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A craniectomy is a type of surgery that relieves pressure in the skull caused by a traumatic brain injury. This type of brain injury may cause bleeding and swelling in the brain, which can lead to dangerous intracranial pressure. During a craniectomy, a portion of the skull is removed, allowing the brain to decompress. This article discusses how and when a craniectomy is performed, the potential risks and complications, and how it differs from similar types of procedures....

Booster rollout for seniors and high risk groups began this fall. For some healthcare centers, it has already consumed a substantial portion of time and resources. But as more of the nation’s most vulnerable receive their extra shot, the hope is that numbers of COVID-19 hospitalizations and potential deaths will decline. Key Takeaways Pfizer booster rollout for seniors and high risk groups began this fall.So far, providers say patients seem less hesitant in getting their boosters than the initial shots....

An exercise tolerance test (also called a stress test) shows how well your heart handles physical activity. While exercising on a treadmill or stationary bike, a healthcare provider will measure your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing while monitoring an electrocardiogram (ECG), a test that records your heart’s electrical signals. Exercise tolerance tests are generally used to detect certain heart conditions or determine safe levels of exercise for people with existing heart conditions....

Facial feminization surgery (FFS) encompasses a series of surgical interventions designed to make your face appear more feminine. This operation is most commonly performed in transgender women or non-binary people as a type of gender-affirming surgery. While facial feminization surgery has many potential benefits, the decision to proceed with it requires careful thought and preparation, especially given the surgery’s psychological and social implications. What Is Facial Feminization Surgery? Facial feminization surgery is performed by a plastic surgeon who has training in craniomaxillofacial and soft tissue surgery....

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and dozens of potential body-wide symptoms. It’s a multisystem illness involving the brain and nerves, immune system, and hormones. If you have fibromyalgia and are contemplating pregnancy, it’s natural to wonder what impact your illness will have on your ability to get pregnant, the pregnancy itself, delivery and recovery, the health of your baby, and the short- and long-term severity of your fibromyalgia....

From diagnoses to post-treatment (survivorship), coping with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is likely to require calling upon a trifecta of tools—emotional support for dealing with the shock of diagnosis and the rigors of treatment; strategies for relieving physical symptoms and side effects; and reliance on other people to provide support. Emotional Coping with cancer is like an endurance challenge with occasional sprints. When you’re first diagnosed, the best first step (most of the time) is to take a moment to catch your breath....

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an irreversible form of lung disease, is treated with prescription drugs, lifestyle changes, rehabilitation therapies, and surgery in certain cases. The right treatment plan can help you control your COPD symptoms and avoid exacerbations (flareups). These include shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, chest tightness, and excess mucus production. This article describes the various treatment options your healthcare provider may prescribe if you have COPD. It also offers tips to improve your respiratory health and better manage COPD on a day-to-day basis....

Menopause causes many changes and can include some discomforts, like hot flashes and night sweats. But other, more subtle symptoms are not commonly linked with menopause, such as itchy breasts. Itchy breasts related to menopause are caused by hormonal changes. The breasts are quite responsive to estrogen levels because breast tissue has many estrogen-receptor sites. During menopause, the level of these hormones begins to change, and this can have an impact throughout the body—as well as in the breasts—causing breast tenderness, discomfort, and even itchiness....

Diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS) is complex and challenging. Everyone’s symptoms are unique, and symptoms can be similar to those of many other diseases. You’ll need to see a neurologist, a doctor who specializes in diseases of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. As there is no single test that can confirm MS, they will use a variety of diagnostic methods including neurological tests, imaging, and blood tests. They will also reference a set of criteria that, as of a 2017 revision, make early diagnosis more likely....

It is easy to recognize that being overweight or obese can have negative health consequences, but how does being overweight affect your sleep and the risk of sleep problems? You may be surprised to learn the unexpected ways—from snoring and sleep apnea to restless legs syndrome—that your ability to rest may be compromised. Learn about the links between weight and sleep and how poor sleep may, in turn, lead to weight gain....

