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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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when should my baby start sleeping through the night?
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some babies sleep through the night within a week or two of being born. but most have their days and nights backward at first sleeping more in the day and less at night. most babies will start sleeping at night at about 4 months of age. you won’t get an uninterrupted stretch of the baby sleeping 10 to 12 hours but you will get about five hours and then another good uninterrupted stretch after a night feeding. don’t worry if your baby is 4 months old and still isn’t sleeping that long. you can help her along by letting her sleep at night not waking her to feed and by keeping things dark and quiet. save the exciting fun things until daytime.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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can swaddling a baby help during a nap?
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if swaddling helps baby sleep at night there's no reason you shouldn't do so during the day. just remember to avoid wrapping the hips too tightly and to stop swaddling once baby is mobile enough to roll around and possibly become tangled in the blanket. wearable sleep blankets (like a mini sleeping bag) may also be a good option.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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how old is time for tummy time?
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a good time to start tummy time while baby is awake is soon after the umbilical cord stump has fallen off (usually within 1 to 3 weeks after birth). place baby on a firm surface (such as on a towel or blanket on the floor) and allow him to practice raising his head and pushing up on his arms and hands. if baby doesn't like it much at first try just a minute or two about twice a day. as he gets older you can work up to 10 or 15 minutes at a time a few times a day. just be sure to supervise him at all times and be careful that he doesn't roll off of a bed or a couch (the first time a baby rolls could be onto the floor).
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what are the types of echocardiograms?
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there are several types of echocardiograms and your doctor will help determine which is best for you. transthoracic echocardiogram: this is the standard echocardiogram. it is a painless test similar to x-ray but without the radiation. the procedure uses the same technology used to evaluate a baby's health before birth. a hand-held device called a transducer is placed on the chest and transmits high frequency sound waves (ultrasound). these sound waves bounce off the heart structures producing images and sounds that can be used by the doctor to detect heart damage and disease. transesophageal echocardiogram (tee): this test requires that the transducer be inserted down the throat into the esophagus (the swallowing tube that connects the mouth to the stomach). because the esophagus is located close to the heart clear images of the heart structures can be obtained without the interference of the lungs and chest. stress echocardiogram: this is an echocardiogram that is performed while the person exercises on a treadmill or stationary bicycle. this test can be used to visualize the motion of the heart's walls and pumping action when the heart is stressed. it may reveal a lack of blood flow that isn't always apparent on other heart tests. the echocardiogram is performed just prior and just after the exercise. dobutamine stress echocardiogram: this is another form of stress echocardiogram. however instead of exercising to stress the heart the stress is obtained by giving a drug that stimulates the heart and makes it "think" it is exercising. the test is used to evaluate your heart and valve function when you are unable to exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike. it is also used to determine how well your heart tolerates activity and your likelihood of having coronary artery disease (blocked arteries) as well as evaluating the effectiveness of your cardiac treatment plan. intravascular ultrasound: this is a form of echocardiography performed during cardiac catheterization. during this procedure the transducer is threaded into the heart blood vessels via a catheter in the groin. it is often used to provide detailed information about the atherosclerosis (blockage) inside the blood vessels.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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how can i acquire the morning-after pill?
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you can go to any pharmacy counter and ask for the plan b one step pill. there are currently no generics so there is only one product available. you will need to have a state or government-issued id and be 17 or older to purchase this medication. it normally costs about $40 for one pill. the new formulation includes one pill that is supposed to be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. it is not an abortion pill but rather a medication that can help prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. the side effects from the medication are generally mild and mimic the side effects of birth control pills (spotting nausea lower abdominal pain fatigue headache dizziness and breast tenderness). again it is important to take it within the 72 hours of unprotected sex. the sooner the better. you should also continue taking your birth control if you are currently taking any. follow up with your ob-gyn office shortly after taking this medication.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what resources are available for treating drug addiction if you don’t have insurance?
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there are physicians certified in addiction medicine at county and state facilities who are able to offer assistance at very reasonable rates for residents. you can check on this via the american society of addiction medicine: www. asam. org. in addition you can also research where 12 step meetings are held and attend or call the listed number to ask for help. if you find out that you will be responsible for paying the cost of drug detox treatment and/or rehab do not let that discourage you from getting help. talk to the detox facility and/or rehab to see if they offer any discounts or scholarships. it could be you qualify for a special program. another option for covering the cost is to see if the detox center (rehab) works with a finance company or can recommend a finance company that other patients have worked with to cover the balance. sometimes this is a good option because it will allow you to spread the balance out over several months. many facilities offer a considerable discount to patients who are able to pay cash up front as well. asking all these questions could land you some nice discounts and an more affordable rate for your budget. if you find a facility that is highly recommended to you - don't be afraid to tell them how much you want to receive their service. the seemingly most inexpensive route is a government funded detox or rehab. government funded means that the program is funded by state and federal money. as for how much drug detox and/or rehab costs for these programs it is possible to pay a few hundred dollars and under and in some cases they are of no cost – depending of funding. traditional hospital detox (or rehab) may cost from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand depending on how much funding they receive from the government or outside agencies. although there are some luxury high-end private detox facilities and rehabs where the cost can start at $10 000 per day – it is also important to know that some private treatments may cost about $1 000 per day and offer some extra amenities. gallus detox center is a private inpatient detox facility that specializes in iv therapy medical detox. if you have questions about our facility or detox method please call us at 855-338-6929.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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which preventive care screenings and tests will be free after september 23? will they need a doctor's referral?
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well you don’t need a doctor’s referral. hopefully you’ll go to the doctor to get the screening but you don’t need any special visit in advance of the screenings. and the preventive care option will cover a wide variety of things. so for parents children’s immunizations and vaccines will be covered a whole variety of cancer screenings will be covered mammograms and colon cancer. the u. s. preventive care task force which is a group of medical providers who are in the public health service actually look at preventive services that are the most effective and update their recommendations on a regular basis and they grade them a through d of what is effective for which age category and what kind of condition. and any screening that gets an a or a b will be automatically included in the kind of preventive care that’s offered without co-pays and without co-insurance. it’s very good news for people. … if you’re a 58-year-old woman with a chronic condition you would be recommended to get a pap smear yearly even if you’re healthy a mammogram yearly; you may have a screening or two for diabetes or for other conditions. you will be looking at potentially $300-$400 out of pocket and that for a lot of people is a pretty high financial burden particularly now in this downturn. …we’re updating medicare benefits so medicare beneficiaries will be able to have preventive care and have an annual wellness test. we’re getting to illness at the outset making sure that we can stop people from getting sick as opposed to paying for the care once they get sick makes good sense. and i think this is a great benefit that will be coming effective again on or after september 23. and it’s really good news for lots of folks.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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our son will be 25 in november. is he eligible for our family health plan even though he is not currently in school?
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absolutely and that’s the great news. i’m a parent of two 20-somethings both of whom left college on graduation and did not go into jobs that had health insurance. and we were lucky because our kids were healthy we could find some coverage in the open market but we didn’t have this great choice available. so every health plan starting after september 23 will have coverage available to young adults up to age 26 to stay on their family plan. the only exception is if your young adult child has coverage offered in his or her workplace and then it’s assumed that they will have that coverage available. but absent that this is an option for families to look at. it’s a very affordable option. lots of those kids would age out of the plan or once they finish school would have to leave the plan and that no longer will be the case. and it’s very good news for a lot of parents and certainly a lot of young adults that they can come back onto the family policy.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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i lost my job and my son has a pre-existing condition. how can i get coverage for him and when will it take effect?
