In a healthy heart, blood is pumped from the right side of the heart to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen. It is then pumped out of the left side of the heart to supply the body with oxygen and vital nutrients. Any condition that interrupts this two-chamber system can cause heart failure. Many conditions can cause the heart to weaken, a condition described as cardiomyopathy. When the heart is weak, it is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs....
Medical loss ratio (MLR) refers to the percentage of a health plan’s revenue that’s used for medical care and quality improvements, as opposed to administrative costs. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) imposed minimum MLR requirements for individual/family and group health insurance, as well as Medicare Advantage plans. Health plans that spend too much on administrative costs—and thus fail to meet the MLR requirements—must send rebates to plan members (or to the federal government, in the case of Medicare Advantage plans)....
The term sexual relationship disorder was once used to describe a person who has trouble forming and maintaining a romantic relationship due to their gender identity (the personal sense of one’s gender) or sexual orientation (a person’s identity about the gender or genders of those they are attracted to). It was an attempt to characterize this state of emotional distress as a mental disorder, much in the same way as the different types of anxiety disorders....
By now, most people are aware that COVID-19—short for “coronavirus disease 2019” (the year the virus was first identified)—is a type of coronavirus that can be spread from person to person and cause respiratory illness, sometimes severe. Beyond that, there remains a lot of confusion about what COVID-19 is and how it has been able to create a global crisis unseen since the emergence of AIDS in the 1980s or the polio pandemic of the 1950s....
Parents often worry when their child gets a fever—and understandably so. A fever is a symptom, much like a cough, runny nose, or a sore throat. So it can be an indication that your child may need medical attention. Find out more about what you need to do when your child has a fever. What Is a Fever? Fever is a rise in body temperature above normal levels. The American Academy of Pediatrics describes fever as “a positive sign that the body is fighting infection....
The zygomatic bones are more commonly known as the cheekbones. These bones are located just below each eye and extend upward to the outer side of each eye. The zygomatic bones join with several other bones of the face, including the nose, jaw, portions of the eye, and bones just in front of the ears. The zygomatic bone consists of cartilage when a fetus is in utero, with bone-forming immediately after birth....
Whether you are newly diagnosed with HIV or have lived with the disease for years, there will be moments when you will need to reach out to others for support. And it’s not just about finding a shoulder to lean on (although that is important); it’s about connecting with the resources needed to normalize HIV in your life and overcome any barriers that may be standing in the way of your health and well-being....
A phobia is an ongoing, excessive fear of something specific. This leads to a person either avoiding what they fear, or they experience it but are distressed. Specific phobia is a type of anxiety disorder with an intense, ongoing fear of something such as snakes, heights, enclosed places, or other objects or situations. Roughly 12.5% of adults in the United States have a specific phobia at some point. This article will discuss types of phobias, signs and symptoms of phobias, tips to overcome them, and treatment options....
What Is Ampyra? Ampyra (dalfampridine) is a prescription medication that’s used to improve walking in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Ampyra is a potassium channel blocker. Potassium channels are proteins responsible for moving potassium in and out of cells. By blocking potassium channels, Ampyra is thought to work by helping damaged neurons (nerve cells) work better. Ampyra is available as a tablet. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t assigned any black box warnings to this medication....
Chemotherapy is a standard treatment for some types of breast cancer. The goal of chemotherapy, or chemo, is to improve overall survival. In some cases, however, it may be prescribed to simply provide comfort care by preventing the tumor from getting too large and causing discomfort. Whether your oncologist recommends chemotherapy for you depends on several factors, such as tumor type and location. Discuss your specific concerns with your healthcare provider....
The combination of a fever and a headache may be a sign of a serious infection. Or they may be signs of a run-of-the-mill viral infection that simply needs to run its course. The article discusses both infectious and non-infectious causes of a headache with a fever. It also covers other possible symptoms and when you should see a doctor. Meningitis Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord....
Have you recently undergone skin cancer removal surgery and are currently experiencing discharge, redness, pain, and/or swelling? If so, you may have an infection. This article will discuss how to recognize an infection after skin cancer removal, and when to seek professional treatment. What to Expect After Skin Cancer Removal Surgery is a common treatment option for skin cancer and is often performed in the dermatologist’s office. The type of surgery used depends on your type of skin cancer and how advanced it is....
An infection is the invasion of the body by a disease-causing organism called a pathogen. Infections can be caused by a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, and can develop in any organ system of the body. Infections can be classified in a number of different ways. They may be localized (affecting a specific part of the body) or systemic (affecting the body as a whole)....
Lice infestations are something that every parent dreads. But it’s not just head lice that people should be worried about; there are other types of lice that can affect other parts of the body and be easy to get. Sometimes it takes a while before you even notice lice symptoms, with niggling, little itches often going unrecognized until the infestation is severe. It is important, therefore, to know the signs and symptoms of a lice infestation—including what lice look like—so that you can get treated before you pass them on to other people....
Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with cancer or it has come back after treatment rounds, you may wonder if enrolling in a lung cancer clinical trial might be a good treatment option for you. A clinical trial aims to find new ways to prevent, diagnose, or treat disease. It may involve comparing new treatments or combinations of treatments to standard care for cancer. Specifically, lung cancer clinical trials test new treatments to see if they are safe, effective, and better than current standard treatments....
A lung cyst, also known as a pulmonary cyst, is an air- or fluid-filled pocket or sac embedded within normal lung tissue. They are often identified via computed tomography (CT) scans. Although it’s not always known why lung cysts develop, different underlying conditions usually cause them to form. Certain lung cysts are treatable with medications, while others might require significant medical intervention, such as a lung transplant. This article explains what lung cysts are, their causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment....
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease that wears away the protective myelin covering of nerves in the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). This condition occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissues. MS is treated by a neurologist and a team of healthcare professionals who play different roles in helping you manage your illness as symptoms ebb and flow. This article discusses the interdisciplinary team involved in treating multiple sclerosis, how to research the provider’s background, and how to find a neurologist near you....
A surprising new study has hypothesized that Parkinson’s disease is actually two different diseases: one that starts in the brain and one that starts in the intestines. That can help explain why Parkinson’s patients have a range of symptoms, the study’s researchers argue. Key Takeaways Researchers theorize that Parkinson’s disease is not one, but two diseases.One type of Parkinson’s disease may start in the gut; the other may start in the brain....
Those with type 1 diabetes that is not responding to standard treatment with insulin may be eligible for a pancreas transplant—a complex procedure in which the pancreas from a deceased donor is surgically placed into a recipient with the goal of restoring insulin production and eliminating the disease’s often severe complications. If your healthcare providers determine that you are a candidate for pancreas transplantation, you will be placed on a waiting list while you wait for a pancreas to become available; this can take several years....
If you have dislocated your kneecap, you may benefit from physical therapy to help you recover. Your physical therapist can assess your condition and prescribe the best treatment for your dislocated patella. Typical goals of PT for a dislocated patella include restoring normal knee and hip range of motion and strength and regaining full functional mobility. This includes returning to normal walking and running and related activities. Anatomy of the Patella The patella, or kneecap, is the small bone in the front of the human knee joint....
