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Gastric sleeve surgery, also known as “sleeve gastrectomy,” is a procedure, in which 75 to 80% of the stomach is removed to facilitate weight loss. This widely performed bariatric procedure is highly effective in combating obesity, as well as a range of often-related conditions, such as high blood pressure (hypertension), type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea, among others. But the surgery, itself, doesn’t take off the weight; the real work happens afterward....

Genioplasty, also known as chin surgery or mentoplasty, is a type of cosmetic surgery that is done to change the shape of the chin. It may involve techniques such as adding an implant to increase the size of the chin or removing part of the jawbone to reduce the size of the chin. This procedure is done more often for men than for women. According to a 2019 statistics report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 57% of genioplasty surgeries were done for men....

Recent data released by Value Penguin, a personal finance and research analysis site, shows that health insurance premiums for private plans purchased under the Healthcare Marketplace, the Affordable Care Act’s official federal health insurance exchange, will increase in 36 states in 2023. Premiums are the amount of money you pay for coverage each month. Key Takeaways Health insurance premiums through the Healthcare.gov insurance marketplace will increase nationwide in 2023. Some states will feel the impact more than others....

Homozygous and heterozygous describe the pairs of genes you inherited from your parents. If you are homozygous for a particular gene, it means you inherited the same version of that gene from both your mother and father. If you are heterozygous for a particular gene, it means you inherited two different versions of the gene, one from your mother and one from your father. For example, if you inherited the gene for blonde hair from your mother and the gene for blonde hair from your father, you are homozygous for the gene that controls hair color....

Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates lactation (the production of breast milk). It is also involved in the development of mammary glands, the regulation of the menstrual cycle in females, and the production of sperm in males. While it is normal for prolactin levels to increase during pregnancy and breastfeeding, abnormal increases—referred to as hyperprolactinemia—can cause health problems ranging from irregular periods and sexual dysfunction to infertility and the inappropriate production of breast milk....

Credited for eliminating once-dreaded infectious diseases like smallpox, diphtheria, and polio, vaccines are heralded as one of the greatest public health achievements in modern history. Vaccines train your immune system to recognize and fight specific disease-causing organisms known as pathogens, which include viruses and bacteria. They then leave behind memory cells that can instigate a defense should the pathogen return. By tailoring the body’s own immune defenses, vaccines provide protection against many infectious diseases, either by blocking them entirely or reducing the severity of their symptoms....

Thanks to advances in treatment, people with HIV are living longer, healthier lives than ever before. Although there is still no cure for the disease, HIV is today considered a chronic, manageable condition with numerous medications able to control the infection. This article is part of Health Divide: HIV, a destination in our Health Divide series. Even so, only around 66% of the 1.2 million people living with HIV in the United States are undergoing treatment....

The UB-04 uniform medical billing form is the standard claim form that any institutional provider can use for the billing of inpatient or outpatient medical and mental health claims. It is a paper claim form printed with red ink on white standard paper. Although developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the form has become the standard form used by all insurance carriers. Who Can Bill Claims Using the UB-04?...

Type 2 diabetes often goes hand-in-hand with unhealthy cholesterol levels. Even someone with diabetes who has good control of their blood glucose is at a higher than average risk of having cholesterol problems that increase the risk of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular problems. If you have diabetes, you’ve already made changes to your diet and lifestyle that are targeted to keeping your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels steady. But given the increased risk of heart problems associated with diabetes, you may want to also take steps to keep your cholesterol levels steady as well....

The KRAS G12C mutation is the most common genetic abnormality associated with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The detection of this biomarker can provide insight into the prognosis of the disease, as well as its response to treatment. This mutation is believed to develop as a result of genetic alterations that occur in the body due to smoking. The KRAS G12C gene abnormality induces growth and proliferation of cancer. Research shows that having a KRAS G12C mutation with NSCLC is associated with a worse cancer prognosis and a reduced response to certain chemotherapeutic medications that are used for treating the disease....

