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As chemotherapy agents become more successful and patients live longer, healthier lives, survivors are experiencing side effects that can seriously impact quality of life. One such impact is ototoxicity — damage to the inner ear by a toxin. Cancer Treatments That May Affect Hearing Chemotherapy from the “platinum” group, such as cisplatin or high doses of carboplatin. Platinum chemotherapy and aminoglycoside antibiotics damage sensory hair cells in the inner ear, causing sensorineural hearing loss....

The term lifestyle drug is a way of defining a drug that is a choice because it might improve your life, function or appearance, as opposed to a drug you might take because you need to cure something or manage an illness. They are not therapeutic or medically necessary, but they still may require a prescription and you may not be able to buy them over-the-counter. Even though some of these drugs could be helpful for you to improve your health, perhaps as a preventive measure (losing weight, quitting smoking), they aren’t considered curative or life-saving in the same sense as other prescription drugs are....

Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening condition in which an accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac disrupts the normal function of the heart. The fluid that causes tamponade is usually either a typical pericardial effusion (that is, the accumulation of an abnormal amount of fluid in the pericardial sac) or bleeding into the pericardial sac. Cardiac tamponade can appear acutely, or it may develop rather gradually. In either case, symptoms are usually quite striking, and the resolution of symptoms requires the expeditious removal of the excess fluid from the pericardial sac....

A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that pregnant individuals with COVID-19 had a higher risk of stillbirth compared to those without COVID-19. Key Takeaways A new study found that the risk of stillbirth is higher among pregnant people with COVID-19 than pregnant people without COVID-19.COVID-19 during pregnancy also increases the risk of preterm birth and pregnancy complications.There have been no safety concerns associated with COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, and experts say the benefit of getting vaccinated outweighs the risks....

After your surgery is over, it is easy to feel like you are finished with your health issues and you just need to hurry up and recover so you can go about your life. Sometimes it is that easy – you rest for a few days then you are on your feet and back to your normal life. The reality is that often the weeks following surgery aren’t that simple or easy....

There are multiple types of bypass surgeries. This is a generic term used to describe a surgery that reroutes a part of the body to bypass a different area of the body. These surgeries are usually vascular in nature, meaning a blood vessel needs to be rerouted for the health of the patient. Not all bypass surgeries focus on the blood vessels, you are right that there are weight loss surgeries that are commonly referred to as “bypass” procedures....

Epiretinal membrane is a condition often confused with macular degeneration. Both conditions affect the macula, the specialized part of the retina that gives us sharp, central 20/20 vision. However, the conditions are completely different and can cause different symptoms. There are several different names for an epiretinal membrane. The various names help to describe the stages or complications of the condition. Some additional names used to describe epiretinal membrane include the following:...

The Snellen eye chart is the classic chart of big and little letters you’ll typically see used by eye care professionals, in schools, and in other settings where vision testing is done. Its name comes from Dr. Hermann Snellen, who invented the eye chart in 1862. The eye chart is used to measure visual acuity, which refers to how well you can see without glasses or contacts. The results are used to determine if you need eyewear to correct your vision....

When researching gluten, you’ll find the term has two commonly used definitions — one that describes the storage proteins common to most grains, and one that’s relevant to those of us following a gluten-free diet. Gluten, in its generic form, simply refers to the proteins grass plants build into their seeds (which we know as grains) to support and nourish the growth of the next generation of plants. Almost all grains have gluten — corn gluten, for example, works well as a fertilizer and a weed suppressor, while glutinous rice appears in many Thai dishes....

Influenza, or flu, is an infection caused by the flu virus. It can be tricky to distinguish between flu symptoms and symptoms of a bad cold or another virus. Many other viral illnesses can cause “flu-like symptoms,” although they’re usually more intense than regular cold symptoms. A few specific symptoms to watch out for are a high fever, muscle aches and pains, lethargy, headaches, dry cough, sore throat, and runny nose....

