Chest pain is one of the most common reasons people visit the emergency room (ER), resulting in over 8 million ER visits each year. Many people worry they’re experiencing a heart attack when they feel chest pain, but it can be caused by a number of common conditions that are not life-threatening. Muscle strain or injury, gastrointestinal or pulmonary (lung) conditions, and psychological reasons (e.g., anxiety) can all cause chest pain....
Accurately diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be challenging. Its symptoms, such as abdominal pain and diarrhea, can mimic those of other gastrointestinal conditions, which must first be ruled out before reaching an IBD diagnosis. A patient history, bloodwork, and diagnostic imaging may all be used to aid in this process. Tests are also used to distinguish between the different forms of IBD: Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. All of this can take some time....
An Explanation of Benefits (EOB) is a form or document that may be sent to you by your insurance company after you had a healthcare service and a claim was submitted to your insurer. (Note that if you’re enrolled in Original Medicare, you’ll receive a Medicare Summary Notice instead, which is similar but not the same thing as an EOB. However, if you have a Medicare Part D plan or Medicare Advantage coverage, they will send EOBs....
A food intolerance—also known as food sensitivity—is an adverse reaction to a certain food or ingredient in your food. It can also be caused by a reduction in digestive enzymes, the substances that help you digest your food. However, most occur for unknown reasons. A person with a food intolerance may experience abdominal pain, nausea bloating, or diarrhea after eating certain foods. It’s important to know that a food allergy and food intolerance are not the same....
Plaque is a film of bacteria that forms on the teeth. Occurring naturally, good oral hygiene habits keep it at bay, and dental cleaning effectively removes it. However, if untreated, plaque can turn into a thicker buildup called tartar and lead to gum disease, tooth decay, cavities, and other dental issues. Though only dental treatment can take on tartar, adjusting your brushing and flossing techniques, using baking soda, and oil pulling are among the effective at-home methods for removing plaque....
For many families and friends, this holiday season will mark the first year of reunification since the pandemic began. But even in a joyous moment, families and friends may find themselves navigating difficult conversations about COVID-19 vaccination and safety precautions. Key Takeaways This upcoming holiday season may stir some difficult conversations about COVID-19 safety and vaccination.You can set and communicate boundaries ahead of time with family or friends who may be unvaccinated....
Leukocytosis is the condition of having a high number of leukocytes in the blood. Leukocytes are white blood cells. They include many different white blood cell types that all work together and have specific roles in immunity, healing, and maintaining health. Leukocytosis may be a temporary response to an infection or injury as the body is healing naturally, or it can be a sign of disease. It may develop as a side effect of some medications, or it may reflect an underlying autoimmune disease....
Limited-stage is the first of two stages of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The cancer is in one lung and possibly the lymph nodes on the same side of the chest. Symptoms of limited-stage small cell lung cancer include coughing, coughing blood, shortness of breath, and more. Because it’s usually aggressive, limited-stage SCLC is treated with chemotherapy and radiation without delay once it is diagnosed. Staging Staging for SCLC is used to determine how it should be treated and also provides insight into the prognosis of the disease....
There are several different types of bladder control problems. One of these is called neurogenic bladder, which means that the cause of your urination problems is related to the nerves that control your bladder. Neurogenic bladder can cause you to have an overactive bladder, underactive bladder, or both. Symptoms of Neurogenic Bladder The symptoms of neurogenic bladder include a variety of urination problems, some of which may actually seem to be at odds with one another....
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) are two different conditions. OCD is a mental health condition that involves obsessive, intrusive, and repetitive thoughts that make you feel compelled to repeat behaviors. OCPD is a personality disorder that involves being excessively focused on order and perfection. This article will go over how OCD and OCPD are different. You will learn the symptoms of OCD and OCPD, as well as how these mental health conditions are diagnosed and treated....
