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You’ve experienced symptoms of a medical problem, visited one or more healthcare providers, and have undergone medical tests. Now your healthcare provider will use all that evidence to arrive at your diagnosis, the conclusion as to what is wrong with you. And sometimes, that system works. Other times, you’ll find you have been misdiagnosed, or that the healthcare provider will fail to diagnose you at all. The frequency of missed or misdiagnoses is way too high, so it is that much more important that we patients understand how healthcare providers diagnose us, and what we can do to confirm they have arrived at the right answer....

Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a forceful back-and-forth motion of the neck. It commonly occurs in a rear-end car collision, when there is a sudden and intense accelerating and/or decelerating motion of the neck causing it to flex and/or extend rapidly. Whiplash causes a strain or sprain of the neck muscles and/or ligaments, but it can also affect the vertebrae (the 7 bones in your neck), discs (the cushion between your vertebrae), or the nerves in your neck....

It used to be standard to give antibiotics to people with late-stage dementia because the disease makes infections—such as pneumonia—more common. Now, however, some doctors may recommend against antibiotics, believing the risks outweigh the benefits. This article looks at when antibiotics should be used in people with late-stage dementia, how they’re administered in different settings, and why it can help to have an advance directive. Problems With Intravenous Antibiotics A review of the research on antibiotics in late-stage dementia suggests they may often be overused....

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently recommended Pfizer’s Paxlovid in its guidance for COVID-19 patients who are at high risk of hospitalization. Key Takeaways The WHO strongly recommends Paxlovid to people with non-severe COVID-19 who have the highest risk of hospital admission.Compared to other treatment options, Paxlovid may pose less harm to the patient and prevent more hospitalizations.Oral antiviral medications for COVID-19 are only available through prescription. The WHO’s guidelines strongly recommend the use of Paxlovid for people who are immunocompromised or above the age of 65, as well unvaccinated populations....

Ajovy (fremanezumab-vfrm) is a prescription medication used for migraine prevention. It is taken as an injection with an every-month option and an every-three-month option. There are no generic forms of fremanezumab-vfrm. It is only available as the brand Ajovy. Ajovy works by counteracting the action of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a chemical in the body that is elevated during migraine attacks. Several medications that work the same way as Ajovy have been approved for use in recent years....

Scientists are discovering more symptoms and side effects of COVID-19. A new report in Japan says the virus may be able to affect more private areas of your body—down there. Key Takeaways In Japan, there’s one documented case of restless anal syndrome as a condition related to COVID-19.Like restless leg syndrome, the patient with restless anal syndrome feels a constant urge to use the bathroom.Researchers say there’s no need to worry about this condition for now since it’s rare, but doctors should pay attention similar cases....

More than two-thirds of undocumented immigrant workers have frontline jobs considered essential to U.S. efforts against COVID-19, according to a study conducted by FWD.us, a bipartisan, pro-immigration reform organization. Yet amid a nationwide vaccine rollout, there is still pushback on whether undocumented people should be part of the COVID-19 vaccine priority plan. Key Takeaways Undocumented workers make up a large share of frontline workers in the U.S. Essential workers are considered a COVID-19 vaccine priority group for distribution....

Bone spurs, or osteophytes, are bony projections that form along the joints and are often seen in conditions such as arthritis. Enthesophytes form in the tendon or ligament. Bone spurs can cause pain and are largely responsible for limitations in joint motion. Causes Bone spurs can form as the body responds to an abnormality around a joint. The most common cause is osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease in which the normal cartilage surrounding a joint is gradually worn away....

Bleeding in the esophagus has several possible causes. Since some bleeds can be large and fatal, it’s very important that you be evaluated by a healthcare provider for any gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. And if you have any of the symptoms of acute GI bleeding, you should seek emergency treatment immediately. It’s also important to know the symptoms of chronic GI bleeding and to see your healthcare provider if you experience them....

Pleural fluid is defined as the fluid that is found between the layers of the pleura, the membranes of which line the cavity and surround the lungs. The space containing the fluid is referred to as the pleural cavity or pleural space. Normal pleural fluid consists of a small amount of a thin (serous) fluid that functions as a lubricant during breathing. Changes in the volume of pleural fluid can be caused by infection, trauma, or other causes and can lead to respiratory problems and other adverse conditions....

