Category: Health

Your brain naturally alerts you of impending danger in the form of anxiety, thus making anxiety a normal emotion. However, increased anxiety may make your world smaller because you tend to worry too much about daily activities. New York anxiety disorders consist of a variety of mental conditions that cause feelings of fear and worry. You may find it difficult to go about regular activities, including interactions because you fear social contact. Sometimes, anxiety disorders happen for no apparent reason. Here are some common types of anxiety disorders you could be experiencing.

Panic Disorders

You develop a panic attack when you suddenly have an intense fear that leads to severe reactions when you are not in danger, and there is no apparent cause. Continued panic attacks may cause constant fear, leading to a condition known as panic disorder. You can develop a panic attack anywhere and anytime, and your symptoms will peak within minutes. Your symptoms will include fear of losing control, rapid and pounding heart rate, sweating, shortness of breath, trembling, and a sense of impending danger, among other symptoms. Certain situations may trigger panic attacks, and you may find yourself avoiding such situations.

Generalized Anxiety Disorders

GAD results in exaggerated worry and anxiety about daily life events for no apparent reason. Although anxiety is normal, generalized anxiety disorder causes unrealistic worry making it a constant state in your daily life. Eventually, you will worry too much that you will find it hard to do routine activities. Your symptoms include restlessness, trouble concentrating, fatigue, unrealistic view of problems, and excessive worry and tension.

Social Anxiety Disorder

You may find social contact too much to handle because it makes you uncomfortable. You will experience fear of talking to strangers, public speaking, making eye contact, and associating with the public. However, you will experience different symptoms from the next person. You will likely experience symptoms that include rapid heartbeat, blushing, crying, sweating, dizziness, and inability to catch a breath. You could develop anxiety before an event and worry too much about it, then later spend time worrying about your reaction to the event.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia involves fear and avoidance of situations that can trigger panic and make one feel helpless and trapped. You can easily develop agoraphobia after a session of a panic attack which then causes you to worry about having another attack. You may find it hard to feel safe in a public space, especially in unfamiliar locations where people gather. Your symptoms include fear of crowds, enclosed and open spaces, leaving home alone, and using public transportation. Agoraphobia can also happen alongside a panic disorder, including panic attacks. You will have limited socializing ability, avoid attending important events because you fear crowds, and even avoid daily details of life like running errands.

Even though anxiety is a common response in many situations, anxiety disorders constitute mental conditions that cause a constant circle of fear and anxiety. Your worry usually worsens if you do not find a management system to help you with your symptoms. Anxiety disorders may run in the family, resulting from stress and certain medical conditions. Most symptoms are similar across every type of anxiety disorder and usually include fear, panic, inability to stay relaxed, and shortness of breath. You can always ask your doctor about the different types of anxiety disorders and see which one describes your state well.

Your body has many systems which work together to keep you alive. The excretory system is one of the systems that help your body to get rid of waste. The kidneys are the primary organs of this system. While many people know the excretory functions of kidneys, these organs do more than that. For example, they produce hormones that help to control blood pressure. Therefore, you should do whatever it takes to ensure that these organs are healthy. Here are the self-care tips Jonathan Pankow, M.D., recommends to prevent kidney diseases.

Eat Right

Your food choices have a greater impact when it comes to kidney health. For example, eating red meat for a long time usually introduces certain proteins, which causes complexity in how the kidney executes its task. Also, the high content of salts in the meals can strain the kidney, thus increasing the chances of kidney diseases.

Therefore, you should switch to a Mediterranean diet involving fresh vegetables and fruits. It would help if you were also keen on the salt proportions on your plate.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Individuals who are overweight are at a greater risk of developing kidney complications. Excessive weight makes the kidney work harder, thus filtering the wastes and fluid beyond the normal ranges. In the long run, these extra forces expose the kidney to diseases.

It would be best if you worked with your healthcare provider to compute your body mass index (BMI). Shed the extra weight if your BMI is twenty-five or above.

