what to do when your mosquito bite sticks around longer than usual and how to fade out dark spots and scars. What Causes a Mosquito Bite Scar?...
Joint counts are one of the assessments healthcare providers use to establish the status of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There are several ways to perform joint counts, but all of them involve your healthcare provider physically examining joints for pain and swelling and totaling up the number of joints that show signs of either. This information gets factored into your Disease Activity Score (DAS), which helps determine whether your RA is active or in remission....
A reduction in sweating (hypohidrosis) or absence of sweating (anhidrosis) can be a concerning symptom. A lack of sweating can be localized or generalized and can produce symptoms of feeling flushed and overheated. When severe, it may lead to complications such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke. The causes of a lack of sweating (perspiration) may be hereditary or acquired and can include skin conditions, connective tissue diseases, conditions affecting the central or peripheral nervous system, or even medications....
Lactose intolerance is a common problem. Learn more about what causes lactose intolerance, its symptoms, and how you can manage it. What Is Lactose Intolerance? Lactose intolerance is caused by the body’s inability to digest milk sugar, or lactose. In order to break lactose down into simple sugars, or monosaccharides, the body must produce the enzyme called “lactase,” which is produced in the small intestine. Without lactase, the lactose from milk products is unable to be digested....
What Is Lotensin? Lotensin, also known as benazepril, is an oral prescription medication commonly used to treat high blood pressure. It is a part of a drug class called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Lotensin works by blocking the production of a hormone called angiotensin II. Angiotensin II narrows the blood vessels and increases blood pressure. With the use of Lotensin, your blood vessels will remain relaxed so that your blood pressure can go down....
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong medical condition in which the immune system attacks the protective myelin sheath covering healthy cells in the brain and spinal cord. Since the brain communicates with every body system for functioning, MS can have many symptoms that affect various areas of the body. There is no cure for MS, but treating it and living a long, healthy life is possible. Treatment options may include behavior and lifestyle changes, medications, and non-medicinal therapies like physical therapy....
