Timbrt/Liver-Text-OA huggingface dataset:
Question: is hepatitis c contagious?
Answer: yes hepatitis c can be passed from person to person usually through the skin. the most common ways that hepatitis c is spread is through intravenous (iv) drug users sharing needles and needle stick injuries in a health care setting. before we had a test for hepatitis c in the blood it was also common to pass hepatitis c through a blood transfusion (this is now very rare in the u. s. ). it’s possible though not common for a mother to pass hepatitis c to her unborn baby. it’s very unusual to spread hepatitis c through sex but it can happen. and while it’s very rare for hepatitis c to spread through sharing personal care items like razors and toothbrushes it’s best to avoid sharing with someone who has hepatitis c. hepatitis c is not spread through coughing sneezing hugging or kissing.
Question: is there any otc medications that can be taken for severe itching caused by primary biliary cirrhosis that really works? . my insurance company is trying to deny my dr. 's recommended treatment by not covering the prescription medication that he gave me. they recommended me to take zyrtek (over-the-counter) instead. i've been trying benadryl and everything else like that in the (over-the-counter) stuff already! it has not been effective for me and i'm miserable! the name of the medicine i was prescribed is atarax and it could've even been filled in generic form. my pharmacist told me that it isn't even expensive!
Answer: you need to first check to see if the medication is on your formulary or list of drugs your insurer does cover. even if it is however insurers can require you to try a less expensive drug first to see if it works. if it doesn't -- and that sounds like that's the case here -- your doctor should then contact your insurer to provide information as to why you need the medication he initially prescribed and how efforts to treat you with over the counter medications have failed. if that doesn't work you can officially appeal your insurer's decision in an effort to have the medication covered. you're entitled to at least two levels of appeals and your insurer is required to provide you with information about how to engage in that process.
Tags: primary biliary cirrhosis, insurance
Question: who decides who can keep their doctor and/or their insurance? . my aca insurance plan has one gastro and one dermatologist for a county of 200 000 residents. also these two are not my doctors. my doctors told me they wanted to accept the insurance but the government picked/chose which offices could participate. not only did i lose my insurance i am losing my doctors of 30 years. why is my situation called a phony nightmare or lie?
Answer: your doctors are not correct. the government has absolutely no role in selecting which practices participate in the health plans being sold through the marketplaces. rather it's private insurance companies and doctors together that decide whether they will engage in a business contract. that's always been the case and the aca does nothing to change that. however the law does place new requirements on insurers -- chief among them that they can no longer deny people who are sick access to a health plan. in response many carriers are reducing the size of the provider networks they offer as a way to manage their financial risk since they can no longer do so by refusing to cover sick people among other changes. the idea is to offer smaller networks that they say are more efficient and cost effective to deliver care. many patients however are simply finding they have fewer doctors from which to choose. you have two options: 1) review the list of doctors available in the plan you have and begin to receive your care from physicians who do participate. 2) before the end of this month if you're not happy with your plan you may be able to switch to one that does include your doctors -- if that is your doctors participate with any of them.
Tags: insurance, nightmare
Question: i am 65 with metastatic colon cancer to the liver. i have an hmo but no outside options. i am a federal annuitant and am thinking of getting medicare b so i will have more options. my hmo is pushing for medicare advantage however given my situation i think that i would be better served by just paying for medicare b. hmo has labs chemo scans etc. in one building which is important to me. what are your thoughts?
Answer: i highly recommend you talk with someone at your local state health insurance assistance programs for free unbiased help. find your local program by visiting the medicare. gov medicare helpful contacts page or by calling 1-800-medicare (1-800-633-4227).
Question: recently i needed a tetanus shot at my doctor's office and was later billed for it. . when i asked i was told medicare no longer covered the cost of a tetanus shot. that was in august. what should i expect if the affordable care act continues as proposed?
Answer: this isn't a result of obamacare. with the exception of vaccines for influenza pneumonia and hepatitis b vaccines are generally covered by medicare prescription drug plans. details of the coverage can vary depending on the plan you have. you should contact your medicare drug plan for more information about coverage.
Question: will the new health-care law cause a shortage of doctors if more people are insured? what is in place to help that?
