I Survived the Superbug, at Least for Now

We have met the enemy and it is MRSA - Paul E. Sax MD

I&D Skin Abscess

In general, the treatment of abscesses is incision and drainage; antibiotics are unnecessary in absence of surrounding cellulitis - Rob Stenstrom

IABP

The IABP has been struck by a scientific thunderstorm called “SHOCK II”, which has seriously questioned the use of this assist device in cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction - Sandro Gelsomino

IBD

Understanding more about microbial involvement in IBD may eventually make it possible to individualize treatments by targeting specific gut flora - Marla Dubinsky, MD

IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) Emergencies

The presentation of an IBD flare can range from a stable patient with worsening of typical symptoms to a patient in extremis with severe hypovolemic or septic shock - Daniel M. Good MD

IBM & Healthcare

Despite its rocky past in healthcare, it looks like IBM is very much still in the game but it is broadening its horizons in the field to demarcate itself from its competitors - The Medical Futurist

Ibogaine

Although researchers at times still make reference to ibogaine or its derivatives' potential in treating depression or other disorders, from 1962 on, science has overwhelmingly focused on its addiction-disruption powers - Mark Hay

IBS

The mind is like the stomach. It is not how much you put into it that counts, but how much it digests - Albert J. Nock

IC

If you’re like most patients, it has probably taken months or years before you received a diagnosis of interstitial cystitis or bladder pain syndrome. You may have believed, incorrectly, that you were suffering from repeated bladder infections - ICN

ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator)

While implantable cardioverter defibrillators, or ICDs, are able to improve survival rates, more long-term complications were seen among women and African-Americans than among males and white patients - Emma Court

ICD or AICD

While implantable cardioverter defibrillators, or ICDs, are able to improve survival rates, more long-term complications were seen among women and African-Americans than among males and white patients - Emma Court

Ice Cream

Could it be true? Could the prized, cherished dessert actually have some latent health benefits - Duane Mellor

ICH

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) represents 10–15% of all cerebrovascular events, and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality - M Moussouttas

ICP monitoring

External ventricular drain placement is among the most common neurosurgical procedures...The history of EVD is a great example of technical innovation and evolution in the field of neurosurgery - Visish Srinivasan MD et al

ICU

Hospitals are redesigning intensive care units to make them safer and less dehumanizing, with a new focus on engaging families and patients in decisions - Laura Landro

ICU Psychosis

The 'classic' care of critically ill patients is similar to a 'dementia factory.' It is up to us to close this factory - Dr. Raúl Alejandro Gómez, Intensivist Physician, Buenos Aires

ID Blogs

Words can be like X-rays if you use them properly -- they’ll go through anything. You read and you’re pierced - Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

ID Journals

Research is creating new knowledge - Neil Armstrong

ID Pills

Ever find a few mystery pills in the bottom of your purse—or worse, in a place your kid or pet may have gotten into? Fortunately every medication has its own distinctive shape, color, and markings, so it’s possible to identify a lost pill - Beth Skwarecki

Identical Twins

Studies show that the deeper we look into so-called identical twins, the more differences we find - Jonathan Jarry MSc

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a rare but important disease associated with significant morbidity - Susan P Mollan et al

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

The disease has no known cause, setting it apart from related pulmonary diseases where doctors can identify specific irritants or exposures to toxins such as asbestos. Its symptoms—shortness of breath and persistent cough—resemble diseases like asthma and emphysema, often leading to missed or delayed diagnoses - Laura Landro

If I Get Breast Implants Too Big Will I Tip Over?

Probably not. But, bigger is better, at least that is the American way of life. We drive big cars, we live in big houses, we eat supersized meals and we drink big gulps sitting in front of a big screen TV

Ig

Immunoglobulins are special types of glycoproteins that play an important role in maintaining the body’s immune system. Also called antibodies, immunoglobulins are highly specific, and they are secreted in massive amounts by plasma cells in response to pathogenic antigens - Christine Leduc PharmD.

IgA

The mucous in our respiratory and digestive tracts is filled with IgA, which is designed to recognize bacteria, viruses and other foreign bodies. It alerts the immune system of the invader and then works to pack it up and send it on its way so that it can never cross the barrier that keeps it out of the inside of the body...This is why IgA is called the first line of defense - Caroline Ricker

IgD

Immunoglobulin D (IgD) has remained a mysterious antibody class for almost half a century. IgD was initially thought to be a recently evolved Ig isotype expressed only by some mammalian species, but recent discoveries in fishes and amphibians demonstrate that IgD was present in the ancestor of all jawed vertebrates and has important immunological functions. The structure of IgD has been very dynamic throughout evolution. - Kang Chen and Andrea Cerutt

IgE

Immunoglobulin E (IgE), named in 1968, was the last of the five classes of human antibodies to be discovered, and today is commonly associated with the various manifestations of allergic disease - Brian J. Sutton

IgG

IgG is the most abundant in normal human serum, accounting for 3/4 of total serum Ig, which is the most important anti-pathogenic microorganism antibody (re-immune response antibody) in body fluids and the main category of autoantibody in autoimmune disease.

IgM

IgM antibodies have a lot of clinical relevance when understanding infection. Because they ramp up and down so quickly, they are good for understanding acute infection. They are mostly what trigger the IgG antibodies that have a much larger impact in the immune system - Aria Integrative Medicine

Ileus

Ileus occurs from hypomotility of the gastrointestinal tract in the absence of mechanical bowel obstruction. Although the exact pathogenesis of ileus remains multifactorial and complex, the clinical picture appears to be transiently impaired propulsion of intestinal contents - Hussein Rabee & Nabil M Aly

Imaging

There needs to be more emphasis on emerging technology that limits radiation hazards, such as some of the newer laser CT techniques, as opposed to placing imaging centers on every corner -HWN

Imaging centers

High quality, fast service, and low price: Health care consumers, especially your imaging patients, want it all. However, succeeding at all three is no small task - Matt Morrill and Domenica Gilbert

Imaging Centers Think Twice - Diagnostic Imaging Centers Come With a Price!