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i’d visit healthcare. gov right away. with a new income status with a job loss your child may well qualify for the children’s health insurance program in your state which has coverage available regardless of health status. so i would check that out and see what the state level is for income and if that’s possible. and healthcare. gov would give you that information about that public plan. in addition plans after september 23 will have to offer coverage to children in open enrollment periods without regard to health condition. so for the first time ever in history a lot of parents -- who have struggled with this issue with their kids who either had companies refuse to sell coverage at all or not cover the specific treatment that their child might need -- [will receive coverage for their kids]. i can’t imagine as a mom anything more agonizing than having a sick child and not being [able] to access the care that he or she needs. but the good news is there’s new coverage in the private market. on or after september 23 plans will have to open up coverage for kids with pre-existing conditions and there may a public option with the children’s health insurance plan that may be available for your child. so healthcare. gov will give you information about both.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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is the shortage of family doctors going to be an issue because of the affordable care act? . some people worry about longer waits to see their primary care physician.
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well i think it’s absolutely an issue whether or not we had a new health care law pass or not which is why the president made sure that it’s part of the initial recovery act bill. we looked out for the work force of the future the health care work force and there was additional money put in so we can double the number of doctors whose medical loans will be paid off if they actually come into family medicine and serve in an under-served area which is why there will be more scholarship money for nurses and nurse practitioners for mental health technicians. the affordable care act the health care reform law that was passed increases that number. so we are really looking for ways to make sure that there are accessible docs. …if we are going to shift from a sickness system to a real health and wellness system primary care docs will be more in demand not waiting until you need a specialist in a hospital but hopefully getting to the illness in the first place keeping people healthy. so we’re also changing the payment rate for primary care docs. right now specialists can make a lot more money and medicare is updating the amount of money that will be paid to family practice docs to gerontologists and to others who deal with people to keep them healthy in the first place.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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would you describe the impact of the grandfathering rules for health plans?
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the president was committed to making sure that people didn’t lose coverage that was good for them and their family. so…we kept in place the coverage that a lot of folks have with their work sites that actually is wonderful coverage and [with] doctors that they like and programs that they like. so the grandfathering is meant to keep in place positive coverage. one of the things that happens on september 23 for all plans is no one will be rescinded again so companies will no longer be able to go back into a plan find a technical error and actually boot somebody out of a plan who is paying their premiums. unless it’s fraud you cannot lose your coverage. that’s very good news. all plans will include young adult children on a family plan so that even in a grandfathered plan that will come into effect. and that’s really helpful to keep kids up to age 26 on a family plan particularly in this economy when lots of young people may be going into the job market but those jobs don’t have health insurance connected with it. and there will also be change so that plans will no longer be able to have lifetime limits. what we know is that there are a small number of people who hit those limits but if you hit the limit you’re really out of luck. you lose your health coverage when you need it the most when you’re very ill and need a treatment or need care. so those three benefits will apply to all plans. if an employer chooses to change your grandfathered plan to shift more cost onto the employee [or] to lower the benefits available to employees he or she will lose the grandfather status. so we want to protect the plans that are in place. you can’t just keep the grandfather status and yet dump a lot of extra cost or reduce benefits for employees and not come into the new world. so it’s kind of a balance.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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under health-care reform when will there be fewer restrictions on mental-health sessions? . why is an insurance company allowed to limit how many therapy sessions a patient can have a year?
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last year the obama administration issued new rules that prohibit group health-insurance plans — typically offered by employers — from restricting access to care by limiting mental-health benefits and requiring higher patient costs than those that apply to general medical or surgical benefits. the rules implement the paul wellstone and pete domenici mental health parity and addiction equity act of 2008 (mhpaea). in other words the mhpaea states that a group health plan may not impose annual or lifetime dollar limits on mental-health benefits that are less favorable than any such limits imposed on medical surgical benefits. the affordable care act also takes steps to help people access the mental health services they need: right now if you haven’t been able to find health insurance due to a pre-existing mental-health condition you may be able to access the new pre-existing condition insurance plan. starting in 2014 substance abuse or mental illness can no longer be used by insurers to deny coverage as a “pre-existing condition” – and insurers also won’t be able to use those conditions to raise your premiums. also in 2014 mental-health and substance-use disorder services will be part of the essential benefits package a set of health-care service categories that must be covered by certain plans including all insurance policies that will be offered through the exchanges and most coverage in medicaid. these reforms all work to make the health-insurance marketplace a more accessible affordable place for people with mental-health and substance-abuse disorders.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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why doesn't the affordable care act allow across-state competition?
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the affordable care act does allow insurance companies to sell across state lines through interstate compacts which means states have to agree to the sale of insurance by out-of-state companies. and in fact state exchanges may encourage more insurance companies to enter new markets thereby increasing competition and choice beyond what republicans claim will be the case under their proposal.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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how much will i be fined if i don't get insurance?
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well . in 2014 two very important rules change. the most important is that insurance companies will be forbidden by law from denying coverage to americans with pre-existing health conditions. right now insurance companies can lock people out of the market or price people out of the market. that will no longer be allowed come 2014. people will with a pre-existing health condition be able to buy coverage be able to participate in a pool. in order to make sure that that happens and that we have a solvent insurance pool there is an additional feature that says everyone needs to participate. so most people right now have access to employer-based coverage or indeed carry their own coverage or they qualify for a public program. a limited number of people are not in those categories at all and most of those folks don't have the finances to buy insurance coverage on their own so starting in 2014 there will be a personal responsibility provision that says everybody needs to participate. if you are in the exchange and need some financial assistance based on your income that will be available. if you have employer coverage you're covered. if you are purchasing insurance on your own you'll have an opportunity to purchase that coverage in the insurance exchange. if you qualify for public programs you're covered. so we think that the vast majority of people and this has been the case in massachusetts where they have an exchange set up with very similar rules the vast majority of people who don't have insurance really would love to have coverage for themselves and their families they just can't afford it. and those days will be over. if indeed somebody can afford coverage when we get to 2014 and refuses to pay for coverage there is a financial penalty and it's really paying for the health service that that person and their family may well access. what we know is if someone has an automobile accident and is taken to a hospital they're going to get health care. if they have a stroke or if a family member has cancer they will have health care. they just will be shifting those costs onto everyone else onto taxpayers and hospitals and everyone who buys coverage. so there is an employer responsibility piece there is a government responsibility piece and there's an individual responsibility component of the new health care law.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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to reap the new health care benefits is it necessary to cancel my existing policy and start a new one? . how are these increased benefits affecting the rates? if i cancel my existing policy and start a new one should i expect to pay two or three times as much for coverage?
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first of all i want to make sure that [everyone] knows about our new web site which is healthcare. gov which gives very specific information about plans available in the marketplace. after the first of october we’ll have pricing information along with those plans. but for the first time ever we’ve pulled together all the information by zip code by age by health status of what’s available in both the public market and the private market. and that’s a really good tool to go to over [and] over and over again. i would say before you cancel anything and try to rebook you need to know what your company is going to do with your plan. a lot of companies are picking up these additional benefits. you need to price the alternative. but the good news is our actuaries have told us that the new benefits will likely only cost between one and two percent in terms of premium increases. and we’ve really called on insurance commissioners and others to take a careful look at high rates that are being charged by companies to make sure that they relate directly to health benefits that people are getting.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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how are the new health care reform exchanges going to work?
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exchanges are “marketplaces” that will allow you to compare plans in your state based on price and quality. when implemented in 2014 they’ll be a “one-stop” shop to find and compare affordable quality health-insurance options. in implementing the health-insurance exchanges hhs is partnering with states to take the often complicated process individuals and small businesses face in purchasing insurance on their own and turn it into a simple easy-to-navigate experience that benefits consumers rather than insurance companies. exchanges will lower costs by increasing competition among private insurance plans through greater comparative shopping and more informed consumers. and by pooling them together exchanges will give small businesses the purchasing power that large businesses enjoy today. in addition individuals and families buying insurance through an exchange may qualify for tax credits to help pay for premiums and reduce their out-of-pocket payments; small businesses buying through the exchange will have access to tax credits to help make premiums contributions for their employees. consumers who choose to use them will also have access to a wide range of customer-assistance benefits – including information about prices quality and physician and hospital networks – to help make the best choice for themselves their families or their employees.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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if you feel your health insurance company is not following the new law who do you contact?
