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About 82% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 developed neurological problems, according to the largest study to date looking at COVID-induced neurological manifestations. Headaches were the most commonly reported neurological problem followed by loss of taste and smell. Key Takeaways Research shows approximately 82% of adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 develop neurological symptoms, the most common of which is headaches.Having a preexisting neurological condition is a high-risk factor for developing neurological symptoms from COVID-19....

A PET/CT scan can help detect sites of active Hodgkin lymphoma in the body. According to the American Cancer Society, doctors may choose from a number of different methods to take a sample of the involved tissue, or a biopsy, for testing and microscopic analysis. When PET/CT is available, it is used for staging the cancer. PET/CT scans combine CT and PET, or positron emission tomography to find out how far the cancer has spread and how big it has become....

Despite receiving top-notch treatment from physicians at Baptist Health in Miami, Florida, Jose Manuel Garcia was very sick, and he was getting worse. Key Takeaways Ventricular tachycardia (VT), or V-tach, is a potentially lethal heart rhythm that can occur in people with a history of heart problems.There are several options available to treat VT, but many come with drawbacks that some patients do not tolerate well.A brand-new approach to treating VT involves using high-dose radiation to target the heart areas that trigger VT episodes....

A shoulder dislocation is an injury that occurs when the ball comes out of the ball-and-socket shoulder joint. Shoulder dislocations typically occur as a result of either traumatic injuries (falls, motor vehicle collisions, etc.) or from athletic injuries. Most shoulder dislocations occur when the ball comes out of the front of the shoulder—a so-called anterior shoulder dislocation. About 95% of shoulder dislocations are anterior dislocations. The shoulder can also dislocate out of the back of the shoulder, although this is a much more unusual injury....

DVT prevention is important for people who are at risk. Anybody can develop DVT, so everyone should be aware of its risk factors and take common-sense steps to reduce their risk. Some people are especially prone to developing a DVT and may need to take specific measures to prevent it from occurring. General Measures for Everyone There are several lifestyle measures people can take to help prevent DVT. It turns out these measures are also helpful for reducing our risk of cardiovascular disease in general....

Probably the most common sign heralding colon cancer is rectal bleeding, but this symptom can also be caused by other conditions such as hemorrhoids and rectal prolapse. Rectal prolapse occurs when the last portion of your colon, the rectum, protrudes beyond the anus and is visible on the outside of your body. If you have rectal prolapse, you may even be able to feel a small lump or soft piece of tissue extending from your anus....

Red tonsils are a common symptom of a condition called tonsillitis, which is inflammation of the tonsils. The tonsils are two lymph nodes in the back of the throat. Their job is to prevent infection by filtering germs. Red tonsils usually are accompanied by swelling and pain. Viruses and bacteria are the two most common causes of red tonsils. This article will cover the symptoms, causes, and treatment of red tonsils....

Although many assume that those that do cardiovascular exercise regularly are less likely to develop heart issues, recent research found that athletes may have more than twice the risk of atrial fibrillation—or an irregular heart rhythm. Key Takeaways New research finds that athletes are more prone to atrial fibrillation than non-athletes.Mixed sports such as rugby led to a higher risk than endurance sports like running.Even though percentages are higher in athletes, actual occurrences are still low....

In addition to the traditional day three FSH and estradiol blood test, some fertility centers are using other tests, like the AMH (anti-mullerian hormone) and inhibin-B hormone test to evaluate a woman’s ovarian reserve, or how well her ovaries are working. These tests are usually performed as part of an infertility evaluation. Ovarian reserve testing is an important series of tests because the results can help direct the healthcare provider to a treatment regimen....

If you’re about to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF), your healthcare provider likely prescribed estrogen to help you conceive. You might be surprised, especially if you’ve been told your body makes too much estrogen, but this is a common practice. Read on to learn more about the benefits of estrogen treatment, the possible side effects, and why healthcare providers recommend women take Estrace (estradiol) during IVF. What Is Estrogen? Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers....

