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Postprocedural hypothyroidism, also known as postoperative hypothyroidism, is a condition characterized by low thyroid levels after thyroid surgery, including thyroidectomy (full or partial removal of the thyroid). This article discusses the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of postprocedural hypothyroidism. Symptoms of Postprocedural Hypothyroidism Inform your healthcare provider about any of the following symptoms after thyroid surgery, since they are a sign of abnormal thyroid levels: A change in energy levelsMenstrual cycle changesSkin, hair, and nail changesAppetite changesChanges in bowel habitsMood changes Causes of Postprocedural Hypothyroidism The thyroid gland is a hormone-producing organ located at the base of the neck....

What Is Prevalite? Prevalite (cholestyramine) is a prescription drug commonly used to lower cholesterol. It is also used to reduce itching related to a bile duct blockage. Prevalite belongs to a drug class called bile acid sequestrant. Cholestyramine binds to bile acid in your intestine. Bile acids are made from cholesterol. Binding to bile acids allows cholestyramine to prevent the reabsorption of bile acids in the body. To make more, the body removes cholesterol from the bloodstream....

What Is Seromycin? Seromycin (cycloserine) is an orally administered prescription drug used as a second-line treatment (the second treatment used after the first treatment is not effective or tolerated) for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Seromycin is approved for people 18 and older and is classified as an antitubercular agent. Antitubercular agents are drugs specifically used to treat TB. Pulmonary TB is a disease that comes from infection with the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis and impacts the lungs....

Spider bites are typically not dangerous and cause mild symptoms. In North America, only two spiders inject venom with a bite that can actually make you sick: the black widow and the brown recluse. Spider bite symptoms of redness and itching are common. If these symptoms spread from the site of the bite, it may be more serious and lead to other symptoms. This requires medical attention, as do bites from the two dangerous spiders that cause systemic (bodywide) effects....

Gradual muscle weakening is the hallmark feature of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and can lead to problems sitting, standing, walking, eating, and breathing. Cognitive development generally remains normal. In addition to the immense physical challenges of living with SMA or caring for a baby or child with SMA, there are also emotional challenges. If you are a parent of a child with SMA, you may deal with heart-wrenching end-of-life care issues....

Telemedicine can make it easier for those managing the chronic skin condition hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) to address flare-ups quickly and maintain routine follow-ups. Telemedicine has risen in popularity over the past few years, with a sharp uptick in response to COVID-19. Although it’s sometimes necessary to see your healthcare provider in person, there are several benefits to telemedicine visits, such as saving the time spent commuting to and from the practitioner’s office or waiting around for your appointment to start....

The use of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) to reduce the risk of HIV transmission in heterosexual men remains a highly contentious issue. While there is strong evidence that circumcised men are less vulnerable to HIV infection through heterosexual intercourse than non-circumcised men, the practice often evokes harsh criticism from either those who either disapprove of circumcision or question the validity of early research. A series of randomized controlled trials conducted in Africa from 2005 to 2007 have shown that VMMC can reduce the risk of vaginal-to-penile transmission by anywhere from 51% to 60%....

Thyroid cancer is the 12th most common cancer in the United States. Healthcare providers often find it early enough that it can be treated with a positive outcome. It has a survival rate of over 98%. Thyroid cancer is a type of growth that starts in the thyroid (located in the neck) but can spread throughout the body. Thyroid cancer was expected to be 2.3% of all new cancer cases in the United States in 2022 but only 0....

Total shoulder replacement, also known as total shoulder arthroplasty, is a procedure where portions of the bones in the shoulder joint are removed and replaced with artificial implants. It helps restore the function and mobility of the shoulder joint, while also reducing pain. This surgery may be recommended for a variety of conditions, such as degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) or severe fractures of the upper arm bone (humerus). Some people may need a reverse total shoulder replacement, where the anatomy of the ball and socket joint is reversed with the artificial implants....