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now there is some new consumer assistance help on the ground in every state. again the affordable care law provided some resources to every state in the country saying that one of the things that a lot of people need is help battling denial of coverage or care help with questions about rates that seem to be skyrocketing help with what they thought would be their insurance plan and turns out to be something very different. so there are really two places that a listener can go. one is to the state insurance commissioner. every state in the country has an insurance commissioner. those folks have consumer representatives who are ready to go to battle. the second is the consumer assistance entity that is in your state and the best way to learn about that again is to go to the web site healthcare. gov look up consumer assistance and it will make it clear if you live in connecticut who to call and what the phone number is vs. living in california because in each state those grants are with a different entity. but it's an independent third-party group who is very knowledgeable about insurance very knowledgeable about health insurance and their whole job is to help consumers navigate what is often a very complicated and cumbersome system through that fine print figure out where to file an appeal and how to make sure that your case is heard.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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i have no medical insurance. am i eligible for a free mammogram and if so how and where?
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well the provisions about the preventive care really deal with insurance plans that are in the market. so what the affordable care act did was say starting with plan years jan. 1 2011 from that point on as plans are renewed individuals will no longer pay a co-pay for everything from getting their kids' immunizations to having mammograms or cancer screenings because we really want to encourage people to get checkups in advance to get situations identified which may cause serious health problems and get them found. in a case where someone. has no health insurance at all the best possibility really is to find the nearest community health center and community health centers are throughout the country talking to her health department about where is the closest community health center. community health centers are being expanded through the affordable care act but they are community-based providers of primary care and preventive care who deal with individuals who have full insurance who have partial insurance and people who have no insurance coverage at all. everything from cancer screenings often there's dental care available and checkups for kids. it's very high-quality low-cost care and that would be the best option.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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how can i help prevent tooth decay while my child is a baby?
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did you know that nearly half of all children have tooth decay by the time they reach kindergarten? to prevent early tooth decay get into the habit of wiping your baby's teeth and gums every night before bed. limit your baby's intake of juices and sweetened foods and drinks. finally one main cause of cavities is the transfer of decay-causing bacteria from a parent's mouth (usually the mother's) to the baby's mouth so avoid putting things like pacifiers into your own mouth before putting it into baby's mouth.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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could my baby be teething at 11 weeks old?
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most babies start drooling a lot and sticking their hands in their mouths between 2 and 4 months although on average teeth don't actually break through the surface until 6 to 8 months. the extra drool can be a sign that the salivary glands are getting ready for an expanded diet of solids; also even though teeth may not come through right away they may be moving up and causing some discomfort. teeth sometimes do come very early (as early as 4 weeks of age) so you may in fact have an early teether. .
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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why should babies under 1 year old not eat honey?
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it's because honey (and other products such as improperly canned foods or some corn syrups) may contain bacteria called clostridium botulinum that can cause botulism in infants. the symptoms of botulism include severe muscle weakness poor feeding and breathing problems and occurs in about 100 infants every year. babies (especially those younger than 6 months) are at risk because their digestive systems are not mature enough to handle the bacteria. fortunately most babies receive medical treatment and can recover fully.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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[is there] a way to have low premiums if you are healthy and have few doctor visits except for checkups. ?
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actually . there are dozens of insurance companies who do that right now. so if you are not a smoker you get a discount on your health insurance. if you actually are a safe driver your health insurance is often lower. there are lots of plans in place that if you participate in a health screening and are on some kind of a health and wellness program you can get again a lower rate in the marketplace. so . getting and encouraging people to participate in the kinds of strategies that we know reduce the chronic conditions. what we have right now in this country is we know that obesity and smoking contribute to our very high rate of chronic disease; about 75 cents of every health dollar is spent treating americans with chronic diseases. if we can convince people and they take some steps to lower their weight to eat healthier meals to get some exercise and certainly to either never smoke in the first place or to stop smoking if you are a smoker we could have a much healthier country. and indeed there are lots of insurance companies who give direct rewards and encouragement to citizens who do just that.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what are the guidelines for using insect repellent on a baby?
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unlike sunscreen which is important to reapply every few hours insect repellent generally should be used just once a day and then washed off before bedtime. check labels for age recommendations. deet is approved for infants over 2 months; oil of lemon eucalyptus is not recommended until at least 3 years. higher concentrations of deet last longer than lower ones (10% deet is effective for 2 hours while 24% is effective for about 5). the american academy of pediatrics recommends that children use deet concentrations below 30%. deet and picaridin tend to last longer than plant oil-based repellents. you can also use netting to physically keep bugs away from your baby. .
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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why has my 5 month old gone from sleeping through the night to waking up crying? we have to feed her to help her sleep.
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your situation is very common and there are many possibilities for why your baby is waking up now: 1) she could be teething. even though teeth don't break through the surface of the gums until 6 to 8 months on average they can still be moving upward and causing pain. 2) she could be having a growth spurt. this might explain why the feeding helps. 3) she is more alert and aware during the periods of light sleep at night. also as she reaches the stage of separation anxiety (usually around 8 or 9 months but could be sooner) so may be looking for you. 4) she is waking up out of habit. if you feed her to sleep at the beginning of the night she may need to feed again to fall back asleep in the middle of the night. 5) she could be hot cold in pain etc. if this behavior keeps going i encourage you to see your pediatrician to make sure your baby doesn't have an ear infection reflux or other illness. these are just some of the common causes of night-waking that i see in my practice. .
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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if my 7 month old is teething what can we do to make her more comfortable?
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the first teeth usually come in between 6 and 8 months of age so this is perfect timing for your daughter to be teething. it may be helpful to give her something to gnaw on such as a washcloth or teething toy. your doctor may recommend over-the-counter remedies such as acetaminophen ibuprofen or a numbing gel. . it's helpful to double check the doses with your doctor since they depend on how much baby weighs. . if your teething baby seems uncomfortable consider these simple tips: rub your baby's gums. use a clean finger or moistened gauze pad to rub your baby's gums. . keep it cool. a cold washcloth spoon or chilled teething ring can be soothing on a baby's gums. . try hard foods. dry the drool. try an over-the-counter remedy.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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my granddaughter has a cough and nasal discharge that disrupt sleep. can a 3-month-old have an allergy?
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the baby may have a cold an ear infection reflux formula intolerance or possibly another condition. it's best to have her checked by the pediatrician to see what can be done to help her.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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could my previous method of birth control affect my fertility?
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we spend years worrying about unplanned pregnancy fearing that our contraception efforts might fail; now that we want to get pregnant we worry that that our contraception efforts may have worked too well. could there be long-term effects of contraception that might be keeping us from conceiving? let's review them briefly and put your mind at ease. 1. combined hormonal methods (e. g. birth control pills the patch and the vaginal ring). these methods are all similar and do not have any long term impact on fertility. we expect your periods to have returned to your normal cycle (whatever that means for you) within 3 months of stopping all of these methods. 2. progesterone only methods (the progesterone only pill the 3 month shot the 3 year implant). we also expect these methods to wear off in 3 months. the shot is a little different in that it is 3 months after the next shot is due (since each shot works for 3 months this would be 6 months after the last shot). again no long term impact on fertility 3. intrauterine device (iud). the iuds currently on the market in the us have a wonderful track record with regards to fertility (which has not the case years ago with an iud that is no longer available). although fertility may be present immediately with either of the two iuds currently available it would be reasonable to expect the progesterone based iud to take about 3 months to clear your system as well 4. diaphragms condoms and spermicides. these methods are only effective when you use them so fertility is immediately restored when you do not use them. condoms have the additional benefit of protecting against sexually transmitted diseases as well. so where are the concerns regarding fertility? some of these methods protect wonderfully against pregnancy but offer no protection against sexually transmitted diseases the real villains with respect to fertility. for most women the transition from their birth control method to trying for pregnancy should be fairly smooth. . the methods of birth control generally donot affects the fertility.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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is antibiotic resistance unique to our era?
