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A radiation port film or portal image is an x-ray that is taken to ensure that radiation targets a tumor or tumor cavity while minimizing exposure to healthy tissues. During breast radiation, your radiation oncologist will check a radiation port film (also called a treatment field or treatment port) before your first session. Port films are checked in frequent intervals, such as weekly in the case of a lumpectomy. Some people are concerned about having these x-ray studies repeated, but proper positioning is critical for the radiation to do its job while not harming other healthy tissues nearby such as skin, the lungs, or the heart....

Vaginal itching is a signal that something is amiss in the vagina. Some common causes of vaginal itching, such as yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis, cause abnormal discharge. Other causes, like razor burn or genital herpes, won’t cause abnormal discharge at all. Either way, if you are experiencing vaginal itching, you may need to get treatment. Knowing the causes of vaginal itching without abnormal discharge, along with any associated symptoms, can help you decide if a trip to your healthcare provider is needed....

Clinical depression, also called major depression or major depressive disorder (MDD), is often confused with having a sad or low mood. Although feeling sad is one symptom of clinical depression, there must be several other signs and symptoms—in addition to sadness—for someone to be formally diagnosed with clinical depression. Clinical depression is considered a potentially chronic and severe disorder with medical comorbidities and high mortality. Understanding the signs and symptoms of clinical depression are important to ensure someone can receive an accurate diagnosis and treatment....

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), also called pure hypercholesterolemia, is an inherited condition in which a person’s body is unable to effectively get rid of extra LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol). This causes high levels of LDL in the blood, which can lead to a significantly increased risk of heart disease. Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) is a type of FH in which a person inherits one faulty gene from one biological parent that is paired with a healthy gene from the other biological parent....

Non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT, or nonsustained V-tach) is an abnormal heart rhythm that starts in the ventricles, which are the lower chambers of the heart. It occurs as three or more consecutive heartbeats at a rate of more than 100 beats per minute and lasts for less than 30 seconds. Because it does not persist, NSVT is not considered as dangerous as sustained ventricular tachycardia (SVT), which lasts more than 30 seconds....

Sexual side effects—including anorgasmia (failure to have an orgasm), genital anesthesia, low libido (low desire to have sex), and erectile dysfunction (ED)—are very common among patients who take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Commonly prescribed SSRI antidepressants include Zoloft (sertraline) and Prozac (fluoxetine). Until recently, experts have assumed that sexual dysfunction always resolves after someone stops taking SSRIs. But recent research indicates that sexual side effects, including ED, can persist even after SSRI treatment stops....

As more people get vaccinated against COVID-19, “breakthrough infections” are expected to become more common, especially with the surge of the highly contagious Delta variant. Key Takeaways Fully vaccinated individuals who were exposed to the virus should get tested in three to five days, whether they have symptoms or not.However, the duration of isolation can vary depending on the symptoms and severity of your case.The vaccines are meant to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death....

If you have significant pain and loss of shoulder mobility due to shoulder osteoarthritis, you may benefit from a surgical procedure called a total shoulder replacement. The goal of the surgery is to remove the arthritic shoulder joint and replace it with a more functional metal, ceramic, or plastic joint. This joint then allows your shoulder and arm to move and function more normally. If you have had a total shoulder replacement, you may benefit from working with a physical therapist....

What Is Xiaflex? Xiaflex (collagenase Clostridium histolyticum) is a treatment option for Dupuytren’s contracture (tightening of tissue in the hand) and Peyronie’s disease (tissue scarring after an injury to the penis). Xiaflex is a biologic medication that has a group of two collagenases. Biologic medications are made from living things. In this case, these collagenases are proteins that come from Clostridium histolyticum bacteria. Xiaflex works by breaking down collagen to relieve symptoms in Dupuytren’s contracture and Peyronie’s disease....

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention and/or impulsivity and hyperactivity. ADHD begins in childhood but continues into adulthood up to 60% of the time. In many cases, ADHD is diagnosed in adulthood after it was missed in childhood. ADHD is not curable, but it is manageable. Typically, medication is the first-line treatment for adult ADHD, but that is not always possible or preferred. Therapy is another effective tool that can be used to treat ADHD....

