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Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a test that uses a camera and sound waves to produce live images of parts of the digestive system. This includes organs such as the stomach, pancreas, and gallbladder, as well as nearby structures and tissues like lymph nodes. To perform an EUS, a healthcare practitioner will sedate you and insert a flexible tube called an endoscope in and through your mouth or anus. Once the tube reaches the area that needs to be evaluated, it can be viewed on a computer screen and checked for abnormalities....

Contrary to what its name might suggest, happy hypoxia is no laughing matter. The term refers to hypoxemia without dyspnea, or the ability to respirate normally without sufficient blood oxygen. Happy hypoxia has been observed since “time immemorial,” according to the EMCrit Project, but it only became a hot topic recently when reports of the condition in COVID-19 patients began flooding in from all over the world. Key Takeaways Happy hypoxia describes a situation in which a person’s blood oxygen levels are low but they feel fine....

Phosphate, also called phosphorus, is a mineral that helps the body build strong bones and maintain function. Phosphate helps cells stay healthy. It is a major component in adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a compound that provides energy to the body’s cells. A phosphate blood test can measure the amount of phosphorus in the blood. For adults, a healthy range is 2.5–4.5 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Hypophosphatemia (low phosphorus level) is diagnosed at levels lower than 2....

An elbow injury can be a painful experience that may require the skilled services of a physical therapist. Learning about the different elbow ligaments and muscles and the common injuries of the elbow can help you understand your specific injury and rehab if you suffer an elbow injury. Anatomy of the Elbow The elbow joint is formed by three bones: the humerus, radius, and ulna. Articulations between the trochlea of the humerus with the ulna and the capitulum of the humerus with the head of the radius comprise the joint....

Hypertension is a major preventable factor in disease and death in the United States that contributes to stroke, kidney disease, and heart attacks. It’s critical to detect it early and treat it, to prevent serious complications. The Joint National Commission on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure has issued recommendations based on scientific evidence. What Is JNC 8? You may have heard that there are guidelines for the management of high blood pressure in adults....

A keyword mnemonic is an elaborative rehearsal strategy used to help encode information more effectively so that you can easily memorize and recall it. This approach has often been researched and has been shown to be an effective way to teach foreign language vocabulary as well as many other subjects and types of information. A keyword mnemonic involves two steps. First, a keyword that sounds somewhat similar is chosen.Second, the learner forms a mental image of that keyword being connected to the new word or piece of information....

Lack of eye contact is a well-known symptom of autism. A form of non-verbal social communication, eye contact can indicate that a person is paying attention, interested, and engaged. Many people with autism have difficulty looking people in the eyes. However, a lack of eye contact does not automatically mean a person has autism. This article discusses eye contact in autism. It explains how eye contact is different in people with autism and other reasons why a person may avoid eye contact....

If you use marijuana and plan to have surgery, you may be wondering if you need to stop before your procedure. As with smoking cigarettes, the short answer is yes. Quitting today may improve the outcome of your surgery, including how quickly you get out of the hospital and how quickly you heal. This article explains how marijuana can interfere with surgery and why you should abstain from using it in the time leading up to surgery....

Microtia is a birth defect of a baby’s ear. It happens when the external ear is small and not formed into a normal ear in the fetus during the first few weeks of pregnancy. The earlier the problem occurs while the baby is in the womb, the more severe the deformity. The right ear is affected more often than the left ear or both ears. Facts about Anotia/Microtia One baby out of every 2,000-10,000 births in the U....

Ankle fractures are common injuries to the bones around the ankle joint. There are many types of ankle fractures, and treatments vary significantly depending on the location and severity of the injury. Understanding what to do about a broken ankle requires knowing some information about how these injuries occur. The Bones of the Ankle Joint The ankle is a complex joint that forms where three bones come together. The bones of the lower leg, the tibia, and the fibula are above the joint, and the talus is below the joint....

