Doctor-Reviewed Health Guides: Conditions, Procedures & Health News

Ezetimibe is a prescription tablet that lowers LDL ("bad") cholesterol by reducing how much cholesterol the small intestine absorbs from food. It is taken at the same time every day, with or without food, and is often prescribed for people who cannot take statins or need extra lowering. Report any allergic reaction right away.

Statins are prescription medicines that lower LDL, the "bad" cholesterol that builds up inside arteries, by blocking an enzyme the liver needs to make cholesterol. Lower LDL means less plaque and a lower chance of heart attack or stroke. Most people take statins without problems; muscle aches are the most common complaint.

A stapedectomy is surgery that treats hearing loss caused by otosclerosis by removing the stuck stapes bone in the middle ear and replacing it with a small artificial device. The operation usually takes 90 minutes to 2 hours, is often outpatient and helps about 80% to 90% of people. Most people resume normal routines in about a week.

Eyeglasses are medical devices made of lenses mounted in a frame that bend light before it enters your eyes, so it focuses correctly on the retina. They correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia, and some lenses treat double vision. They improve vision but don't cure the underlying error, and you need a current prescription from an eye exam.

SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant, and they work by keeping serotonin active in the brain for longer. They treat depression, anxiety disorders, OCD, PTSD and bulimia. Most people feel better 4 to 6 weeks after reaching their treatment dose. Never stop an SSRI suddenly; your doctor will lower the dose slowly.

An eyebrow transplant is a permanent cosmetic surgery that moves hair follicles, usually from the scalp above the ears, into the eyebrows to make them fuller. It can help people with thin brows, a faded brow tattoo, or brow loss from burns, scars, alopecia areata or hair pulling. Most people go home the same day.

Eye surgery is an operation that removes, repairs or reshapes the eye or its surrounding muscles and nerves, performed by an ophthalmologist. It treats cataracts, refractive errors, glaucoma, retinal detachment, drooping eyelids and eye cancer. Most common procedures are very safe and many are same-day, but infection, bleeding, dry eyes or vision loss can occur.

Energy healing is a group of complementary therapies, such as Reiki, acupuncture and qigong, that aim to restore balance to a proposed energy field in and around the body. Most methods carry little risk and rarely cause side effects, but few are well studied. Use energy healing alongside regular medical care, never in place of it.

An enema is a procedure in which fluid, such as saline, glycerin or mineral oil, is placed into the rectum to help the bowel empty. It is mainly used for stubborn constipation, fecal impaction and bowel preparation before a colonoscopy or surgery. Most work within 15 minutes to an hour; overuse, wrong technique or too much fluid can cause harm.

Endovenous thermal ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that seals off medium to large varicose veins in the legs using laser or radiofrequency heat delivered through a thin catheter. It is done under local anesthesia, usually takes about one hour, and lets you go home the same day. Most people return to work within a few days.

Excess skin removal is a group of plastic surgery procedures, such as panniculectomy, tummy tuck and arm lift, that remove loose, sagging skin after major weight loss. It can improve comfort, clothing fit and appearance. Good candidates keep a stable weight for at least six months, don't smoke and are in generally good health.

Evisceration is eye removal surgery that takes out the contents of one eye while leaving the white scleral shell and eye muscles in place. It treats severe infections, serious injuries, and painful blind eyes. Surgery usually takes about an hour, most people go home the same day, and a custom prosthetic eye is usually fitted 6–8 weeks later.

Eye drops are liquid medicines placed on the surface of the eye, one or two drops at a time. Over-the-counter drops lubricate, rinse or ease redness, while prescription drops treat infections, allergies, inflammation and glaucoma. Using the wrong drop can hide or worsen a problem, so see an eye specialist when symptoms persist.

Exposure therapy is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy in which a trained therapist gradually and safely exposes you to the things, situations or activities you fear. It helps treat phobias, PTSD, panic disorder, OCD, social anxiety and generalized anxiety. Sessions build from mild to more intense exposures; it can feel distressing at first but is safe.

Exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy and the gold-standard treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). You gradually face anxiety triggers, such as thoughts, images or situations, while resisting compulsions or avoidance. Over time, your brain learns to handle anxiety without rituals, and most people attend weekly sessions for at least a few months.

Existential therapy is a form of talk therapy that uses ideas from philosophy to help you explore meaning, purpose, and personal responsibility for your choices. It works through four core concerns — death, isolation, meaning, and freedom — and may help with anxiety, depression, addiction, and PTSD. Sessions are usually weekly, about an hour, for several months.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure that removes precancerous or cancerous growths from the lining of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine or colon in one piece, without skin incisions. It usually takes one to three hours, most people return to work in about five days, and complications such as bleeding or perforation are rare.

Endovascular surgery is a minimally invasive way to repair blood vessels from the inside. Instead of a large incision, a surgeon makes a needle puncture, usually in the groin, and threads a thin catheter to the damaged vessel under live X-ray guidance. It treats aneurysms, blocked arteries, and blood clots, and usually means less blood loss and faster healing.

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is a weight loss procedure that uses an endoscope passed through the mouth to place about 10 stitches inside the stomach, folding it into a narrow tube about 30% of its original size. It involves no cuts, usually suits people with a BMI of 30 or higher, and typically produces 15% to 20% total weight loss.

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is a minimally invasive procedure that places a stent graft, a fabric tube supported by metal mesh, inside the chest aorta through a small groin incision. It treats descending thoracic aortic aneurysms, dissections and traumatic tears. In suitable candidates, it offers a faster recovery and fewer serious complications than open surgery.

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is a minimally invasive procedure that removes early cancers and precancerous growths from the mucosa, the inner lining of the digestive tract, using an endoscope passed through the mouth or anus. It takes about 30 to 60 minutes under anesthesia, needs no incisions, and most people return to work the next day.

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a minimally invasive procedure that treats an abdominal aortic aneurysm from inside the artery. Through small punctures in the groin, a doctor guides a fabric-and-metal stent graft into the aorta to re-line the bulge and prevent rupture. Most people stay in hospital a few days and need lifelong imaging follow-up.

Embryo freezing, or embryo cryopreservation, is a process that freezes fertilized eggs and stores them in liquid nitrogen at −196 °C for later use. It is most often done after IVF or ICSI to save extra embryos, or to preserve fertility before treatments like chemotherapy. Frozen embryos are later thawed and transferred into the uterus.

Electrocauterization is a form of electrosurgery that uses an electric current to heat a pen-like probe, allowing a healthcare provider to cut tissue, seal small bleeding vessels, or create targeted scar tissue. It treats skin growths, warts, chronic nosebleeds and some eye problems, is usually painless with numbing, and needs prompt review if bleeding, lasting pain or infection develops.