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An MRI with contrast is an imaging test that combines magnetic and radio wave imaging with an injection of a contrast agent (dye). The dye highlights blood vessels, organs, and specific soft tissues so they show up more clearly and help your radiologist determine a diagnosis. MRIs, or magnetic resonance imaging, can be done with or without contrast. An MRI with contrast is performed in a hospital or outpatient facility. During the procedure, a healthcare provider will inject the contrast material into a vein in your arm, then place you in an MRI machine for the scan....

An orchiopexy is a surgical procedure that repairs an undescended testicle, or that prevents a testicle from retracting. The procedure involves moving the testicle from either the abdomen or groin area—depending on where it is currently located—and into the scrotum (skin sac below the penis). Then, the doctor will surgically attach the testicle into the scrotum with a “tacking stitch.” Learn more about the procedure, why someone would need it performed, as well as the potential risks involved....

Out-of-pocket expenses can be worrisome, especially if you are diagnosed with a serious illness or have a chronic medical condition. Such costs can draw the focus away from getting proper medical care. Data from the 2022 KFF Health Care Debt Survey found that one in four people skipped medical care have due to cost, four in ten have delayed care because of it, and four in ten have outstanding medical debt....

Prenatal vitamins contain special formulations of essential vitamins and minerals like folic acid (folate), calcium, and iron which your body needs more of while carrying a developing baby. Whether you’re trying to conceive or just found out you are pregnant, prenatal vitamins, also known as prenatal supplements, can help fill in any nutritional gaps in your diet to help support a healthy pregnancy. If you’ve started shopping around for prenatal supplements, you already know there are a slew of options to choose from, and it is possible to take too much or too little of certain nutrients depending on your health history and needs....

A healthcare provider may recommend a prostate biopsy if you have an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test or abnormal digital rectal exam, which can indicate prostate cancer. While screening tests may suggest there is a problem, a prostate biopsy is needed to make a prostate cancer diagnosis and determine the aggressiveness of the disease. In this procedure, a needle is inserted into the prostate gland (most commonly through the rectum) to obtain samples of tissue....

Proteinuria is the presence of too much protein in the urine. It is typically a sign of kidney disease but can occur with other medical conditions. One of the main signs of proteinuria is foamy urine. However, healthy people can experience foamy urine, and it can develop with conditions besides kidney disease. In many people, proteinuria will have no symptoms. If researched further, most cases will not be linked to an underlying cause....

Protonix (generic name pantoprazole) is a type of drug that’s called a proton pump inhibitor. This drug works by lowering the production of acid in the stomach. Protonix is used to treat certain conditions in the stomach and esophagus, such as acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and erosive esophagitis. Protonix is approved for use in adults and children over the age of 5 years. It is most often given orally as a pill, but there is also an oral liquid suspension form and an intravenous form that is given by infusion into a vein....

A study of the health records of over a million people in East London has identified two conditions that might be early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease: hearing loss and epilepsy. Key Takeaways A new study has identified two new potential early signs of Parkinson’s disease: hearing loss and epilepsy.The study also showed that some of the most common symptoms of Parkinson’s, like tremors and problems with memory, are often present several years before people are diagnosed....

Amid the palm trees, sandy beaches, and idyllic coastal waters of the Florida Keys, an unwanted parasitic invader called the New World screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax) wreaked havoc on local pets, livestock, and game in the summer of 2016. At the height of the outbreak, between 10% and 15% of the endangered Key deer population had to be euthanized (killed) to prevent the further spread of this painful and potentially deadly fly-borne infestation....

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking is linked to between 80% and 90% of lung cancer deaths in the United States. This makes smoking the number one risk factor for the disease. Although quitting dramatically reduces the risk, the effects of smoking can stay with you and increase the likelihood of lung cancer even after 25 years of abstinence. Even so, quitting offers benefits no matter how long you have smoked, reducing your risk of lung cancer by around 39% after five years—even if you are a heavy smoker....

TikTok has been a hub for many unique and questionable health-related trends—from taping your mouth shut at night to sleep better to eating raw meat for more energy and better digestion. The latest health hack involves putting potato slices in your socks while you sleep. Key Takeaways A new health trend on TikTok involves putting potato slices in your socks at night with the claim that it will help clear toxins and viruses like the flu from your body....

