An arterial blood gas test, commonly known as an ABG, is performed on blood that is drawn from an artery. It is used to see how well the lungs are functioning and to determine the effectiveness of respiratory therapies, such as the use of a ventilator, CPAP, BiPAP, or oxygen. A blood gas may also reveal the presence of kidney problems, but is not typically performed to diagnose problems with the kidneys....
Can you eat seeds when you’re following a tree nut-free diet? Many people with nut allergies wonder if they can enjoy sunflower, poppy, pumpkin, and sesame seeds. Some of these seeds are commonly used in cooking as substitutes for tree nuts and peanuts by people following a nut-free diet. Not only do they provide nutritional value, but the seeds are also similar in taste. These seeds come from plant families that are not closely related to nut-producing trees....
A dilation and curettage, usually called a D&C, is a procedure in which the cervix is dilated and the lining of the uterus is surgically scraped. This is sometimes done after a miscarriage to further evaluate the uterus if abnormal uterine bleeding occurs. This article covers why and how it’s done to help you prepare for the procedure. Why It’s Done A D&C removes tissue from the uterine lining. It can be used to treat or prevent complications associated with a miscarriage or to evaluate other uterine bleeding problems when someone is not pregnant....
If you have been fit with two-week disposable contact lenses, you may wonder whether you really have to throw the lenses away after two weeks of wearing them. Is it safe to wear them longer so you can replace them less often? The answer is that if your eye healthcare provider suggests that you change your lenses every two weeks, then you should do so. Even though you may be tempted to wear them longer, doing so is probably not safe....
When your child gets croup, you are likely to be searching for something that can alleviate it as quickly as possible, perhaps to avoid a trip to the doctor or even the emergency room. An old home remedy suggests that steam may work. But, will putting your child in the shower or in a steamy bathroom with a hot shower running actually soothe croup cough? Unfortunately, the answer is no — and research does not support this practice either....
Malone Mukwende, a second-year medical student at St. George’s University in London, had a realization: His medical textbooks sorely lacked representation for people of color. Key Takeaways By 2044, people of color will become the majority in the U.S. population, but a lack of education regarding skin-of-color still exists in the medical field. A second-year medical student created a guidebook on how certain conditions appear on darker skin. So together with two of his professors, Mukwende created a guidebook called Mind the Gap: A Handbook of Clinical Signs in Black and Brown Skin....
Menopause is the stage in life when menstruation stops for at least 12 months. The stage prior to this is called perimenopause and could last for several years. You may reach menopause in your early 40s or as late as your 60s. Menopausal symptoms include irregular periods, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and sleep problems. While some people navigate menopause rather easily, others experience moderate to severe discomfort and may want treatment to ease their symptoms....
Hot chemotherapy is an emerging procedure for people with recurrent or metastatic colorectal cancer. Officially, this procedure is called cytoreduction surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). It combines abdominal surgery and peritoneal chemotherapy to attack your cancer in multiple ways at once. Who is a Candidate for HIPEC? The HIPEC procedure is used to treat a variety of metastatic cancers including colorectal, gastric, ovarian, mesothelioma, and appendiceal. It is not a front line treatment or a treatment of choice for someone newly diagnosed with non-metastatic colon cancer....
You think you may need surgery. Perhaps your family healthcare provider has referred you to a surgeon or suggested that you have surgery. Maybe a friend had the same condition you do and had to have surgery, so you are afraid you will too. Don’t assume you need surgery; you may be able to return to good health without an invasive procedure. There are situations where surgery is nearly impossible to avoid....
Properly dressing a wound is one of the most basic first aid techniques there is. The process remains unchanged regardless of the size or severity of the injury. Whether it’s a child’s skinned knee or a gunshot wound, the tenets of wound dressing are identical. Minor cuts and scratches can be treated at home or on the road. Larger lacerations may also need to be dressed until medical help can be obtained....