Robert L. Quigley, MD, DPhil, is the Senior Vice President and Global Medical Director, Corporate Health Solutions at International SOS & MedAire. After 25 years working in surgery, critical care, and immunology, he’s using his expertise to advise on crisis management, infectious disease, and health care. Here, he shares his thoughts on how—and why—employers must support employee wellness. As we enter our third year of the pandemic, employee wellness is still a major topic of discussion....

Cystic renal cell carcinoma is a relatively new subtype of kidney cancer, first described in 2005, and recognized as a distinct tumor in 2013. It primarily occurs in people who have acquired cystic kidney disease (ACKD). ACKD usually develops in people with advanced chronic kidney disease who have been on dialysis for a significant period of time. Nearly 60% of people develop ACKD within 2 to 4 years of beginning dialysis, a procedure that removes waste products and fluids from your body, the way your kidneys should....

If your eyes burn, itch, or feel gritty, you may have dry eyes, a common condition that occurs when you don’t produce enough tears to lubricate the eyes. Tears keep the eyes smooth and wet, and are important for clear vision and maintaining good eye health. While over-the-counter and prescription eye drops are generally effective at reducing dry eyes, you may like to try natural home remedies. Many people use flaxseed oil, also known as flax oil or linseed oil, to improve dry eyes....

Hiatal hernia surgery is indicated in difficult cases of hiatal hernia, in which the stomach pushes into the chest cavity due to weakness in the diaphragm. Typically a minimally-invasive procedure, the surgery is performed under general anesthesia and usually takes between two to four hours. It requires a hospital stay. Proper preparation is critical to a successful outcome. Not only must the medical team be ready, but the patient also needs a clear understanding of what they need to do—and of what will actually happen—in the run-up to hiatal hernia surgery....

HIPAA refers to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996. According to the legislation itself, the stated goal of HIPAA was “to improve portability and continuity of health insurance coverage in the group and individual markets, to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in health insurance and health care delivery, to promote the use of medical savings accounts, to improve access to long-term care services and coverage, to simplify the administration of health insurance, and for other purposes....

Babies can experience itchy, red skin for a variety of reasons. Their skin is sensitive and easily irritated. While hydrocortisone cream is a go-to for adults with irritated skin, it typically is not recommended for children under the age of 2 unless otherwise directed by a healthcare provider. This article will discuss hydrocortisone cream and babies, and other ways to treat itchy skin. What Is Hydrocortisone Cream? Hydrocortisone cream is a topical corticosteroid medication....

If you have a lot of neck pain and can’t figure out why, rather than continually trying to get a diagnosis for a cervical spine problem you may want to shift your focus to a nearby area of your body—your jaw. Estimates vary, but experts say that up to 70% of neck problems may be related to dysfunction in the temporomandibular joint. These neck problems may come in the form of neck muscle spasm (50% of cases according to a 2015 study published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science Research), reduced flexibility (20% according to the same study), or plain ‘ole pain, which the authors noted at 30%....

What Is Klonopin? Klonopin (clonazepam) belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines and is used primarily to treat panic disorder or seizures (called epilepsy). It works by increasing the effects of a “calming” chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in your brain. Due to its potential for dependence and misuse, clonazepam is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance. This prescription medication is available as a tablet to swallow whole or a tablet that dissolves on the top of your tongue....

After being diagnosed with lung cancer, you may wonder how the cancer will progress. The progression in part depends on the type of lung cancer, which is grouped into small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (which also has many subtypes). Some types are more aggressive and progress faster, while others progress more slowly. The early stages of lung cancer often have no obvious symptoms. By the time symptoms are noticeable, cancer may have already progressed and spread beyond the lungs, and the symptoms may reflect the effects it is having elsewhere in the body....

Migraine and sleep disorders/disturbances are complex conditions that are often intertwined in a vicious cycle of one triggering the other. Though scientists know the enormous impact of this, they aren’t clear on how or why it occurs. The last two decades have seen a body of research exploring how migraine and sleep disorders influence each other and theories on their shared underlying mechanisms. Migraines and Sleep Disturbances It’s well-established that sleep and migraine have an intricate relationship and that sleep disorders and migraine are frequently comorbid conditions....