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what makes this a particularly unique time in antibiotic resistance is that the pace of development of resistance is really outstripping the development of new drugs. in the past we knew there were new drugs coming on the market -- every year we had something new. now we've reached a situation where that's not the case year to year. for some [germs] that we see a resistance to in hospitals there's nothing coming anytime soon. we're facing a situation now where people are talking about the unavailability of antibiotics to treat common infections.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what causes diaper rash and how is it treated?
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any irritation of the skin in the diaper area can be considered a diaper rash. they are extremely common in babies especially those who have loose stools or who have very wet diapers (such as infants over 9 months). changes in a child's diet can also cause the stool to irritate a baby's skin even if she is changed right away. if the baby is not fussy it is likely not a serious rash and will probably go away after a few days of using a diaper cream or ointment. if a baby has a fever develops sores in the diaper area has bleeding or pus from the skin has a rash for longer than a few days or seems very uncomfortable it's important to have her checked out by the pediatrician.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what is a more judicious use of antibiotics?
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from a public health perspective the definition of judicious is ensuring the antibiotic is used in the right circumstance is being used at the right dose and is given for the right duration. broadly that's how we would define the most judicious use of antibiotics.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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can cre infections be prevented?
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yes our nation is at a critical point in which cre infections can be controlled if we address them in a rapid coordinated and consistent effort. doctors nurses lab staff medical facility leadership health departments/states policymakers and the federal government must act now in order to avoid missing this window of prevention opportunity.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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why would my 8-1/2 month old baby only look to one side when i drop a toy but not the other?
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when babies do not look toward one side there may be a problem with vision or a condition called torticollis (or "wry neck") where the head turns or tilts in one direction and prefers not to look at the other side. it may also be that the baby prefers looking at something or someone on the opposite side and not at the object. if you have concerns be sure to contact your pediatrician right away in case an evaluation or treatment is needed otherwise mention the situation at your next appointment. .
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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do you think it is safe for young babies to receive x-rays?
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when a child is exposed to radiation one must consider the risks and benefits involved in the child's situation. when a young baby has a fever it can mean that there is a serious illness that needs immediate treatment. a chest x-ray can be helpful to decide what treatment if any the child needs. since a person's total exposure to radiation is what may determine the risk of cancer in the future it can be helpful to ask if x-rays are definitely needed each time a doctor recommends one. .
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what should be done in a situation where a patient can't fight off a staph infection?
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sometimes the infection might be due to a catheter. in that case the catheter could be removed or an abscess could be drained. in some instances there's nothing to do to help the patient's body fight the infection and that could lead to death. we don't encounter it with regularity but the concern is these stories are becoming more common.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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could my 2 year old's nosebleeds be caused by dry air? how can i prevent this from happening?
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nosebleeds that end within 5 or 10 minutes in children without any other signs of a bleeding problem are common and usually are not a sign of anything serious or dangerous. they may be caused by trauma from a bump to the nose or a child's picking and may occur when the weather is very dry or when a child has a cold or allergies. it can be helpful to use a humidifier or vaporizer and apply a small of petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment in the nostrils at bedtime to help the nasal tissue heal. for any more concerns or if a child has frequent or heavy nosebleeds in addition to bruising or easy bleeding that doesn't stop be sure to contact your pediatrician. .
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what can patients do to protect themselves from getting a cre infection?
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patients can help protect themselves from getting a cre infection. first patients should tell their doctors if they have been hospitalized in the u. s. or in another country. secondly patients should take their antibiotics exactly as prescribed. lastly patients should always insist that everyone – doctors nurses technicians friends family members – wash their hands before touching them. if the patient is not able to communicate these things family members can advocate for them.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what are cre?
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cre which stands for carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae are a family of germs that are extremely difficult to treat because they have become resistant to nearly all and in some cases all antibiotics. cre are on the rise among patients in hospitals and certain long-term care hospitals.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what can my doctor do to help stop the spread of cre infections?
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we need all healthcare leaders and personnel to act now to help stop cre. it’s critical for doctors to prescribe existing antibiotics very carefully in order to preserve these lifesaving drugs for as long as possible. otherwise cre could very well be the beginning of the end of antibiotics. other prevention steps include: • knowing if patients in your facility have cre o requesting immediate alerts when the lab identifies cre o alerting the receiving facility when a cre patient transfers and find out when a patient with cre transfers into your facility • protecting patients from cre o following contact precautions and hand hygiene recommendations when treating patients with cre o dedicating rooms and staff to cre patients whenever possible o prescribing antibiotics carefully o removing temporary medical devices such as catheters and ventilators as soon as possible cdc offers other cre prevention guidelines that have proven to reduce cre infections.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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who is at risk for getting a cre infection?
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almost all cre infections happen to patients receiving critical care. cre infections are difficult to treat and some are untreatable with antibiotics. in fact cre kill up to half of patients who get bloodstream infections from them.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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is dizziness a sign or symptom of parkinson's disease?
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dizziness is extremely common in pd and is a result of the condition itself pd medications and other medications. what typically happens is a patient has a long history of hypertension - or high blood pressure (bp) - and has been treated appropriately for many years before developing pd. the pd lowers bp a little. then he is started on levodopa or a dopamine agonist or other pd drugs and his bp drops further. in addition many men have difficulty with bladder control and begin to restrict their water intake. this creates a "perfect storm" for. faint[ing]. . treatment requires reducing the long-time hypertensive drugs increasing. fluid intake by at least 2 glasses of water per day and if not enough adding salt and medications to raise. bp. . dizziness primarily in the morning hours is present.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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i am 52 and have just been diagnosed with parkinson's. how long can a person work before the symptoms get too bad?
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when still working at the muhammad ali center about 10 years ago i asked one of my fellows dr. holly shill to look at our pd population change from diagnosis to 25 years. first thing i want you to notice is that 25-year range. she found after looking at the unified parkinson's disease rating scale in more than 600 patients and 3 000 office visits several important things. 1) diagnosis of pd usually occurred at a score of about 25. 2) levodopa produced about a 12-point benefit a dopamine agonist about an 8-point benefit 3) patients with prominent tremor did better than patients with no tremor. we did not look at gait specifically but we did look at "disability " which we defined as 12 hours of effort to get 8 hours of pay. this had nothing to do with a need for a walker or wheelchair. on average people reached this point or a score around 60 at an average of 12. 2 years after diagnosis. i am sorry i cannot give you an average duration to a need for assistance with walking but hope that 12 years to retirement is good news.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what if i have diabetes and need an echocardiogram?
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for people with diabetes who need an echocardiogram follow these guidelines unless your doctor tells you otherwise: if you take insulin to control your blood sugar ask your doctor what amount you should take the day of the test. often your doctor will tell you to take only half of your usual morning dose and to eat a light meal four hours before the test. if you take pills to control your blood sugar do not take your medication until after the test is complete. do not take your diabetes drug and skip a meal before the test. if you own a glucose monitor bring it with you to check your blood sugar levels before and after your test. if you think your blood sugar is low tell the lab personnel immediately. plan to eat and take your blood sugar medication following your test. i do not need echocardiogram!
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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why do i need an echocardiogram?
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your doctor may perform an echocardiogram to: assess the overall function of your heart. determine the presence of many types of heart disease. follow the progress of heart valve disease over time. evaluate the effectiveness of medical or surgical treatments.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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how should i prepare for the echocardiogram?
