Posts

Anticipating a surgery can be an anxiety-provoking time. And if you have high blood pressure (also known as hypertension), you may have additional concerns about how you will respond to general anesthesia. Ideally, your blood pressure will be normalized several months before your surgery. While research has found that “mild to moderate diastolic or systolic hypertension do not place the patient at increased operative risk,” high blood pressure may pose “an increased operative risk and must be carefully controlled before surgery....

Autoimmune hepatitis is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the liver by mistake. The exact cause is unknown but believed to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. There is no one test to diagnose autoimmune hepatitis. The diagnostic process usually involves a physical exam, detailed history, lab tests, imaging studies, and a liver biopsy. Self-Checks/At-Home Testing There is no home test to diagnose autoimmune hepatitis, but it is helpful to be aware of the common symptoms of the disease, which can include:...

A brain tumor requires surgical treatment and, in some instances, chemotherapy or radiation. The treatment is tailored to the type of brain tumor, the size of the tumor, the location in the brain, and the number of tumors in the brain and elsewhere in the body. Treatment may consist of a one-time surgical removal of the whole tumor, or it may involve repeated interventions if the tumor is known to be aggressive or if it recurs....

One in five Americans suffers from mental illness in any given year. This not only affects their health and quality of life, but it also costs them millions of dollars every year in lost productivity and out of pocket expenses. Part of the problem is access to care. Only 45% of people with mental health issues got treatment for those conditions in 2019. Whether someone is on Original Medicare or a commercial Medicare Advantage plan, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has a responsibility to provide adequate access and affordable coverage for its more than 67....

Treating HER2-negative breast cancer and other types of breast cancer may require one or more treatments ranging from surgery and radiation to medications like chemotherapy, hormone or targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Several factors are considered when creating a person’s treatment plan, including their breast cancer stage (how far their cancer has spread and the amount of cancer) and whether their cancer cells have hormone receptors or large amounts of the HER2 protein....

No two women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have the exact same symptoms. This makes PCOS diagnosis challenging, as does the fact that many other conditions can present similarly to PCOS. Because of this, a diagnosis of PCOS heavily relies on ruling out other possible causes. To be formally diagnosed with PCOS, you must meet two of the following diagnostic criteria: Irregular or absent periods Biological or physical signs of hyperandrogenism (high androgen level) without another medical cause A string of small follicles (cysts) on an ultrasound examination These guidelines, referred to as the Rotterdam criteria, are the ones commonly used by endocrinologists in the United States and abroad....

Back pain and neck pain are subjective. Few, if any, definitive tests exist that can accurately measure and diagnose the experience. And pain levels fluctuate, in terms of timing, intensity, and quality, which make it nearly impossible to use objective testing methods such as an MRI or CT scan to get a true picture of what you experience on a day to day basis. Just the same, a big responsibility you have in the quest for the right treatment is to clearly describe your back pain to your healthcare provider....

In the United States, some 54,010 people were expected to have a diagnosis of head and neck cancers in 2021, and nearly 11,000 people would die from it. More than 70% of these cancers of the mouth, throat, and other nearby structures will happen in men. One major problem involves treating people with metastatic head and neck cancer, as the chance of survival is generally poor. The good news is that research moves forward quickly, and healthcare providers now use immunotherapies in treating some of these cancers....

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is typically treated with medications that aim to calm flare-ups, manage symptoms, and slow disease progression. Infusion therapy is often used to deliver certain disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) to patients with MS. DMTs suppress specific actions by the immune system to slow its attack on nerve cells. Read on to learn more about infusion therapy for MS. What Is Infusion Therapy? Infusion therapy is a treatment in which medication is sent directly into the bloodstream intravenously (IV, through a vein) using a central venous catheter (central line)....

Iron is an essential mineral that your body needs to support numerous functions, including the formation of red blood cells and the production of hemoglobin (a part of red blood cells that transport oxygen through the body). Iron blood tests help assess whether you have the right amount of iron in your body to support these functions. If your healthcare provider is concerned that you may have too little or too much iron in your body, you may be advised to have one or more iron tests....

