Shortness of breath, also called dyspnea, has many different causes, and the treatment of shortness of breath is specific for each cause. In many cases, the only way to treat shortness of breath is to call 911 or take the victim to a doctor or emergency department for evaluation. Besides figuring out what is causing the shortness of breath, healthcare providers will also be able to provide supplemental oxygen to help the victim breathe easier....
Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) is a serious, vision-threatening infection that affects the eye and the skin surrounding the eye. HZO is caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox in children. After infection, the virus remains dormant in the nerves and can reactivate, resulting in shingles in people with weakened immune systems. HZO is caused when the virus is reactivated in the nerves that supply the eye area....
Untreated celiac disease can cause malnutrition — even if you’ve been eating a healthy, balanced diet. That’s because you may not have been absorbing many of the nutrients in the foods you were eating. The real work of absorbing nutrients from food is performed by the lining of your small intestine — specifically by the intestinal villi, which are tiny, hair-like tentacles on the lining of the small intestine. When someone who has celiac disease consumes foods containing gluten, the body reacts by attacking the intestinal villi....
Hypertrophy is defined as the increase in the size of cells, tissue, or organs in your body. Muscle hypertrophy can occur as a result of exercise, especially weight training exercise. Lifting weights and consistently (and safely) challenging muscle tissue can cause it to get bigger. Hypertrophy should not be confused with hyperplasia, which is an increase in the number of cells in your body. Here’s how hypertrophy occurs in the body....
An implantable defibrillator (also called an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, or ICD) is a surgically placed medical device that monitors your heart rhythm and automatically delivers lifesaving treatment should you suddenly develop the dangerous heart arrhythmias known as ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. ICDs are recommended for people who are known to have a high risk of sudden death from cardiac arrest. What an ICD Looks Like Most ICDs consist of a small, thin, battery-driven titanium “generator,” which is inserted beneath the skin just below the collarbone, and from one to three “leads” (wires) that are attached to the generator....
It’s been said that when you kiss someone, you kiss everyone that person has kissed before. I’ll leave it to doctors to debate the truth of that claim, but a point worth noting is that sometimes kissing can be very intimate and, unfortunately, an opportunity to spread infection. Is viral hepatitis one of those infections? The Easy Answer The chance of contracting hepatitis from kissing is virtually non-existent, as hepatitis B, C and D can only be spread through blood and bodily fluids (including semen and vaginal secretions)....
Ear infections are common, especially among young children. Some people have a tendency to develop frequent ear infections, which may be referred to as recurrent ear infections or chronic ear infections. There are several causes of middle ear infections, and allergies can predispose some people to ear infections. The Eustachian tube is a small tube that leads from the middle ear into the back of the throat. When it becomes blocked, mucus, fluid, bacteria, and other germs may become trapped and multiply....
Three years into a study comparing the effectiveness of two HIV preventative treatments, research scientists affiliated with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have concluded that the rookie, cabotegravir, is functionally superior to the veteran, Truvada, by a significant margin. Key Takeaways A long-acting injectable drug, cabotegravir, has been found to be 89% more effective at preventing HIV than the medication Truvada.Cabotegravir works by preventing HIV molecules from hijacking cells.Cabotegravir could be available in as little as six months....
Mixed dementia is a term used when a person has more than one type of dementia. Often, mixed dementia consists of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, but it also refers to a combination of Alzheimer’s and any other type of dementia. Prevalence of Mixed Dementia The prevalence of mixed dementia is difficult to determine. Traditionally, clinicians have identified one primary type of dementia when determining a diagnosis for a patient, such as Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia....
In the United States, 23% of all adults, or more than 54 million people, have arthritis—a disease that causes inflammation in the joints. Many of them turn to medications to help relieve pain and inflammation and improve their quality of life. Corticosteroids—often referred to as “steroids”—can reduce inflammation and therefore the pain and stiffness associated with arthritis. Rayos (prednisone) and Medrol (methylprednisolone) are two types of steroids that are commonly prescribed to treat arthritis pain and inflammation....
It is not uncommon for people to present at their doctor’s office with such non-specific symptoms as fever, headache, muscle/joint aches, and sore throat. in many cases, it would be presumptively diagnosed as the flu, after which the patient would be sent home with pain relievers and advised to rest and drink plenty of fluids. But when might these symptoms suggest something more? Might we (and our doctors) be misreading the clues by jumping to the first, albeit reasonable, diagnosis?...
A sarcoma is a type of cancer. Sarcomas are less common than other well-known types of cancer, and there are over 70 different subtypes of sarcoma that have been described. These cancers come from connective tissue–the tissue that makes up the structure of the body. Sarcomas can develop in bone, cartilage, muscle, nerve and other types of connective tissue, and may occur throughout the body. Where Sarcomas Come From The word “sarcoma” comes from a Greek word meaning “fleshy....
A primary infection is the first time you are exposed to and infected by a pathogen. During a primary infection, your body has no innate defenses against the organism, such as antibodies, which can be developed through exposure or vaccination. Pathogens that can cause primary infections include viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi. These pathogens lead to different symptoms, types of health conditions, and treatments. This article discusses the pathogens that lead to primary infections, including examples such as sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs)....
For women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), ovulation test kits can help pinpoint your fertile times for conception. Unfortunately, they might not be reliable due to your PCOS. The most popular types of ovulation test kits measure luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in the urine or use saliva to assess changes in estrogen levels. These hormones spike right before ovulation when pregnancy is most likely to occur. But when you have PCOS, you may have a constantly high level or multiple peaks of these hormones, so the results may falsely reflect ovulation....
Upcoding is fraudulent medical billing in which a bill sent for a health service is more expensive than it should have been based on the service that was performed. A upcoded bill can be sent to any payer—whether a private health insurer, Medicaid, Medicare, or the patient. While it is not the norm by any means, upcoding can occur when you receive diagnostic services, medical procedures, or visit your healthcare provider....
Do you need to buy more lenses, but your contact lens prescription has expired? Your eyes may feel fine, and your contacts may even seem to be working well. So, should you have to pay for a new prescription if your vision hasn’t changed? Why do contact lens prescriptions expire? It’s true—when your contact lens prescription expires, you’ll have to make an appointment with your optometrist in order to obtain an updated one....
Abrasions, scrapes, or grazes are superficial or surface-level skin wounds or injuries. Abrasions are typically not a cause for concern. In most cases, abrasions can be treated at home with minimal effort. There are, however, some cases where abrasions may require examination by a healthcare provider. This article will cover what you need to know about skin abrasions, including how to treat skin abrasions at home and when to consider speaking with a healthcare provider....
As children start a new academic year, many parents are anxious about sending their children back to school amid the pandemic. Key Takeaways The ACLU filed a federal lawsuit against South Carolina legislators, who passed a provision preventing mask mandates in schools.The organization alleges the ban on masks in schools is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act.Experts say masking in schools is crucial for keeping all children safe....
There is no hard and fast rule about how long you should wait between surgeries. Ask 10 surgeons and you will probably get 10 different answers. With elective surgeries in particular, there is little reason to rush. Elective surgeries correct problems that aren’t life-threatening. It’s always best to fully recover from one elective surgery before having another. Surgeries done because of serious illnesses or trauma are different, however. Some patients need more than one surgery in a short period of time....
Among all of the symptoms that kids may have, fevers seem to be the one that parents worry about the most. You may wonder if a fever is too high and whether you are using the best method to check your child’s temperature. Here are some tips that can help. Types of Thermometer There are many devices used to measure a child’s temperature, including an ear thermometer, temporal thermometer (which you apply to the forehead), or a mercury-free oral or rectal thermometer....