Stop Smoking

Another reason to kick the smoking habit is to prevent kidney diseases. Notably, smoking introduces toxic constituents in the body, which narrows blood vessels that carry blood to the kidney. Consequently, this organ does not get an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients, thus impairing its functionality.

If you experience difficulties quitting smoking alone, you should consider seeking rehabilitation services.

Manage Your Stress

You may think there is no association between mental health and kidney functionalities, but you are mistaken. When stressed, your body releases hormones like cortisol, which heightens blood pressure. The altered blood circulation patterns will strain the kidney, increasing disease susceptibility.

Fortunately, the stress relief practices like meditation and biofeedback can help you improve stress symptoms, thus keeping your kidney healthy.

Seek the Regular Checkups

Are you among the many people who think it is only right to visit the doctor when something is amiss in the body? If yes, then you are running the risk of getting health complications such as kidney disease. Therefore, you should visit your healthcare provider more often.

Through regular visits, your doctor will check your glucose and blood pressure levels. On detecting those conditions, they will advise you on achieving your health goals, thus reducing the risks of kidney disease.

Your kidneys do a marvelous job of keeping you alive. These organs help to remove waste and excess fluid from your body, whose accumulation could have caused toxicity. The kidneys also produce hormones essential to controlling blood pressure. Therefore, you should give these organs the necessary attention to keep them healthy. For example, you should eat a healthy diet rich in vegetables to boost kidney wellness.

However, if, despite your preventive measures, you notice symptoms like vomiting and urination changes, you should never ignore them. Seek the relevant treatment option since you could suffer from kidney disease.

Numerous individuals get abdominal cramps when they have constipation and diarrhea. It is unpleasant, but you will often overcome and even forget it. However, once these symptoms are frequent and severe, there is a possibility that you might have Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is an intestinal inflammatory illness. While there is currently no cure for this concern, once you are diagnosed with the ailment, you will have to manage your symptoms for the remainder of your life. Otherwise, unmanaged Huntersville Crohn’s Disease could lead to severe health complications and numerous uncomfortable symptoms. Here are the common warning signs you should never ignore.

Stomach Pain

Patients with Crohn’s disease typically experience crampy discomfort. It typically manifests in the right lower abdomen but could occur anywhere along the digestive tract. This discomfort varies depending on the location of the inflammation reaction.

This stomach discomfort could hugely disrupt a patient’s quality of life quality. With time, Crohn’s disease might create strictures and adhesions in the digestive tract lining, which can result in painful blockages. Constant swelling, abscesses, and ulcers in the intestines are frequent sources of discomfort. Occasionally, stomach pain is the only indication that the condition is developing, and a change in treatment might be necessary.

Nausea

Occasionally, the stomach pain linked to Crohn’s disease is less crampy and more nauseating. These nauseous symptoms could also be accompanied by vomiting.

Diarrhea

If the swelling affects the colon, digestive issues may manifest not only as stomachaches but also as diarrhea. Consult a physician if your diarrhea persists for two weeks and does not improve.

Drastic Urge To Use The Restroom

When establishing if Crohn’s disease might cause diarrhea, stool consistency, and timing are both important factors. Crohn’s patients may also experience unexpected diarrhea that sends them rushing to the bathroom.

Constipation

Though not as prevalent as diarrhea, constipation could indicate Crohn’s disease. It could be uncomfortable as the stool passes via your system.

Blood In The Stool

Crohn’s disease can cause fissures in the wall of the anus, which could cause discomfort, bleeding, and infection, particularly during bowel motions. The stool can be fiery red if it is from the rectum or large intestine or black or brown if it is from the small intestine. Do not wait weeks hoping it will disappear by itself; visit the doctor.

Weight Loss

Persons with Crohn’s disease may realize that they are losing weight even if they are not actively striving to do so. Patients avoid eating as it aches, and they understand that eating requires a visit to the washroom.