Vibratory angioedema is a rare form of chronic hives caused by a certain stimulus on the body. In this case, the stimulus is a strong vibration. Symptoms The angioedema caused by vibratory angioedema often develop where the skin has been in contact with vibration within 10 minutes of the exposure. Sometimes, symptoms can be delayed. The angioedema will often peak 4-6 hours after exposure and subside within 24 hours. Characteristics of vibratory angioedema include:...

Science has identified several risk factors for dementia including smoking, high blood pressure, genetics, diabetes and more. But one study suggests that your blood type may also influence your risk for cognitive problems, affecting memory, word-finding, personality, and more. Risk Factors A team of researchers studied more than 30,000 people over the course of a 3 1/2 year period. During the study, the participants’ cognitive functioning was tested to determine if any decline was present....

Whether you blast music in your headphones or watch movies with spatial audio, you may want to reduce the volume. That’s because lowering the volume by a couple of notches could protect your ears and prevent hearing loss, according to a recent study published in the journal BMJ Global Health. Key Takeaways Nearly 1 billion young people worldwide are at risk of hearing loss, according to a new study.Loud noises from personal listening devices and entertainment venues could place young people at risk of developing hearing loss early in life....

I can barely get through a day without people calling me “skinny” or telling me to “eat more.” And I’m so far into the “underweight” area on the body mass index (BMI) chart that my doctor has warned me about potential health problems. But BMI isn’t an accurate marker of health risks, especially for people of color. For example, Asians and Asian Americans generally have lower BMI values than White people, who BMI was designed to serve....

Alpha blockers are a type of medicine sometimes used to treat high blood pressure. They are not typically prescribed as the first choice of medicine for hypertension, but are usually a third or fourth selection and are often used alongside other medications. Alpha blockers work by keeping the hormone norepinephrine (noradrenaline) from tightening the muscles in the walls of smaller arteries and veins. This allows vessels to remain open and relaxed to improve blood flow and lower blood pressure....

The word ambulatory refers to walking. It is used quite often in medical settings to refer to a variety of things associated with health care. If you’re having outpatient surgery, it’s ambulatory. Once you’re able to walk after surgery, you’re upgraded to ambulatory status. Even the cane or walker you use is called an ambulatory assistive device. To fully understand the various ways your healthcare team will use the word ambulatory, let’s look at its many uses in medicine....

When deciding on a contraceptive method, certain birth control considerations might come into play. The effectiveness of contraception might or might not be an important consideration. However, the reliability of any contraceptive method depends on whether it’s used consistently and correctly. That being said, the failure rates of some methods are significantly higher than others. You need to decide what level of effectiveness is most acceptable to you. There also are actions that you can either start doing or stop yourself from doing that can actually have an effect on your birth control method....

Cortisone is a powerful anti-inflammatory drug used in the treatment of many orthopedic conditions. When delivered by injection to the site of an injury, it can reduce inflammation and pain in joints of the ankle, elbow, hip, knee, shoulder, spine, or wrist. Even the smaller joints of the hands and feet can sometimes benefit. So, it would seem reasonable to assume that a cortisone shot would be the ideal solution to treat injuries of the Achilles tendon, such as tendonitis (tendon inflammation) or bursitis (inflammation of the fluid-filled sac that cushions the heel and Achilles tendon)....

There is often confusion surrounding irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): two common conditions of the digestive tract. Both IBS and IBD can cause symptoms of diarrhea, bloating, and pain, but that is largely the extent of their similarities. In most other ways, these conditions are completely distinct from one another and are treated with vastly different methods. Even so, due to their similar names and the overlap of their most-talked about symptoms, some people incorrectly use IBS and IBD interchangeably....

It is possible to get chickenpox (varicella) twice, though it is not common. After getting chickenpox, children typically build lifelong immunity and don’t get it again. Sometimes, though, a child’s immunity may be incomplete, making them vulnerable to a second chickenpox infection. Why You Get Chickenpox Twice There are some situations in which a child might get chickenpox more than once, including: Getting their first case of chickenpox when they were very young, especially if they were younger than 6 months oldHaving a very mild or subclinical infection the first timeDeveloping a problem with their immune system Vaccination After Chickenpox Infection Most children who get chickenpox are considered naturally immune and don’t need a chickenpox vaccine....