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A premature ventricular complex (PVC, or premature ventricular contraction) is an extra electrical impulse arising from one of the heart’s ventricles. This extra impulse happens before the next normal heartbeat has a chance to occur. PVCs are very common and often require no treatment unless they cause symptoms or occur frequently. This article provides an overview of the symptoms, causes, and diagnosis of PVCs. You’ll also learn about when treatment for PVCs may be indicated, and what those therapy options entail....

Ayurveda is a holistic approach to medicine that originated in India more than 3,000 years ago. In Sanskrit, Ayurveda means “knowledge of life.” The concept behind the practice is that disease comes from an imbalance in a person’s consciousness. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease of the large intestine in which the colon’s lining becomes inflamed and develops small ulcerations. There is no known cure for ulcerative colitis, but there are a number of treatments available that include medications, surgery, and diet and nutrition changes....

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) causes abnormal and involuntary movements that can affect one or more parts of the body, including the head, face, neck, lips, or tongue. It can also cause involuntary movements of the hips, limbs, arms, legs, and torso. TD often develops after the prolonged use of medications for mental health conditions and other disorders. Aside from having to take care of someone’s needs, caregivers have to keep an eye out for changes in their loved one’s symptoms and speak to healthcare providers on their behalf....

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease in which foods that contain gluten cause the immune system to attack the lining of the small intestines. Over time, this erodes the intestinal lining and causes a wide range of symptoms, including digestive issues, abdominal pain, and headaches. It’s important for people with celiac disease to avoid foods that contain the protein gluten—found in wheat, rye, and barley, as well as a variety of packaged foods—to prevent damage to the intestines from occurring and to manage their symptoms....

For many years, in the surgeon’s locker room (which actually has much in common with other kinds of locker rooms), cardiac surgeons would mention to each other a phenomenon they often referred to as “pump head.” Pump head was a term used to describe impairment in a mental capacity they sometimes noticed in their patients following coronary artery bypass surgery. It got this name because the presumption was that cognitive impairment after bypass surgery was related to the use of the cardiopulmonary bypass pump during the procedure....

As the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines are administered across the country, a few reports of allergic reactions to Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine have raised some concerns for those who are prone to allergic reactions. Key Takeaways The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are similar in that they both use mRNA technology to deliver a small amount of genetic information to trigger the body’s immune response.The ingredients for both vaccines are very similar.Reports of allergic reactions to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine have been made....

Dizziness and nausea are two symptoms that often occur together. If you’re feeling dizzy and nauseated, there’s a host of possible causes—illness, pregnancy, motion sickness, and more. However, you might be able to narrow it down by considering circumstances that are occurring when you experience these or other symptoms at the same time. This article discusses possible causes of dizziness and nausea that are occurring together, as well as when you should see a healthcare provider....

What Is Doral? Doral (quazepam) is a prescription medication used to treat insomnia (trouble sleeping). Doral belongs to a group of drugs called benzodiazepines, which work by slowing activity in the brain. Doral is available as a tablet that you take by mouth. Doral is a controlled substance because it contains quazepam, which can be abused or lead to dependence. What Is Doral Used For? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Doral to treat insomnia (trouble sleeping) in adults....

For many people, erections are a part of day-to-day life. Erections happen when the penis gets hard and usually stands outward or upward. This happens most often in response to sexual arousal, but sometimes it can happen for no reason at all, particularly during puberty and during the teen years. Erections can go away after ejaculation or on their own. Although many people experience erections, there’s a lot most people don’t understand....

In 2022, it was estimated that about 26,000 cases of gastric cancer would be diagnosed in the United States that year. Gastric cancer, also known as stomach cancer, has an overall five-year survival rate of 32%, but survival rates increase up to 70% if the cancer is caught at an early stage. Both the rates of new diagnosis of gastric cancer and the death rate from gastric cancer have been declining....