A panic attack is an episode of acute fear, discomfort, and anxiety that generally peaks within minutes but can last longer. There are a wide range of distressing symptoms associated with panic attacks, including a fast heart rate, nausea, and even chest pain that can feel like a heart attack. Experiencing a panic attack can be very frightening, even if you’ve had one before. While it’s certainly not normal to have panic attacks, you should know that you aren’t alone if you have one....
A PaO2 test measures partial pressure of oxygen, or PaO2—the oxygen pressure in arterial blood. The PaO2 reflects how well oxygen is able to move from the lungs to the blood. It is often altered by severe illnesses, with the PaO2 test results used to guide treatment. The PaO2 is one of the components measured in an arterial blood gas (ABG) test, which also reports oxygen (O2) saturation, bicarbonate (HCO3), the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2), and the pH level in red blood cells....
The pectoral girdle, also known as the shoulder girdle, is the set of bones that connects the arm to the rest of the skeleton. It provides support and stabilization to allow the shoulder to move. The joints of the pectoral girdle can become damaged after injury or repetitive overuse of the shoulder. Anatomy The pectoral girdle provides the main structural support for the shoulder joint. The pectoral girdle consists of two bones:...
Doll therapy involves offering dolls to adults who are living with dementia and other medical conditions with the goal of improving their comfort, engagement, and quality of life. Doll therapy is typically used for people who are in the middle or late stages of dementia. There are multiple companies the sell therapeutic dolls for people with dementia, as well as many caregivers who extol the virtues of a doll for adults, but not everyone is ready to jump on this bandwagon....
For some people with a type of psoriasis—an autoimmune disorder that causes dry, itchy, and flaky skin—diet and other lifestyle factors may play a role in managing their condition. For example, some have found that a calorie-restricted diet improves psoriasis symptoms. Following a gluten-free diet works for others, and certain nutritional supplements show potential in the treatment of the psoriasis as well. However, there is no singular dietary approach for the condition that has been supported by overwhelming scientific evidence....
Many women will worry about scarring from breast cancer treatment. This may be an obvious concern for breast surgeries, but it can also occur due to radiation treatment. Some people, such as younger individuals and smokers, may be more prone to scarring. While plastic surgery can help minimize the appearance of a scar, it can’t erase it. By understanding the causes of scarring and the factors that influence them, you may be able to alleviate this common consequence of some breast cancer treatments....
Oral herpes zoster, also known as oral shingles, is a less common manifestation of shingles but one that can cause a painful outbreak of blisters in the mouth. Shingles, a disease caused by the reactivation of the chicken pox virus, is typically treated with antiviral drugs to reduce the duration and severity of the outbreak. With oral shingles, over-the-counter painkillers, topical anesthetics, and soothing mouthwashes can also help ease the pain....
A sleep study, called a polysomnogram, can help to diagnose sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome (RLS), and other sleep disorders. Usually, people spend the night at a hospital sleep laboratory or an outpatient sleep clinic, with electrodes attached to the body to monitor their brain waves, breathing, and movement. There are at-home tests too, but they’re limited in identifying sleep apnea and other conditions. During a sleep study, a technician watches as you sleep and collects more data....
If you have health insurance in the U.S., there’s a good chance your coverage is sponsored by an employer—either your own, your spouse’s, or a parent’s. Roughly half of all Americans have health coverage under an employer-sponsored plan. Employer-sponsored health plans are available to employees when they first become eligible for the coverage and annually during the employer’s open enrollment period. Unlike the individual insurance market, this window is not set by the government....
Suspecting you or a loved one may have Lyme disease is a stressful experience that requires immediate consultation with a healthcare provider. Fortunately, telehealth services are widely available to help you navigate through the uncertainty of whether you’ve been exposed to a tick carrying the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, if you have been infected, and how to treat the condition before it leads to additional health concerns. While telehealth services are available for initial symptom consultation and diagnosis, the authorizing of antibiotic prescriptions, and post-treatment follow-ups, there are some considerations to keep in mind to ensure you get the best care possible....
