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Capsulotomy is a procedure in which part of the “capsule” of scar tissue surrounding a breast implant is removed. The procedure is performed as a means of fixing capsule formation or capsular contracture, the most common complication of breast augmentation surgery. Capsular Contracture Capsular contracture occurs when scar tissue forms around breast implants. This complication occurs in approximately 10 percent of people who’ve had a breast implant, and it typically happens within the first twelve months after surgery....

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday revised its masking guidance and recommended that fully vaccinated people in high-transmission areas should resume wearing face masks in public indoor settings. Key Takeaways CDC on Tuesday, July 27, reinstated its guidance for vaccinated people to wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas with high or substantial COVID-19 transmission rate.The agency also recommended universal masking in schools.The Delta variant now accounts for 83% of all COVID-19 infections in the United States....

An enema is an alternative healing method said to cleanse the colon. As with colonics, this method involves introducing water into the colon by way of the rectum. Often used to treat constipation and promote bowel movements, enemas are purported to promote weight loss and offer a broad range of health benefits. Why Do People Perform Enemas? According to proponents, enemas can remove waste and toxins from the colon. While most healthy individuals are able to eliminate waste efficiently on their own, some proponents claim that non-eliminated waste can build up in the colon and lead to a host of health issues....

Hepatitis E is one of five viruses that have a tendency to infect the liver and cause acute viral hepatitis. As a disease, it is very similar to hepatitis A. Although a vaccine has been developed to prevent infection, it is not available to the general public yet. The hepatitis E virus is transmitted mainly through contaminated drinking water. It is usually a self-limiting infection and resolves within four to six weeks....

Despite encouraging news on Monday regarding a Moderna vaccine candidate’s ability to prevent COVID-19, new treatments are still urgently needed for patients in early stages of the virus. Key Takeaways Despite good news regarding the efficacy of two vaccines to prevent COVID-19, medicines to treat early stages of the virus are needed. Many drugs are in clinical trials to determine their effectiveness for early stages of the virus. Early treatment can help prevent a more dangerous form of COVID-19 and help reduce transmission rates....

Nobody denies that a broken wrist is a very painful injury. However, as bad as they feel, they’re rarely life-threatening emergencies. In many cases, there’s not much you can do to help at home. This is going to require a trip to the emergency department (or at least to a clinic that has the ability to take X-rays). The following steps will help you learn to recognize a broken wrist and to decide how to take care of it....

Having irregular astigmatism can be frustrating since you can’t see well at any distance without correction. With regular astigmatism, light entering the eye lands on two different points instead of being refracted to just one. This is caused by the irregular shape of the eye or the lens (the clear part inside the eye that directs rays to the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eye). The problem usually is that instead of the eye being round and even, like a volleyball, it’s somewhat stretched out, like a football, with more of a curve in one area than another....

There is no evidence that Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative brain disorder (meaning brain cells become impaired), is contagious. However, in people with a genetic predisposition to the disease, research suggests that certain viruses can, in some cases, act as a trigger by enetring the central nervous system and setting off a neuroinflammatory cascade. Parkinson’s Disease and Dopamine Parkinson’s disease develops slowly over time in most people—some people live with the disease for years before being diagnosed....

When your face itches, it’s distracting and can be difficult to control. This happens often in the winter and during allergy season for many reasons. Learn more about why it happens and how you might find relief. Common Causes of an Itchy Face There are several causes of an itchy face that are the usual culprits: Seasonal allergies: Seasonal or environmental allergies notoriously cause itching, specifically an itchy face. Dry skin: Some people get patches of dry skin on their face that can be very itchy....

Black people are at a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer, but not due to genetics. New research continues to point to early screening access as the factor that makes all the difference. Key Takeaways A recent study found that Black veterans are less likely to get a colonoscopy compared to White veterans.Early screenings can help people at risk for colorectal cancer be treated before cancer develops.But accessing that screening and care due to a lack of health insurance or other issues can be difficult....

The National Football League (NFL) and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) have agreed to drop all COVID-19 protocols for the 2022 season after nearly two years of following restrictions. The league is now officially the first major professional American sports league to drop all protocols. Key Takeaways The National Football League and the Players Association have suspended all COVID-19 protocols.Players and staff will not be required to wear masks or complete mandatory surveillance COVID testing....

