How Electrical Stimulation Is Used in Physical Therapy

Electrical stimulation involves sending electrical currents through the skin and into muscles. This may help reduce pain, stimulate tissue healing, and strengthen muscles. Along with other forms of treatment, you may receiveelectrical stimulationas part of your therapy. Goodlife Studio / Getty Images Keep reading to learn more about electrical stimulation (e-stim) and how it’s used in physical therapy. Goodlife Studio / Getty Images What Is Electrical Stimulation? Why E-Stim Is Used Electrical stimulation is used for many reasons in physical therapy....

April 18, 2025 · 4 min · 849 words · Jason Dyer

How Endometrial Cancer Is Diagnosed

Medical History Let’s say a person comes in with abnormal vaginal bleeding. Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions. For instance, since the cervix connects the uterus to the vagina, a pap smear may be performed. Illustration by Verywell During a pap smear, a cell sample is taken from the cervix to screen for cervical cancer. Blood Tests There is no single blood test that can diagnose endometrial cancer....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 286 words · Samuel Nelson

How Endometrial Cancer Is Treated

The upside is that most women are diagnosed when the cancer is at an early stage. This means that for many women, endometrial cancer can be cured with surgery alone. Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions. Verywell / Emily Roberts With a laparoscopy, multiple small incisions are made in a woman’s abdomen. With a laparotomy, a larger skin incision is made in the abdomen so that remove the above organs....

April 18, 2025 · 3 min · 626 words · Lindsey Lee

How Endometriosis Is Diagnosed

Endometriosis most commonly affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and tissues of the pelvic wall. A correct diagnosis is essential to delivering timely and effective treatment of endometriosis. Your condition would then bestaged(categorized by severity) to direct the appropriate course of treatment. Verywell / Cindy Chung Even if the characteristic lesionsare found, endometriosis may be only one of several possible causes. Moreover, the extensiveness of lesions doesnt necessarily confer the severity of symptoms....

April 18, 2025 · 4 min · 791 words · Paul Ramirez

How Eosinophilic Esophagitis Is Diagnosed

Eosinophilic esophagitisis a chronic immune disorder that affects theesophagus. The esophagus is the muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach and brings food into the body. This leads to difficulty swallowing and chest pain. Comeback Images / Getty Images However, it may be helpful to be aware of the common signs and symptoms to look for. Your primary doctor will start the appointment by taking a thorough medical history....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 293 words · Joseph Myers

How Eosinophilic Esophagitis Is Treated

Eosinophilic esophagitisis a chronic immune disease that is characterized by a buildup of eosinophils in the lining of theesophagus. Treatment for eosinophilic esophagitis usually involves dietary changes and prescription medications. If it does, you may consider permanently eliminating that food from your diet. Verywell / Jessica Olah Adjusting to an elimination diet is overwhelming. A dietitian can support you in choosing a variety of healthy foods and planning meals and snacks....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 345 words · Maria Mitchell

How Erythema Nodosum Is Connected to IBD

Some of these skin conditions are calledpyoderma gangrenosum,aphthous ulcers, and erythema nodosum. This condition often goes away on its own or improves when the underlying IBD is under control. People with IBD need to know the signs of this skin condition to diagnose it early. Thomas_EyeDesign / Getty Images This condition is more prevalent in adults than children, and more common in women than in men. The formation of erythema nodosum lesions may be preceded by a flu-like feeling or generalized pain in thejoints....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 226 words · Jonathan Castro

How Esophageal Dilation Helps Difficulty Swallowing

Esophageal dilation is a treatment to help stretch, or dilate, abnormal narrowings found in theesophagus. These narrowings are calledstricturesand can occur from a variety of health problems. They can cause difficulty or discomfort when swallowing. magicmine / Getty Images Why Is Esophageal Dilation Performed? These strictures can make it difficult to swallow. You may have a feeling of food getting stuck in your chest. This feeling is because the food has a difficult time moving past the stricture....

April 18, 2025 · 3 min · 446 words · David Foster

How Eucalyptus Leaves Benefit Physical and Mental Health

Eucalyptusleaves have shown potential in treating respiratory diseases and alleviating stress. Research indicates that compounds in eucalyptus may help reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, andAlzheimer’s disease. Additionally, the plant shows promise in pain management, repelling mosquitoes, and easing the severity ofallergic reactions. Robbie Goodall/ Getty Images Many of eucalyptus' benefits come from its flavonoids, powerfulantioxidantsthat help protect cells from damage. Robbie Goodall/ Getty Images Fights Infection Eucalyptusessential oilshave been found to fight harmful bacteria....

April 18, 2025 · 3 min · 470 words · Daniel Mann

How Exercise Helps With Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless legs syndrome (RLS)is aneurological disorderthat causes people to feel strong urges to shake their legs. Although there is no cure for RLS, exercise can be a viable option to reduce symptoms. That said, engaging in physical activity that is overly strenuous can negatively affect the joints. Kseniya Ovchinnikova / Getty Images It’s important to stick to moderate exercise that doesn’t stress the joints. Kseniya Ovchinnikova / Getty Images Walking Walking has been shown to improve the sensations felt in RLS....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 306 words · Veronica Smith

How Extracorporeal Life Support (ECMO) Works

Fullcardiopulmonary bypass machines(heart-lung machines) are used only for a few hours during surgery. As far back as 1944, researchers recognized that blood passing through semipermeable membranes became oxygenated. This observation became the basis for cardiopulmonary bypass. Akiromaru / Getty Images At first, cardiopulmonary bypass relied on bubble or disk oxygenators which exposed blood directly to air. Of note, only VA ECMO provides hemodynamic or blood pressure support. Patients who are on ECMO are usually very sick, and not everyone survives the experience....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 221 words · Jenny Goodwin

How Far Into a Pregnancy Can You Use the Abortion Pill?

What Is the Abortion Pill? Medication abortiontypically involves two pillsmifepristone and misoprostol. The first pill, mifepristone, stops the pregnancy by blocking a hormone called progesterone. KrizzDaPaul / Getty Images The second pill, misoprostol, empties the uterus and causes cramping and bleeding. In the United States, many providers prescribe abortion pills up to 10 and 12 weeks of pregnancy. It wasnt until 2016 that the FDA expanded its recommendation to 10 weeks....

April 18, 2025 · 1 min · 146 words · Lori Montgomery

How Fast Does Lung Cancer Grow?

They also wonder how long lung cancer takes to develop, or when it first started. Thegrowth rate of lung canceris not just a math question. It could affect treatment decisions in a new and evolving era of care. ljubaphoto / Getty Images Even two lung cancers of the same jot down and stage may behave quite differently at the molecular level. Not every cancer grows at the same rate. Each care decision is made based on multiple factors....

April 18, 2025 · 8 min · 1652 words · Mary Newton