There’s a well-known saying that goes: “if you’ve met one child with autism, you’ve met one child with autism.” In other words, every child with autism is unique, and every set of needs and strengths is different. That can make it surprisingly difficult for school districts attempting to create autism support programs, classrooms, or training programs. You may find that your district is unable to provide the services the child in your care needs....

If you’ve been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, your treatment plan will take into consideration your specific symptoms and how long you have had the disease. A variety of over-the-counter and prescription medications, from antidiarrheals to antibiotics to anti-inflammatories, may be considered along with lifestyle modifications. Probiotics may also be recommended to help restore healthy gut bacteria. In more severe cases, surgical procedures to remove diseased parts of the colon can provide relief and reduce the risk of developing colon cancer....

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), also known as inhaled steroids, are the most potent anti-inflammatory controller medications available today for asthma control and are used to decrease the frequency and severity of asthma symptoms. They are the current mainstay of treatment once a person with asthma needs a higher level of care than a rescue inhaler (bronchodilator). Inhaled corticosteroids help prevent chronic asthma symptoms such as: Wheezing Chest tightness Shortness of breath Chronic cough You and your physician may want to consider inhaled corticosteroids if any of the following apply:...

Can you drink alcohol with Lipitor (atorvastatin) or other statin medications? If a package insert refers to “moderate” alcohol intake, what does that mean? What is the effect of statins on the liver? From the opposite angle, what do we know about the effect of statins on liver disease? Statins have made a big difference with regard to heart disease. They stabilize and reduce the size of the coronary artery plaques that can lead to heart attacks, the leading cause of death in the U....

A lung biopsy is a procedure to get a sample of suspicious lung tissue. By looking at the sample under the microscope, healthcare providers can better determine what exactly is causing an abnormality—and whether it is due to cancer or not. A lung biopsy is also needed to determine the type of lung cancer, if present, as well as the molecular or genetic profile of the tumor. Purpose of Lung Biopsy There are several reasons a lung biopsy may be recommended:...

Medicare abuse occurs when unnecessary costs are billed to the Medicare program. It is an illegal practice that results in billions of dollars of losses to the U.S. healthcare system every year. When Medicare abuse happens, tax-payer dollars are spent on medically unnecessary care. The extra spending decreases how much money remains in the Medicare Trust Fund. Medicare could charge you more in premiums and other out-of-pocket expenses to make up the difference....

In people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a relapse is either the worsening of symptoms you already have or the appearance of new symptoms. It’s typically confirmed by the development of a lesion on your brain or spinal cord and is considered a sign that your disease is progressing. In the course of managing your disease, it can often be difficult to know if you’re experiencing true symptoms of MS or if you’re simply having an “off day....

The multifidus muscle is a series of long, narrow muscles located on either side of the spinal column that help stabilize the lower portion of the spine, called the lumbar spine. It’s also referred to as the lumbar multifidus. The multifidus muscle plays a role in extending your back and helps keep your spine stable. Weak or atrophied multifidus muscles can cause back pain. This article reviews the anatomy and function of the multifidus muscle....

Individuals who are interested in a polyphasic sleep schedule may wonder if it can help them be more productive, while also meeting their sleep needs. A polyphasic sleep schedule is one in which you sleep multiple times in a 24-hour period. This may not involve a consolidated period of sleep at night. For example, an individual may take six 20-minute naps throughout the day. Keep in mind that a polyphasic sleep schedule may only offer the opportunity to be more productive, instead of actually increasing productivity overall....

Infection is the most common complication of cancer and cancer treatment. Having cancer raises your risk of experiencing a serious infection because of the changes happening in the immune system. Even a small wound can become a medical emergency for a person with cancer. These changes in the immune system are due to cancer itself, treatments, poor nutrition, and other chronic health problems. This article will describe why individuals with cancer are at an increased risk of developing infections and what to do about it....