When you start to use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to treat your sleep apnea, you begin to learn about things that may at first seem very unfamiliar. Many who use CPAP may unfortunately quickly learn about issues related to a poorly fitting CPAP mask. One of the most common problems if the mask does not fit properly is the struggle associated with excessive air leaks. When you attempt to fix this by tightening the mask, you may start to get pressure sores on your face if the mask does not fit well....

Sunscreen isn’t just for days spent sunbathing on the beach or for those hot, super sunny days. It’s essential to wear SPF daily, even on a cloudy day. While sunscreens are now an ingredient in many daily moisturizers, it’s important to know that studies have found that these combination products are inferior to sunscreen. Read on for SPF recommendations for facial products, as well as ways to easily incorporate sunscreen use into your daily routine....

If you have ever had an unusual behavior or experience during your sleep, you may wonder: what are parasomnias? From the Latin meaning “around sleep”, parasomnias are a collection of sleep disorders that are characterized by abnormal actions or events that occur during sleep. What are the symptoms, causes, and treatments of the sleep behaviors called parasomnias? Discover how these conditions like sleepwalking, talking, eating, sleep terrors, and REM behavior disorder affect children and adults....

Diphenhydramine hydrochloride is most commonly known by the brand name Benadryl. To be clear, some Benadryl brand products contain medications other than diphenhydramine, but, generally speaking, when people say Benadryl they usually mean diphenhydramine. This medication is used for multiple reasons, but most commonly to decrease the body’s response to allergens, ranging from medications that cause itching, to life-threatening anaphylactic reactions, to bee stings and food allergies. This medication is frequently used before and after surgery, particularly for itching caused by medications and healing incisions....

Kidney disease compromises the immune system. Hence, patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at a higher risk of infections. The extent to which the body’s immunity gets weakened is usually directly proportional to the extent to which the kidney function has declined. Understanding Infection The important point to realize is that even moderate decline in kidney function can be associated with a significantly higher risk of serious life-threatening infections. These include infections from any agent, like bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc....

Your next Walgreens prescription could be filled by a robot and you wouldn’t even know it. Key Takeaways Walgreens is creating more than 20 robotic-assisted fulfillment centers to automate nearly half of pharmacy labor. Pharmacists will shift their attention to clinical practices and offering community support for their patients. Earlier this year, Walgreens announced an initiative to roll out “micro-fulfillment centers” that use robotic arms to fill 300 prescriptions per hour....

You’ve just completed your annual eye exam and your healthcare provider says you passed with flying colors. However, while examining the inside of your eyes, he discovered a small choroidal nevus. Although the name sounds complicated, a choroidal nevus is simply a freckle inside the eye. What Is a Choroidal Nevus? A choroidal nevus is the name given to a spot, freckle or mole that appears in the back of the eye....

A transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) is used as a diagnostic or screening tool as a way to take images and assess organs and tissues inside the body. The procedure may also be referred to as a prostate sonogram (when used on men) or an endorectal ultrasound. What Is It? When it comes to imaging equipment, you may be most familiar with X-rays, which utilize radiation technology to produce pictures of internal structures in your body....

A new COVID-19 variant has been identified in the United Kingdom. The recombinant variant, dubbed XE, is a hybrid of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2. Key Takeaways XE is a recombinant variant that has characteristics of both the BA.1 and BA.2 strains of the Omicron variant.More than 600 cases have been reported in the United Kingdom since January.XE may be more transmissible than BA.2, though experts say it’s too soon to know for sure if it will be more infectious and severe than existing variants....

Even though we know that the COVID-19 vaccines help lower the risks of severe illness, as of August 2022, fewer than 50% of fully vaccinated American adults have received their first booster shot, and only 34% of eligible Americans have received their second. Key Takeaways Only about half of fully vaccinated people in the United States have gotten their COVID-19 booster shots.A new study showed that a COVID shot’s efficacy and manufacturer, as well as cash incentives, can influence a person’s willingness to get a booster....