Dissolvable stitches are stitches that dissolve as your body heals. They do not need to be removed. Most will begin to dissolve after a week or two, though some may take up to a few months to completely disappear. Dissolvable stitches are also called absorbable stitches. They are made from unique materials that can remain in the body for an extended time. This article explains when doctors might use dissolvable stitches and how to care for them....
Insulin therapy to manage blood sugar levels can contribute to weight gain. This can be concerning for many people who have diabetes because increased weight can make diabetes more difficult to manage. Research shows that even just a 10% weight loss can increase insulin sensitivity in people who are overweight, so weight gain could make you more resistant to insulin. There are ways that you can prevent weight gain while on insulin, and it’s even possible to lose weight while taking insulin....
Too much time spent in front of a computer, or any screen for that matter, can lead to a variety of eye problems, including computer vision syndrome. Symptoms appear because the eyes and brain react differently to words on a screen then they do to printed text. Visual symptoms related to screen use can be caused by visual disorders, poor workplace conditions, and individual work habits. If you are having trouble with your eyes while using a computer or another screened device, explore some of the solutions below....
Eating foods with phytosterols may help reduce your blood cholesterol levels. Phytosterols are a group of plant-derived compounds that are structurally similar to cholesterol in the human body. When consumed, they compete with cholesterol absorption in the digestive tract and block it. The following foods contain the highest amounts of phytosterols: NutsWhole grain productsVegetablesFruits Some studies have found that consuming 2 grams (g) of phytosterols a day may help you lower your LDL cholesterol, or “bad” cholesterol, by 10%....
If you are breastfeeding (lactating), you can safely have a mammogram. Also, breastfeeding or pumping as much as possible before your mammogram can make the experience more comfortable. Before a mammogram, talk with your healthcare provider and request a technician and radiologist experienced in giving and reading mammograms in people who breastfeed. Mammogram results in someone who is breastfeeding are more complex to interpret. This article discusses breastfeeding and mammograms, including how results differ when breastfeeding than when not and how to prepare for a mammogram when breastfeeding....
Hemarthrosis is bleeding in a joint caused by conditions such as hemophilia, physical trauma, or other factors. It is often suspected when a person experiences pain, swelling, and joint stiffness, and it may take weeks or months to resolve. Treatment is essential since lengthy exposure to blood can damage the cartilage of your joints. Causes Hemarthrosis can appear after a joint injury, or it may develop spontaneously if you are prone to bleeding....
Hibernating myocardium is the term used to describe a portion of the muscle that makes up the middle layer of heart tissue, the myocardium, that has gone into a state of dormancy due to an inadequate supply of blood. This often occurs as a result of coronary artery disease (CAD). The muscle has not “died,” but it ceases to function. For some people with hibernating myocardium, portions of the heart muscle that appear to be severely damaged and non-functional are still viable and can be “revived” if the blood supply is reestablished....
If you’ve made the difficult decision to move your loved one to a nursing home or another facility, it’s possible you’re struggling with guilt about this change. You may also be grieving several losses that resulted from this decision or struggling to adjust to the changes in your lifestyle. No doubt your decision to place your family member in a facility was not made lightly. You likely took into account many factors....
According to new data presented at IDWeek, the joint annual meeting of several infectious disease societies, the effectiveness of Shingrix, the vaccine to prevent shingles, appears to last at least 10 years. Key Takeaways New data shows that the Shingrix vaccine is 89% effective at preventing shingles in older people for at least 10 years following the two-dose administration.Previous studies had shown the shingles vaccine offered protection for up to seven years....
With more vaccine mandates in place, the small white vaccination card can be essential for gaining access to many spaces. Key Takeaways While it may be hard to authenticate CDC’s COVID-19 vaccination card, try checking the dates of vaccination and handwriting for any signs of forgery.Businesses can adopt a multi-layered approach by enforcing masking and social distancing in addition to vaccine mandate, experts say.It is a federal crime to create, sell or buy a fraudulent COVID-19 vaccine card with the seal of a U....
