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

Bisphosphonates are medicines that slow bone loss and strengthen bones. They're the most common treatment for osteoporosis and also treat Paget's disease. They can lower the risk of spine fractures by about 40% to 70% and hip fractures by about 30% to 50%. Rare risks include jaw bone problems and unusual thigh fractures.

Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy is a complementary therapy that uses low-level pulses of electromagnetic energy to try to ease pain, reduce inflammation and support healing. The evidence is mixed, and benefits haven't been proven. It's safe for most people, but not if you're pregnant, have a pacemaker or insulin pump, use a medicine patch or have epilepsy.

Breast implants are silicone shells filled with silicone gel or saline that are surgically placed to enlarge the breasts or rebuild them after mastectomy. You must be at least 18 for saline implants, and the FDA recommends at least 22 for silicone. Full recovery takes six to eight weeks. Implants aren't lifetime devices; they last about 10 years.

Orthopaedic surgery is any surgery that treats problems with the musculoskeletal system: the bones, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments. It's used to repair injuries, reshape bones and joints, place artificial implants and remove tumors. Common examples include joint replacements, ACL repair and fixing broken bones. Recovery depends on the procedure and often includes physical therapy.

Breast reconstruction is surgery that rebuilds the shape of the breast after a mastectomy or lumpectomy. It can use breast implants, a flap of your own tissue or both, and can be done at the same time as cancer surgery or later. Reconstruction is a personal choice; alternatives include a breast form or going flat.

Heart valve replacement is a procedure that swaps a diseased heart valve that can't be repaired for a new one. Tissue valves usually last 10 to 20 years and don't need lifelong blood thinners; mechanical valves may last a lifetime but need lifelong warfarin. It can be done with open-heart surgery or a catheter procedure such as TAVR.

A heart transplant replaces a failing heart with a healthy donor heart. It's a last-resort treatment for end-stage heart failure when other treatments no longer help. The hospital stay is about three weeks, and you'll take anti-rejection medicines for life. About 91% of recipients are alive after one year, and median survival is about 14 years.

Ketamine therapy is a treatment that uses low doses of ketamine, an anesthetic, for certain mental health conditions and chronic pain. The FDA has approved a nasal spray form, esketamine, for treatment-resistant depression. Some people feel better within hours, but effects can fade within days or weeks. Common side effects include dissociation, nausea and higher blood pressure.

A lumbar epidural steroid injection (ESI) delivers anti-inflammatory steroid medicine into the epidural space around the spinal nerves in the lower back. It eases sciatica and low back pain caused by irritated nerve roots, most often from a herniated disk or spinal stenosis. Relief can last a few days to a few months. It doesn't cure back pain.

Breast surgery is any surgery on the breasts. Cancer surgeries include breast biopsy, lumpectomy and mastectomy. Cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries include breast augmentation, reconstruction, reduction and lift. Most are done under general anesthesia. Recovery ranges from a few weeks to several months after mastectomy. Men may need breast surgery for breast cancer or gynecomastia.

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery that lets a surgeon see, diagnose and treat problems inside a joint through small incisions, using a thin tube with a light and camera. It's used on the knee, shoulder, hip, ankle, elbow and wrist. Most people go home the same day. It causes less pain and scarring than open surgery.

A breast lift (mastopexy) is cosmetic surgery that raises and reshapes sagging breasts by removing stretched skin, tightening the remaining tissue and moving the nipple and areola higher. It doesn't change breast size on its own. Surgery takes about one to two hours, and most people go home the same day. Results last several years.

Breast reduction (reduction mammoplasty) is surgery that makes the breasts smaller by removing fat, glandular tissue and skin. It's often done to relieve back, neck and shoulder pain and skin irritation caused by large, heavy breasts. Surgery takes about three to five hours. Most people take one to two weeks off work. Scars are permanent but fade.

Continuous bladder irrigation (CBI) is a hospital procedure that constantly flushes the bladder with sterile saline while draining urine at the same time. It's most often used after bladder or prostate surgery to prevent or clear blood clots that can block urine flow. It uses a three-way Foley catheter. CBI is generally safe, though it may feel uncomfortable.

Sleeping pills (sleep aids, hypnotics) are medicines that make you drowsy and relaxed so you can fall asleep or stay asleep. They're meant for short-term use. Long-term use can cause dependence and rebound insomnia, and older adults face a higher risk of falls. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is an effective alternative.

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) uses a heart-lung machine to take over the work of the heart and lungs during surgery. The machine adds oxygen to the blood, removes carbon dioxide and pumps it back, letting the surgeon work on a still heart. It's used for most open-heart surgeries. Risks rise the longer you're on the machine.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a treatment that uses a surgically implanted device to send mild electrical pulses to a specific area of the brain. It's FDA-approved for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor and medication-resistant epilepsy. It doesn't cure these conditions, but it can greatly ease symptoms and often allows lower medication doses. It's adjustable and reversible.

Orthotics (orthoses) are devices worn in or with your shoes to support, align and cushion the feet and ankles and ease pain. They range from store-bought inserts to custom orthotics made from a mold or 3D scan. They're used for plantar fasciitis, flat feet, high arches and bunions. They manage symptoms but don't cure the underlying problem.

Plastic surgery is surgery that changes or restores the shape and function of parts of the body. Reconstructive surgery repairs problems caused by birth defects, injuries, burns, cancer or disease. Cosmetic surgery is done by choice to change appearance. Choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon improves your chances of a good result.

ACE inhibitors (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors) are medicines that relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure by blocking a hormone called angiotensin II. They treat high blood pressure and heart failure. Rarely, they cause angioedema, a dangerous swelling of the face or throat that needs emergency care. They must not be taken during pregnancy.

A CPAP machine (continuous positive airway pressure) treats obstructive sleep apnea by blowing a steady stream of air through a mask while you sleep. The gentle pressure keeps the airway from collapsing. It's often the first treatment for sleep apnea and is very effective when used every night. Benefits include better sleep, less snoring and less daytime sleepiness.

Pain management uses medicines, procedures, exercise, therapy and lifestyle changes to prevent, reduce or relieve pain and help you function better. It treats both acute pain, such as after an injury or surgery, and chronic pain that lasts months or years. Opioids are generally avoided when possible. The goal is better daily life; complete relief isn't always possible.

The Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts) is first aid for choking in adults and children over 1 year, used when someone can't breathe, speak or cough. Alternate five back blows with five hard abdominal thrusts until the object comes out. If the person becomes unconscious, call 911 and start CPR. For babies under 1, use back blows and chest thrusts.

Cardioversion is a treatment that resets an abnormal heart rhythm to normal. Electrical cardioversion uses a brief, controlled shock through pads on the chest and back under sedation; chemical cardioversion uses medicine. It's most often used for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. The visit takes about four to six hours, and most people go home the same day.