A functional cure is an evidence-based hypothesis by which HIV may be kept in check without the use of antiretroviral drugs. As opposed to a sterilizing vaccine that would fully eliminate HIV from the body, a functional cure serves more along the lines of a permanent remission wherein the virus is unable to cause illness even if traces of the virus remain. There has been much enthusiasm and almost as much controversy surrounding the prospect of a functional cure....

If you hear about rising cases in your community, you might wonder if Lyme disease is contagious. While it is the most common illness caused by insect bites in the United States—specifically, the bacteria spread by a tick bite—it cannot be passed from person to person through casual contact like being in the same room or kissing. There are, however, a few other ways that Lyme can potentially be passed from one person to the next....

We don’t like to talk about terminal cancer. The term alone can bring tears and the feeling of loss of hope. Yet even if you are given a diagnosis of terminal or end-stage cancer there is hope. What can help you cope and restore hope at the end of life? What It Means If Cancer Is Terminal It’s important to first define what is meant when cancer is terminal. While definitions vary, deciding that a diagnosis is terminal usually means that cancer cannot be cured and that there is a limited amount of time left to live....

Low testosterone, clinically known as hypogonadism, is most commonly seen in older cisgender men as well as those with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Cisgender women may also develop it. Testosterone is a sex hormone, and insufficient levels of it cause low sex drive (low libido), erectile dysfunction (ED), infertility, and loss of energy and muscle mass, among other symptoms. This article provides an overview of the symptoms and potential causes of low testosterone....

“Malignant lymphoma,” or lymphoma, is a general term for cancer that starts from cells in the lymph system called lymphocytes. These cells are part of the immune system. Lymphoma occurs when lymphocytes become abnormal and multiply. It can be diagnosed in children and adults. Most lymphomas start from white cells called either B lymphocytes (B cells) or T lymphocytes (T cells). This article will review the types of lymphoma, their causes, treatment, prognosis, and coping....

Metastatic breast cancer (also called stage 4 breast cancer) is breast cancer that has spread to another part of the body, most commonly the liver, brain, bones, or lungs. Metastasis occurs when cancer cells separate from the original tumor, enter the blood or lymphatic channels (a large network of vessels in the body), and spread to the lymph nodes or other tissues or organs of the body. When breast cancer spreads to an area adjacent to the original tumor (such as the lymph nodes located under the armpits) it’s not considered metastasized....

Osteosarcoma is a rare type of bone cancer that typically affects the long bones in the body, such as those in the arms and legs. The most common affected areas are the femur (thigh), tibia (shin), and humerus (upper arm) bones. The cancerous cells often develop near the ends of the bones. Although this cancer can occur in young children and older adults, it most often affects teenagers and young adults....

Depending on the approach taken, phalloplasty work may require several stages, each requiring a hospital stay of four or more days. As such, there’s a lot that goes into preparing for the day of surgery. As you look toward the procedure and get your body ready, make sure you’re communicating with your healthcare provider and clarifying all information with them. Location Phalloplasty is a very complex, multi-stage procedure, with each surgery expected to take six to eight hours....

Your pupils are the black centers of your eyes that help control the light that enters them. A pinpoint pupil, also known as miosis or a constricted pupil, describes a pupil that stays small, even under standard lighting. Often, there are underlying conditions that cause them. This article covers common symptoms associated with pinpoint pupils, causes, treatments, and risk factors. Symptoms of Pinpoint Pupils The main symptom of pinpoint pupils is a pupil that remains small in all lighting conditions, even in the dark....

Presbyopia is farsightedness—a loss of close-up vision. This typically comes on between the ages of 40 and 60 as the lenses of your eyes naturally lose elasticity due to the aging process. Presbyopia is often corrected with reading glasses, bifocal lenses (for people who are also nearsighted), or contact lenses. Surgery is also an option for some people. Presbyopia Symptoms When presbyopia starts, it may seem like small print gets harder and harder to read....