There has been a lot of talk—and even more social media posts—about the impact of overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark legislation that guaranteed the federal right to have an abortion. Now that the Supreme Court has actually overturned the legislation and the legality of abortion is left to states to decide, many are concerned about the fallout for reproductive health beyond abortion. Key Takeaways The term “septic uterus” is being used often on social media in the wake of Roe v....
For most of my life, my health was never something that was cause for concern. Sure, I struggled with my weight, and doctors vaguely noted my blood pressure qualified as prehypertension, but I never understood the impact of weight and blood pressure on my heart health. This article is part of Health Divide: Heart Disease Risk Factors, a destination in our Health Divide series. Meet the Author Tonya O’Bryan is a heart-health advocate who speaks on the importance of regular exercise and eating healthy....
Male yeast infections are mainly treated with antifungal drugs applied directly to the skin of the penis. Depending on the severity, an over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription antifungal cream, lotion, or ointment may be recommended. Some may also need to take an antifungal by mouth to fully kill the fungus. Male yeast infections, also known as penile thrush or penile candidiasis, can also be resolved with improved genital hygiene (particularly under the foreskin) and by preventing the buildup of moisture with breathable underwear and loose-fitting clothes....
MiSight contacts for children look just like normal, disposable, soft contact lenses. The lenses are worn for as long as a person is at risk for progression of myopia (nearsightedness). The contacts are packaged in individual wrappers for daily use and disposal at the end of the day. What is Myopia? Myopia—also known as nearsightedness— is a very common condition of the eye that is growing more prevalent in recent years....
The nasociliary nerve is a sensory nerve in the eye. It is part of the ophthalmic nerve. The nasociliary nerve provides sensory information to the cornea, eyelids, and the cells of the nasal cavity. The nasociliary nerve is often involved in nasal pain. Nasal pain is rare and can happen spontaneously, as a result of injury, or as a side effect of surgery on the nose. Anatomy The nasociliary nerve is one of the three main branches of the ophthalmic nerve (the other two being the frontal nerve and the lacrimal nerve)....
Orthostatic intolerance (OI) is an abnormal response to being upright that can cause dizziness, fainting, and other symptoms that go away when you’re seated or lying down. Typically, symptoms arise when you first stand up and are often due to an abnormal drop in blood pressure. Most people experience OI now and then when they stand up too fast and get a “head rush.” In some people, though, the symptom comes on frequently and is part of an underlying condition....
Phyllodes tumors are rare breast tumors that occur in connective breast tissue. These sarcomas get their name from their leaf-shaped growth pattern (phullon means leaf in Greek). Phyllodes tumors are fast-growing, but usually benign. Some, however, can be malignant or turn into breast cancer, as is the reality in up to one in five cases. These tumors make up 0.3% to 0.9% of breast tumors. Most women who are diagnosed with phyllodes tumors are premenopausal (most commonly, in their 40s)....
Pigmentary dispersion syndrome (PDS) is a disorder often detected during a routine eye examination. PDS occurs when pigment from the back of the iris, the colored part of your eye, is slowly released into the internal fluid that fills the front part of the eye. This fluid, called aqueous humor, carries the pigment in a cyclic manner through the front part of the eye and out to the eye’s drainage canal, called the trabecular meshwork....
Aberrations are deviations from normal vision, such as blurring in an image. Most people are familiar with the terms farsightedness (hyperopia), nearsightedness (myopia), and astigmatism. These are considered lower-order aberrations and account for most of the human eye’s vision imperfections. However, another category of refractive errors that has not received as much attention is higher-order aberrations. All eyes have at least some degree of higher-order aberrations. These aberrations are now more recognized because technology has been developed to diagnose them properly....
Spondylolysis treatment is important to keep the wear-and-tear spine injury from developing into a more serious condition. Spondylolysis starts with a stress fracture in a small area of bone at the back of the vertebra called the pars interarticularis. If the stress fracture/spondylolysis is allowed to worsen, it may result in a related condition known as spondylolisthesis. In spondylolisthesis, the bone shifts out of place and becomes unstable. Spondylolysis mainly affects adolescent athletes who play sports requiring repeated hyperextension and rotation—i....