Would you like to begin a diet to reduce your lipid levels, but are overwhelmed with how to start? The thought of changing lifelong eating habits can be daunting at first, but following these easy steps will make it much easier for you. You will soon see that adopting a diet to reduce high cholesterol and triglycerides can be easy and enjoyable. Prepare Your Kitchen The first step you can take towards incorporating a lipid-lowering diet into your healthy lifestyle is to stock your kitchen with heart-healthy foods....
The femur, also known as the thigh bone, is one of the largest and strongest bones in the body extending from the hip joint all the way down to the knee joint. Because it is so strong, it requires a significant force to break it. With that being said, certain medical conditions can weaken the bone and make it more vulnerable to fracture. These include osteoporosis, tumors, infection, and even certain bisphosphonate medications used to treat osteoporosis....
Almonds are tree nuts, which makes them off limits for those with a tree nut allergy. It would seemingly follow that almond extract should also be avoided, but that’s not necessarily the case. While real almond extract is made from almonds and could trigger a reaction, imitation almond extract is safe for people with tree nut allergies because it is not actually made from almonds. It has a potent almond flavor and scent, but none of the offending proteins found in the nut itself....
It turns out that being bilingual affects your ability to recover from a stroke—but not in the ways that most of us would expect. One of the prevailing myths about people who speak more than one language is that after a stroke people lose the second language and can still communicate using the first language. But, surprisingly, that isn’t what usually happens. Not all strokes affect language function because the language centers of the brain are located in a relatively small region of the dominant side of the brain (the side of the brain opposite your dominant hand....
If you are planning to have oral surgery or another surgery requiring a local anesthetic, you might be concerned about the possibility of a novocaine allergy. The good news is that severe reactions to novocaine and other local anesthetics (including the more commonly used lidocaine) are uncommon. When symptoms do occur, they can range from minor swelling to a life-threatening, whole-body reaction. Symptoms Many symptoms and side effects, due to allergic and non-allergic causes, can occur as a result of local anesthetic use....
Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is a condition in which the muscles in the pelvis do not work properly. In this condition, you are unable to have a bowel movement or you only have an incomplete one because your pelvic floor muscles contract rather than relax. This is a treatable condition with the help of biofeedback and physical therapy. The Pelvic Floor Muscles The pelvic floor muscles support various pelvic organs, including the bladder, prostate, rectum, and female reproductive organs....
Lynch syndrome, also known as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), increases the risk of developing colon and other cancers. Medical care and a comprehensive cancer screening program can manage these risks. Lynch Syndrome, Genetics, and Familial Colon Cancers About 75% of colon cancers are sporadic cases, meaning there is no hereditary cause or family history of the disease. The remaining 25% occur in individuals who have some form of family history or genetic cause, including Lynch syndrome....
Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is an infection with the tuberculosis bacterium that specifically affects the lungs. It’s likely the form of tuberculosis you’re most familiar with, although tuberculosis can affect other areas of the body. Pulmonary TB affects nearly 1.8 billion people worldwide, though not everyone who has TB has an active infection. According to a 2016 journal article, 10% to 20% of TB cases turn into active infections. This article will discuss pulmonary tuberculosis, including symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis....
Knee replacement surgery is a very successful surgery; the vast majority of people who undergo this treatment for severe knee arthritis are satisfied with the surgery. However, not everyone loves their new knee. In fact, about 10-15 percent of people who undergo knee replacement are not happy with their results. Trying to determine why a knee replacement is painful can be a challenging problem for patients and healthcare providers. Sometimes the problem is clear, such as an infection or a worn-out knee replacement implant....
Sports journalist Grant Wahl suddenly died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm while covering the 2022 World Cup last week. He was 49. Key Takeaways Sports journalist Grant Wahl died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm at the 2022 World Cup.People with aortic aneurysms may experience symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath, or no symptoms at all.Aortic aneurysms can be deadly if they rupture, causing severe internal bleeding. An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the aorta, the largest artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body....