A lung cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming and hard to process. You may have a lot of questions about your condition and what lies ahead but are not sure exactly what to ask. Read on for sample questions you can ask to help you better understand your diagnosis and treatment options, as well as some tips on how to talk to your oncologist. Questions to Ask After Diagnosis When you first get diagnosed with lung cancer, you may not know how to respond or what to ask....

A myoma (also known as a uterine fibroid or a leiomyoma) is a common noncancerous tumor that grows in or around the uterus. Myomas vary in size, causing symptoms like abdominal pain and heavy menstrual bleeding though some people remain symptom-free. The cause of myomas is not clear, but risk factors include a family history of myoma, obesity, and age. More than half of all people with a uterus will experience a myoma by age 50....

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that your body can not produce independently. So, instead, you must get it from dietary sources, like fish and nuts, or supplements like fish oil. Omega-3s are essential for healthy cell membranes. In addition, they give your body energy and help your heart, lungs, blood vessels, immune system, and endocrine system function. This article explains omega-3’s uses, benefits, and side effects. It also covers proper dosage and precautions....

Living with psoriasis, you might wonder how COVID-19 might affect your health and your treatment plan. Fortunately, researchers have learned a lot since early 2020 about coronavirus, the virus that causes COVID-19, and how it affects different health conditions, including psoriasis. The good news is that most of the data suggest the additional risks COVID-19 might pose to people with psoriasis are minimal. This includes people with psoriasis who are on medicines that affect the function of their immune systems....

Sclerotherapy is a non-surgical procedure used to treat varicose veins and spider veins. It involves the injection of a special solution into the veins to seal them off. This forces blood to reroute itself to healthier veins. In addition to reducing the appearance of varicose and spider veins, sclerotherapy is sometimes used to treat malformed lymph vessels, hemorrhoids, and hydroceles (swelling of the scrotum). What Is Sclerotherapy? Sclerotherapy (sclero- meaning hardness and -therapy meaning treatment) is an in-office procedure used to address venous swelling or the abnormal accumulation of fluids in tissues....

Septic shock is the most severe level of sepsis, a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when the immune system has an extreme response to an existing infection. When this happens, the immune system releases chemicals into the bloodstream that attack the body’s own tissues. Blood pressure drops dangerously low, potentially causing organ failure. This article covers the causes and symptoms of septic shock along with how it’s diagnosed and treated. It also includes information about when septic shock is most likely to happen and who is most at risk....

More than 12% of people in the United States will develop thyroid disease at some point in their lifetime. Millions of Americans are already living with it, and many may not even know it. The two main types of thyroid conditions are: Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) This article reviews facts and statistics to help you understand thyroid disease and its impact. Thyroid Disease Overview The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your throat....

Tingling in the feet is a common symptom that can affect many people, causing pain, burning, or a pins-and-needle sensation. Symptoms may resolve when you change positions and move, which relieves pressure on your nerves. When tingling in the feet persists and is unrelated to positional changes, other conditions may be causing nerve inflammation and irritation can result in tingling in the feet. This article will describe symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of both common and unusual causes of tingling in the feet, and when to see a healthcare provider....

Tumor agnostic therapy refers to cancer treatments that work across cancer types. In other words, instead of working for only one type of cancer, such as breast cancer, these treatments may work for a number of different cancers, for example, melanoma, breast cancer, and sarcomas. In addition, they may work for both adults and children. Instead of treatments based on where a tumor originated, this therapy treats a cancer that originates anywhere based on the particular molecular characteristics that drive the growth of the tumor....

Both Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide healthcare coverage for low-income children. In 2018, 36.3 children were enrolled in Medicaid and 9.6 million in CHIP. With nearly 46 million children accessing health care through these programs, it is important to understand how they work. Both programs are jointly funded by federal and state governments. Both are run by the states. There are still some inherent differences between the two programs you need to understand if you have a child in need of health care....