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An anesthesiologist is a board-certified physician who has attained either a doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor osteopathic medicine (DO) degree and chosen to specialize in the field of anesthesiology. These professionals are trained to safely administer anesthetics to induce a temporary loss of sensation or consciousness for the performance of a medical procedure. This involves a variety of drugs ranging from local numbing agents to general anesthesia. Anesthesiologists are an integral part of the surgical team, which includes surgeons, surgical assistants, nurses, and surgical technologists....

The premise of a breast cancer diet is to prevent the occurrence and recurrence of breast cancer. This diet is ideal for individuals who are at risk of developing breast cancer due to a genetic predisposition and a personal history of breast cancer or other types of cancers. Diet, among other lifestyle choices, has a large influence on a person’s risk for developing breast cancer. While there are no specific foods or supplements that will cure or entirely prevent cancer, there are general guidelines that are effective at decreasing the risk of some breast cancers....

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended a second booster shot for adults aged 50 and older last month. But some CDC advisors raised concerns about a repeated boosting strategy, saying antibodies are likely to wane even faster after each additional booster. Alternatively, a more targeted vaccine strategy may be more sustainable. Key Takeaways Comments from a European health official raised questions about whether repeated vaccinations could be detrimental to the immune system....

There are more than 100 human papillomavirus (HPV) viruses, some of which are more common than others. What causes HPV, regardless of the type, is the same: sexual, skin-to-skin contact with someone who is infected. Some strains of HPV can lead to genital or anal warts and, in some cases, cancer. Not everyone develops symptoms of an HPV infection—either immediately or at all. This makes the spread of infection quite common....

Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart becomes unable to pump oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood as efficiently as it should, leading to excess fluid buildup in the lungs and extremities (arms and legs). Your healthcare provider may prescribe medications to help you manage your condition, but they likely will also urge you to make some lifestyle changes, including to your diet, to prevent your congestive heart failure from getting worse....

What Is Cordran? Cordran (flurandrenolide) is a topical medication used to treat inflammation and itching caused by various skin conditions. Cordran belongs to a group of medications called topical corticosteroids (steroids), which are applied to the skin and work by reducing inflammation. This helps improve redness, itching, and irritation. It comes in several formulations, including cream, ointment, lotion, and tape. Your healthcare provider will prescribe the best type for you, depending on the location and severity of your skin condition....

Breast cancer is a leading cause of premature mortality among U.S. women, and early detection increases the chances of survival. Mammograms can catch breast cancer up to three years before signs or symptoms occur.The pain from a mammogram varies from person to person. Breast size, implants, personal tolerance, and where you are in your menstrual cycle can impact your comfort level. This article explains what to expect during a mammogram and how to reduce discomfort and anxiety during your next screening....

If you use a drug repeatedly, your body can develop drug tolerance. With this condition, you have to take higher doses of the drug—or change to a different drug—to get the same benefit or effect you had when you first began using it. You can develop a drug tolerance to any drug, regardless of its purpose. It’s possible to form a drug tolerance to prescription morphine you take for pain relief or recreational drugs like cocaine....

Ear tube placement surgery is a procedure to implant synthetic ear tubes into the ear drum or tympanic membrane. In adults, it may be done for people who are having trouble hearing because of a buildup of fluid in the middle ear or have experienced barotrauma due to extreme air pressure changes. The tubes, also called pressure equalization tubes, ventilation tubes, ear grommets, or tympanostomy tubes, are used to allow proper ventilation and drainage of the middle ear....

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a skin disease characterized by itchiness, scaliness, and rashes. This inflammatory condition, usually seen in areas behind the knees and on the elbows, hands, and feet, affects around 10% to 20% of children and 1% to 3% of adults. Though eczema causes dry skin, not all dry skin is eczema. Dry skin can cause similar symptoms, but it isn’t a chronic condition like eczema....

During the COVID-19 pandemic, strains on the healthcare system led states to postpone many elective surgeries. But what factors make a surgery elective or nonelective? “Elective surgery” is the term used for a procedure that can be safely delayed without great risk to a patient’s health, such as cataract surgery. A nonelective (or emergency) surgery is a procedure that must be performed immediately for lifesaving or damage-preventing reasons, such as in repairing a brain aneurysm....

Most people turn to an over-the-counter medication when they are experiencing an acute migraine attack or tension-type headache. This is sensible, as over-the-counter medications like Tylenol (acetaminophen) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen and aspirin, are easily available, cheap, and do not require a healthcare provider’s visit. Even more, there are scientific studies supporting their benefit and safety in treating an episodic migraine or tension-type headache. That said, when perusing the aisle of your local pharmacy, you have likely noticed another over-the-counter pain reliever for migraines and tension headaches—Excedrin....

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that improves visible signs of aging in the face and neck. This elective procedure is done to help improve the youthfulness of the face that may have been damaged due to sun discoloration, smoking, weight loss, genetics, and/or the aging process. Being fully prepared for the recovery process after major facial plastic surgery is important and can help the healing process and reduce the risk of complications....

Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone) is an injectable birth control method. The shot is more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. When you stop the shots, your fertility should return within 10 months, and you should watch for signs of pregnancy after Depo-Provera is no longer being given. Many people are satisfied with Depo-Provera. Getting a shot only four times a year is convenient compared to taking the pill every day. It contains progestin, a synthetic progesterone hormone, and does not contain estrogen....

Asthma is diagnosed based on your symptoms, a physical exam, and various tests, including lung function tests to evaluate breathing. Because the telltale symptoms of asthma are common in other respiratory conditions, differential diagnosis also may be necessary to rule out causes other than asthma. This article will discuss the various types of tests that may be part of a diagnostic workup for asthma. Self Checks / At-Home Testing Asthma is not a disease that can be self-diagnosed....

On its own, vitiligo is usually not painful and is not life-threatening. Some people with the condition choose not to treat it because it does not affect their health or self-esteem. For people who choose treatment, the goal is usually to reduce the appearance of the patches if they affect a person’s quality of life. Oral and topical prescription medications, light therapy, surgical procedures, and some lifestyle changes can help people manage vitiligo....

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an autoimmune disease that occurs because the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy body tissues, namely the joints and entheses (the areas where tendons and ligaments meet bone). According to the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), PsA affects up to 30% of people with the autoimmune skin disease psoriasis. In psoriasis, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells leading to the accelerated growth of new cells that build up to form plaques (red patches of flaky, crusty skin)....

Arthritis refers to a group of diseases that cause inflammation and swelling of one or more joints. It can affect any joint of the body, but is especially common in the knees, which are large weight-bearing joints subject to increased loading and repetitive wear and tear. The type of arthritis that results from wear and tear over time or overuse of joints is osteoarthritis, which is also called degenerative joint disease and affects more than 30 million Americans....

Lactation is the process of milk being created in the mammary glands and then secreted. Lactation continues due to the regular removal of milk and stimulation of the nipples, and it allows for a parent to breastfeed their baby. Benefits Breastfeeding has numerous benefits for both parent and baby. For Baby For the baby, breast milk contains vital nutrients that allow a baby to grow into a healthy toddler. Breast milk may also help guard against illnesses and infections....

Hair loss is common in people living with lupus. The autoimmune disease causes body-wide inflammation that attacks the joints and skin, including the scalp. This can result in hair loss (alopecia). Lupus-related hair loss can occur slowly, causing hair to become noticeably thinner gradually. In addition, lupus can sometimes cause hair to fall out in clumps, leaving small, round bald patches behind. Medications used to treat lupus also are linked to hair loss....