Before the Affordable Care Act (ACA) reformed health insurance in the US, pre-existing conditions often played a significant role in the health insurance coverage that people were able to obtain. This article will explain what pre-existing condition exclusions are, how they affected health insurance prior to the ACA, and when they still apply today. Before the ACA’s rules took effect in 2014, health insurance sold in the individual market (non-employer-sponsored) was medically underwritten in all but six states....

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) refers to a specific type of genetic mutation during which there is a loss of one normal copy of a gene or a group of genes. In some cases, loss of heterozygosity can contribute to the development of cancer. LOH of particular genes is associated with specific cancer types, such as colorectal cancer and small-cell lung cancer. LOH is also particularly significant in individuals who have inherited a predisposition for cancer....

People often talk about having a “normal bowel movement,” but what does that actually mean? Subjectively, it infers that you are “regular” and pass stools at more or less the same time every day. It also suggests that your stools are “healthy” and have an expected consistency, texture, and color. Even so, there is no singular definition of what a normal bowel movement is. It can vary from one person to the next based on diet, general health, age, fitness, and other factors....

A network gap exception is a tool health insurance companies use to compensate for gaps in their network of contracted healthcare providers. When your health insurer grants you a network gap exception, it’s allowing you to get healthcare from an out-of-network provider while paying the lower in-network cost-sharing fees. This article will explain how network gap exceptions work, how they can be obtained, and what to expect in terms of out-of-pocket costs if a network gap exception is granted....

Thyroid disease has several causes, but the most common ones are autoimmune diseases. These occur when your immune system attacks your own tissues. When this is the case, blood tests will detect autoantibodies, specific immune proteins the body produces to target cells for destruction. If you have symptoms of thyroid disease, antibody tests may be ordered to look for these proteins. Based on the presence and amount of these antibodies, a lab can determine if an autoimmune disease is likely to be involved and, if so, which one....

Asthma causes the airways to swell and narrow, making breathing difficult. Asthma is the most common chronic disease that can affect pregnancy outcomes. One study estimates that this condition affects between 4% and 8% of those who are pregnant. Proper control of asthma symptoms and prevention of asthma attacks are vital. This is especially true during pregnancy and when you’re trying to conceive, as well as during the postpartum period....

If your loved one has been admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital, this means that his or her illness is serious enough to require the most careful degree of medical monitoring and the highest level of medical care. The intensive care unit (ICU) may also be referred to as the critical care unit or the intensive care ward. Your loved one may be medically unstable, which means that his or her condition could change unexpectedly and may potentially rapidly become worse....

On February 12, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines to safely reopen schools across the country, paving the way for communities to prioritize the importance of getting children back into the classroom either full-time or using a hybrid model. Key Takeaways New CDC guidelines state that it is safe for elementary and secondary schools to return to school if there are virus mitigation strategies in place....

Your 12-week ultrasound is meant to assess your baby’s development at the end of the first trimester of your pregnancy. At week 12, the baby’s organs and body systems are formed, and you may actually be seeing your baby for the first time. With this ultrasound, your healthcare provider may be able to establish your due date and confirm the number of developing fetuses. They may screen for conditions like Down syndrome or rule out an ectopic pregnancy....

Mental illness is common in the U.S., with nearly 1 in 5 adults living with a mental illness in 2020. But only about 20% of people living with mental illness are being actively treated for their condition. People are sometimes unable to commit to therapy or other treatments for a variety of reasons, including lack of health insurance or a shortage of care providers. There is also a recent surge of people seeking mental health services, resulting in long waiting lists....

A new device developed at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) wants to be the hiccup cure you’ve been looking for. Instead of relying on anecdotal tips, tricks, and hiccup hacks, the straw-like device is a proven way to halt the spasms. Key Takeaways HiccAway is a new device that is designed to stop hiccups. The device works like a straw to use forced suction and swallowing to stop diaphragm contractions, which relieves hiccuping....