Answer: the fact is that with or without health-care reform we're facing a doctor shortage in this country. the association of medical colleges anticipates a 21 000 shortage of primary-care doctors – the medical professionals who play perhaps the most central and critical role in the success of reform -- by 2015. with an additional 32 million americans expected to gain access to health insurance that trend along with other factors contributing to the shortage is only expected to grow. affordable care act and jobs so what's being done? the law outlines a number of programs to support the development of 16 000 new primary-care health providers over the next five years just as a start. some of those efforts include: * creating additional spots in primary-care residency programs. * increasing the number of trained nurse practitioners who are central to the delivery of primary care. * providing funds to train additional physician assistants who practice medicine under the supervision of a physician. * providing grants to states to create innovative programs to grow their primary-care work force. * scholarships and loan repayment programs for doctors (who often graduate medical school saddled with debt). * promoting medical residency (training) programs in rural and other underserved areas and offering tax benefits to medical professionals who work in underserved areas. shifting our approach beefing up our medical work force is critical but it's not likely to be enough to meet the coming demand. as a result the law also calls for a shift in the way health care is practiced. for example there are a number of pilot projects that will test new medical practice models aimed at helping doctors and nurses better manage the care of people with chronic health conditions. these projects will emphasize a team approach in primary-care settings as well as ongoing relationships between patients and primary-care providers. stronger coordination among primary and specialty care and greater participation on the part of the patient and his or her family will also be encouraged. putting money on the line encouragement won't come in the form of a pep talk and a pat on the back; the goal is to financially reward providers for keeping people healthy. that's a switch from the system that predominates today -- a fee-for-service model -- in which doctors are paid only when they provide a service. that encourages more services not necessarily better or more appropriate care. under reform the idea is to switch to a bundled or salary-based payment model whereby providers will earn greater financial rewards as quality of care and the health of those they treat improves. sounds simple but this represents a major shift in the way our system currently operates. will it work? that remains to be seen.
Question: i'm nicole i got my first bartholin cyst in 08 that was drained the cyst was gone eventually returned. i am 25 years old i have one child 4 years old normal delivery. i am at a point where i am tired of this cyst just here i want to evict this cyst so i am considering removing the cyst i live in nyc i have health first insurance please any recommendations where i can go and tips please my expectations etc. my cyst is not currently infected
Answer: it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. contact your insurance company to find a physician in your area who participates with your health plan. that's important because an in-network doctor will be less expensive to see than one who is not in your health plan's network. most health plans have the list of doctors they work with on their website so you can try looking there as well. if you have any question about what services are covered you should ask your health plan (call the 800 number on the back of your card). you can also refer to your plan's summary of benefits -- a document you should have received when you signed up that tells you what's covered under your plan and how much you might expect to pay for the services you need. good luck!
Tags: bartholin cyst, cyst, drainage, insurance
Question: can type 2 diabetes be diagnosed by elevated liver enzymes or homa calculation?
Answer: diabetes is defined by [a] fasting glucose [of] 126 or higher on more than one occasion or [an] a1c [of] 6. 5 or higher. all endocrinologists are familiar with the homa however they generally view that as a research tool and most do not use it with individual patients or realize that the calculator is on the internet. i'd guess 1 percent are aware that the homa calculator is available on line. those liver enzyme tests are a pretty good screening test for liver inflamation of any cause however they are usually within normal limits in patients with diabetes. fatty liver is common in type 2 diabetes and a small percentage of people with diabetes develop serious liver conditions such as cirrhosis or liver cancer due to the fatty liver disease associated with diabetes. alcohol abuse is another frequent cause of elevated liver enzymes. statin use can cause elevated liver enzymes too.
Tags: type 2 diabetes
Question: what i should do to get rid of eye puffiness?
Answer: look for under-eye creams that contain ingredients such as niacinamide peptides and caffeine. be careful to also manage your salt intake get enough sleep and try not to rub the area around your eyes. if you have allergies/sinusitis be sure to keep them under control as much as possible since that can also contribute to the puffiness in this area. the under-eye area is also one place where stress shows very quickly so managing your stressors is helpful as well. avoid heavy eye creams that trap moisture into the skin and may cause puffiness. make sure you use a full face product with anti-aging ingredients that deliver firmness and protect skin from uv damage and ensure you add a targeted eye cream or serums for extra care. i've heard alot of people saying that by putting tea bag on the eyes can help. but i never try them yet.
Question: my son is hungry fussy gassy arches his back and fights me during breastfeeding. what is wrong?
