When Is It Best to be Screened for Breast Cancer?
Starting mammograms at age 40 for average risk women is a huge improvement over age 50, but more changes needed. This month, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force updated its breast screening recommendations: mammograms should start at 40, a much needed improvement from the previous guideline to make an individual decision before age 50. “The […]
When it Comes to Reducing the Odds of Dying from Breast Cancer, Consistency is Everything
Mammograms save lives by detecting breast cancer before the masses can be felt by the patient or the doctor. Breast cancer screenings are not a “one and done” proposition, though – the result of a new study suggests that consistency is the key. More specifically, the study found that the closer a woman adhered to […]
Forget BMI – Assessing Muscle Fat May Be Better Indicator of Health
Doctors have warned for years that carrying around extra body fat can increase the risk for serious diseases. Medical professionals have traditionally used body mass index (BMI) to describe the amount of body fat their patients have, but BMI is not always an accurate tool to evaluate health and the risk for weight-related diseases. In […]
Attention Women: There are New Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations
Screening tests are the best way for otherwise healthy people to find health problems before they have signs or symptoms. Early detection leads to early treatment, which is often more effective than waiting until a disease is severe. Knowing when to undergo screening can help you stay on top of your health. The American College […]
How is AI Used in Radiology?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is revolutionizing nearly every aspect of life, including medical care. AI has the potential to change how medical imaging is analyzed and interpreted, which can lead to faster and more accurate diagnoses, improved patient outcomes, and reduced healthcare costs. Medical imaging is a field of medicine that focuses on creating images […]
May is Arthritis Awareness Month
While arthritis is a common condition, many people have questions about the disorder. Arthritis Awareness Month creates an opportunity to learn about disorders that affect the joints. The annual observance is also a great time to share your personal experiences with arthritis, and to ask and answer questions. Arthritis Awareness Month is a Great Time […]
An Incidental Finding on a CT Scan Saved My Life
“The good news is that your CT of the abdomen looked fine. Unfortunately, your scan showed something suspicious in your lungs.” Those were the scariest words I had ever heard in my life. Out of the blue, I had an incidental finding on a CT scan. The American College of Radiology (ACR) defines an incidental […]
Lung Problems May Continue Two Years Later for those with Long COVID
The COVID-19 pandemic is over for most people, but for some, the effects of the virus continue two years after the infection. Known as “long COVID,” “Post-COVID Conditions (PCC),” or “long haul COVID,” the condition causes a wide range of ongoing health issues that can last weeks, months, or even years – in fact, nobody […]
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month
At least 5.3 million people in the United States have disability related to a permanent brain injury; every year, more than 2.8 million Americans sustain a brain injury. The lasting effects of brain injuries can affect someone’s personality, mood, and ability to work or function independently. The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) spearheads many […]
Is Vaping Bad for My Lungs?
After his father died of smoking-related lung cancer, Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik invented the e-cigarette as an alternative to conventional tobacco smoking. Hon Lik was also a smoker who tried unsuccessfully to quit using the nicotine patch. He received a patent for his e-cigarette design in 2003 and the devices hit the Chinese market the […]