Posts

Robotic surgery (also called robotic-assisted surgery) is perhaps the most cutting-edge medical technology of modern times. The most widely used system today involves a camera and the use of very small surgical tools attached to robotic arms. A specially trained surgeon controls the robotic arms from a viewing screen, which is usually situated in the same room as the operating table. But the viewing screen could be located far away, allowing surgeons to perform telesurgery from remote locations....

Healthcare reform has been a topic of debate in the United States for decades. Two terms often used to discuss it are universal healthcare coverage and the single-payer system. Yet “single-payer” as a definition doesn’t always offer clarity when describing specific policy proposals. Although it’s often used to describe “Medicare for All” plans, or refer to a type of socialized health care, the truth is that it does not have a one-size-fits-all meaning....

What Is Skyrizi? Skyrizi (risankizumab) contains the active drug risankizumab-rzaa, a monoclonal antibody. Risankizumab is an interleukin-23 (IL-23) inhibitor approved to treat plaque psoriasis, an autoimmune disorder in adults. It works by binding to IL-23 proteins and blocking them from causing inflammation in the body. Skyrizi also prevents IL-23 proteins from turning on other immune system cells and improves your condition. It is a prescription medicine and is available as a subcutaneous injection....

Other names for suma include ginseng brasilero, gomphrena paniculata, Hebanthe paniculata, Pfaffia, and Pfaffia paniculata. Although suma is commonly referred to as Brazilian ginseng, the plant family it belongs to (the Amaranthaceae family) is different than that of other types of ginseng (belonging to the Araliaceae family). What Is Suma Used For? Suma is one of many medicinal herbs that some have referred to as adaptogens. Alternate medicine practitioners hold that adaptogens can help the body cope with stress by adapting themselves to support the body’s imbalances, whatever they may be....

The accessory nerve provides motor function (movement) to two muscles essential to neck and shoulder movement, the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and the trapezius, as well as to the larynx (voice box) and other structures in the throat. It’s the 11th of the 12 cranial nerves and is often referred to as CN XI. While its official classification is as a cranial nerve, relaying information between the brain and parts of the body, it actually has two portions....

A thyroglobulin antibody test is used to determine if you have an underlying thyroid issue. The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ at the base of the front of your neck. It creates essential hormones for the body to function correctly. Thyroid hormones play a role in your body’s metabolism, growth, and development. They produce energy, regulate body temperature, control weight, and more. To synthesize hormones, your thyroid produces several proteins such as thyroglobulin, the most abundant protein in the gland....

Tremors are involuntary muscle movements that you may briefly experience when you feel anxious, and they are also a symptom of movement disorders, illness, or a medication side effect. Tremors aren’t harmful, but they can be uncomfortable and get worse if the cause isn’t treated. If you have recurring or chronic tremors, you need to know there is treatment. This article will discuss the symptom of tremors, possible causes, tests, and treatment....

A contentious new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine cast doubts on how useful colonoscopies can be at preventing sickness and death from colon cancer. But some experts are pushing back against the study’s conclusions. Key Takeaways A study published in a prestigious scientific journal brought into question the efficacy of colonoscopies for reducing the risk of colon cancer death.However, some experts say the study has some key limitations and the findings may not be applicable to U....

Muscle twitching is a hallmark symptom of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). It develops because the disease damages nerves involved in motor function. This article will explore why muscle twitching develops in people with ALS and the treatment options for those who have the symptom. What Is Muscle Twitching? Muscle twitching, otherwise known as fasciculation, is an uncontrollable movement of the muscles. It can happen either because the muscle contracts or the messaging system between the muscle and brain is damaged....

The prescribing of antibiotics for bronchitis is not common. That’s because most cases of acute bronchitis—the kind that develops rapidly—are caused by a virus. Antibiotics won’t be effective in these cases, since they only work on bacterial infections. Antibiotics for bronchitis are only considered if your healthcare provider suspects a bacterial infection is causing your bronchitis or you are at elevated risk for a bacterial infection after your bout with viral bronchitis....