Caused by a deficiency of the enzyme hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT), Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that occurs most often in males. It leads to an overproduction of uric acid (a waste product) in the bloodstream; this can, in turn, lead to the development of gouty arthritis as well as kidney and bladder stones. The condition also manifests as a range of neurological symptoms, including abnormal involuntary muscle movements, with most with this condition being unable to walk....

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause outbreaks of symptoms, including blister-like sores. In some people, genital herpes will cause mild, barely noticeable symptoms, but in others, there may be pain and discomfort. While the first outbreak of genital herpes may be mild, in most people, the first outbreak is typically the worst. This article will discuss the early signs of genital herpes, what to expect during the first outbreak, diagnosis, and treatment options....

Last week, President Joe Biden instructed states to prioritize teachers for the COVID-19 vaccine in the month of March. He announced the government would be using the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program to provide enough doses for states and counties to bump teachers to the top of the priority list. But in some states, teachers were already gaining access to the shots as essential workers. Tim Hartnett, a teacher in New York City, received his first dose of the Moderna vaccine back on January 18 and his second on February 15....

A perforated bowel occurs when a hole is made in the innermost layer of the lining of the colon, the last place stool passes through before reaching the anus. This can happen due to an injury or illness that harms your digestive tract. Unless treated immediately, a perforated bowel can be life-threatening. This article explains how a perforated bowel can cause its contents to leak out into the space in your abdomen....

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an often-destructive inflammatory joint disease, seems to get worse with menopause—likely due to lower hormone levels. RA on its own is hard enough with effects including joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and fatigue. Add menopause and all its symptoms—hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness, and more—and the combination can negatively affect a person’s quality of life. Here is what you need to know about the connection between RA and menopause, including the effect of female hormones on RA, how menopause may affect function and disability, and related comorbidities and complications....

A mouth ulcer is a sore that develops in the soft lining of the gums, tongue, inner cheeks, lips, or palate. Younger children often get these as part of a viral or bacterial infection. Older children will sometimes have recurrent mouth ulcers, the cause of which can be difficult to pinpoint. Mouth ulcers in children can often be diagnosed by a pediatrician or dentist. But, there may be times when a specialist may be needed if a more serious underlying condition is suspected....

How we feel about ourselves can change from day to day in relation to our experiences, including our successes and failures, but self-esteem is a more enduring measure of feelings of self-worth. Self-esteem is an evaluation of how we view ourselves overall, positively or negatively. Someone who regards themselves positively has high self-esteem, while those who view themselves negatively have low self-esteem. Self-esteem is one component of self-concept, along with others such as self-efficacy or mastery, and self-identities....

Toothaches can occur for many reasons, most commonly tooth decay and gum disease. But one cause you may not expect is the inflammation of the sinuses, known as sinusitis. A condition commonly associated with allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and upper respiratory infections, sinusitis can trigger “classic” symptoms affecting the nasal passages and sinuses. It can also cause pain in the upper teeth and jaw that some people mistake for toothache....

If more than 70% of us face a traumatic event in our lifetimes, then why do just a fraction—1% to 6%—develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? A recent study highlights the role eating high-fiber foods may play in reducing that risk. Key Takeaways Researchers identified various risk factors for PTSD including ethnicity, immigration status, socioeconomic status, and nutrition.Eating fiber-rich foods can help to strengthen the gut and promote overall brain health.Researchers urge that health and social services should work together more closely in developing mental health and PTSD treatment plans....

TikTok star Randy Gonzalez, who is the father behind the “Enkyboys,” shared on his account on Wednesday that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer more than six months ago. Key Takeaways A 34-year-old TikTok star was recently diagnosed with colon cancer.Medical professionals are noticing a gradual rise in young adults developing colorectal cancer, though the exact reason for the increase is not yet fully known.You should get screened if you are showing any symptoms or have a family history of colorectal cancer....