Fatigue

Once your body is experiencing inflammation, you may experience fatigue. In contrast to being tired and having difficulties concentrating, exhaustion is when your entire body feels weary. You might feel less energetic enough to engage in your beloved activities, even despite restful sleep.

Mouth Sores

The chronic inflammation caused by Crohn’s disease does not simply impact your intestines, as some individuals may experience mouth sores throughout flare-ups. For those with Crohn’s disease, the digestive system gets compromised and cannot absorb minerals and vitamins effectively. These deficits, combined with inflammation, could cause mouth canker sores.

Chron’s disease has no known cure, which means that the sooner you realize you have this condition, the better. Numerous treatments and lifestyle adjustments can help keep the disease from progressing and avoid complications. For instance, you might have to shun specific dairy products if you observe you have this intolerance. Additionally, you must stop smoking as it can exacerbate your symptoms, and occasionally undergo colonoscopies to rule out cancer. If you have more questions and concerns about Chron’s disease, talk to your provider.

Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) is the persistent or recurring pain in your lower back and legs after spinal surgery. This condition occurs when you don’t experience significant pain relief from the surgery and may have new or continued pain, nerve damage, or other complications. The exact causes of FBSS are not clear. Your spine specialist Macon, GA, asserts that the condition can be a result of scar tissue formation, spinal instability, incorrect surgical procedures, or underlying spinal conditions. Treatment options for FBSS may include physical therapy, pain management, nerve stimulation, and in some cases, repeat surgery.

1. Overworked muscles

Overworked muscles can contribute to FBSS by creating an increased load on your spinal structures, leading to ongoing pain and discomfort. When the muscles surrounding your spine become weak or imbalanced, they cannot provide adequate support to the vertebrae, leading to an increased strain on the surgical area. This strain can cause scar tissue to form, resulting in chronic pain and limiting your range of motion in the affected area.

2. Post-surgery complications

Post-surgery, such as infection, scar tissue formation, nerve damage, and dural tear can result in FBSS. Infection can cause pain, swelling, and inflammation at the surgical site, leading to further complications. Scar tissue formation can restrict spinal movement, causing pain and discomfort. Nerve damage can result in numbness, tingling, and weakness in the legs and arms, leading to decreased mobility. A dural tear in the protective covering around the spinal cord can cause headaches, neck pain, and nerve irritation. All of these complications can result in chronic pain and limited mobility.

3. Surgery didn’t repair all problems.

Failed back surgery syndrome can occur when the initial surgery does not repair all of the underlying problems that led to the need for surgery in the first place. This occurrence can be due to several reasons, such as scar tissue formation, spinal instability, nerve damage, or additional conditions that your provider didn’t diagnose before the surgery.

4. Recurrent disc herniation

Recurrent disc herniation occurs when your spinal disc herniates again after a previous surgical intervention. The disorder can cause persistent pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the affected area, even after surgery. This failure to resolve the problem can be due to incomplete removal of the herniated disc, scar tissue formation, or degeneration of the adjacent discs. Hence, diagnosing and treating recurrent herniation is crucial to prevent the development of FBSS.

• 5. Technical problems

Technical problems can happen when the procedure doesn’t go as expected, resulting in the persistence or worsening of your original symptoms. Some common technical issues during back surgery include nerve root damage, spinal instability, improper spinal alignment, and incomplete removal of your herniated disc or other spinal structures, causing pain. Technical problems can also arise from surgical instrumentation failures, incorrect patient positioning, or improper placement of surgical implants.

If you experience symptoms of failed back surgery syndrome, call the Spine Center Atlanta office or schedule an appointment online for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Do you know that your hip is the largest joint in your body? This crucial joint links the lower extremities to the upper body part. Your hips give the upper body stability when conducting daily activities such as walking. The flexibility of this joint in almost every movement you take exposes it to repetitive strains that trigger hip pain. The pain in this joint can hinder your mobility, thus lowering your performance in your favorite sport and workplace. That is why the specialist from Integrity Orthopedics recommends the following strategies to keep your hips healthy.