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) appears to be more common among athletes and could explain why a large percentage of female athletes don’t menstruate. A study published in Fertility and Sterility showed a higher number of cases of hyperandrogenism (high testosterone levels) in adolescent swimmers compared with non-swimmers. Amenorrhea (lack of three consecutive menstrual cycles or more) and oligomenorrhea (irregular periods at intervals of more than six weeks) have been found to be more prevalent among athletes than in the general population, and they are primarily due to hypothalamic amenorrhea....

Prokera is a medical contact lens. Unlike traditional contact lenses used to correct common vision problems, Prokera lenses are used to improve healing and relieve pain from certain conditions that affect the surface of the eye. Prokera lenses are placed in the eye by an eye care professional. This article discusses how Prokera lenses work and what conditions they help treat. It also covers how these lenses are inserted and what to expect in terms of outcomes and recovery....

Pseudodementia is a term—not an official diagnosis— that is sometimes used to describe symptoms that resemble dementia but are actually due to other conditions, most commonly depression. Thus, depressive pseudodementia has symptoms of dementia but, unlike true dementia, these symptoms may be reversible with treatment for depression. In rare cases, pseudodementia has been identified as a possibility in schizophrenia, mania, dissociative disorders, Ganser syndrome, conversion reaction, and psychoactive drugs. History Though the term was being used prior, it wasn’t until psychiatrist Leslie Kiloh published the paper “Pseudo-dementia” in 1961 that others were given the impetus to try reversing cognitive impairments that may have been due to other psychiatric disorders, such as depression....

Respiratory failure occurs when your lungs fail to do their job passing oxygen into your bloodstream and removing carbon dioxide. It is a common complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other severe respiratory diseases. Your lungs are responsible for bringing oxygen into your body, where it is picked up by your red blood cells and transported where it is needed. Meanwhile, carbon dioxide—the waste gas produced by your cells as they use the oxygen—moves from your bloodstream and back into your lungs, where you exhale it....

Robitussin DM is an over-the-counter cough suppressant and expectorant. This medicine helps to control your cough and thin secretions, so it is more productive. A combination of guaifenesin and dextromethorphan, it is widely available under the brand name Robitussin and the generic Tussin. This article discusses Robitussin DM cough syrup, its uses, and potential side effects. It also includes dosing information and warnings. Common Uses The ingredients in this medicine help to loosen mucus and suppress coughing....

When a woman begins having menopause symptoms like hot flashes, irregular periods or mood changes, she will probably wonder at some point whether she should take some type of menopause hormone therapy (MHT). Sometimes called “hormone replacement therapy,” or HRT, it usually refers to a combination of the female hormones estrogen and/or progesterone. Research is beginning to show what the risks and benefits of menopause hormone therapy are, but there is still a lot to learn about the effects of estrogen and progesterone on our bodies and our health....

A stye, also known as a hordeolum, is a small red bump most commonly caused by a bacterial infection in an eyelash follicle or eyelid gland. Appearing as a pus-filled lump or pimple at the base of an eyelash or under the eyelid, a stye can be painful and cause swelling and redness. Styes are commonly associated with poor hygiene, contact lens use, blepharitis, systemic conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, and using old eye makeup....

It’s pretty common these days to hear people in restaurants and stores say they have a “gluten allergy” and therefore require gluten-free products, but the problem is that there’s really no such thing as a gluten allergy: medical science doesn’t use the term, and most gluten reactions don’t involve true allergic reactions anyway. So what do people mean when they say they have a gluten allergy? Well, they’re likely using the term as shorthand for one of the recognized medical conditions that involve immune system reactions to gluten....

Spondylolysis is a word that is used to describe a condition where there is a stress fracture in a specific region of the spinal column. This region of the spinal column, called the pars interarticularis, connects adjacent vertebrae in the spine. When a doctor says you (or your child) has spondylolysis, they are saying this is a stress fracture (or stress reaction) in the vertebrae. Cause of Stress Fractures in the Spine The are two primary sources that are risk factors for the development of spondylolysis....