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on the day of the echocardiogram eat and drink as you normally would. take all of your medications at the usual times as prescribed by your doctor.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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why are septicemia and urinary tract infections so prevalent with parkinson's? and do the meds cause hallucinations?
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i do not know know why uti are so common in pd but do not believe it is from the pd or the medications. i believe it is from a tendency to dehydration. with declining mobility fluid tends to pool in the legs during the day and at night when the fluid shifts higher in the body to the body it is more easily filtered by the kidneys. so -- you quit drinking enough fluid to keep from being up all the time. this leads decreased frequency of urination. urination will clear small amounts of bacteria and without that infection is more likely. hallucinations occur from a number of causes - uti being one of them. also medications can cause this problem. i try to reduce medications in the order of most likely to least likely. my criteria are potential for side effects vs. potential for motor benefit -- and it is not an exact science: 1) artane or cogentin. 2) amantadine. 3) selegiline. 4) rasagiline. 5) pramipexole or ropinirole. 6) entacapone. 7) levodopa. i would not want to stop levodopa and would likely start a medicine for hallucinations before that. the two most commonly suggested in the us are quetiapine or clozapine.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what lifestyle changes should be made if i have an arrhythmia?
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if you notice that your arrhythmia occurs more often with certain activities you should avoid them. if you smoke stop. limit your intake of alcohol. limit or stop using caffeine. some people are sensitive to caffeine and may notice more symptoms when using caffeine products (such as tea coffee soft drinks and some over-the-counter medications). stay away from stimulants used in cough and cold medications. some such medications contain ingredients that promote irregular heart rhythms. read the label and ask your doctor or pharmacist what medication would be best for you.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what medications are used to treat arrhythmias?
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a variety of drugs are available to treat arrhythmias. these include: antiarrhythmic drugs. these drugs control heart rate and include beta-blockers. anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy. these drugs reduce the risk of blood clots and stroke. these include warfarin (a "blood thinner") or aspirin. because everyone is different it may take trials of several medications and doses to find the one that works best for you.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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how are arrhythmias diagnosed?
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tests used to diagnose an arrhythmia or determine its cause include: electrocardiogram holter monitor event monitor stress test echocardiogram cardiac catheterization electrophysiology study (eps) head-up tilt table test
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what is an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (icd)?
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an icd is a sophisticated device used primarily to treat ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation two life-threatening heart rhythms. the icd constantly monitors the heart rhythm. when it detects a very fast abnormal heart rhythm it delivers energy to the heart muscle to cause the heart to beat in a normal rhythm again. there are several ways the icd can be used to restore normal heart rhythm. they include: anti-tachycardia pacing (atp). when the heart beats too fast a series of small electrical impulses may be delivered to the heart muscle to restore a normal heart rate and rhythm. cardioversion. a low energy shock may be delivered at the same time as the heart beats to restore normal heart rhythm. defibrillation. when the heart is beating dangerously fast or irregularly a higher energy shock may be delivered to the heart muscle to restore a normal rhythm. anti-bradycardia pacing. many icds provide back-up pacing to maintain heart rhythm if it slows too much.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what is a pacemaker?
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a pacemaker is a device that sends small electrical impulses to the heart muscle to maintain a suitable heart rate. pacemakers primarily prevent the heart from beating too slowly. the pacemaker has a pulse generator (which houses the battery and a tiny computer) and leads (wires) that send impulses from the pulse generator to the heart muscle. newer pacemakers have many sophisticated features that are designed to help manage arrhythmias and optimize heart rate-related function as much as possible.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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can potassium supplements interfere with parkinson's medications?
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potassium supplements should not interfere with pd medications. however too high or too low levels of potassium may produce neurological symptoms or potentially make pd symptoms a bit worse. if you are concerned about this a simple blood test by your doctor can make sure your potassium is in the right range.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what is catheter ablation for the heart?
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during an ablation high-frequency electrical energy is delivered through a catheter to a small area of tissue inside the heart that causes the abnormal heart rhythm. this energy "disconnects" the pathway of the abnormal rhythm. ablation is used to treat most psvts atrial flutter atrial fibrillation and some atrial and ventricular tachycardias. ablation may be combined with other procedures to achieve optimal treatment.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what is heart surgery?
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heart surgery may be needed to correct heart disease that may be causing the arrhythmia. the maze procedure is a type of surgery used to correct atrial fibrillation. during this procedure a series (or "maze") of incisions are made in the right and left atria to confine the electrical impulses to defined pathways. some people may require a pacemaker after this procedure.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what are the types of arrhythmias?
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the types of arrhythmias include: premature atrial contractions. these are early extra beats that originate in the atria (upper chambers of the heart). they are harmless and generally do not require treatment. premature ventricular contractions (pvcs). these are among the most common arrhythmias and occur in people with or without heart disease. this is the skipped heartbeat we all occasionally experience. in some people it can be related to stress too much caffeine or nicotine or too much exercise. but sometimes pvcs can be caused by heart disease or electrolyte imbalance. people who have a lot of pvcs and/or symptoms associated with them should be evaluated by a heart doctor. however in most people pvcs are usually harmless and rarely need treatment. atrial fibrillation. atrial fibrillation is a very common irregular heart rhythm that causes the atria the upper chambers of the heart to contract abnormally. atrial flutter. this is an arrhythmia caused by one or more rapid circuits in the atrium. atrial flutter is usually more organized and regular than atrial fibrillation. this arrhythmia occurs most often in people with heart disease and in the first week after heart surgery. it often converts to atrial fibrillation. paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (psvt). a rapid heart rate usually with a regular rhythm originating from above the ventricles. psvt begins and ends suddenly. there are two main types: accessory path tachycardias and av nodal reentrant tachycardias (see below). accessory pathway tachycardias. a rapid heart rate due to an extra abnormal pathway or connection between the atria and the ventricles. the impulses travel through the extra pathways as well as through the usual route. this allows the impulses to travel around the heart very quickly causing the heart to beat unusually fast. av nodal reentrant tachycardia. a rapid heart rate due to more than one pathway through the av node. it can cause heart palpitations fainting or heart failure. in some cases it can be terminated using simple maneuvers such as breathing in and bearing down. some drugs can also stop this heart rhythm. ventricular tachycardia (v-tach). a rapid heart rhythm originating from the lower chambers (or ventricles) of the heart. the rapid rate prevents the heart from filling adequately with blood. this can be a serious arrhythmia especially in people with heart disease and may be associated with more symptoms. ventricular fibrillation. an erratic disorganized firing of impulses from the ventricles. the ventricles quiver and are unable to contract or pump blood to the body. this is a medical emergency that must be treated with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (cpr) and defibrillation as soon as possible. long qt syndrome. the qt interval is the area on the electrocardiogram that represents the time it takes for the heart muscle to contract and then recover or for the electrical impulse to fire impulses and then recharge. when the qt interval is longer than normal it increases the risk of a life-threatening form of ventricular tachycardia. long qt syndrome is an inherited condition that can cause sudden death in young people. it can be treated with antiarrhythmic drugs pacemaker electrical cardioversion defibrillation implanted cardioverter/defibrillator or ablation therapy. bradyarrhythmias. these are slow heart rhythms which may arise from disease in the heart's electrical conduction system. examples include sinus node dysfunction and heart block. sinus node dysfunction. a slow heart rhythm due to an abnormal sinus node. significant sinus node dysfunction that causes symptoms is treated with a pacemaker. heart block. a delay or complete block of the electrical impulse as it travels from the sinus node to the ventricles. the heart may beat irregularly and often more slowly. if serious heart block is treated with a pacemaker.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what are the symptoms of arrhythmias?