Maintain the Healthy Weight

Individuals who are obese are at a greater risk of developing hip problems. Essentially hip joints are among the weight-bearing joints in the body. Every additional weight in your upper body parts puts extra strain on your hip, exposing them to fractures in the long run.

Therefore, if you are overweight or obese, you should work with your doctor to shed excessive weight.

Get Moving

Another way of preserving your hips is by engaging in physical activities. Regular exercises help to strengthen the hip muscles and joints, reducing the risk of hip injuries. Do not let your work commitments hinder you from developing a schedule for physical exercise.

Set aside thirty minutes daily for participating in exercises such as walking and light squats to boost the wellness of your hips.

Sleep Right

Your sleeping position dictates hip health and functionality. Usually, sleeping on one hip joint for a long time exerts greater pressure, exposing you to hip pain. Therefore, if you sleep on your side, you should keep alternating your sides for even pressure distribution.

Also, it would help to invest in a comfortable pillow, ensuring that your hips are aligned properly with the spine as you sleep.

Wear the Comfortable Footwear

You may think that your shoe choices only impact your foot health, but you are mistaken. Essentially, the stability of your hips depends on how well you make the steps when walking. This instance implies that when you wear ill-fitting shoes that change your walking style, your hips will not have proper alignment. Therefore, you should purchase shoes that have ample room. This way, you will reduce the risk of hip concerns.

If you participate in sporting activities, consult your coach about the right footwear that corresponds with your foot and sport.

Be Mindful of What You Eat

Whatever you eat is crucial when it comes to hip health. Essentially, highly processed meals usually increase the chances of inflammation, thus igniting arthritis symptoms. Therefore, you should avoid those meals and focus on healthy meals such as leafy greens and whole grains.

Your hip joints are vital for stability when conducting your everyday activities. Therefore, you should pay attention to these joints and ensure they are healthy. For example, you should conduct regular physical activities to boost the hips’ strength and flexibility. Changing your sleeping positions will also help to avoid excessive stress on one side of the hip.

However, if you experience hip pain despite all those measures, you should never ignore the pain. Seek the appropriate treatment to continue living on top of your life.

Radiofrequency ablation is a pain-reducing medical procedure usually used to treat chronic back pain, joint pain, neck pain, and nerve injuries, mostly caused by arthritis or acute injuries. The process involves the insertion of a catheter into the affected region to identify the affected nerves. The energy from the radiofrequency waves is directed to the affected nerves, and the energy burns the nerve fibers where the pain originates, stopping it from sending pain signals to the brain. This ablating procedure is usually done after the patient has been sedated and the area around the affected nerves has been numbed using local anesthetics. In radiofrequency ablation Naples, they offer a diagnostic nerve block to identify the affected nerves and then carry on with the ablation procedure in their regenerative institute. This process is generally non-pharmaceutical and is directed to only act on the affected nerves without destroying the other surrounding nerves.

Advantages of radiofrequency ablation

The process has a very high success rate of relieving pain. Radiofrequency Ablation is also a minimally invasive process; no surgical process is required to identify and treat the affected area. This ensures minimal disruption to the skin and reduces the risk of infections. On the other hand, the recovery process is swift, and one is usually discharged on the same day of the procedure. Opting for this procedure is also advantageous as one does not have to seek pharmaceutical drugs for pain management. There is also improved function of the organs as the heat used in radiofrequency ablation only destroys the affected nerves with minimum disruption to the other body parts.

Effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation

After the procedure, most people have some pain relief, varying from one person to another due to the various causes of the pain and the area affected. Pain relief can occur immediately for some individuals, whereas in others, it occurs within ten days or maybe up to three weeks in others. Pain relief can last from six months to 12 months. For some people, the relief lasts a few years. Others may have only limited pain relief. With Regular checkups and health visits, your healthcare provider will give the best treatment outcomes depending on the specific cause of the pain. This will increase the success rate of your procedure and the period in which the pain relief will last.