An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks blood flow in a vessel that is carrying blood to the brain. The most common risk factor for this type of stroke is high blood pressure. Approximately 87% of all strokes are ischemic strokes. Types There are two types of ischemic stroke: embolic stroke and thrombotic stroke. Embolic Stroke An embolic stroke occurs when an embolus, or a clot that moves through the bloodstream, forms in either the heart or neck arteries....

There are multiple decisions about end-of-life care for someone who has dementia. One of those decisions involves the use of intravenous (IV) fluids for hydration. As Alzheimer’s and other dementias progress into the late stages, the ability to take in adequate hydration decreases. If your family member resides in a facility or is in the hospital, you will likely be asked if you want your loved one to receive hydration via intravenous fluids....

Skin changes in the genital region can be alarming, especially if you’re sexually active. But itchy spots or odd-looking patches of skin aren’t always signs of a contagious infection. There are plenty of dermatologic diseases that cause such symptoms. One of these is a condition called lichen sclerosus. It mostly affects women, especially after menopause, but men and even kids can develop it as well. Lichen sclerosus is rarely serious but it’s worth being aware of—at the very least so that if you develop it you don’t panic or put off seeing a healthcare provider...

Menopause is a condition that all women will experience as they get older. It signals a shift in your hormone production (specifically estrogen) which will end your menstrual cycles and with it your egg production. Menopause can happen as early as in your 40s, but most women won’t go through it until they are in their 50s, with the average age of menopause happening in the U.S. at 51. If you’ve gone a year without a period, it’s classified as menopause....

Mind-body treatments for fibromyalgia are a common option, especially since drug therapy is rarely 100% effective at controlling symptoms and many people with this condition don’t tolerate drugs well. A lot of different mind-body approaches are available, but it can be hard to separate hype from fact when looking into different methods. While studies on mind-body treatments aren’t as prevalent as drug studies, researchers have begun to identify what actually works for fibromyalgia....

Two doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine appear to be ineffective at neutralizing the Omicron variant, increasing the risk of breakthrough infections. A booster dose, however, restores antibodies to protective levels, according to a preliminary study shared publicly on Wednesday. UPDATE: Moderna Announces Booster Findings A booster shot of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine increases the level of antibodies that can protect against Omicron, the company said in a December 20th statement. The currently authorized booster dose of 50 micrograms boosted virus-fighting antibody levels 37-fold against Omicron....

The majority of Americans do not eat a diet that meets national dietary guidelines for preventing cancer, according to a new study. Key Takeaways A new study found that most people in the U.S. do not eat a diet that meets national dietary guidelines for preventing cancer.Overall, people needed to incorporate more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fiber into their diet. Experts recommend making small, manageable diet changes. The researchers found that about 70% of adults didn’t eat enough fruits, vegetables, and whole grains....

It’s not uncommon to hear women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) complain of intense, often urgent food cravings on a daily basis, not being satisfied until they have indulged their sweet tooth. Sometimes these cravings can turn into episodes of binge eating or loss of control with food only to feel ashamed and upset with themselves right after. A study published in the Lancet showed one-third of women with PCOS demonstrated binge eating behavior....

Pseudoachondroplasia is a bone disorder and type of dwarfism. It is mainly characterized by an average head and face size but a short stature, typically under 4 feet tall for both men and women. Although pseudoachondroplasia is caused by a genetic mutation, signs of the disorder aren’t visible until around age 2 when a child’s growth rate begins to drastically decrease. Pseudoachondroplasia is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. That means that a child can inherit a single defective gene either from the mother or father, and develop the disease....

Psychogenic erectile dysfunction is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection during sex due to psychological factors. These factors can include stress and anxiety, depression, guilt, low self-esteem, or relationship concerns. About 40% of erectile dysfunction (ED) cases are considered psychogenic. While erectile dysfunction can affect men at any age, many psychogenic ED cases occur in young men. This article will discuss the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of psychogenic erectile dysfunction....