Patients who receive certain types of breast cancer therapies have a higher risk of getting heart disease than patients who were not treated for the disease. Research has shown that the link is often due to heart damage that occurs from certain cancer drugs and other treatments. These problems can range from high blood pressure to heart failure. The link may also appear because both breast cancer and heart disease share risk factors....
On a chilly afternoon, it’s normal for feet to turn cold. But what causes cold feet when the temperature is not to blame? Having cold feet isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. However, constant cold feet may indicate an underlying medical condition like hypothyroidism (low thyroid activity). Some medications can even cause cold feet. It’s essential to get a proper diagnosis so you can find out whether your cold feet problem is just a nuisance or something more....
In the months since the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines received emergency approval, pregnant or lactating people, who are considered immunosuppressed, have received conflicting advice on their eligibility. Key Takeaways Two researchers released an article outlining the information doctors can pull from when discussing the risks and benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine with pregnant patients.The results of studies show that both mothers and babies benefit from vaccination against other respiratory diseases such as influenza and pertussis....
Air purifiers are devices that filter air quality. They are helpful for people with allergies, asthma, and other respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. There are an overwhelming number of options, features, and brand names on the market, so it’s difficult to know not only which one to pick, but if it’s worth picking one at all. Air purifiers do work to filter pollutants from the air, but there are limitations to be aware of....
Eczema is the name for a group of conditions that cause the skin to become dry, red, itchy, or inflamed. In some cases, the skin can also blister and weep. There is no evidence suggesting that people with eczema are more likely to develop COVID-19 or experience a more severe form of the condition if they catch it. However, there is some concern that people taking oral immunosuppression medication for eczema may be at increased risk of COVID-19, although this is not fully known....
Gardner syndrome is an inherited condition that is a type of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). FAP involves growths called polyps in the digestive tract, primarily in the colon and rectum. These growths start out benign and eventually become cancerous. In people with Gardner syndrome, the growths happen inside and outside the colon. Without intervention, people with Gardner syndrome have a very high risk of developing colon cancer. Gardner syndrome was first described in 1951....
Heart rate is measured by the number of times your heart beats in one minute. Your heart rate can give information about how hard your heart is working during a particular activity. Heart rate can be measured by taking your pulse at your carotid artery on the side of your neck, or at the radial artery on the thumb side of your forearm. Count the number of beats within 60 seconds....
Published April 2020 For every precaution you’re taking and stressor you’re managing during these unprecedented times, you may find yourself wondering, “Am I handling this right?” Not only are you thinking about your physical health, but your mental health and the overall well-being of your family are important factors, too. There are no blanket answers for anything related to daily life and COVID-19. But for a better sense of perspective, we asked doctors what they are doing outside of the office....
At Verywell Health, we know you need to feel confident in the choices you make about your health and the information that helps you make them. When it comes to the products you use day in and day out—especially where your health is concerned—you deserve recommendations you can trust. We take caution and care with every single product we research, rigorously test, and ultimately recommend. Our product recommendation process starts with market research and interviews with medical professionals and industry experts....
Hearing an oncologist tell you that your lung cancer is “inoperable” may lead you to think that your case is terminal. That is not necessarily so. Inoperable lung cancer cannot be treated with surgery, but your healthcare provider can select from various other lung cancer treatments that can successfully improve your symptoms, or slow or reverse disease progression. Reasons Why Lung Cancer Is Inoperable All lung cancer cases are different, and it’s possible that someone with a diagnosis similar to yours in many ways is able to have surgery while you are not....
Kyphoplasty (sometimes called “vertebral augmentation”) is a minimally invasive surgery that treats back pain associated with spine compression fracture due to the progression of osteoporosis or injury. It uses a surgical balloon to create space in the affected vertebrae and guide the injection of fast-hardening bone cement that reinforces the area. Since kyphoplasty is not an open surgery—it relies on imaging to guide injection of the balloon and cement—it’s still a significant procedure that requires preparation on the part of medical team and patient alike....
What Is Lyvispah? Lyvispah (baclofen) is a skeletal muscle relaxant used to relax or loosen muscle tightness related to multiple sclerosis or other spinal cord problems. Lyvispah is categorized as a skeletal muscle relaxant that prevents the signaling of nerve reflexes in the spinal cord by binding to receptors called GABA-B. As a result, the movement of the muscles decreases. You can get baclofen by prescription only. It is available as a tablet that you can take by mouth or an injection to be given intrathecally (injection into the spinal canal)....
Original Medicare (which includes Part A Hospital Insurance and Part B Medical Insurance) pays for most of the cost of enrollees’ health-related services and medical supplies. But there is some cost-sharing (coinsurance and deductibles) that can result in a lot of out-of-pocket expenses, especially if you are hospitalized, need skilled nursing facility services, or receive extensive outpatient care such as ongoing dialysis. Medicare Supplement Insurance (also known as Medigap policies) can cover these “gaps” by picking up all or most of the out-of-pocket costs that you’d otherwise have to pay if you had Original Medicare on its own....
There are many treatment options for migraine, including a monthly injectable shot. Migraine is a type of recurring headache. It may cause intense pulsing or throbbing pain, often on one side of the head. A migraine headache may last between four and 72 hours and can involve additional symptoms like nausea, vomiting, vision changes, and sensitivity to light and sound. According to the American Migraine Foundation, around 39 million people in the U....
Many people have been nervous to seek medical care amid COVID-19, but a new report finds that more women than men have been avoiding going to the doctor during the pandemic—even when they were in poor health. It also highlights that fear of getting the virus is not the only factor contributing to the gap. Key Takeaways According to a new survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly 40% of women report that they have skipped preventive health services during the pandemic....
Mouth sores can be a nuisance during chemotherapy; not only due to the discomfort they cause but also from the limitations they can pose on eating and sometimes even talking. Symptoms can include redness, sometimes open sores, and burning in the mouth. Some foods, as well as smoking, can exacerbate the symptoms and increase the risk of developing an infection (such as thrush) in your mouth. Thankfully, an awareness of things that can either ease or worsen mouth sores can help make this common side effect much more tolerable for many people....
Paralytic drugs, or neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs), are powerful muscle relaxants used to prevent muscle movement during surgical procedures. They’re also used during critical care, such as when a person is intubated and placed on a ventilator due to severe respiratory illness. Common paralytic drugs include succinylcholine, atracurium, and vecuronium. They’re administered by an anesthesiologist directly into a vein via an intravenous (IV) line before and during a procedure, while the effects are closely monitored....
Proteus syndrome is an extremely rare genetic condition that causes tissues of the body, such as skin and bone, to overgrow. The overgrowth often happens disproportionately, and can severely change a person’s appearance. The condition was named after the Greek god Proteus, who could take on different shapes at will. Symptoms Each person with Proteus syndrome is affected in different ways. Some people may have overgrown limbs while others experience an overgrowth of the skull....
Ringworm refers to a very contagious skin infection that is caused by a fungus. The condition, also called tinea and dermatophytosis, can be transmitted easily from one person to another through skin-to-skin contact or contact with inanimate objects that an infected person has touched. The name “ringworm” comes from the red, itchy, circular rash that it causes. It can affect various parts of the body, from the feet to the groin to toenails and fingernails....
Research is increasingly zeroing in on gender dynamics within health care, from patient outcomes to differences between healthcare workers. Now, a new study finds that hospitalized patients of female doctors may fare slightly better than the patients of male doctors. Key Takeaways A new study finds that hospitalized patients treated by female doctors may fare slightly better. Researchers theorize that female doctors may adhere to clinical guidelines more closely, spend longer communicating with their patients, and spend more time reviewing patient histories....