Side effects of radiofrequency ablation

The procedure Has minimal side effects. During the procedure, one might experience minimal pain similar to the pain felt on the nerve. The pain may last up to two weeks after the procedure, and one is required to use an icepack on the affected region. One may feel numbness temporarily in the area where the needle was injected. After the procedure, one is given a rest period of around 2 to 3 days, where one is required not to do any strenuous work. Even after the procedure, the treated nerve can grow again. This usually happens about 6 to 12 months after the procedure. In such a situation, your health caregiver can redo the Radiofrequency ablation process if necessary.

Risks encountered during frequency ablation.

Subtly, bleeding or infection may occur on the skin surface where the probe is inserted. During the needle insertion, surrounding nerves and blood vessels may be affected, causing irreversible neurological damage.

The radiofrequency ablation procedure is generally safe and convenient for most patients. Medical practitioners are now considering this procedure for pain relief compared to the various pharmaceutical drugs, which are not as effective. Even with this treatment, patients are encouraged to continue taking care of themselves to avoid recurrence or stimulating the pain triggers, depending on the specific cause of the pain.

Surgeons often perform a partial liver resection to eliminate a cancerous, precancerous, or benign (noncancerous) tumor. Liver cancer might be primary — which means that it originates in your liver — or it can be secondary, which starts in another organ and spreads. The most prevalent liver cancers treated by partial Lenox Hill liver surgery include:

1.     Hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer).
2.     Cholangiocarcinoma (primary liver cancer).
3.     Metastatic colorectal cancer (secondary liver cancer).

An overview of a liver surgery

A liver surgery, or hepatectomy, is a surgical treatment to eliminate part of your liver. You can eliminate up to two-thirds of your liver as long as the rest is healthy. If you have liver illness, a smaller portion can be removed. Your liver can grow back to its former size if the remaining liver is healthy.

How much liver is removed with a partial hepatectomy?

The purpose of partial liver resection is to eliminate the problematic part of your liver (with a safe margin around any cancerous tumor) while leaving enough liver to keep up with all the work it has to accomplish. 

The proportion of liver that must be left behind is determined by how damaged the liver is overall. A healthy liver may recover after losing up to two-thirds of its capacity. Also, a severely damaged liver may only be able to lose one-third.

The time it takes to recover from liver surgery

Recovery from liver surgery at home takes four to eight weeks. You might have to take this time off from work. While healing, you shouldn’t try to lift anything heavy or participate in rigorous activity. Also, it might take up to 12 weeks before you can resume all of your daily activities.

Furthermore, recovery from laparoscopic or robotic surgery is usually quicker. You’ll recover at home for roughly two to four weeks, although it will take six to eight weeks to resume your normal activities. Having adequate protein and doing some little exercise (like walking) every day will assist you in recovering faster. Also, try walking for at least 30 minutes daily, but take breaks as required.

An outlook for those who have had a liver surgery

After the surgery, you’ll feel sore and tired for a while. Also, you might feel sick to your stomach at first. These indicators should start to ease in the first two weeks. Your healthcare professional will instruct you on how to care for your incision as it recovers. Also, they will tell you when it’s safe to bathe and have sex again. You’ll need to avoid consuming alcohol to protect your healing liver.

A hepatectomy is a significant surgery on your liver, which is an essential organ without which you cannot live. It necessitates a high degree of competence and has a considerable risk of complications. However, when it succeeds, liver resection can provide you — or the person to whom you donate your liver — a fresh lease on life.

Furthermore, liver surgery can detect disorders such as cancer. A doctor will discuss your situation with you in detail to help you better understand your operation and recovery. Call Lenox Hill Surgeons, LLP, to schedule your consultation today to determine if you are the ideal candidate for liver surgery procedures.

