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An electrophysiology (EP) study uses the heart’s electric signals to diagnose abnormal heartbeats or heart rhythms (arrhythmia). During an EP study, three to five catheters (flexible wires) pass through IVs (also called sheaths) inserted into the groin or neck. With the aid of a video screen, a healthcare provider then guides the electrodes to the heart. An EP study is painless, though there is some pressure where the catheters enter the groin or neck....

End-stage heart failure is the most advanced stage of congestive heart failure. At this point, treatments don’t offer too much symptom relief. There are four stages of heart failure. The first two stages—A and B—are considered pre-heart failure, where lifestyle changes and medications can largely keep the condition at bay. By stage C, you may have symptoms like swollen limbs, fatigue, and shortness of breath with physical activity. By stage D, the heart has experienced significant damage, and it has begun to affect how other organs work, like the kidneys....

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue that is similar to the kind found inside the uterus (called the endometrium) grows outside of it. This condition can make it difficult to get or stay pregnant. A study found that the monthly rate of pregnancy for fertile people is about 20%, and this rate drops to about 2% to 10% in people with endometriosis. Endometriosis can affect fertility, gestation, and recovery after childbirth....

Endometriosis is a chronic, lifelong condition that causes tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (called the endometrium) to grow outside the uterus. This can cause many complications and long-term effects. If you’ve been diagnosed with this condition, it’s normal to wonder about endometriosis and fertility, as well as complications like cysts and adhesions. This article will provide an overview of endometriosis complications. It will cover what short and long-term effects of endometriosis you might encounter and how to cope with this incurable condition....

Excoriation disorder—also called dermatillomania or skin-picking disorder—is when skin picking becomes an uncontrollable urge that interferes with well-being and your daily life. While everyone can feel the need to pick at or scratch their skin from time to time, those with excoriation disorder feel unable to stop, even when skin picking interferes with their daily lives or causes stress and discomfort. Excoriation disorder affects about 2% to 5% of the population, and about 3 of 4 people living with it are female....

Headaches in children are not usually a cause for concern and are commonly caused by ordinary short-term illnesses, such as a cold or flu. They can be more common in boys prior to puberty and in girls after puberty (due to hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle). Let’s gain a basic understanding of headaches in children, so you can hopefully feel at ease, but also know when to contact your child’s healthcare provider....

Hepatitis B is an inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. Globally, there are over 400 million chronic carriers of hepatitis B. Of the 200,000 people who contract hepatitis B each year in the U.S., 10 to 15,000 go on to develop a chronic form of the disease. Men are six times more likely than women to become chronic carriers of the hepatitis B virus (HBV), but the reasons for this are unclear....

COVID-19 severity has been linked to cardiovascular risk factors, such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. One study found that in people with active COVID-19, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride (TG) levels decreased based on the severity of the infection. Research on the causal link between the two is ongoing. High Cholesterol and COVID-19 Risk Recent research has shown that individuals with high body mass index (BMI), a marker of obesity, and high LDL cholesterol—also known as “bad” cholesterol—are at an increased risk of getting COVID-19, but the causal link between the two is unknown....

Pharmacokinetic enhancers are drugs used in the treatment of HIV that increase the concentration of other antiretroviral medications in the bloodstream. Popularly referred to as “boosters,” the drugs allow healthcare providers to reduce the dose and frequency of the accompanying drug while lowering the risk of side effects and drug resistance. There are two pharmacokinetic enhancers approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Norvir (ritonavir)Tybost (cobicistat) HIV booster drugs should not be confused with vitamins or supplements marketed as “immune boosters,” which neither prevent nor treat HIV....

While we all know that pets can trigger a smile or a sense of calmness within most people, it may surprise you that a pet can actually reduce pain. Animal-assisted therapy, also known as pet therapy, entails using trained animals to provide some sort of therapeutic benefit (whether that be the comfort, relaxation, or easing the pain) to people of all ages with a wide range of health problems. The Basics of Animal-Assisted Therapy While dogs and cats are probably the most commonly utilized animals in therapy visits, other animals like birds, guinea pigs, fish, horses, and dolphins can also be used....

Qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangements (QSEHRAs) have been an option for small businesses (those with fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees) since the start of 2017. A QSEHRA allows a small employer to reimburse employees for at least a portion of their individual-market health insurance premiums. And those employees may also be eligible for premium subsidies in the health insurance exchange (sometimes called the marketplace). How Does a QSEHRA Work?...

How you put a knee brace on depends on the type of brace and the reason you need it. A knee brace stabilizes the joint and relieves pain from knee injuries, osteoarthritis, and surgery. Some knee braces are designed so that you open up the brace and wrap it around your leg. Braces that do not open are put on over your foot and then pulled up to your knee. A knee brace is typically worn under your clothes against the skin....

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and migraine are two different pain-related disorders, and yet they share some features. Further, people with IBS have migraines more often than the general population and vice versa. This suggests a possible common origin. In fact, many experts suggest that both migraine and IBS are part of a category of illnesses that have been dubbed central sensitivity syndromes. Pain, Sensitivity, and Your Nervous System Central sensitivity syndromes are a family of conditions that are diagnosed by their symptoms, meaning that there isn’t any sort of lab or imaging test to confirm the diagnosis....

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) medications are often used to help treat the inflammation of the condition. These medications may include biologics, a newer class of drugs. Biologics work in slightly different ways with different standards of administration and dosing. Some are approved to treat just one form of IBD, while others are used to treat both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Because biologic drugs temper the immune response, people taking them are prone to certain infections....

What Is Keflex? For certain bacterial infections, your healthcare provider may prescribe an oral antibiotic called Keflex (cephalexin). Keflex belongs to a class of antibiotics called cephalosporins. It kills bacteria by blocking the bacterial cell wall formation around each cell. Keflex is a first-generation cephalosporin commonly used to treat bacterial skin infections and infections of the bone, respiratory tract, urinary tract, and middle ear. Available by prescription in both capsule and liquid form, Keflex is taken by mouth for anywhere from seven to 14 days....

Low-dose birth control pills are a type of oral contraceptive that contains, as the name implies, a lower dose of hormones. It is believed that a lower number of hormones in birth control pills can be beneficial for some people, because it means fewer side effects. However, low-dose birth control can come with some risks. This article will review what low-dose birth control options are available, the benefits of these pills, and potential side effects....

Lung cancer biomarkers, also known as tumor markers, are biological molecules in people with lung cancer. These biomarkers are produced by either the body or the tumor. Testing biomarkers helps characterize tumor growth and cancer spread. Biomarkers can be used to assess your risk of developing cancer, determine your risk of recurrence, predict the effectiveness of a cancer treatment, and monitor the progression of lung cancer. This article will define what cancer biomarkers are and explain how they are used in lung cancer treatment....

A mental illness is a health condition involving changes in thinking, emotion, or behavior leading to distress or problems functioning in social, work, or family activities. Mental illness is quite common: In 2019, nearly one in five U.S. adults experienced a mental illness, while one in 20 U.S. adults have a serious mental illness. It is estimated that 46% of people who died by suicide had a diagnosed mental health condition and 90% of individuals who died by suicide had experienced symptoms of a mental health condition....

There are many types of mouth sores. Some, such as canker sores, are minor and can clear up on their own. Others, such as sores that develop from health conditions such as oral cancer, are more severe. Mouth sores can form on the cheeks, gums, tongue, floor and roof of the mouth; and lips. This article discusses the possible causes of and treatments for various types of mouth sores. Symptoms of Mouth Sores The symptoms that develop along with mouth sores depend on the type and cause....

Muscle atrophy refers to the shrinking or “wasting away” of muscles. It is usually a symptom of another condition rather than a condition in and of itself. In addition to a loss in the size of muscles, muscle atrophy can also cause muscle weakness. Muscular dystrophy is a rare genetic disorder that affects the proteins that build and maintain healthy muscles. While muscular dystrophy can cause muscle atrophy, they are different conditions with different causes, symptoms, and treatments....