Posts

A stent is a metal or plastic tube inserted into a blocked passageway to keep it open. Since their introduction in the late-1980s, stents have revolutionized the treatment of coronary artery disease and other diseases in which vital vessels or passageways are obstructed. The practice of stenting has become fairly common and has allowed for the minimally invasive treatment of conditions that once required surgery. Even so, there are complications associated with stenting and times when they may not be the best option for everyone....

Advertising Policy Updated June 15, 2016 To help us maintain the resources needed to create the quality content you deserve, we accept advertisements on our website. We greatly value transparency and hope that this policy leaves you feeling even more confident about the content and service we provide. Verywell accepts advertising on all of its sites but maintains a strict and clear separation between advertising and editorial content. Please see our Advertising Policy for full details on how advertisements and sponsored content are distinguished on our pages and the guidelines to which they must adhere....

In August of 2018, a researcher from the Brown University School of Public Health published an article titled “Rapid-onset gender dysphoria in adolescents and young adults: A study of parental reports” in the highly respected journal PLoS One. The article suggested that there was a growing concern about young individuals assigned female at birth developing gender dysphoria suddenly, or quickly, during or after puberty. It also suggested that social media might play a role in the development of gender dysphoria in this population....

The human body’s ability to regenerate tissues and organs is extremely inefficient, and losing human tissue and organs can happen easily due to things like congenital defects, diseases, and sudden trauma. When tissue dies (called necrosis), it can’t be brought back to life—if it’s not removed or repaired it can affect other areas of the body, such as surrounding tissue, organs, bone, and skin. This is where tissue engineering is useful....

Although depression is a common condition, it can be a confusing disorder to understand, as it has multiple types, all with unique symptoms and ranges of severity. In this article, read about the different types of depression, their causes, symptoms, and prevention and treatment methods. What Is Depression? Depression is a mood disorder that causes symptoms affecting feelings, thoughts, and daily functioning. It can have severe and lasting effects. Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the United States....

An arteriovenous (AV) fistula is a connection between an artery and a vein. Normally, blood flows from the arteries to the capillaries then to the veins. With an AV fistula, blood will flow from an artery to a vein, bypassing some capillaries. This can affect the tissues downstream from the bypassed arteries, causing them to receive less blood, or affect the veins and create swelling of an extremity. AV fistulas usually affect the legs, but they can occur anywhere throughout the body....

Not only is the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine able to prevent the symptoms of the disease, it is also able to curb person-to-person transmission, according to data released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on February 26. The findings bode well for federal, state, and local efforts to slash infection rates in the coming months. Key Takeaways The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is able to prevent most asymptomatic infections, according to FDA documents released in advance of the approval announcement on February 27....

As more and more Americans receive a COVID-19 vaccine, many people are wondering when they can go back to living their normal pre-pandemic life. Key Takeaways Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 has shown to be highly effective at preventing severe illness. However, the research is not conclusive on whether the shots reduce transmission of the virus.The current COVID-19 vaccines in the United States—made by Pfizer and Moderna— provide what scientists call “effective immunity....

It’s not always easy to decide if you should stay home from work or school when you aren’t feeling well. If you’re a caregiver, it can be hard to decide whether to send your child to school or daycare, especially if they need to take a test or play a sport that day. If you get sick on an important day, you might be tempted to just “tough it out.” Pushing through your symptoms when you’re sick makes it harder for your body to get better, but that’s not the only thing you need to think about....

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are diseases that affect the neurological system. Research has found that the genes and genetic components that play a role in both conditions are similar. This article discusses the connection between ALS and FTD, the risks associated with developing both conditions simultaneously, and what medical providers can do to help manage the comorbidity in patients with both. Connection Between ALS and Frontotemporal Dementia ALS and FTD are considered neurodegenerative diseases....

Pain in your appendix area—i.e., your lower-right belly—can be caused by a few different conditions. The most common cause is appendicitis, in which the space inside the appendix (the lumen) gets infected, inflamed, and blocked. This will cause your appendix to feel very sore. A collection of pus, or an abscess, can form on your appendix and also cause pain. Although rare, a tumor can form there too. Appendicitis may develop as a result of these conditions or other causes....

Brachioradial pruritus is a nerve disorder that causes itching on the skin on the outer side of your forearm. This part of your arm covers the brachioradialis muscle, which works with other muscles to help you flex your elbow. Sometimes the itch can also extend into the upper arm, shoulder, neck and trunk. While it’s not usually a serious health problem, a flare-up of brachioradialis pruritis symptoms can be uncomfortable and hard to treat—partly because experts are not completely sure why it happens....

Having a mastectomy (surgical removal of a breast) or lumpectomy (surgical removal of a tumor or cancer cells) for breast cancer treatment may leave a woman with significant changes to her breast size. Surgical reconstruction may not be possible or wanted, and some women choose to use an external breast prosthesis. A prosthesis, or breast form, comes in many sizes and shapes, are made from different materials, and can vary in price....

There are many types of chemotherapy to treat cancer and other conditions. When starting therapy, many people worry about the process, how treatment works, how it will make them feel, and what side effects to expect. In this article, we’ll discuss what to expect from chemotherapy, how well it works, and the process you will go through during treatment. Definition Chemotherapy is a group of medications used to treat cancer and sometimes other conditions....

Cognitive distortions are irrational ways of thinking that aren’t helpful. Everyone has them from time to time, but when they become excessive, they can cause distress or negatively impact your quality of life. They can also lead to maladaptive behaviors and increase your risk for mental health disorders like depression. Read on to find out more about common cognitive distortions and how to deal with them. Causes It is thought that cognitive distortions develop over time....

Cystic fibrosis is an inheritable and life-threatening disorder that affects roughly 30,000 Americans and as many as 70,000 people worldwide. It is caused by a genetic defect in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane receptor (CFTR) gene, which creates the protein involved in the production of sweat, digestive fluids, and mucus. If there is a defect in this protein, it can lead to the abnormal accumulation of mucus in lungs, the blockage of digestive enzymes to the intestines, and other serious symptoms and complications....

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Outbreaks of herpes sores can be painful, but most people with genital herpes experience no symptoms or only mild symptoms. Many people won’t know they have the infection and won’t have pain. Others may experience discomfort or symptoms like itching. Learn more about the symptoms of genital herpes, what it feels like, how to manage it and what to expect. Genital Herpes Symptoms Most people with genital herpes either have no symptoms or mild symptoms....

People with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) usually have symptoms of both psoriasis and arthritis. Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition where skin cells build up and form scales and itchy, dry patches and arthritis inflammation in one or more joints, causing pain and stiffness. Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. The inflammation associated with PsA impacts more than just the joints and skin. It can also affect many body systems....

Eye muscle surgery (strabismus correction surgery) is used to treat eye deviation that’s caused by uneven eye muscles. Kids might be diagnosed with strabismus (crossed eyes) during a vision screening, or parents might notice that a child’s eyes are not aligned with each other. While most often done in children, eye muscle surgery is also done on adults. It may be performed on one or both eyes and can prevent certain long-term vision problems....

What Is Feldene? Feldene (piroxicam) is an oral prescription drug used in adults to relieve the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. It is in a drug class called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs like Feldene work by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX), an enzyme (protein) that contributes to inflammation in the body. COX helps produce prostaglandins (natural substances) involved in creating inflammation. It is available as a capsule and taken by mouth....