Abdominal pain usually means that you have an issue going on, but the pain may disappear after a while. However, persistent and severe abdominal pains are not signs to ignore because they could mean a potential health issue. Dr. Bharat Pothuri has all it takes to give you the best care in addressing the cause of your pain and offering the correct treatment. The doctor will assess you extensively till he finds the right diagnosis and then creates a working treatment plan to offer you relief.

Food Poisoning

You will likely have food poisoning when you take in food that contains toxins in contaminated foods. While most symptoms of food poisoning are mild and likely to disappear on their own, other symptoms require medical attention because of their severity. You will notice your initial symptoms after a few hours of consuming contaminated food. Your symptoms will include abdominal cramping and pain, fever, episodes of vomiting, nausea, and watery diarrhea.

Food Allergy

Your immune system may react a certain way after consuming foods that trigger allergic signs and symptoms. You may react within the first few minutes of your eating. Although you may outgrow your allergy as you grow, the symptoms can still be uncomfortable and may require some control measures. Your symptoms may include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The disorder commonly affects your gastrointestinal tract, including your intestines and stomach. You may fail to notice symptoms with IBS, especially if you have a less severe IBS. Your symptoms for IBS may include abdominal cramping and pain, bowel movement changes and appearance changes, and increased gas in your stool. Usually, treatment for your symptoms may include a few lifestyle changes.

Gallstones

Your gallbladder may have hard deposits of digestive fluids because of too much cholesterol, bilirubin, and incorrect emptying of the gallbladder. At first, you may not notice any unusual signs and symptoms. However, a gallstone may block your duct and result in symptoms like sudden and rapid pain in your upper abdomen, intense pain in the center of your abdomen, nausea, and vomiting. Your abdominal pain may intensify, making it hard to sit still.

Appendicitis

Your appendix lining may block, leading to infection and thus causing appendicitis. As the bacteria causing the infection multiply, your appendix will swell, inflame and fill with pus. You will likely experience symptoms that include sudden pain in your lower abdomen, especially to the right, abdominal bloating, and constipation. You may also experience pain that worsens with coughing, constipation, and pain from your navel that moves to your lower abdomen.

Visit GastroDoxs PLLC to find out the cause of your abdominal pain and get treated today. Your treatment may begin with a question and answer session so your doctor can establish a ground for diagnosis. Later, you can get the necessary care you will need to help you in recovery. Therefore, visit the website and hit the request appointment button to schedule your visit.

You have probably encountered discomfort in your knees at some point. Whether you were walking or engaging in your favorite sport, like football, this sensation implied something was amiss in your knee joints. What did you do in that agonizing scenario? One thing that comes across our mind in such a situation is to rest. However, this is not a good idea since it can increase joint stiffness and worsen knee pain. The best thing is to keep engaging in moderate exercises and give your knee the necessary attention. Here are other healthy guidelines that Dr. Kevin McElroy recommends keeping your knee joints healthy and functional.

Maintain the Healthy Weight

Do you know that being overweight can predispose you to knee problems? Your knee joints are crucial joints that support your upper body weights and keep you stable. However, any extra pound you accumulate puts an additional strain on these weight-bearing joints, thus exposing them to injuries over time. Therefore, you should work with your doctor to reduce the extra weight if you are overweight.

Stop Smoking

Knee concerns are another reason you should say no to smoking. Essentially, cigarette chemicals obstruct the blood flow to the knee joints. Consequently, this joint does not get ample replenishment, which usually heightens the chances of fracture and inflammation.

While you may experience difficulties quitting smoking alone, rehabilitation services can help you significantly kick off this habit.

Embrace the Correct Posture

Your joint alignment is a practical matter when conducting your everyday activities. A body posture that interferes with the proper joint alignment is a potential threat to your joint wellness. For example, crossing your legs when sitting can exert unnecessary pressure on your kneecaps, thus igniting knee pain in the long run.

