Posts

What Is Vibramycin? Vibramycin (doxycycline) is an inexpensive prescription oral antibiotic that treats many different types of bacterial infections. It belongs to a group of antibiotics called tetracyclines (named for similarities in their chemical structure). Vibramycin works by blocking a bacterium’s production of new bacterial proteins inside your body. As with nearly all antibiotics, Vibramycin is good at treating certain kinds of bacteria but does not work against all germs....

Hypnobirthing is a form of clinical hypnosis—also called hypnotherapy—that can be used during childbirth to help relieve anxiety, fear, and pain. There are many forms of hypnosis, but hypnobirthing uses a specific program led by trained healthcare professionals. This overview will detail how hypnobirthing works, and why some people might choose it during their labor. Types of Hypnobirthing Using meditation and other relaxation techniques during labor is a matter of instinct....

More and more, health payers are insisting that patients obtain permission before undergoing a medical testing or treatment. And, after review, they may decide not to cover that treatment at all. With the high premiums many people pay, this can be very disconcerting. Why do payers sometimes deny coverage of healthcare provider-recommended treatment, and what can you do if this occurs? What are the alternatives? Roots of Insurer Denials of Care There are few frustrations that rival being turned down for coverage after a healthcare provider has made a specific recommendation for a therapy to improve your medical condition....

Exercise is one of the toughest things to take on when you have chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). A primary symptom is post-exertional malaise, which is an abnormal and extreme reaction to small amounts of exercise. Symptoms can be severe and include a massive increase in fatigue, pain, cognitive dysfunction, flu-like symptoms and more. For some people, it takes an incredibly small amount of exertion to trigger post-exertional malaise. The sickest people may not be able to sit up in bed for very long....

Often, individuals with Alzheimer’s or another kind of dementia hope to stay in their home as long as possible. If you are a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s, you may have the unique challenge of balancing several different roles such as partner, parent, and employee. If the time comes when you need more support, there are several options for getting help with caring for someone with dementia. Home Health Care Home health care is medical care and assistance provided within one’s own home....

Arthrosis, also known as osteoarthritis, and arthritis are similar terms but have different meanings. Arthritis is a broad term that describes conditions causing joint inflammation. Arthrosis is a type of degenerative arthritis that causes the breakdown of the joints. This article discusses arthrosis and arthritis, their similarities and differences, symptoms, causes, and treatments. Symptoms Common symptoms of arthrosis and other types of arthritis often overlap and include joint pain, stiffness, and difficulty moving around....

Pay-for-performance and value-based purchasing are terms used to describe healthcare payment systems that reward doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers for their efficiency, rather than the total volume of services they provide. These value-based systems are also known as alternative payment models, or APMs. Efficiency is usually defined as providing higher quality for a lower cost, with improved patient outcomes, high patient satisfaction, and reduced per-capita medical spending. This article will explain how value-based payment systems work, the types of value-based payment systems that are used in American healthcare, the challenges these systems face, and how well-designed value-based payment systems can reduce costs and improve patient outcomes....

A brain lesion is a type of abnormality in the brain, usually caused by a disease or injury. There are several kinds of brain lesions, and they can be distinguished by their symptoms, physical examination findings, and diagnostic tests. If you have neurological symptoms, it is important that your healthcare providers determine whether you have a brain lesion, how many you have, and the type because the treatment and prognosis of each type of brain lesion differs....

Cancer staging is the process of determining how much cancer is within the body (tumor size) and if it has spread. For breast cancer, this might take the form of clinical (pre-surgical) staging or pathologic (surgical) staging. Clinical staging is done before breast cancer surgery and involves a physical exam, imaging studies, and a biopsy to obtain tissue samples. It is often a precursor to pathologic staging and can help direct which type of breast cancer surgery is most appropriate....

Many times, as we are going through our daily activities, we may do something that causes a bruise, such as bumping into something or otherwise hurting ourselves. Just like we can get a bruise on our bodies, we can also get one on our gums. Bruises on the gums can vary in color; they might appear dark brown, black, red, or purple. There is also known to be pain and bleeding along with the bruising....

