The emergency room (ER) is the first — and sometimes only — place many Americans go for their healthcare. These days it’s often referred to as the emergency department. The ER has become an entry point for patients of all types, but it may not be the right place for some patients to go. If you’ve gone to the ER when somewhere else might have been a better choice, you’re not alone....
Iodine is a nutrient that is essential for thyroid function. Iodine can be found in fish, shellfish, iodine-based contrast agents used in medical imaging (substances taken into your body to enhance images, making them easier to read), and some disinfectant products. In the past, it was believed that people who experienced an allergic reaction to substances containing iodine were allergic to the nutrient. Healthcare providers now believe that the term, “iodine allergy” should no longer be used because it is inaccurate....
Water has amazing benefits for the skin. Internally, that is. Externally, not so much. You would think that by putting water on your skin you would be moisturizing it. It’s certainly something we have been taught since childhood: wash your face with plenty of soap and hot water. What we are now learning is that the opposite is true. While bar soap is bad enough, drying out skin with its detergents and chemicals, water on its own can also be damaging....
Hyperextension is an excessive joint movement in which the angle formed by the bones of a particular joint is straightened beyond its normal, healthy range of motion. Such a movement may potentially make that joint unstable and increase the risk and likelihood of dislocation or other potential joint injuries. For example, a whiplash injury can cause hyperextension of the neck. Occasionally, mild hyperextension is not harmful, such as the superman exercise, when the back is hyperextended compared with a normal anatomic position....
Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is a rare and aggressive blood cancer that affects infants and young children. JMML accounts for less than 1% of childhood leukemias and is generally diagnosed by the age of two. It is more than twice as common in boys as it is in girls. JMML is also referred to as juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia (JCML), juvenile chronic granulocytic leukemia, chronic and subacute myelomonocytic leukemia, and infantile monosomy 7....
Coughing up blood, or hemoptysis, can be an anxiety-producing experience. Hemoptysis occurs when blood is brought up, possibly along with mucus, when someone coughs. This blood can come from somewhere inside the lungs and respiratory tract. Though hemoptysis can potentially have a variety of causes, such as pneumonia or bronchitis, it can also be caused by lung cancer. Sometimes hemoptysis is one of the first signs that someone has lung cancer....
Hysterectomies are a common gynecologic procedures performed in the United States. A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the uterus, and may be performed for a number of reasons, from fibroids to chronic pelvic pain to gynecologic cancer. Many people who are advised to have a hysterectomy may be worried about the potential complications and side effects of the surgery, and how their bodies will respond after the removal of their uterus....
Rhonchi and rales are sounds in the lungs that can be heard with a stethoscope. Rhonchi are described as gurgling or bubbling sounds, while rales are described as crackling. These happen when fluid in the airways due to asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, or another respiratory infection interrupts airflow. The characteristics of rhonchi and rales, such as whether they are heard on inhalation or exhalation, can indicate how air is moving through your lungs....
Savant syndrome is a rare condition in which someone with a serious mental disability or developmental disorder has an extraordinary talent, knowledge, or ability. Someone who is considered a savant may be especially skilled in art, math, music, memory recall, or another subject. Savant syndrome is commonly associated with autism but can occur alongside other conditions. Dustin Hoffman’s character Raymond Babbitt in the movie Rain Man was a savant. While savants may have genius-level knowledge in their area of expertise, research shows savants often have a below-average IQ of around 70....
Scarlet fever is an infection caused by group A streptococcus (group A strep), the same bacteria responsible for strep throat. Also known as scarlatina, it’s characterized by a rash and a red tongue. It’s most likely to strike children between ages 5 and 15 and rarely, if ever, affects adults. Although once a dangerous disease of childhood, scarlet fever is now highly treatable and uncommon in most of the world....
Enbrel (etanercept) is an injectable prescription medication used to treat many forms of arthritis, as well as plaque psoriasis. This medication helps relieve symptoms of arthritis by decreasing inflammation. Enbrel is typically injected weekly. While it can be effective, you should be aware of the side effects of this medication. Common Side Effects Injection site reactions are the most common side effects of Enbrel. The reaction can involve redness, swelling, itching, bruising, pain, and/or bleeding....
You’ve likely used Super Glue to repair broken ceramics, mount wooden frames, or stop runs in nylon stockings. But Super Glue and medically approved versions of cyanoacrylates (the chemical name for these adhesives) have an important use for helping fix your cuts and scrapes. While you may be used to putting it in your hardware drawer, it may be time to add a tube of one of Super Glue’s FDA-approved cousins to your medicine cabinet....
If you have a respiratory condition such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it is important that you consider all the facts before using electronic cigarettes—popularly known as e-cigarettes. 10/21/2019 UPDATE: Recent illnesses have been associated with the use of e-cigarettes (vaping). Since the specific causes of these lung injury cases are not yet known, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends refraining from all vaping products. First introduced into the market in 2003, the devices were promoted as a way to cut back on cigarettes....
Thumb sucking is a natural habit for babies and children to help them self-soothe and feel more secure. All babies are born with the reflex to suck because it is needed to eat and drink. Beyond nutrition, sucking provides a calming effect for babies and young children. Most children stop sucking their thumb on their own between the ages of 2 and 4. Thumb sucking usually does not cause permanent problems unless children continue to do it past age 5....
More than 650,000 women undergo tubal ligation in the United States annually, thus ending their ability to have children. What happens when circumstances change and a woman decides that she really does want to become pregnant? Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome Sometimes, tubal ligation reversal is desired not for the purpose of having children, but to reverse the effects experienced by many women of post tubal ligation syndrome. The symptoms of post tubal ligation syndrome may include:...
The over-the-counter medication diphenhydramine is found in many sleeping pills intended for insomnia treatment. It is the sleep-inducing element in many medications used as sleep aids. Since it does not require a prescription, many people who have acute insomnia use it to help initiate and maintain sleep. Due to the potential for side effects, especially among older people, other initial approaches for managing insomnia are often recommended. Uses Diphenhydramine has many potential uses....
A YAG laser posterior capsulotomy is a procedure performed to treat cloudy vision that may remain after undergoing cataract eye surgery. A cataract is a clouding or opacification of the human lens of the eye. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness among people older than 55. Most older people have some degree of lens clouding, which is a normal part of aging. However, cataracts can occur for other reasons other than aging....
When you’re nauseous from cancer treatment, it can be hard to eat. Of course, good food helps keep your body strong. So what should you eat when you’re nauseous but hungry? You can start with the BRAT diet recommendations. Add cereals, shakes, smoothies, frozen fruit bars, pancakes, and eggs as you’re able. This article looks at what types of choices are good and why. High Starch Foods Starchy foods can work to absorb stomach acid and ease an upset stomach....
Several types of fractures can occur to the fifth metatarsal bone of the foot, each with different characteristic symptoms and treatment approaches. Metatarsal bones are in the midfoot, just behind the phalanges (toes). The fifth metatarsal bone lies on the outer edge of your foot and connects to your little toe. The metatarsals curve upward and give your foot its arch. The fifth metatarsal is unique in that it also curves outward....
If you have had open heart surgery and are participating in cardiac rehab, your physical therapist will work with you to help you recover fully and return to your previous level of functional mobility. He or she will likely prescribe exercises to help improve your strength and endurance and teach you how to monitor your exercise and activity level. Your healthcare provider may want you to maintain sternal precautions after open heart surgery....