To minimize such concerns, you should adopt the correct posture such as keeping your knees at the same horizontal level as your hip while sitting.

Warm-Up

Physical activities are crucial in boosting the strength and flexibility of your joints. However, exercises with cold muscles can do more harm than good to your joints. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct light exercises such as simple jogs and walks before starting the actual activity. You minimize the risk of sudden strain on your knee joints through warm-ups as you exercise.

Wear the Correct Fitting Shoes

You may think that your shoe choice only influences foot health, but it does more than that. Essentially, the knee and foot bones share some kinetic mechanics, especially when walking. Therefore, you should invest in comfortable footwear that supports your arch, thus boosting the stability of your knee joints.

You can ask your coach about the proper fitting shoes if you participate in an athlete or other sporting activities.

Although knee pain is common to those participating in sports, you can still encounter this condition in your home. Therefore, it is the obligation of every individual out there to pay attention to this joint. For example, if you have excessive body weight, you should take the necessary measures to achieve a healthy weight. Starting every physical exercise with warm-ups will also do you good in avoiding knee concerns.

If you still encounter knee pain despite these preventive measures, you should reach out for the appropriate medical intervention.

An ultrasound or sonography is an imaging test that uses sound waves to produce images of tissues, organs, and structures inside your body. Unlike X-rays, Madison ultrasound does not use radiation, making it safe to check the development of a baby during pregnancy. An ultrasound can also be a diagnostic procedure to view and provide valuable information about internal body parts.

Why would I need an ultrasound?

Your doctor may recommend an ultrasound for several reasons, including to:

• View the uterus during pregnancy and monitor the baby’s health
• Examine internal parts of the body, including the bladder, kidneys, liver, heart, and blood vessels.
• Guide a needle for biopsy

Preparing for an ultrasound

Most ultrasound examinations require no preparation, but there are a few exceptions. For example, your healthcare provider may instruct you not to eat or drink for a gallbladder ultrasound for a certain period before the exam. Other tests, such as a pelvic ultrasound, require a full bladder. You need to drink water before the exam and not urinate until the procedure is over. Your healthcare provider will let you know much water to drink before the ultrasound.

If the ultrasound involves a child, they may need additional preparation. Your doctor will give you specific instructions to follow, whether you are scheduling an ultrasound for yourself or your child.

What happens during an ultrasound?

On the day of your appointment, it is best to wear loose clothing for your provider to access a specific body area easily. Your doctor will ask you to remove jewelry before the ultrasound, so leaving valuables at home is a good idea. You may need to reposition some of your clothing or remove all your clothing and change it into a gown.

You will lie on an exam table, and your doctor will apply gel to the skin over the examined area. The gel prevents air pockets which can block sound waves that create images. It is water-based and is, therefore, easy to remove from skin and clothing if necessary. Next, your provider presses a small hand-held device against the area being studied and moves it as needed to capture images. The device transmits sound waves into your body, collects echoes, and sends them to a monitor, which creates the images.

Sometimes the transducer is attached to a probe and inserted into a natural opening in your body. Examples of ultrasounds done inside the body include transvaginal ultrasound, transrectal ultrasound, and transesophageal echocardiogram.

What are the potential risks?

There are no known risks to having an ultrasound; it is a safe procedure that uses low-power sound waves. An ultrasound uses no radiation and therefore offers a safe way of checking your unborn baby’s health.

Although ultrasound is a valuable tool, it has some limitations. Ultrasound is ineffective at imaging body parts hidden by bone or that have gas; these include the lungs or head. That is because sound waves don’t travel well through bone or air. An ultrasound might also not show objects located deep in the human body. Your healthcare provider may use other imaging tests such as X-rays, CT, or MRI scans to view these areas.

If you have further questions about an ultrasound, consult your doctor at Physicians for Women – Melius & Schurr.