When you get an intrauterine device (IUD) such as Mirena or ParaGard, your healthcare provider lets two IUD strings hang from your cervix into your vaginal canal. IUD strings make it so that your healthcare provider can pull the IUD out of your uterus when the time comes. IUD strings also allow you to check that your IUD is in place. If you can’t feel your IUD strings when you check for them, there may be a few reasons why....
Lung cancer frequently spreads, or metastasizes, to other parts of the body. One of the most dangerous areas it can travel to is the brain. Known as brain metastases, lung cancer that spreads to the brain raises grave concerns about life expectancy. Unfortunately, these metastases are fairly common. Up to 7% of people already have cancer cells in the brain when they are first diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and 20% to 40% of those with NSCLC will develop the complication at some point....
Maurice Gibb died at Mount Sinai Medical Center on Sunday, January 12, 2003. Gibb was best known for being one-third of the pop band the Bee Gees. His family—wife Yvonne, son Adam, and daughter Samantha—were at his bedside when he died. He was 53. Gibb was working on new music with Michael Jackson and his brother Barry Gibb before his unexpected death. Barry Gibb was also a member of the Bee Gees....
Knowing what Medicare vision care benefits you have and don’t have is important for your health. Vision care is not only about getting a good pair of eyeglasses. It is about preventing or managing eye conditions that could lead to vision loss. This allows you to perform your activities of daily living, and, most importantly, it keeps you safe. Multiple studies have shown that older adults with vision impairments are more likely to have falls than their peers with normal vision....
About one in 10 people in the United States have diabetes. Of the more than 37 million Americans living with diabetes, approximately 90–95% of them have type 2 diabetes. Though type 2 diabetes typically occurs in people who are more than 45 years old, rates are rising in children, teens, and young adults. With type 2 diabetes, the body doesn’t adequately make and/or use the insulin it needs to use glucose for energy, causing high blood sugar....
Type 2 diabetes is a disorder of the endocrine system that develops over time and causes hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). It occurs when the body cannot use glucose (sugar) efficiently. Children who develop type 2 diabetes are more likely to have family members who have it. They often carry excess weight in the abdomen and are more sedentary. Type 2 diabetes in kids typically occurs after age 10 but can develop earlier....
Phantom pregnancy, also known as pseudocyesis or false pregnancy, is a condition in which a person believes that they are pregnant when they are not. Pregnancy symptoms, such as the absence of their period, feeling phantom fetal movements, and a growing abdomen, occur in people with pseudocyesis even though they are not pregnant. Phantom pregnancy is a rare disorder. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Fifth Edition (DSM-5) classifies the condition under Somatic Symptom Disorders, a group of disorders that are characterized by physical symptoms....
If you live with arthritis, chances are you feel the painful effects in your feet. Many types of arthritis can affect the joints of the feet, as well as the skin and toenails. These include osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), gout, psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). OA in the feet affects up to 17% of people ages 50 and over. In people with RA, foot involvement is common, and more than 90% of people with RA report foot pain as a symptom....
Experiencing testicular pain can be taxing both physically and emotionally. If your testicles (“balls”) hurt, you may be embarrassed to seek medical care and discuss your symptoms with a nurse or healthcare provider. The problem is that there are some serious conditions that can cause testicular pain. This article looks at five such conditions, including one this is considered a true medical emergency. Epididymitis Epididymitis is the inflammation of the epididymis (the long, coiled tube that transports sperm from the testicle)....
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior, or how people think, feel, and behave. The psychology field includes different disciplines and subfields of study, including child development, workplace productivity, and rehabilitation psychology. Understanding the types of psychology can help you decide if seeing a psychologist is the next best step for you or a loved one. What It Involves Psychology has come a long way since the days of lying on the therapist’s couch....
Diet and exercise are important components of managing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In particular, people with PCOS must focus on how foods affect their blood sugar levels. That’s because insulin resistance occurs in many people with PCOS, which means their bodies don’t use insulin effectively. A PCOS diet can help you manage your condition. Your doctor may help you develop an eating plan to help balance hormones and insulin. For example, a low-carb diet may help control insulin resistance....
Sulfonylureas are a class of medications used to manage type 2 diabetes. The drugs work by encouraging the release of insulin from the pancreas to help lower blood sugar levels. This article discusses everything you need to know about how sulfonylureas work for type 2 diabetes and what to expect when taking the drug. Effect of Sulfonylureas on Type 2 Diabetes People with type 2 diabetes must manage their blood sugar levels because their bodies do not respond to insulin....
Tendonitis (also spelled tendinitis) is inflammation or irritation of a tendon, the flexible, fibrous cords that connect muscles to bones. Tendonitis causes pain, swelling, loss of mobility, and decreased joint strength. A type of tendinopathy, tendonitis can affect any tendon in the body. It is most common in shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, and heels and is typically caused by repetitive use. Rest and preventing re-injury are the core of any tendonitis treatment plan....
This story is part of a series where we look at the ways COVID-19 has changed our lives and how it will continue to affect public health in 2022. If this pandemic has had a silver lining, it’s the fact that many more people are now aware of the importance of mental health. Unfortunately, this is in part due to the pandemic’s harrowing effect on people’s mental wellbeing. Key Takeaways...
Being yelled at has significant effects on both the body and the brain. The psychological effects of being yelled at include increased stress, anxiety, and depression. Living with verbal abuse from a parent, spouse, or loved one can change how you think about yourself. Verbal abuse usually involves using psychological force to cause emotional pain. This article will provide an overview of the psychological effects of being yelled at and how to cope with them....
A diabetic attack occurs when your blood sugar spikes too high or drops too low. This can cause a medical emergency. A number of different conditions and factors can lead to a diabetic emergency, including ketoacidosis, hyperglycemia, and hypoglycemia. Each of these needs to be handled in a specific way to reduce the risk of long-term consequences. This article explains types of emergencies that can result from diabetic attacks, their symptoms, and treatment options....
According to a new study, people with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) might not need to take supplemental vitamin C along with oral iron supplements to help with absorption, despite longstanding advice to do so. Key Takeaways It’s common practice to take vitamin C with iron supplements to help with absorption.New research says there’s not enough evidence to definitively support a need to take vitamin C with iron in people with iron deficiency anemia....
The holiday season may have some quirks when celebrating with a child with autism. Ads showing happy children gleefully opening and playing with age-appropriate toys, surrounded by beaming family members, may be a reminder that things are different for an autistic child. Every shopping venue blasting holiday music, every line of kids waiting for Santa’s lap, every party invitation, and every Facebook ad for a holiday event “for kids” can feel overwhelming....
The azygos vein is a singular blood vessel of the torso that ascends on a course just to the right of the spine. It’s part of the system that drains blood from the mediastinum (the tissues between your lungs), as well as parts of the back and abdominal walls. Arising in the mid-low back, it bends around the hilum of the lungs and passes through the diaphragm before piercing the pericardium of the heart....
Both breast reduction and top surgery are elective procedures that remove unwanted tissue, skin, and fat from the chest area. Despite their similar goals, there are key differences between these two treatments. This article discusses breast reductions, top surgery, cost, similarities and differences, and how to cope with possible side effects. What to Know About Breast Reduction A breast reduction is the surgical removal of breast tissue. It decreases breast size but does not entirely remove them....
