Posts

Generally, when precancerous cells persist, further investigation is called for. To rule out the presence of invasive cervical cancer, doctors test the suspect cells for human papilloma virus (HPV), the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer. In addition, a colposcopy and biopsy of abnormal-appearing areas of the cervix and sometimes an operation to remove a portion of the cervix may be needed. Without further information about your specific case, it is difficult to know whether any of these steps has already been taken....

Jeff Szymanski, PhD (ocfoundation.org) Some of the confusion has to do with the terms themselves. “Obsessive” refers to a personality trait describing someone who thinks and worries a lot. “Compulsive” is also a personality trait, indicating someone who is hyper-organized, detail-oriented, with perfectionist tendencies. The “D” in OCD refers to “disorder”; this indicates that a person experiences significant, life-impairing anxiety. When obsessive or compulsive preferences are interrupted, it might annoy a person, but not cause them extreme, unyielding anxiety as is seen with OCD....

While not all episodes of chest discomfort turn out to be life-threatening, chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack in adults of all ages, so it needs to be taken seriously. Richard C. Becker, MD, director and physician-in-chief at the University of Cincinnati Heart, Lung, and Vascular Institute and a national volunteer expert with the AHA, notes the specific signs that suggest a person may be having a heart attack....

Studies show that breast cancer metastasis (cancer that has spread from the site of the original tumor) sometimes occurs 12 to 18 months following surgery, says Robert Weinberg, PhD, the senior author of the new study, a professor of biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, and a member of the Whitehead Institute, which is affiliated with MIT. “Given the fact that it spikes and then goes down, that means it’s highly likely to have been caused by the surgery....

Here’s what you need to know about this exotic treat, including its many potential health benefits, nutritional information, how it tastes, and the ways to eat it. What Is Dragon Fruit (Also Called Pitaya or Pitahaya)? As the name suggests, dragon fruit is just that — a fruit. It’s grown primarily in Asia, Mexico, Central America, and South America. Historians think it originated in Central America, though ancient Chinese legend claims it was created thousands of years ago by a dragon in battle who blew a burst of fire containing the fruit....

As a South Asian woman diagnosed with Crohn’s 15 years ago, Tina Aswani-Omprakash has struggled firsthand with the cultural stigma that surrounds chronic disease. “No one I knew in the South Asian community was really talking about or understood this disease. There’s a lot of shame attached to talking about ‘bathroom illnesses,’ particularly for women.” For Omprakash, this diagnosis also meant learning how to navigate cultural aspects, like festivals, spicy food, clothing, and marital expectations, all while managing countless surgeries and complications....

“Even small amounts of alcohol can harm your brain,” says Anya Topiwala, doctor of psychiatry, senior clinical researcher at the University of Oxford, and lead author of the study. “We found that the amount people said that they drank was related to the amount of iron in their brain. The more they drank, the more iron there seemed to be.” Those increased iron levels were also associated with demonstrable cognitive effects....

With the patient doing well after three days, UMMC officials said that the genetically modified animal heart is functioning like a human heart without immediate rejection by the body. Doctors are carefully monitoring the patient — David Bennett of Maryland — to determine whether the transplant provides lifesaving benefits. “It was either die or do this transplant. I want to live. I know it’s a shot in the dark, but it’s my last choice,” said Bennett in the university’s press release the day before the surgery....

There are many ways you can help someone living with UC, but knowing what foods they should eat and which they should avoid is a powerful one. By learning how to cook for a friend or family member who has an IBD, you can help ease their symptoms and make them feel included in social events, including regular family dinners. “Food is family, friendship, and love, and cooking food together and having your loved one get healthy because of it is incredibly rewarding,” says Barbara Olendzki, RD, MPH, the director of the Center for Applied Nutrition at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester....

Fortunately, that’s no longer necessary — in fact, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently released more insight on how exposure happens predominantly through respiratory droplets that carry infectious virus. Although it’s not impossible to be infected through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, the CDC noted that the risk is generally considered to be low. Along with the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States, that means grocery shopping may feel much safer now than about a year ago....