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an arrhythmia can be silent and not cause any symptoms. a doctor can detect an irregular heartbeat during a physical exam by taking your pulse or through an electrocardiogram (ecg or ekg). when symptoms of an arrhythmia occur they may include: palpitations (a feeling of skipped heart beats fluttering or "flip-flops"). pounding in your chest. dizziness or feeling light-headed. fainting. shortness of breath. chest discomfort. weakness or fatigue (feeling very tired).
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what causes an arrhythmia?
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arrhythmias may be caused by many different factors including: coronary artery disease. electrolyte imbalances in your blood (such as sodium or potassium). changes in your heart muscle. injury from a heart attack. healing process after heart surgery. irregular heart rhythms can also occur in otherwise normal healthy hearts. what is the difference between atrial tachycardia and svt?
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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how are arrhythmias treated?
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treatment depends on the type and seriousness of your arrhythmia. some people with arrhythmias require no treatment. for others treatments can include medication making lifestyle changes and undergoing surgical procedures. pacemaker i do not know
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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will going through an x-ray machine at the airport hurt my medications?
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no. the machine will not denature any of your medications or interfere with their stability.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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is the vitamin supplement irexis (sindafilate citrate) an alternative to viagra?
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while the irexis (sindafilate citrate) name is similar to that of viagra (sildenafil citrate) it is not comparable to viagra. there have been no studies comparing these two products side by side. irexis contains many herbals plus zinc. the company claims that the product will have an effect on sexual impotence. but keep in mind the product is not fda approved and a number of herbals have knowninteractions with over-the-counter and prescription medications. we do not know enough about these herbals to claim that they are safe and effective. while irexis is available without a prescri ption and may be more affordable than viagra the risk of uncertainty outweighs any possible benefit.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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do vitamins expire?
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yes. all vitamins should have an expiration date listed on the bottle. if you think your bottle is too old purchase a new bottle and write the date that you purchased it with a black marker on the bottle. rule of thumb: don’t keep vitamins longer than a year.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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when a prescription says "take with meals " is that during the meal or after the meal?
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just before a meal or just after a meal is the key. food must be in the stomach. twenty to 30 minutes after a meal food may no longer be present in the stomach. if there is no food in the stomach when these medicines are ingested you may experience issues with absorption or other side effects.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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is it ok to drink vitaminwater and take a multivitamin every day?
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vitaminwater contains only a small amount of nutrients so it will not have an adverse affect when taken with a multivitamin. be aware vitaminwater contains a lot of sugar and can add to your daily caloric intake.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what medicines can cause your skin to turn blue?
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amiodarone a cardiovascular medication does cause some people to turn irreversibly blue. it is important to check with a pharmacist in order to understand this medication prior to taking it. also if you have any apprehensions you should talk to your pharmacist about the risks and benefits of any medication to make sure that you are comfortable and compliant.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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can i take too many vitamins? if so what can happen?
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believe it or not you can actually take too many vitamins and they can build up in your body and cause toxicity. this can happen with the "fat soluble" vitamins which include vitamins a d e and k. you definitely want to be careful with your daily dosage and make sure that your health-care provider (they may run blood work periodically) and pharmacist know about everything you are taking.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what is electrical cardioversion?
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if drugs are not able to control a persistent irregular heart rhythm (such as atrial fibrillation) cardioversion may be required. after administration of a short-acting anesthesia an electrical shock is delivered to your chest wall that synchronizes the heart and allows the normal rhythm to restart.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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when is the best time to take vitamins in the morning or at bedtime?
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multivitamins are not stimulants; therefore they will not keep you up at night. being compliant is important. if it works best for you in the morning then take it with breakfast. if bedtime works better that is what works best for you. believe it or not you can actually take too many vitamins and they can build up in your body and possibly cause toxicity. this can happen especially with the "fat soluble" vitamins which are a d e and k. you definitely want to be careful and make sure that your health care provider (they may run blood work periodically) and pharmacist know everything that you are taking.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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can vitamins interfere with any prescription medications?
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yes they can. so it is very important that you always check with your health-care provider or pharmacist before taking anything new. make sure you list any vitamins you take on your personal medication list. this list should be with you at all times and you should show it to your pharmacist every time you pick up medication. if you have any questions about drug interactions get to know your pharmacist. you will be glad you did!
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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can i continue to play sports while wearing braces?
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if you have braces you can continue to participate in any sport you choose. when playing sports where there is a possibility of getting hit in the mouth a specially designed mouthguard will need to be worn. the mouthguard made of durable plastic is designed to fit comfortably over your braces and will protect the soft tissues inside your mouth.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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will braces be painful?
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some of the adjustments your orthodontist may make to your braces may make your mouth feel sore or uncomfortable. when needed over-the-counter pain relievers like motrin or tylenol can help relieve the pain. if you always experience a lot of pain after your braces are adjusted talk to your orthodontist about it; he or she may be able to make the adjustments a bit differently.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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how long will i have to wear braces?
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the time required for braces varies from person to person depending on the severity of the problem; the amount of room available; the distance the teeth must travel; the health of the teeth gums and supporting bone; and how closely the patient follows instructions. on average however once the braces are put on they usually remain in place for 1 to 3 years. after braces are removed most patients will need to wear a retainer all the time for the first 6 months then only during sleep for many years.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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can continually coloring my hair damage my hair and/or scalp after years of repetition?
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yes if the coloring is done in combination with the application of high heat or relaxers. color alone does not cause nearly as much damage to the hair or scalp by itself especially when the processes of coloring and relaxing or coloring and adding heat are spaced conservatively apart.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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my son was seizure free for 20 years but is now experiencing seizures again. why might this be happening?
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it is not uncommon to have seizures reappear after many years of seizure control. it is somewhat unusual to have them return and have him "seizing constantly". your son should be seen by an epilepsy specialist first to make sure the new events are truly due to epilepsy. in addition blood levels mris etc can be done to be sure there is not a fixable explanation. if his seizures are truly back and no clear explanation is identified your son is not alone. it is very frustrating that even with all the ongoing research we do not have a good understanding as to why a person's epilepsy can change so significantly in its response to medicine.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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how soon after stopping seizure medications can i get my driver's license?
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visiting the epilepsy foundation web site is a good idea to look up each state's rules regarding driving. in general anyone who's seizures are controlled (even if taking anti-epileptic medicine) can get a driver's license. how long you must be seizure free in order to qualify for a driver's license varies between states but usually is between 3 and 12 months.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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i am 62 unemployed since january 2013 and have no income. i also do not qualify for medicaid according to florida regulations as they have not expanded medicaid. since i cannot get insurance under aca will i have to pay the penalty? is there any other option for me?
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you will not need to pay the penalty. unfortunately your options are limited to buying a private plan. you will not be eligible for subsidies to buy insurance under the affordable care act.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what is the average penis size?
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most research studies have found that the average erect penis size is between 5 and 6 inches so you are larger than average in length. yea. right around 6 inches. but don't start obsessing about size or you can develop some sexual issues. just keep it clean and healthy and your penis no matter the size will add significant pleasure to your life. you might want to use a penis health creme called man1 man oil. it delivers key vitamins and nutrients directly to the penis which will improve its overall health and appearance. hope this helps!
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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what are some tips for using lubricants during sex?
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many people have questions about how to use lubricant for more comfortable pleasurable sex. here are some tips you might consider: 1. choose the right lubricant for the right situation. water-based lubricant and silicone-based lubricant are well suited for latex condoms (oil-based products such as olive oil oil-based lubricants or massage oil can cause latex condoms to tear). silicone-based lubricants are better suited for sex play in the bath shower or hot tub as water-based lubricants will wash away. 2. apply the lubricant to your or your partner's fingertips for more careful application and less chance of spilling it onto the bed or floor. 3. next use your or your partner's fingers to apply the lubricant to the parts that need to 'fit together" well such as around a woman's vaginal opening or on a man's penis. if you're using lubricant for sex toy play consider applying some lubricant to the sex toy as well. 4. water-based lubricant is easily absorbed into the body so if sex goes on for some time water-based lubricant may need to be re-applied. small dabs of water can also help to re-activate the lubricant. . are you having problems with seepage or drilling? tactical oilfield products are the best products for reducing friction smoother drilling and controlling lost circulation in see pages.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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how can a man orgasm more quickly?