Answer: first the arching/spitting/pain/fussy symptoms that you are describing sound like textbook acid reflux. i am not his doctor and therefore am not able to diagnose reflux in him but from my estimation it is absolutely worth scheduling an appointment separate from his well baby appointment to talk about this possibility. and soon. it's not dangerous but the lack of sleep and general unrest that you've been having to endure is! secondly the hunger. this seems to have 2 probable roots - your body's lack of milk production during daylight hours and his inability to eat enough to stave off the hunger longer because he's likely in so much pain during feedings that he's cutting them short. the milk production issue should improve with time but in the meantime there are some herbal remedies that can help under the direction of a lactation consultant. if your pediatrician's office does not have a lactation consultant on staff contact the hospital where you delivered as most hospitals have outpatient lactation services. you can schedule an appointment for you and your baby to be evaluated by the lactation consultant and recommendations can be made from there to improve your daytime milk supply. the possible acid reflux issue can be addressed sometimes through medication if that indeed is contributing to his ineffecient feedings. in theory once that problem is fixed he will be able to tolerate feedings better therefore he'll eat more at each feeding and therefore he'll stay full longer. lastly the issue of a possible underlying milk/whey allergy. some babies with this type of allergy have obvious symptoms like blood in the stool but other babies just have what appears to be very bad acid reflux symptoms. there is a way to test for this in your pediatrician's office. even if the test is negative breastfeeding mothers who still have a high suspicion can go on elimination diets to determine which foods are causing the problem. these dietary modifications can be spearheaded by your local lactation consultant as well but most often include cutting out dairy eggs nuts and wheat. that's a tall order for most moms so don't try to take that on by yourself. contact a lactation consultant please!
Question: what steps can i take to reduce my risk of serious drug side effects?
Answer: it starts with communication with your doctor and pharmacist. make sure you know why you are taking all of your medications. this way you can try to minimize redundancy. ask your doctor for recommendations regarding when to take each medication – it might make sense to take your “water pill” earlier in the day so you aren’t woken up at night by the urge to go the bathroom. ask you doctor if routine liver or kidney laboratory testing is appropriate. bring your medication list with you to every doctor’s appointment or emergency room visit. one of the biggest causes of medication errors or side effects is when doctors prescribe people medications that they don’t tolerate or when similar medications are already being prescribed. remember that supplements can have side effects and may interact with your medications – know what you are taking and why you are taking it. when making changes in your medications it’s best to make one change at a time – that way you can identify the likely cause if a side effect occurs. take advantage of the pharmacist’s offer to counsel you regarding new medications.
Tags: drug
Question: my 4 year old is on abilify. we upped his dose a couple weeks ago and he started stuttering. is this from the meds?
Answer: there are no studies of aripiprazole -- or any other psychiatric drugs for that matter -- in children under 10. that doesn't mean we never use medicines in children under 10 but it does mean that the prescribing doctor needs to be extremely thoughtful about what they think they are treating and be very clear to the parents in explaining possible risks versus benefits. small children have immature livers and so it is quite possible even a tiny dose of medicine will last longer than in an adolescent or adult. abilify itself has a very long half-life (2 weeks) so may hang around for many weeks after it is stopped in such a small child. presumably the doctor was using the smallest possible doses (eg 2 mg/day). stuttering is not a commonly known side effect in adults but could reflect effects of aripiprazoleon the ability to control tongue or mouth muscles. hopefully you are seeing an excellent child psychiatrist who knows what they are doing and who has experience is so unusual a use of a medicine like this and they should be able to guide you.
Tags: drug
Question: my husband and i are doing our first iui and are collecting the semen specimen at home. can sperm survive very long? . it takes 30 minutes minimum to get to the doctor's office so the doctor said it was ok to collect the specimen at home.
Answer: there can be a lot of variability in protocols between fertility centers. in reality normal sperm can live for hours outside of the body. however it is fairly common to recommend that gentlemen consider collecting specimens at the clinic if it is going to take longer than 30 minutes to deliver it.
Tags: intrauterine insemination
Question: what are the risks of a man getting stds by giving a woman oral sex?
Answer: there are low risks of acquiring stds through oral sex yes. the main ones i worry about are hepatitis b and a. . herpes less likely. but it wouldn't be a bad idea to get partners tested if possible. the dental dam is like a big piece of thicker plastic wrap but regular plastic wrap is also a decent barrier in a pinch. i know it all sounds pretty odd but it is safer.
Tags: sexual intercourse, sexually transmitted disease
Question: can alcohol consumption cause acne?
Answer: alcohol consumption does not really cause acne. it may lead to several other sufferings like gastric upset liver problems etc.
Tags: consumption, acne
Question: how and when are the hepatitis vaccines given?
Answer: for the hepatitis a vaccine: two doses of the vaccine given as shots six months apart are recommended for complete protection. children should receive the first dose between 12 and 23 months of age. children older than 2 can receive the first dose at their next doctor's visit. for the hepatitis b vaccine: children should receive their first dose at birth and complete the series based on their doctor. typically the second dose would be given when the infant is 1 month old and the third dose when the child is 6 months old.
Tags: hepatitis, vaccines
Question: how effective are the vaccines for hepatitis a and hepatitis b?
Answer: both the vaccines for hepatitis a and the vaccines for hepatitis b can provide full protection.
Tags: hepatitis a, hepatitis b, vaccines
Question: are there flu vaccines that pregnant women should not get?
