Latest news with #doctor
Health Line
2 days ago
- Health
- Health Line
Can Stress Cause Postmenopausal Bleeding?
Yes, in some cases, stress can cause postmenopausal bleeding. This is because stress can result in hormonal imbalances which can lead to changes to the vaginal lining. If the lining becomes too thick, thin, or inflamed, it can shed and cause bleeding. It's important to note, however, that stress is a rare cause of postmenopausal bleeding. The most common causes include: a thickened vaginal lining, which can be caused by excess estrogen in the body cervical polyps, which are noncancerous growths on the cervix inflammation or thinning of the vaginal lining, caused by low estrogen levels » Learn more about how postmenopausal bleeding is treated. When to speak with a doctor about postmenopausal bleeding You should always speak with a doctor about any vaginal bleeding that occurs after menopause, even if it is just spotting or has only happened once. In some cases, postmenopausal bleeding can be a sign of uterine cancer. While this is rare, a doctor can run some tests to check for any cancerous cells. Remember, an early diagnosis of cancer can increase the chance of successful treatment and improve the overall outcome. How can I manage my stress levels? There are several way you can manage your stress levels, including: Learn your triggers. It can be helpful to identify what may be triggering your stress and work to reduce these stressors where possible. Ensure you're getting enough sleep. Not getting enough sleep can often make daily stressors more difficult to manage. Make time for things you enjoy. Consider scheduling time for activities that bring you joy and allow you to relax. Seeking support from loved ones. Speaking about your worries with loved ones may help you feel more supported. If you are finding it difficult to manage your stress levels, consider speaking with a healthcare professional. They can work with you to put together a suitable treatment plan.
CNET
3 days ago
- Health
- CNET
It's Quick and Easy to Check Your Blood Type. Here's How I Found Out Mine
Blood type is a personal medical detail that doesn't come up much in casual conversation or even at doctor's visits, so I never really thought much about mine until it was required when filling out a volunteer application for a children's hospital. At the time, I was about 99% certain my blood type was O-positive, but I wanted to confirm for sure ... and realized I didn't know how to do that. CNET First, I called my mom to see if it was listed on my birth certificate -- it wasn't. Then I checked my doctor's online health portal -- nope. That's when I realized a lot of people probably don't know their blood type, which could be a big problem in an emergency. Your blood type matters more than you might think. It can affect everything from your risk for certain conditions to how your body handles a blood transfusion. If you're not sure of your blood type, there are a few easy ways to find out. Trust me, it's worth knowing. This whole experience started me wondering: How does someone find out what their blood type is if they don't already know? The good news is that finding out your blood type is relatively simple, and you have multiple options for doing so. Below are three easy ways to find out your basic blood type. Blood type basics Blood type is categorized into one of these eight groups: A-positive, A-negative, B-positive, B-negative, O-positive, O-negative, AB-positive and AB-negative. But what determines blood type and what does that blood type mean? Blood types are determined by antigens -- a substance that triggers an immune response -- on the surface of red blood cells. There are ABO antigens, which designate ABO blood types. This is determined by the ABO gene. For example: Type A blood type has the A antigen blood type has the A antigen Type B blood type has the B antigen blood type has the B antigen Type AB blood type has both the A and B antigen blood type has both the A and B antigen Type O doesn't produce any A or B antigen There are also Rhesus (Rh) antigens, which determine if blood is "positive" or "negative." If you have Rh proteins on the surface of your red blood cells, you are Rh positive (like me and about 80% of the population). If you don't have Rh proteins on the surface of your red blood cells, you have negative blood. Blood type is categorized into one of these eight groups: A-positive, A-negative, B-positive, B-negative, O-positive, O-negative, AB-positive and AB-negative. Ekachai Lohacamonchai/EyeEm/Getty Images How to find your blood type? Here's three main ways to type your blood: Have your doctor do a blood test Donate blood Use an at-home blood test 1. Clinical test One of the easiest and most effective ways to determine your blood type is to have your doctor perform a test. A professional will draw blood and then perform two tests on the blood sample: forward typing and reverse typing. During forward typing, the blood sample is mixed with antibodies against type A and B blood. Based on whether the blood cells stick together when mixed with the antibodies, your blood type can be determined from there. If your blood cells stick together when mixed with antibodies against type B blood, you have type B blood. If your blood cells stick together when mixed with antibodies against type A blood, you have type A blood. To confirm the result, the next step is reverse typing, meaning the blood sample without red blood cells -- called a serum -- is mixed with type A and type B blood cells. Type A blood will have antibodies against Type B blood in the sample and type B blood will have antibodies against Type A blood. Type O blood will contain antibodies against Type A and Type B. So, if sticking occurs when the serum is mixed with type B blood cells, you have type A blood, and if sticking occurs when the serum is mixed with type A blood cells, you have type B blood. I recommend calling your doctor's office to see what a blood type test costs out-of-pocket and if it's covered by insurance. 2. Donate blood This is an easy -- and free -- way to determine blood type, but results are not immediate. If you donate to a blood drive, you can simply ask the staff about your blood type. Blood usually is not tested right away, so it may take up to a few weeks to get the results. With at-home kits, you can determine your blood type in just a few minutes. EldonCard 3. At-home blood test At-home tests are relatively straightforward. You will usually start by wiping your finger with an alcohol wipe and then be required to prick your finger with a disposable lancet to draw blood. Then, you will wipe blood on the provided card. Depending on how the blood dries, clumps or spreads, you will be able to compare your blood stain to a results card. Within minutes, you'll be able to determine your blood type. For more, try these seven methods for sneaking more exercise into your daily routine.
