If you have ever undergone medical imaging, such as an MRI or CT scan, chances are good that you received contrast. MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) and CT ( computed tomography ) are types of medical equipment that creates image of internal organs and structures. Contrast material enhances and improves the quality of these images. Contrast materi...

Women at average risk for breast cancer should begin annual mammograms at the age of 40, according to new guidelines issued by the largest organization of breast surgeons in the United States, the American Society of Breast Surgeons ( ASBrS ). These new recommendations are different from those offered by other medical organizations. The American Ca...

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), claiming approximately 610,000 lives each year. Doctors use a variety of tests, such as stress echocardiograms, catheterizations and stress nuclear exams, to detect heart disease, assess its severity...

Tattoos are gaining in popularity these days, with four in ten Americans sporting at least one tattoo, according to Statistica . People are more likely to get ink nowadays because tattoos do not carry the taboo they once held. Many people avoided tattoos because they worry that such body art might prevent them from getting a job. Today, some people...

Doctors perform a number of tests to monitor the health of their patients. Practitioners are expanding their tests to help them manage certain emerging health issues within the community, such as obesity. Being overweight or obese puts patients at risk for serious health problems. One such obesity-related problem is a condition affecting the liver,...

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help doctors determine the risk for cardiovascular disease in patients who do not have known risk factors for heart and blood vessel disease, according to a new study . Certain factors put individuals at higher risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), such as coronary artery disease and stroke. These risk fa...

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) , researchers have now identified three sub-types of depression, including one type that does not respond to commonly prescribed anti-depressants. Depression is common in the United States and all over the world. About 8.1 percent of American adults over the age of 20 experience depression, according to the re...

A rotator cuff injury can make life miserable. This shoulder injury can interfere with nearly every aspect of your life. Simply raising your arm to comb your hair, put on a shirt, perform certain aspects of your job, take care of your family or play your favorite sport can cause terrible shoulder pain. Rotator cuff injuries prevent millions of peop...