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Biopsy is a scary word because of how closely it’s associated with a cancer diagnosis. If your healthcare provider orders a biopsy, you might be wondering what they’re doing with your tissue and what the pathologists studying your sample are looking for. Most types of cancer are diagnosed with the help of a biopsy—a sample of potentially diseased tissue. It can be obtained via needle aspiration, excision, or surgery. The sample goes to a pathology lab, where a specialist doctor (pathologist) looks at the tumor under a microscope to see what its cells look like....

If you are on Medicare, odds are you rely on a Part D plan for your prescription drug coverage. If you have certain medical conditions, you may not even be aware that some of your medications are covered by Part B. In fact, you can thank Part B for covering many of the adult vaccinations you receive. Part B Prescription Coverage Whether you choose Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) or a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, you have access to medications covered by Part B....

What Is Xeljanz? Xeljanz (tofacitinib) is an oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor used to treat certain types of arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. JAK inhibitors are a group of medications that interfere with the activity of enzymes called Janus kinases, which send signals to cells in the immune system. These enzymes play an important role in different inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Drugs like Xeljanz can treat diseases in which an overactive immune system attacks the body’s tissues by inhibiting the activity of JAK molecules....

Getting or remaining fit while avoiding injury is always at the forefront of a runner’s mind. Your hips play an important role in running with proper form, improving run speed, and not getting sidelined with injuries. So keeping your hips strong and healthy is key to optimal running performance. Why Hip Strength Is Important Hip muscles are often the weak link for runners. “The hip abductors and adductors (groin and inner thigh) work together to stabilize your hip during running,” says Melissa Baudo PT, DPT, SCS, MTC, who specializes in sports physical therapy at One on One Physical Therapy in Atlanta....

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity. ADHD symptoms typically begin in childhood and persist into adulthood for about 60% of people with ADHD. ADHD can manifest differently in children than in adults, with children more likely to experience hyperactive symptoms. Despite this, both adults and children with ADHD tend to respond well to the same classes of medication. First-line treatment typically involves the psychostimulants Ritalin or Concerta (methylphenidate) or Adderall (dextroamphetamine-amphetamine)....

Alcoholic neuropathy, also known as alcoholic peripheral neuropathy, refers to damage of the nerves due to chronic and excessive alcohol consumption. Affected nerves include the peripheral nerves, primarily located in the arms and legs, and the autonomic nerves, which help regulate our internal body functions. About 46% of chronic alcohol users will eventually develop this condition. This article reviews alcoholic neuropathy and its symptoms, causes, and treatment. Alcoholic Neuropathy Causes The exact cause of alcoholic neuropathy is unclear....

Bladder cancer is cancer that starts in the cells of the bladder—a hollow muscular organ in the lower pelvis that collects urine. Older men have the highest rates of bladder cancer. Every year around 64,000 cases of bladder cancer are diagnosed in men, whereas only around 19,000 are diagnosed in women. Over 90% of cases occur in people over age 55. When caught early, most cases of bladder cancer are highly treatable....

Carcinomatous meningitis, also called leptomeningeal disease, can occur as a result of any type of late-stage cancer. It is caused by the spread of cancerous cells to the meninges, the membranes that cover your brain and spinal cord. The cells come from tumors that exist elsewhere in the body. Symptoms of this problem vary, but often include headaches, numbness, pain, and lower limb weakness. Detecting carcinomatous meningitis early is difficult. It is often found through the use of imaging studies and a draw of cerebrospinal fluid, which flows in and around your brain and spinal cord....

An upper endoscopy, also known as an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), is a minimally invasive procedure used the examine the lining of esophagus (feeding tube), stomach, and duodenum (the upper part of the small intestine). EGDs are used by specialists known as gastroenterologists to diagnose and/or treat disorders of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. EGD is a form of endoscopy in which a fiber-optic scope equipped with a camera can look inside the body without the need for an incision....

Gestalt therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on the present moment. The approach is humanistic, holistic, and rooted in experience. In this type of therapy, the focus is on self-awareness, experience, and the present. Read on to learn more about gestalt therapy, its fundamental principles, techniques, and effectiveness. What Is Gestalt Therapy? Gestalt therapy was developed in the 1940s by psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and psychotherapist Fritz Perls and his wife, Laura Perls, a psychologist and psychotherapist....

