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If you’ve ever had dental work done you’ve probably heard of lidocaine, the most common local anesthetic that dentists use to block nerve pain. While lidocaine is used to treat other serious conditions like ventricular tachycardia, it is also available as a topical anesthetic in stick-on patches that you can use for any of the following reasons: To relieve acute pain To relieve pain from nerve disease  To ease chronic pain To ease pain caused by shingles These days, you can find several different brands…

In the United States, there are over 10 million people older than 50 who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis. While most of them are women, approximately two million are men. In addition, there are over 43 million people who currently have low bone mass levels and an increased risk for osteoporosis.  Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to become brittle, weak, and more prone to fractures. It can happen if your body doesn’t create new bone tissue fast enough to replace the old tissue. …

Today in the United States, there are close to 790,000 people living with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Over 71 percent of them are currently on kidney dialysis and 29 percent have had a kidney transplant.  ESRD, also referred to as acute or chronic kidney failure, occurs when the kidneys can’t filter waste from the body adequately, usually at less than 15 percent of the normal level. Some of the more common symptoms of ESRD include:  Feeling extremely fatigued Swelling in the lower extremities Vomiting Loss…

Today in the United States, statistics show that most people who are diagnosed with lung cancer are over the age of 65. Even though lung cancer is still the number one cause of cancer fatalities in this country, numbers are going down as more and more people quit smoking.  While lung cancer starts in one or both lungs, it can spread to the lymph nodes or other organs. However, if it’s only present in one lung and found before metastasis occurs, lung cancer has a…

Prolotherapy, or proliferation therapy, is a treatment in which an irritant solution is injected into a joint, ligament, or tendon to alleviate pain. As of now, prolotherapy is still considered to be an alternative medicine therapy that hasn’t been recognized by the FDA or other American medical institutions as a safe and effective medical treatment.  The idea of prolotherapy, which is thousands of years old, is that the injections promote self-repair of the injured body part. The two most common types of irritant solutions used…

A refraction eye exam is an exam that determines whether you have refractive vision errors that can cause nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or a combination. Refraction exams are done by optometrists or ophthalmologists by shining a light into your eyes using a phoropter. When this light enters your eyes, it bends and reflects on the back of your eye (your retina). The position where it hits your retina shows the doctor whether you have refractive errors, what they are, and if you need prescription lenses to…

IVF – in vitro fertilization – is an assisted reproductive technology procedure that may help people become pregnant if they have fertility or genetic issues. It begins by retrieving eggs from ovaries, fertilizing them in a lab, and implanting the embryo(s) into a uterus. Your physician might suggest undergoing IVF treatment if you are having trouble conceiving and have tried other infertility treatments without success. It is also commonly used as the primary fertility treatment for women older than 40, or if you or your…

The Mohs surgical procedure gets its name from the man who developed it 85 years ago, Frederic Mohs. Today, his procedure is one of the most popular and effective ways for physicians to remove skin cancer from large areas with very little scarring. In fact, studies show that when the Mohs surgical technique is used to remove primary basal-cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer, patients have a 97 to 99.8 percent cure rate.  Mohs procedures can be done in a doctor’s office…

Because Medicare is a federal health insurance program, eligibility requirements are the same in every U.S. state. If you live in Texas, you can enroll in Medicare if you meet one of the following requirements: You are 65 years or older and are a U.S. citizen, or you’ve been a permanent legal resident for five continuous years. You qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A benefits if you or your spouse have paid Medicare taxes for the minimum time requirement (40 quarters or 10 years).  You…

Botox injections are best known as cosmetic treatments for those who want to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles and make their skin look smooth and young. However, Botox injections are also used to treat medical conditions that are caused by muscle disorders.   If your health care provider suggests you get Botox injections for a medical condition, your Medicare benefits might cover them. It will depend on the type of treatment you need and if the Botox is considered medically necessary.  Does Medicare cover Botox? …