We sat down with Farley to discuss his current work and to learn more about his perspective on wellness. What are you working on now? I’m working on a book, tentatively titled Risk-Taking: From the Highest Mountain to the Deepest Thought. And I’m involved in research on a range of topics, such as the concept of flourishing as related to risk taking. I label risk taking and thrill seeking as Type T behavior....

These psoriatic arthritis treatments can be performed in a variety ways, whether by a physical therapist in an office setting or by the patient at home. But a general rule is that applying moist heat reduces muscle tension and stimulates blood circulation, while applying cold reduces soreness, inflammation, swelling, and joint pain during a flare, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Still, if a joint is really tender and swollen, it may be wisest to simply let it rest....

Researchers at Consumer Reports measured the amounts of various heavy metals in 28 dark chocolate bars, including some made by larger brands like Hershey’s, Trader Joe’s, Dove, and Ghirardelli, as well as some smaller brands like Mast and Alter Eco. Every single chocolate bar contained cadmium and lead, the researchers found. And 23 of the bars had enough of these metals that eating just an ounce a day might expose an adult to potentially harmful levels of at least one of these two toxic metals....

Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. Large cancerous cells, called Reed-Sternberg cells, distinguish Hodgkin lymphoma from other types of lymphoma, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Prevalence of Hodgkin Lymphoma Hodgkin lymphoma is a relatively rare form of cancer. Cases of Hodgkin lymphoma make up about 0.5 percent of all U.S. cancer cases. In 2014, there were about 178,000 people living with Hodgkin lymphoma in the United States, according to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society....

Women may also choose to wear hats, turbans, headscarves, or wigs, which could be realistic looking or fun and whimsical. There’s even a lesser-known option — cold cap therapy, also referred to as cold capping or scalp cooling — that can minimize hair loss from chemo. Here’s how three women with a variety of diagnoses chose to handle the prospect of losing their hair to chemo. Ashadee Miller, 38 Columbus, Ohio Profession Fitness instructor and writer Diagnosis Breast cancer, diagnosed at 34 Method for Dealing With Hair Loss Going bald I started with wigs....

Research has shown that congestive heart failure patients who follow an exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation program are less likely to be hospitalized and report a better quality of life than those who do not. “Exercise for most heart conditions is very important,” says Ross Brown, MD, an interventional cardiologist with Memorial Hermann in Houston. “It helps strengthen the heart, lowers blood pressure, helps lower stress levels, and can help improve overall mental health....

“Understanding that hepatitis C is transmitted through the exchange of blood from an infected individual to a healthy individual is a key first step toward preventing [hepatitis C] transmission,” says James J. Lee, MD, a gastroenterologist at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California. Another key piece of information is that the virus doesn’t die when it leaves the body. It’s able to live for days on surfaces at room temperature....

“When I got injured and had the first blood clot, it was almost like the switch flipped and I kept getting them,” says Robertson. Just three months after healing from his first, Robertson had a second DVT. Sensing something wasn’t normal, his doctor tested his blood for certain mutations that cause clotting disorders. Robertson was diagnosed with factor V Leiden thrombophilia, a mutation that prevents a protein called activated protein C (APC) from inactivating coagulation, which normally prevents blood clots from growing dangerously large, according to Medline Plus....

While facing an unpredictable disease that has no cure is undoubtedly emotionally challenging for both patient and family alike, there’s also reason for optimism. Experts emphasize that maintaining a good quality of life is possible for people who have Crohn’s. But as the caregiver, you should take steps to understand how the disease works, and develop strategies to help control and manage the symptoms. What Happens in the Body of Someone With Crohn’s Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation of the digestive tract....

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders — which include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder — are the most common mental health problem among U.S. adults, affecting 18.1 percent of the population each year. And mood disorders — which include major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and seasonal affective disorder — are the leading cause of disability. Moreover, the incidence of developing depression in addition to an anxiety disorder or vice versa is high....