Sickle cell anemia (SCA)—the autosomal recessive disease that leads to sickling of oxygen-carrying red blood cells—affects about 100,000 people in the U.S. per year. African Americans are especially at high risk, with SCA occurring in 1 in 365 births. An additional 1 in 13 Black or African American babies are born with sickle cell trait. Strong evidence points to nutrition as an increasingly important factor in the propagation of SCA symptoms such as poor growth, joint pain, infection, and anemia as these symptoms often led to painful crises and recurrent hospitalizations....

What Is Theo-24? Theo-24 (theophylline) is an oral prescription drug used to treat symptoms of asthma and reversible airflow obstruction due to chronic asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. As a bronchodilator, Theo-24 works by relaxing the smooth muscle of the airways to open air passages into the lungs, making it easier to breathe. It also reduces inflammation and airway reactivity to stimuli, like allergens, that may lead to wheezing or shortness of breath....

Todd’s paralysis is a temporary medical syndrome of weakness or paralysis and loss of sensation over part of the body. This can sometimes happen after a seizure. It’s important to distinguish Todd’s paralysis from a stroke, which is a much more serious medical situation. Studies have estimated that Todd’s paralysis occurs in between 1% to 13% of people who have had a seizure. Todd’s paralysis is also known as Todd paresis, postictal paresis, or post-epileptic paralysis....

Tuberculous meningitis is a severe form of bacterial meningitis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which also causes tuberculosis (TB). The disease affects the central nervous system after starting elsewhere in the body. It is often characterized by inflamed membranes around the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms begin with headaches and changes in the way you act. A fever, stiff neck, and vomiting may follow. More severe symptoms can make you feel confused or drowsy, leading to a coma....

The autonomic nervous system controls important bodily functions like heart rate and blood pressure that keep us alive without our ever thinking of them. Almost any medical disorder can affect the autonomic nervous system in some way, though relatively few diseases attack the autonomic nervous system alone. Below are some of the most common forms of autonomic nervous system dysfunction, or dysautonomia. Acute Autonomic Paralysis Acute autonomic paralysis, first described in 1975, remains extremely rare but serves as a good example of what happens when all autonomic nervous functions are compromised....

After testing positive for COVID-19, President Donald Trump received a variety of medications, some known to be effective and at least one still in clinical trials. Key Takeaways President Trump has reportedly received Regeneron monoclonal antibodies, remdesivir, dexamethasone, zinc, vitamin D, famotidine, melatonin, and aspirin throughout his COVID-19 treatment.Some of these medications are experimental and not available to the general public. Experts do not think each of these treatments are necessarily for COVID-19....

The COVID-19 booster shots are getting an upgrade. Federal health authorities greenlit the long-awaited reformulated boosters by Moderna and Pfizer for people ages 12 and older on August 31, and extended the authorization to kids as young as 5 in October. Key Takeaways Next-generation COVID-19 boosters are replacing the original booster formula for people ages 5 and older (Pfizer) and 6 and older (Moderna).The new shots are bivalent, meaning they protect against both the original COVID-19 and newer Omicron variants, such as BA....

Not all healthcare providers accept Medicare. Some do not even take private insurance anymore. Medicare and Medicaid have both seen significant changes in recent years and commercial insurance plans have increasingly decreased reimbursement rates. For these reasons and more, many healthcare providers have turned away from the bureaucracy in favor of a more simple approach. Administrative Burdens Medicine has become a bureaucracy. Healthcare providers have to fill out form after form to get insurance, Medicare included, to cover certain tests and treatments....

Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase “ignorance is bliss.” It’s the belief that people are happier when they’re unaware of their problems. But ignorance is not always bliss. When it comes to caring for someone with dementia, knowledge is key. It’s better to be informed than to be living in ignorance. If you provide care for someone with dementia, the suggestions below might help you navigate this uncharted territory. Arguing Is a Waste of Time It can be easy to become frustrated with someone who has dementia and argue with them to convince them of how they’re wrong about something....