Health Line
3 days ago
- Health
- Health Line
Lung Biopsy for Lung Cancer
Key takeaways A lung biopsy may be used to diagnose lung cancer. There are many kinds of lung biopsies, but common ones include needle, transbronchial, and open. In some cases, prior tests like chest X-rays or CT scans indicate lung cancer may be present, and a lung biopsy may confirm a diagnosis. Scans like a CT scan, MRI scan, or chest X-ray scan may show signs of cancer. If your doctor suspects cancer, a lung biopsy is often used to confirm the diagnosis. A biopsy is a relatively quick procedure that can cause mild discomfort. There are a few different types, but a needle biopsy is one of the most common. Read on to learn more about lung biopsies, how long they take, and what happens when the test is over. How long does a lung cancer biopsy take? There are different types of lung biopsies, and each may take varying amounts of time. Needle lung biopsy A needle biopsy, also called a percutaneous biopsy, means that a doctor will place a needle through the skin and into the lung. Then, they'll draw out a small tissue sample. This procedure takes place under local anesthesia and uses either an ultrasound or CT scanner as a guide. Cancer Research UK reports that a needle lung biopsy usually takes 30 to 45 minutes. Transbronchial biopsy A transbronchial biopsy uses a flexible tube called a bronchoscope to take a sample of tissue from the lungs. The tube is inserted through the nose or mouth and down into the lungs. This procedure involves sedation and usually takes about an hour. Open lung biopsy An open lung biopsy involves making an incision in the side of the body toward the back of the lung. A sample of tissue from the lungs is taken, and the incision is closed with stitches. During this procedure, a chest drain is also inserted to help in the expansion of the lungs during the procedure to allow fluid to drain out. You'll be under anesthesia, and you may need to wait a bit before you can go home. How long does it take to get lung biopsy results? Once a sample is taken from a lung biopsy, it's sent to a laboratory for testing. At the laboratory, a doctor called a pathologist will conduct tests on the sample to determine whether cancer cells are present. During this process, the pathologist may also conduct tests to help classify the type of cancer. Results will then be detailed in a pathology report and sent to your doctor. This report is usually available within a week of the lung biopsy, and your doctor will call you with the results. What does a lung biopsy show? A lung biopsy doesn't technically 'show' anything. However, the tissue sample is tested to determine which type of cells are in your lungs. If cancerous cells are present, the results can confirm a cancer diagnosis. Is a lung biopsy painful? Typically, a lung biopsy causes minor discomfort or no discomfort at all. Sometimes, general anesthetic is used which means you'll be asleep and won't be aware of or feel anything that is happening. If you're not under a general anesthetic, a mild sedative may be administered to help you relax during the procedure. A local anesthetic will be used to numb the area where the needle will be inserted. When this happens, you may feel a slight prick and pressure, but it shouldn't be painful. Some biopsies, like an open biopsy, may require a few days' stay in the hospital. For other procedures with only a light sedative, you may be able to go home once the sedative wears off. You might experience some slight pain at the site of the biopsy once local anesthesia begins to wear off. This will decrease with time, and you'll be given pain relief medication if needed. Sharp pain or pain in the shoulders with breathing can be a sign of a collapsed lung. While uncommon, this can sometimes occur with a needle biopsy. Other symptoms of a collapsed lung may include: rapid heart rate shortness of breath bluish tint to the skin If you have any of these symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention. Can a lung biopsy cause cancer to spread? Tumor seeding, also called needle seeding, is when a biopsy needle inserted into the body to sample a tumor dislodges cancer cells and allows them to spread along the track of the needle. Studies on this have produced mixed results. While some instances of tumor seeding have been reported, including in lung cancer cases, it is very uncommon. According to the National Cancer Institute, the chance of cancer spreading through a biopsy or surgical procedure is extremely low. Physicians take steps to prevent the spread of cancer cells during biopsies and when removing tumors. For example, if taking tissue from more than one part of the body, different tools are used for each area. Will my doctor help me plan my next steps after results? Once your biopsy results arrive, your doctor will have a discussion with you about the next steps. If cancer is found, more tests may be needed to determine the stage of cancer. Staging refers to the size of a tumor and the extent to which it has spread. Knowing the staging will help determine what treatment options may be best for you. Your doctor will discuss the possible treatment options available to you as well as the pros and cons of each. They'll also discuss the goals of treatment. For instance, sometimes curing lung cancer completely isn't always a realistic goal, so treatment may be focused on controlling cancer and reducing symptoms. It's important to ask questions during this period. It's also a good idea to get a second opinion if you'd like one.