When your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is high, it means you have too much of the “bad” type of this fat-like substance in your blood. LDL cholesterol can build up and clog arteries, which can lead to health problems such as coronary artery disease (CAD), heart attack, and stroke. A lot of factors can cause your LDL cholesterol to be high, including genetics, being overweight, diet, and more. In this article, you’ll learn what cholesterol levels are considered healthy versus high, how they’re measured, and how various contributing factors increase your levels....

If your skin touches poison ivy or another plant in the same family, such as poison oak or poison sumac, you may develop a skin rash. The rash occurs as a reaction to urushiol, the oily resin found in the sap of the plant. Urushiol can also linger on clothing, firewood, or a pet’s fur and then transfer to your skin. The rash it causes (rhus dermatitis or Toxicodendron dermatitis) is red, itchy, and often marked by red bumps, blisters, and swelling....

There are medical treatments that can suppress angioedema, a condition in which the deeper layers of the skin swell, often due to an allergic reaction. Most of the time, if an allergen (a substance that triggers an allergy) is identified, you will need to avoid it. Treatment for angioedema depends on the cause. If your symptoms are not caused by an avoidable allergen, you might need to take steroid medications regularly....

The treatment for leukemia depends on many factors including the type, subtype, and stage of disease, and a person’s age and general health. Treatment typically involves powerful chemotherapy, bone marrow/stem cell transplant, targeted therapy (tyrosine kinase inhibitors), monoclonal antibodies, and immunotherapy—used alone or in combination. In some cases, a period of watchful waiting may be appropriate. Leukemia is a cancer of blood cells that travel throughout the body, and local treatments such as surgery and radiation therapy are not used frequently....

Because the scabies infection causes such discomfort and can be spread so easily among close contacts, timely diagnosis is important. Of course, that starts with bringing any signs or symptoms of scabies (severe itching, rash, etc.) to your healthcare provider’s attention. Most often, she will use clinical judgment alone to make a scabies diagnosis, considering the appearance of your skin and your risk for exposure. She will also work to rule out other concerns that might instead be affecting you, such as a drug allergy, eczema, or dermatitis....

If you’ve had a mastectomy for breast cancer, you might be considering getting a nipple tattoo. A nipple tattoo is less invasive than nipple reconstruction and can create the illusion of a natural nipple. Healing time is about seven to 10 days. This article discusses cosmetic nipple tattoos after mastectomy and what you should know before scheduling the procedure. Nipple Tattoo vs. Reconstruction Nipple reconstruction requires another surgery after your initial reconstruction surgery....

Trichomoniasis is caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. For many years, the primary way of diagnosing trichomoniasis was to use a microscope to look for the parasite in a vaginal swab. However, STD testing technology has improved greatly in the last few years. Now, trichomoniasis is more often looked for using DNA amplification or rapid testing techniques. Such techniques can find the parasites even when very few are present in a urine or other sample....

Hypervigilance is a state of being constantly tense, on guard, and exceptionally aware of your environment. There are many causes of hypervigilance, including psychological conditions such as anxiety and medical illnesses such as thyroid disease. Recreational and therapeutic drugs can also produce this effect. Diagnosis of hypervigilance is based on your medical history and clinical examination. Some diagnostic tests such as blood tests and imaging tests may help identify the cause....

A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a battery-driven pump surgically implanted to assist a heart that has become too weak from heart failure to pump effectively on its own. It works by pulling blood from a tube inserted into the left ventricle of the heart and then pumping it through another tube inserted into the aorta—the largest artery in the heart that is responsible for supplying most organs in the body with blood....

In the United States, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) covers many healthcare expenses for Medicare beneficiaries. Beginning in 2008, CMS identified specific “never event” medical complications and conditions for which it penalized medical facilities. These conditions were called “never events” because they involved scenarios that should never happen to anyone hospitalized for care, such as surgery on the wrong body part. This article explains the never events policy, known as the Hospital-Acquired Condition (HAC) Reduction Program since 2013, and how it has evolved since its implementation....