Answer: pregnant women should get the flu shot -- a vaccine made with killed flu virus. this one is given with a needle usually in the arm. the other type of flu vaccine -- a nasal spray -- is not approved for pregnant women. this vaccine is made with live weakened flu virus. nasal spray flu vaccine should be used only in healthy people 2 to 49 years of age who are not pregnant. the nasal spray vaccine is safe for women after they have delivered even if they are nursing.
Tags: flu, pregnancy, vaccines
Question: are there different types of vaccines?
Answer: there are two major categories of vaccines. the first category of vaccine is made from live viruses that have been "attenuated" or weakened so that they usually do not cause the disease. in some cases the vaccine itself does cause the disease. usually the disease caused by the vaccine is milder than the natural disease. the second category of vaccine inactivated vaccine is produced by growing the bacterium or virus in culture and then inactivating it (killing it) by using heat or chemicals. these vaccines cannot cause the disease but allow the body to develop immunity. while these vaccines are safer they do not produce protection as good as that from the live vaccines. these vaccines require multiple doses and often require periodic supplementation. live attenuated vaccines measles mumps rubella vaccinia varicella zoster yellow fever rotavirus intranasal influenza oral polio bcg oral typhoid inactivated (killed) vaccines diphtheria tetanus polio shot hepatitis a hepatitis b rabies influenza shot pertussis acellular pertussis human papillomavirus anthrax typhoid cholera pneumococcal meningococcal salmonella haemophilus influenza type b
Tags: vaccines
Question: if i am pregnant which vaccines can i receive?
Answer: if you are pregnant you should not receive mmr varicella or zoster vaccines. these vaccines are made from live attenuated viruses and potentially could cause a problem. you may receive tetanus and influenza vaccines as needed. if you have other risk factors it is safe to receive hepatitis a & b meningococcal and pneumococcal vaccines.
Tags: pregnancy, vaccines
Question: what are the complications of having biploar disorder and being pregnant?
Answer: there is no crystal clear roadmap for women who are bipolar and pregnant. that's because few studies have been done on bipolar disorder and pregnancy. not enough is known about the risks of untreated bipolar disorder or the risks and benefits of medications. and the factors that lead to relapse during pregnancy are not entirely clear. the symptoms of bipolar disorder however can worsen during pregnancy. pregnant women or new mothers with bipolar disorder have seven times the risk of hospital admissions compared with pregnant women who do not have bipolar disorder. a 2007 study on bipolar and pregnancy has shed further light. and it has called into question a common belief that pregnancy may have a protective effect for women with bipolar disorder. the study followed 89 women through pregnancy and one year after delivery. when stopping bipolar medications six months before conception to 12 weeks after women had: twice the risk of relapse. a 50% risk of recurrence within just two weeks if they stopped suddenly. (women who had unplanned pregnancies were more likely to stop at once. ) bipolar symptoms throughout 40% of the pregnancy -- or more than four times that experienced by women who continued their bipolar medications.
Tags: bipolar disorder, pregnancy
Question: what increases the risk of getting celiac disease?
Answer: celiac disease is an immune system disorder in genetically predisposed people that results in damage to the lining of the small intestine when foods with gluten are eaten. the risk for the disease may be inherited since about 10% of first-degree relatives (mother father brother sister son or daughter) of people who have celiac disease also develop the condition. in people who are genetically predisposed celiac disease may be triggered by environmental factors including viral and bacterial infections. people who have celiac disease are also more likely than others to have: dermatitis herpetiformis (more common in adults but can occur in children). osteoporosis. type 1 diabetes ( insulin -dependent diabetes ). autoimmune thyroid disease. down syndrome. sjögren's syndrome. selective antibody deficiency (immunoglobulin a [iga] deficiency). iron deficiency anemia or folic acid deficiency anemia. abnormal liver function tests that are not caused by any other disease. webmd medical reference from healthwise this information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information. © 1995-2011 healthwise incorporated. healthwise healthwise for every health decision and the healthwise logo are trademarks of healthwise incorporated.
Tags: celiac disease
Question: how does mono affect your immune system? . my son had mono a couple years ago and every now and then he gets very tired. he also seems to be more susceptible to colds and flu. for example he may come down with something and meanwhile others in the family or even in his classroom at school do not catch it - or if they do the symptoms of others seem to not last as long. i was just wondering could mono have had an effect on his immune system?
Answer: hi this piece of info may help you. prognosis and possible complications most people with mono recover fully and can return to school or work in a few weeks. a small number of people may experience fatigue for several months. severe complications are uncommon. they may include anemia problems with the central nervous system or liver rupture of the spleen or inflammation of the heart. people who have had mononucleosis are at incresed risk of developing multiple sclerosis this is from <link> if you need more info just copy this link into google to open and read. hope its what you want. good luck
Tags: immune system, cold, flu, family