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Extravasation is when a chemotherapy drug leaks from a blood vessel or tube onto the surrounding skin, causing adverse symptoms. The leakage most occurs at the site where an intravenous (IV) needle is inserted into a vein to deliver the drugs. Extravasation symptoms can vary by the types of drugs used. Some people experience irritant extravasation in which the surrounding skin is mildly irritated, while others experience vesicant extravasation in which skin injury is severe, possibly leading to tissue death (necrosis)....

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disorder in which peripheral nerves are damaged and cannot transmit signals efficiently. The disease typically progresses from the legs up the body to the trunk and may even affect the respiratory system, causing almost complete paralysis. In GBS, the myelin sheath protecting the nerves are damaged, so signals traveling along the nerves are not transmitted properly. Because nerves cannot transmit signals to muscles, muscles will not function properly, thus causing paralysis....

The original Delta variant is still the dominant COVID-19 strain in the United Kingdom, making up about 99.8% of the cases. However, a Delta sublineage, which some experts are dubbing “Delta plus,” appears to be causing a growing number of infections in the country. Key Takeaways The Delta plus variant, a descendant of the Delta variant, is causing a growing number of cases in the United Kingdom.The COVID-19 virus will continue to evolve and create new variants as more people get infected....

New guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says labs must include demographic data like race and ethnicity in COVID-19 testing data. The guidance, issued on June 4, intends to address the fact that BIPOC are disproportionately affected by serious illness and death from COVID-19. Key Takeaways COVID-19 is disproportionately linked to serious illness and death in racial minorities.Starting August 1, race and ethnicity will be required data points on all COVID-19 testing results....

If a person has an aortic aneurysm, it is important to make the diagnosis as early as possible, in order to prevent rupture or other complications. Doctors diagnose aortic aneurysms with imaging studies that can show the presence or absence of an aneurysm, its size, its location, and its effect on surrounding structures. Imaging studies can also give important clues regarding the likelihood of early rupture. In some people, the chances of having a rupture are high at the time the diagnosis is made, and early surgery is needed....

Angioplasty and stenting have revolutionized how to treat coronary artery disease, but these therapies have introduced a new kind of problem into the mix. This is the problem of restenosis — recurring blockage at the site of treatment. In the early 2000s, brachytherapy, or coronary artery radiation therapy, became a promising new treatment for restenosis. But while brachytherapy was (and still is) quite effective for restenosis, it now has been largely supplanted by the use of drug-eluting stents....

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced Medicare costs for 2023. Everyone, regardless of their income, will be subjected to increases in out-of-pocket spending. Use these numbers to guide your healthcare expenses in the new year. Part A Premiums Medicare Part A is premium-free for 99% of Americans. This is because most people have paid into the system for years with employee taxes for both Medicare and Social Security....

Shoulder arthritis causes pain and decreased range of motion. It typically affects people who are over 50 years of age, and it is more common among people who have had a shoulder injury. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of shoulder arthritis. Also called wear-and-tear arthritis or degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis is characterized by progressive wearing away of the joint cartilage. As the protective cartilage surface of the joint is worn away, bare bone is exposed within the shoulder....

Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder that causes interrupted breathing during sleep. The temporary episodes decrease airflow and cause a person to wake up from sleep. The diminished airflow can reduce oxygen levels in the bloodstream and, over time, increase the risk of heart disease. This condition is associated with several other medical issues, and it can complicate asthma. Most people who have OSA snore loudly, stop breathing during sleep, and have gasping, choking, gagging, and coughing episodes that wake them up frequently during the night....

Preparing for a proctectomy involves first learning what it is. Most commonly, this surgery is chosen to treat colon or rectal cancers, but can also be used to treat people with advanced inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis. The last six or so inches of your colon is called your rectum. Unlike the rest of the colon, the rectum has a reservoir-like pouch for stool and the anal opening (the anus), where stool is expelled from your body....

Hypercalcemia, an elevated calcium level in the blood, is a serious situation. It can cause vague effects, such as a loss of appetite and fatigue. But if severe or acute, hypercalcemia can affect your muscles and heart rate. High blood calcium is not common, but it can develop due to illnesses like ocancer. Your calcium level can be measured with a simple blood test, and excess calcium can be managed with procedures that lower calcium levels....

Salmonella causes about 1.3 million infections in the United States each year. It leads to an illness called salmonellosis and is one of the most common types of food poisoning. This illness can cause fever and vomiting, as well as serious inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Some strains cause infection in the bones, blood, urine, joints, and the nervous system. It can also cause severe disease. Salmonella tends to be diagnosed more often in the summer than in the winter months....

Keeping your hips strong is essential to maintaining balance and posture, including during your regular day-to-day activities and when you’re exercising. Proper hip mobility is important since it can affect the entire kinetic chain of movement. There are several exercise programs you can do to improve the strength of the muscles around your hip. Some programs are for beginners, and other programs offer advanced hip strengthening exercises. Your gluteus medius muscle is one of the more important muscles that ​helps stabilize your hips and pelvis....

A labiaplasty is a surgical procedure that decreases the size of the labia minora, the flaps of skin on either side of the vaginal opening. Many people who get a labiaplasty do so for cosmetic reasons, while many others do so for functional ones (e.g., to reduce excess labia that twists and gets irritated). Labiaplasty an increasingly common surgery with the number of labiaplasties performed worldwide in 2019 reaching 164,667—a 24....

If radioactive iodine treatment (RAI) is recommended as part of your treatment for Graves’ disease, hyperthyroidism, or thyroid cancer, you will most likely be given it as an outpatient. Because the radioactive iodine used (known as iodine 131) may expose those around you to the effects of radiation (and theoretically negatively affect their thyroid glands), you will be given guidelines on how to prevent such exposure. The following recommendations will give you an idea of precautions to take to avoid exposing other people (as well as pets) to iodine 131, which may be present in bodily fluids or occur as a result of close contact....

Although sports drinks are designed to replenish hydration during and after exercise, some of them may be dehydrating, according to a new study. Key Takeaways A new study found that hypotonic sports drinks are the best choice for hydrating during an endurance workout.Hypertonic sports drinks may be dehydrating because athletes would need to consume additional water to balance out their sodium levels.Water is generally still the best choice for hydrating during shorter workouts....

People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or other chronic conditions may hear about “flare-ups” or “flaring” in connection with their disease. These terms are generally meant to refer to the active state of IBD. IBD is not curable and it is a condition that goes through periods where it is active (a flare-up) and periods where it is not active (remission). The time flaring and the time in remission can be highly variable from person to person: no two people with IBD are the same....

A lumbar spinal stenosis is a painful narrowing of the spaces in the spinal canal. If you have been diagnosed with this condition, you may be waiting and hoping it will go away. You may be doing exercises without knowing if you are doing enough or the right kind. Finally, you may be wondering if you should have surgery to fix the problem. This article looks at what you should stop doing if you have lumbar spinal stenosis....

Many proponents of herbal medicine suggest using herbs to enhance the health of your liver, an organ responsible for clearing toxins from your body. Indeed, some research shows that certain herbs may help fight liver disorders like cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or infections like hepatitis B and hepatitis C (causes of liver inflammation). Here’s a look at several herbs that show promise as a natural means of boosting liver health....

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders can cause hearing loss in some people. Inflammation and swelling near the TMJ, which connects the skull to the lower jaw, can easily affect nearby tissues and structures—including the ear. If the cause of your hearing loss is still being determined or you have hearing loss with symptoms such as jaw clicking, headaches, or difficulty chewing, ask your healthcare provider about evaluating you for a TMJ disorder....