Fibroids are benign (noncancerous) tumors made of smooth muscle. They most often grow in a person’s uterus during their childbearing years. There are several types of fibroids, including: Submucosal: Grow inside the uterine cavityIntramural: Embed into the muscle wall of the uterusSubserosal: Grow along the outside wall of the uterusPedunculated: Connected to the outside of the uterus by a thin stem Fibroids can range in size from 1 millimeter to 8 inches or larger....

Asthmanefrin (racepinephrine) is an over-the-counter (OTC) inhaled medicine that helps open (dilate) constricted airways and provides temporary relief of shortness of breath, wheezing, tightness of chest, and wheezing due to asthma. Asthmanefrin is a liquid solution made with two types of epinephrine (adrenaline) that is added to a handheld device called a nebulizer, which turns the liquid into a fine mist that you breathe in. Asthmanefrin Uses People use Asthmanefrin for the short-term relief of acute asthma symptoms....

Atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) is when a breast has more than the normal two layers of cells in the milk ducts and those additional cells are abnormal in size, shape, appearance, and growth pattern. It is not breast cancer but is considered a precancerous condition. Atypical ductal hyperplasia is diagnosed with a biopsy; it cannot be detected via a breast exam or imaging. If found, atypical ductal hyperplasia will require close monitoring....

Bone metastases are common in people who’ve had cancer, especially that of the breast, lung, or prostate. They occur when cells from the original tumor break off and take up residence in the bone. Metastases are very painful and are different from tumors that originate in the bone. For example, breast cancer that moves to the bones is not bone cancer, but rather breast cancer metastatic to bone. Common Sites Each type of cancer has a tendency to spread to certain bones in the body more often than others, but this can vary....

Headaches are common, albeit unpleasant, experiences. They are not generally a symptom of breast cancer unless the cancer is advanced and spreads to the brain. Individuals diagnosed with breast cancer may also experience headaches related to treatment. This article explores the possible causes and management options for headaches associated with advanced breast cancer or breast cancer treatments. What Are Headaches? A headache is a pain or discomfort in the head or face....

Dyspnea (shortness of breath) is common with lung cancer and often worsens with advanced disease. Such trouble breathing may be caused by the growth of the tumor, a secondary infection, disease complications, or certain cancer treatments. Treatment options for shortness of breath with lung cancer depend on what’s causing it but may include medications (such as morphine), oxygen therapy, breathing exercises, and surgery. Symptoms The main symptom of dyspnea is labored breathing....

Varicose veins are enlarged veins, while spider veins are a smaller version of the same condition. Women develop this circulatory condition about twice as often as men. Though unsightly, varicose and spider veins don’t always require medical attention. When they do, sclerotherapy, injecting a solution into the vein to force blood to reroute to healthier veins, is a common treatment. In the most serious cases, surgery may be required. These veins can cause dull discomfort that may get worse as you age, but severe pain is uncommon....

People with endometriosis (endo) often have menstrual periods that are heavier, more painful (dysmenorrhea), and occur more frequently than those without endometriosis. Although not fully understood, endometriosis pain is likely caused by hormonal imbalances, inflammation, and the body’s inability to clear endometrial (uterine lining) debris from the uterus effectively. Over 60% of people with endometriosis report having chronic pelvic pain. This article will explain the effects of endometriosis on people who menstruate and those who no longer have a period....

Scientists have long sought the cause of multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease that affects some 2.8 million people worldwide each year. Key Takeaways A new study presents strong evidence that multiple sclerosis (MS) can be triggered by Epstein-Barr virus. The findings bring scientists a step closer to understanding the cause of the autoimmune disease.Of the study’s 801 subjects who developed MS, all but one were infected with EBV before the onset of MS....

Muscle cramps are sustained, painful, involuntary contractions of muscles. While muscle spasms and cramps can occur in various parts of the body, they are most common in the muscles of the legs and feet. This article will cover common causes of foot cramps and tips for everyday management. Foot Cramps Sensation Muscle cramps in the feet feel like intense contractions, most commonly in the arches of the feet or toes, that cannot be controlled....