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when a man is often able to orgasm but takes a very long time (typically 45 mins or longer) this may be called "delayed ejaculation". this is different than "inhibited ejaculation" which can result in a man often not having an orgasm at all. there are a wide range of causes and often this is helped by meeting with a sex therapist. meeting with a doctor to rule out medical conditions that may be getting in the way of penile sensation is also often helpful (conditions such as diabetes). in the mean time some men find it helpful to use a vibrator together with their partner. increasingly there are more couples vibrators available on the market including the we-vibe which is worn partially inside a woman's body during intercourse. less expensive but also somewhat less intense are vibrating condom rings available in many drug stores. some men orgasm more easily with intense vibration such as the accuvibe or hitachi magic wand. couples may hold this between partners' bodies which can feel pleasurable for both partners. some men alternatively find pleasure from holding the vibrator to their penis while their partner kisses them. this can help to ease orgasm for the man while making it easier for his partner to assist as well.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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can anyone tell me why we use both abbreviations ekg and ecg for electrocardiogram?
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interesting question and one that i have wondered about at times myself. the ecg is short for electrocardiogram while ekg is short for the original german (kardiogram) word describing this test that is commonly used by doctors to examine the electrical system of the heart. wikipedia has some nice background and medical history on this if you are interested in the topic. <link>
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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the left side of my chest has hurt since childhood but at 17 it has gotten worse. should i have more cardiac tests?
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many many things can cause chest pain although we worry about the heart being a cause of it typically first as heart disease can carry some serious consequences. at age 17 the risk of artery blockages leading to chest pain would be very unusual except in some cases of congenital coronary abnormalities. it is important that you have a complete history and phsyical exam by a physician to help look for causes of this persistent pain. they will ask questions about your activity level (for example can you and do you exercise regularly without difficulities? ) and carefully exam your heart lungs and blood vessels. you deserve to get an answer for something like persistent pain and at age 17 it's a good time to be reminded of heart-healthy living with things like eating healthy exercising regularly avoiding tobacco products etc.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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if i have three stents and have soreness in my chest is this something i should get checked out?
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any chest pain that occurs in someone that has known coronary disease as you do with the 3 stents should be evaluated by a physician especially if the symptoms are consistent with those occurring before the stents were placed. other concerning symptoms are chest pains or discomfort that occur with exertion or stress. while there are many causes of chest discomfort please take seriously these symptoms given the past history and talk with your doctor.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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is it normal to bleed for two weeks after anal sex?
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it is not normal to bleed for 2 weeks following anal sex. you may have experienced anal or rectal tearing or other problems. if you try anal sex again in the future consider using a lot of water-based lubricant going slowly and stopping if you experience any pain at all. .
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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is it normal for my dad who had a triple bypass three months ago to be constantly short of breath and blacking out?
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these are worrisome symptoms: shortness of breath and passing out. after a bypass operation these symptoms could reflect some damage to the heart leading to heart failure symptoms (the shortness of breath) continued abnormal blood flow to critical areas of the heart (also the shortness of breath) and/or a heart rhythm problem that led to the syncope (passing out). these symptoms warrant a very careful evaluation by your dad's doctor and an explanation. this sounds like more than the "normal" healing process. i suggest that you (or another family member) accompany your dad to his doctor's appointment and make sure that the doctor fully hears the story. this really needs follow-up.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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is cheap red wine just as heart healthy as a fine red wine or does the aging process boost the wine's healthy values?
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as someone who loves and collects wine i was particularly interested in this question. first how did people come to the notion that red wine might have some heart healthiness to it? there's an observation called "the french paradox". that emerged when scientists noted a relatively low incidence of coronary heart disease among the french despite a high incidence of smoking and a diet heavy in fats (cheese creams etc). this notion gained widespread attention in the 1990s after it was covered in a story on "60 minutes. " it has spurred a great deal of scientific intrigue into whether or not a moderate amount of red wine consumption might balance some other dietary indiscretions. bottom line we don't know the answer definitively. most believe that a modest amount of daily alcohol has some health benefits. some believe that this benefit is pronounced with red wine due to some particular chemicals that are part of the grape skin. in fact companies have been formed to explore whether some of these compounds might be extracted and developed as drugs to treat/prevent heart disease. now back to your question. while drinking fine aged red wine is truly a delight there's no evidence (yet) to suggest that this might be better for your health than more simple less expensive wines. the key is moderation! so enjoy your glass after work or with dinner tonight and stay tuned for more evidence as the story evolves.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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i am a 57 yr old woman. is there anything wrong with getting up to go to the bathroom 2-3 times during the night?
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most adults shouldn’t have to get up more than once a night to urinate. having to get up 2 or 3 times is likely causing you to lose a lot of sleep. for a woman who has already gone through menopause the most common causes of frequent nighttime urination include diabetes and bladder infections. diabetes is often silent and frequent urination may be the only sign that the blood sugar is too high. with a bladder infection you might have other symptoms such as urgency and discomfort. there are also many other possible causes of nightly bathroom trips. it may be as simple as drinking too much fluid in the evening. overactive bladder is another common cause. medicines such as water pills may make you run to the bathroom even if they were taken many hours before. caffeine and alcohol can also cause frequent urination. for some women it may just be force of habit. very rarely it can be the sign of a tumor in the bladder or pelvis. see your doctor and have a checkup. make sure you mention how many times a night you have to go to the bathroom. he or she will likely get a urine test and some lab work to sort things out. then you will finally be able to get a good night’s sleep.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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if allergic to pyncyllin can i use amoxycillian
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no. if you had an allergic reaction to penicillin you must not take amoxicillin. amoxicillin is in the penicillin family and could cause an allergic reaction as well. there are many different antibiotics that would be safe for you to take. your doctor can prescribe one that is right for you. make sure that any doctor or dentist you see is aware of your drug allergy. it is also best to use the same pharmacy for all your prescriptions. make sure that your allergy to penicillin is on record there. if you had a severe reaction called anaphylaxis you should wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace in case of an emergency.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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will my insurance costs go up under health reform?
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i assume by “insurance costs” you are talking about patients’ spending on medical care in the form of deductibles copayments and coinsurance. for most people the answer is “no”. the health reform law requires that insurers pay the full cost of a wide range of preventive services including cancer screenings immunizations and fda-approved contraceptives. the law places limits on insurance plans’ administrative overhead spending and profits and requires plans to pay for a certain percentage of health care costs (though most plans already satisfy this requirement). it also eliminates insurers’ limits on total lifetime benefits and limits the size of deductibles in small firms’ health insurance plans. some people may be eligible for subsidies to help them offset their out-of-pocket costs on medical care. the health reform law reduces payments to medicare advantage plans (private plans that enroll medicare beneficiaries). enrollees in medicare advantage plans may have to pay more for their care in the future.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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where can you buy insurance if you live in one state but work in another?
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you are expected to buy insurance in the marketplace of the state in which you live.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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will my premiums go up? i have heard that they will more than double under health reform.