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Doctor charged with giving Matthew Perry ketamine before Friends star suffered fatal overdose to plead guilty
A DOCTOR has agreed to plead guilty to giving Matthew Perry ketamine before his tragic overdose, prosecutors have said. Dr Salvador Plasencia is facing four counts of distribution of ketamine and faces a 40-year prison sentence. 2 Perry was found floating face down and unresponsive in the hot tub of his home in Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles on October 28, 2023. His death was a result of from acute effects of ketamine and subsequent drowning, according to an autopsy report by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office. In August 2024, prosecutors announced the arrests of Fleming; Jasveen Sangha, who was known to investigators as the Ketamine Queen; doctors Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez; and Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry's personal live-in assistant.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
When I was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery, I only worried about who would care for my baby
I woke up one day with a pain in my abdomen, but brushed it off as gas. Later that day, I was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery on my appendix. My main concern was my 18-month-old son, who had never been away from me in his life. The day started like any other one. I had planned a casual mall outing with my son, who was around 18 months old at the time, and my two closest friends. I had been feeling mild abdominal discomfort since the morning, but brushed it off as gas and took an antacid. After all, I was a mom now, so there was little time to indulge in aches or pains. By the time I met my friends, the pain had sharpened. Still, I kept going. But that afternoon, as we sat in the food court, the pain escalated into something I couldn't ignore. Then everything blurred, and I almost passed out in front of a stunned crowd. One of my friends, a doctor, quickly took charge. Within minutes, I was rushed to the emergency room at the hospital where she worked. I was barely conscious, nauseated, and in blinding pain. Tests confirmed what she had suspected: a severely inflamed appendix, about to burst. My friends informed my husband, who came right away, and the doctors told him I needed emergency surgery. But the surgery wasn't what scared me the most. I was worried about my baby. I wasn't afraid of the surgery or the possibility of complications. I was afraid of not being there for my one-and-a-half-year-old son. He had never spent a night away from me or his father. He only ate what I prepared, slept cuddled next to me, and cried at the idea of anyone else changing his diaper. The thought of him waking up in another place, calling for me and not finding me, was more painful than the physical agony I was going through at the hospital. To make things worse, no private hospital rooms were available. That meant my son couldn't stay with my husband while he was with me at the hospital. My mind spiraled. Between vomiting from pain and being prepped for surgery, I kept repeating, "He won't eat. He won't sleep. He'll cry for me." As if things weren't bad enough, my mother and parents-in-law were out of town, leaving me worried about who we could turn to. But in that crucial moment, help came from the people who could. One of my sisters, despite her full-time job and three young children of her own, took in my son without hesitation. She put her own busy life on hold. Later, she told me how my son was confused and quiet at first in response to all that was happening. But slowly, with the warmth of his aunt and the playfulness of his cousins, he was soon at ease. He even let her feed him and change him, something I believed was impossible. My other sister, husband, and some cousins on my husband's side took turns staying at the hospital with me, offering reassuring words to ease my worries. The surgery went smoothly. When I regained consciousness, the first thing I asked was whether my son had eaten. My husband smiled and updated me about how he was having fun and properly ate what my sister made. I've never felt so relieved. This experience taught me that loving a child means surrendering to the fact that your heart now lives outside your body. You could be on an operating table with your insides screaming, but your mind will still be with your baby, wondering if he's had dinner. That incident made me realize that even with a strong support system from loved ones, you can't stop worrying about your child in distressing times. The helplessness, the guilt, the fear that he needed me, and I wasn't there, made me feel so vulnerable. Now, whenever a mom tells me she's tired, anxious, or afraid, I tell her I understand in a way I never could before. I've lived it, on a hospital bed, in blinding pain, with only one prayer in my heart: Let my baby be okay. Read the original article on Business Insider