Your neck, also known as the cervical spine, is a complex series of bones, discs, muscles, nerves, and ligaments. There are seven bones, each called a cervical vertebra, that are stacked upon one another. These cervical vertebrae are specially shaped and configured to allow for maximum motion while supporting your skull and protecting your spinal cord, neighboring blood vessels, and nerves. Anatomy The seven cervical vertebrae can be divided into two groups: atypical vertebrae and typical vertebrae....

Childhood obesity has been on the rise in the United States for over a decade, and, according to the American Heart Association (AHA), approximately one in three children and teenagers is obese or overweight. As the AHA notes, this rate is nearly triple what it was in 1963. In fact, childhood obesity has become so alarmingly prevalent and such a threat to children’s health that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has an entire website dedicated to its prevention and treatment....

Collagen is an essential protein that makes up the backbone of the connective tissue (skin, bones, tendons, cartilage, and muscles) of the body. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and is part of the noncellular components within all tissues and organs. Collagen’s many roles in the body include: Providing strength and flexibility for movementRegulation of cell growth and metabolismPhysical protection of essential substances in the bodyServing as signaling molecules that help define cellular shape and behavior The jury is still out on the effectiveness of collagen as a one-size-fits-all treatment for common ailments (like osteoporosis—progressive bone thinning)....

Lymphedema can be uncomfortable, and a compression sleeve is often worn to help relieve symptoms. This is an elasticized garment that can help alleviate pain and swelling. Breast cancer is the most well-known cause of lymphedema, and lymphedema can also occur with medical conditions that cause damage to the lymphatic vessels. Studies suggest that regularly wearing a compression sleeve can control symptoms and may also keep lymphedema from developing in the first place....

A bone density test is used to examine your bone mass, an indicator of your overall bone strength. Assessing your bone density, or bone mass, is necessary for diagnosing osteopenia or osteoporosis, conditions that increase your risk of broken bones, but a bone density test generally cannot be used to diagnose arthritis. This article will review what a bone density test is used for, how it is performed, what the results mean, and how arthritis is diagnosed....

Whether or not you believe cannabis should be used in health care, medical marijuana is permitted in 33 states and the District of Columbia. Twelve states (Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington) and the District of Columbia also allow recreational use of the drug. The federal government does not agree. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) continues to categorize marijuana as a Schedule I drug—and that makes it illegal....

Is sex good for you? It certainly can be. The many potential health benefits of sex include everything from improving your mood to strengthening your heart. Consensual sex, where both partners want to be there and are taking any appropriate precautions, can be an important part of a person’s life and make a big difference in both their physical health and overall sense of well-being. In fact, one study of middle-aged men found that the more sex they had, the more likely they were to say they were in good health....

Accessing medical care can often present frustrating and delegitimizing obstacles for transgender or non-binary people. Key Takeaways Transgender and non-binary people face a high prevalence of gender and sexuality bias by healthcare providers, researchers, and in electronic health records, a new study found.A two-step method for reporting an individual’s gender identity and sex assigned at birth could improve inclusivity.Health professionals and insurance companies should be better equipped to provide and cover gender-affirming care....

Animal dander is a common trigger for asthma symptoms from wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath to full-blown asthma attacks. Both furry and feathered animals produce dander, which is made up of proteins from hair, skin flakes, urine, feces, and saliva. Since dander is shed from an animal’s body, you can be exposed to it without even touching an animal. All you have to do is come in contact with something an animal has slept on, played with, or otherwise come in contact with themselves....

Do you find that you have trouble staying hydrated because of the signs and symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)? Diarrhea can lead to dehydration even in healthy adults and can be a special problem when IBD causes chronic diarrhea. People with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis sometimes also have surgery to treat their disease, which can include the removal of some or all of the large intestine. The large intestine is where most water is absorbed, and when part or all of it is missing, less water might be absorbed by the body....