Joints form where one bone connects to another bone, allowing the skeleton to move. There are several different types of joints within the body that differ in structure and the way they move depending on where in the body they are located. This article will discuss different types of joints, how a hinge joint moves, and examples of hinge joints throughout the body. Anatomy A joint is formed by the joining of two or more bones together....

Culdoscopy is a type of vaginal sterilization procedure (the other type is colpotomy). Also known as transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy, culdoscopy is considered to be minimally invasive surgery. The vaginal method of tubal ligation was once the preferred technique. However, since it is associated with higher risks than laparoscopic tubal ligation surgery, surgeons have been favoring the abdominal approach to transvaginal procedures. Advantages of a Culdoscopy A major advantage of a culdoscopy is that there are no abdominal incisions....

As schools try to remain open during the pandemic, some students are struggling to adjust to in-person learning after months of isolation. Key Takeaways The pandemic has caused a sharp increase in mental health and behavioral issues in kids and teens forced to miss in-person learning.Keeping kids in school should be a top priority, and using the CDC’s Test-To-Stay tool is a good way to do it.Even if kids stay in class going forward, parents and schools must find new and creative ways to provide comfort and stability to students who may be struggling....

Indocin is a prescription medication used to treat arthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis. It works by blocking the bodily process that causes inflammation, swelling, and pain. Indocin is one brand name of the medication indomethacin, which is also sold under the brand name Tivorbex. Indocin is a form of indomethacin that is taken as a capsule. The drug is also available as a suppository. It is not safe to drink alcohol if you are taking Indocin....

Knee arthroscopy is a surgical procedure performed to repair or remove damaged structures within the knee joint when nonsurgical methods are unable to alleviate your symptoms. The procedure is scheduled in advance and often takes one hour or less to complete. Learn how to prepare for this minimally-invasive surgery. Location Knee arthroscopy is usually performed as an outpatient surgical procedure meaning that you can go home the same day of the surgery without having to stay overnight in the hospital....

Sinusitis occurs when the sinuses, cavities in your skull that are lined with tissue, become blocked or inflamed. The sinus cavities create mucous on a continual basis. Under normal circumstances, mucus from the sinuses drains into the nasal passageways or into the back of the throat. When the sinus cavities are cut off from air and are unable to drain, an environment in which germs can grow and thrive is created....

Lumbar extension is the bending backward of the spine. Lumbar extension exercises are used to increase range of motion (ROM) in people with lower back pain due to lumbar spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that pinches nerves and can limit walking and other activity. Physical therapy (PT) can help people with lumbar spinal stenosis improve strength and ROM and relieve symptoms. While it typically involves spinal flexion, or the forward bending of the spine, lumbar extension can also help relieve symptoms....

If you have a family history of high cholesterol, heart disease, or certain cancers, genetic screening tests can help you figure out your future risk of developing these diseases. Two companies are now banding together in hopes of making these tests more useful and accessible to all. Key Takeaways Your genetics can increase your risk of developing certain health conditions. In a new partnership, Invitae Corporation and eMERGE hope to make these tests more useful and accessible to all....

Non-myeloablative stem cell transplants, or “mini-transplants,” are a relatively new type of allogeneic peripheral stem cell transplant which do not require ablating (wiping out) the marrow to the degree of traditional stem cell transplants. They are also called reduced-intensity allogeneic transplants. How They Work In traditional stem cell transplants, patients are given extremely high doses of chemotherapy, with or without radiation, to wipe out, or “ablate,” the marrow. Then they are given an infusion of donor stem cells to revive blood cell production and immunity....

Palliative radiation therapy is one form of palliative therapy, treatment for the symptoms of a medical problem that doesn’t treat the problem itself. It’s considered comfort care and is mainly intended to improve a patient’s quality of life. People who have cancer may receive palliative radiation therapy, not to cure or even treat cancer but, instead, to relieve the symptoms, especially pain, that it’s causing. Typically the radiation is used to shrink a tumor or tumors that are causing the symptoms....