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it’s complicated. it depends on what type of coverage you have now how much you earn and your age and sex. if you have coverage through a large employer you probably won’t see major changes. however the requirements for large employers are still being sorted out. if you buy insurance on your own in the so-called “individual market” and qualify for premium subsidies based on your income (see <link> ) then your premiums will probably decrease. if you do not qualify for subsidies and are younger or are a male your premiums will probably increase. the reason is that the health reform law limits the ability of insurers to charge higher premiums to older consumers and females. to make up for these lost revenues insurers will increase premiums for other types of consumers. for employees of small firms the situation is more complicated. the federal government will subsidize coverage for workers in firms with fewer than 25 employees. firms with fewer than 100 employees can buy insurance through the exchange (or marketplace). firms may pass some of the savings on to employees in the form of lower premiums. some small employers will offer more generous health insurance plans to comply with the requirements of the health law. premiums will probably increase for workers in these firms. higher income medicare beneficiaries may see their premiums increase under health reform.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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if i sign up for insurance through my marketplace when will coverage begin?
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if you sign up between october 1 2013 and december 31 2013 your coverage will begin january 1 2014. if you sign up between january 1 2013 and february 28 2014 your coverage should begin soon after your application is approved. february 28 2014 is the last day to enroll in the marketplace in 2014.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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do you have to buy health insurance from the exchange?
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no. people who 1) qualify for exchange subsidies and work for an employer that does not offer health insurance and 2) people who are currently uninsured may find it advantageous to buy insurance through the exchange (or marketplace) but there is no requirement to do so. the health reform law does include an individual mandate. if you do not have a qualified health insurance plan (or medicare or medicaid) you will be required to pay a penalty based on your income.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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when can i start buying insurance through the marketplace?
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the marketplaces (or exchanges) are supposed to begin enrolling consumers on october 1 2013. some state marketplaces may have difficulty meeting this deadline.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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when will health insurance rates and plans be available for viewing in the exchanges?
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there is no set timeline and it will vary from state-to-state. in most cases you can probably expect that information on premiums and plans will be available on or shortly before october 1 2013 the first day for exchange (or marketplace) enrollment.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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how are the tax credits/government subsidy imposed? . are they applied to the monthly premium or are you reimbursed during the following tax year?
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you can have the credit sent to the insurer directly or you can elect to pay the premium in-full and then receive the tax credit at the end of the year.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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is it illegal for an employer to no longer provide coverage for their employees' children? . how does the clause allowing young adults to stay on their parent's insurance until age 26 fit in with all this if they do not purchase their own coverage?
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employers with more than 50 employees who do not offer coverage to dependent children under the age of 26 will have to pay a penalty.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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if i'm using the correct acne treatment (for me) should i still be having breakouts about every other week? . i'm wondering if i should go to a dermatologist or if something over the counter will work for my breakouts. my products i've been using for several months seem to clear my skin up for about a week then i'll be all broken out and covered in pimples the following week. i'm really just wondering if i need a different product or if this every other week breakout is normal and expected. thanks
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if you are still breaking out every other week then your current acne treatment is not working well enough. it is time to see your doctor or a dermatologist. there are a lot of products that are available by prescription that can help get your acne under better control. options may include topical creams and/or oral antibiotics. for women with hormonal acne oral contraceptives or a diuretic called spironolactone may be prescribed. for severe or cystic acne your doctor may suggest a powerful acne medication called accutane. laser or light therapy is another option for treating severe acne. tell your doctor about any other products you are using on your face such as cleansers or cover-up. some of these can cause acne flare-ups. hormone cycles can also cause pimples to keep coming back. check out help for teen acne on webmd for more helpful tips.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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i haven't been able to smell anything or taste for a while now what can be the cause for this?
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our senses of smell and taste are intertwined. our ability to smell is what makes us able to “taste” the flavor of the foods we eat. many things can interfere with the ability to smell and taste. among the most common offenders include allergies nasal polyps and sinus infections. in these cases the loss of smell often comes on gradually. there can also be a gradual loss of smell and taste as we age. infections in the mouth may cause problems with both taste and smell as well. a sudden loss of smell is more likely caused by a virus (like the flu) or head trauma. zinc deficiency is also known to affect the sense of smell. some zinc nasal sprays on the other hand have been implicated in complete loss of smell. both alzheimer's and parkinson's disease can affect the sense of smell but other symptoms would likely be present first. rarely a tumor in the brain or sinuses can be the cause of a decrease in smell or taste. you will have to see your doctor to get to the bottom of this. and depending on the cause you may need to see an allergist ear nose and throat specialist or dentist to finally get some relief. good luck to you! whats cause you to loss taste bud no smells i havent been able to taste or smells in a while chronic sinus infection
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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can a symptom of going thru menopause be crying for no reason at all and feeling sad. i am normally a happy person. can a symptom of going thru menopause be crying for no reason at all and feeling sad. i am normally a happy person.
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some women ride an emotional roller coaster as they pass through the years surrounding menopause. they may feel moody and anxious at times or sad and teary at others. but menopause is not the only thing that can cause a woman to feel like this. other conditions including depression can cause feelings of hopelessness sadness and a loss of pleasure in things that were once enjoyable. depression can also cause trouble sleeping changes in appetite difficulty concentrating and fatigue—things that can also be associated with menopause. if you are having any of these symptoms you should talk with your doctor or gynecologist. they can help you sort out what may be causing you to feel this way. then you can get back to enjoying life again.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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tight chest its hard to breath and catch my breath coughing for weeks now with phlegm inthroat that i'm not coughing up?
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call 911 or other emergency services immediately if you have any chest tightness or trouble breathing.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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im on cumdine = so i cant eat any dark leafy veggies -what other foods cant i eat? . i need a guide= to what i can eat and cant eat- on cumidine? '. . can i eat peanuts? . can i eat potatoes? . if i eat veggies? how much each day or do i alternate= with a salad. . i eat a handful since i do not know if a cup a day- is just vegetable or includes green salad- a cupful?
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the good news is that most people do not have to drastically change their diet when they start on the blood-thinner warfarin (coumadin). but you do have to pay close attention to what you are eating. the goal is to keep the level of vitamin k about the same from day to day. you can do this by knowing which foods have a lot of vitamin k and not making any big changes in how much of them you are eating each day. foods that have a lot of vitamin k include most of the green leafy vegetables like spinach kale lettuce cabbage swiss chard endive and seaweed. greens such as turnip collard and mustard are all high in vitamin k as well. other vegetables that contain a lot of vitamin k are cauliflower broccoli and asparagus. liver is also high in vitamin k. other things to watch out for include green tea canola oil and soybean oil. peanuts and potatoes do not have a large amount of vitamin k. but watch out for cashews and pine nuts. they have a bit more vitamin k so eat them sparingly. so what does all this mean? if you have always had a salad for lunch then it is probably fine to keep eating one every day as long as it is ok with your doctor. if you want broccoli or asparagus with your dinner for a change then it would be best to skip the salad that day. and remember to keep your portions small. liver has a lot of cholesterol so i would recommend skipping that altogether. if your doctor has recommended a multivitamin make sure you take it every day. they usually have vitamin k in them as well so you want to be consistent. talk to your doctor before making any changes in your diet. do not take any over-the-counter medicines or supplements without checking with your doctor first. some of them may interfere with your medicine. also be sure to get all blood tests done on time. don’t be overwhelmed! it may seem like a lot to do at first but it will become second nature before you know it.
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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics.
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is this a symptom of post nasal drip or something a little more serious? . i spent the weekend at a relative's home and they have a cat. i'm allergic to cats so naturally my eyes were irritated i was sneezing and a bit congested. after about a week the sneezing and congestion went away but i began to cough. it started off as a dry cough but now after about two weeks it sounds pretty horrible and there's quite a bit of mucus. is this a symptom of post nasal drip or something a little more serious?
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you are right to be concerned! what may have started out as an allergy or even a cold may have turned into something more serious. coughing up mucous can be caused by the post nasal drip of allergies or sinus infection. but it can also be from a cold asthma bronchitis or even pneumonia. the only way to know is for your doctor to take a look and listen. your symptoms have been going on long enough that you should give your doctor a call. you need to find out what is going on and how to get some relief. here’s a great webmd article on cough that can give you more information. hope you feel better soon!
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