Any reasonable person should be convinced that routine CT scan screening of otherwise healthy people is probably not the wisest choice

Imaging Centers Useful or Harmful?

Imaging centers have proliferated in the past decade. You would think that the potential to develop cancer years or decades after an imaging procedure would ensure that imaging centers are as safe as possible. Think again!

Imaging Studies Children

Children have ten times the risk as adults for 'Cat Scan caused cancer'. On top of this probably 1/3 of all CT scans are unnecessary. Whenever appropriate ultrasounds and MRIs should be substituted especially in the younger population

Immune Deficiency Disorder

One of the biggest challenges for people who have a PID is the battle to get a correct diagnosis. For many it takes years, and often people develop additional complications due to the delay in diagnosis and treatment - Through Accepting Limits

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)

ITP can strike as quickly as it can depart. ITP affects almost 10 times as many people as hemophilia, yet almost no one knows anything about it. It is not genetic & does not discriminate...as ITP attacks those from all demographics - Meredith Prescott

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) Management

Keep Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) in your differential for patients with thrombocytopenia and evidence of bleeding. Although ITP has classically been described in children, it can occur in adults; especially between 3rd- 4th decade - Haney Mallemat MD

Immunity

There are two main types of immunity to an infection. Innate immunity comes from circulating cells that attack any invader the body views as foreign. Adaptive immunity is specific to the pathogen presented. Through adaptive response, immune cells are programmed to secrete antibodies that are primed to target a viral invader - Scott Gottlieb

Immunity Boosters

The idea of being able to do certain activities or eat something specific to boost your immune system such that you can become an illness-fighting ninja sounds incredibly enticing. But unfortunately, it’s not exactly how the immune system works - Claire Maldarelli

Immunizations

Almost everyone agrees, well, almost everyone - that vaccination has been one of the single most effective public health measures ever undertaken. Vaccination eradicates disease. Then why the controversy? - HWN

Immunizations Child

I’m pained to see that childhood immunizations, perhaps the most important health and lifesaving advance of the last century, are being seriously eroded by misinformation and scaremongering - Jane Brody

immunocompromised & Covid-19

Ultimately, there will be a large group of immunocompromised people who will not mount a protective response with vaccines. For them, monoclonal antibodies as PrEP will likely be their best and possibly only chance for robust protection - Dorry Segev

Immunocompromised: The Other Pandemic

Let’s face it; you are the poster child for the unwitting victim of the pandemic. You might as well have a front and side view photo of yourself on a “most wanted” notice at the local Covid post office. Your suppressed immune system is like a welcome mat placed out in front of the marauding minions of non-cellular particles - Shilo Zylbergold

Immunoglobulins

Immunoglobulins are special types of glycoproteins that play an important role in maintaining the body’s immune system. Also called antibodies, immunoglobulins are highly specific, and they are secreted in massive amounts by plasma cells in response to pathogenic antigens - Christine Leduc PharmD.

Immunologists

No science is immune to the infection of politics and the corruption of power - Jacob Bronowski

Immunology

The immune system is a critical function in the body that manages our health. It is a complex system with hundreds of different cell types - Yiannis Mouratidis

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is the field of immunology that aims to identify treatments for diseases through induction, enhancement or suppression of an immune response - David C Wraith

Imodium

For the intestinally afflicted, loperamide — Imodium, as it’s more commonly known — is a godsend - Cornerstone of Recovery

Imodium Abuse

Our nation's growing population of opioid-addicted patients is seeking alternative drug sources, with prescription opioid medication abuse being limited by new legislation and regulations - William Eggleston

Impella Heart Pump

If you really care for a patient who is dying in front of you, who has very low blood pressure, who is deteriorating, your options are to use therapies that either have been proven to be ineffective, like intra-aortic balloon pump, or to use therapies that don’t have randomized controlled trial data but make good sense from a biological standpoint, like Impella - Seth Bilazarian MD,

Impending Cerebral Herniation

Impending herniation suggested by deepening coma, asymmetric/fixed pupils, or development of other lateralizing signs - Owen Scheirer

Impetigo

Left to its own devices, impetigo will usually clear up and disappear on its own. However, as it's so contagious, it's best to help it on its way with the aid of antibiotic cream - Parentdish UK

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Emergencies

Patients may present with repeated shocks over a short period of time. While this may be due to recurrent ventricular arrhythmias, it also may be due to oversensing by the ICD. Interrogation of the ICD should take place early in the evaluation of the patient - Kathleen McMahon DO

Implantable loop recorders

If virtual care — including remote heart monitoring — can give patients and clinicians a clearer picture of heart health in real time, experts project their use could become far more widespread in the coming months and years - Erin Brodwin

Implanted Defibrillators

While implantable cardioverter defibrillators, or ICDs, are able to improve survival rates, more long-term complications were seen among women and African-Americans than among males and white patients - Emma Court

Implants

We live in a pharmacocentric culture today, where the world revolves around a drug for everything in a trillion-dollar pharmaceutical industry, but when I talk to patients...people don’t want to take drugs - Kevin Tracey

Implants Heart

Implants and other new technologies—including smartphone apps and over-the-counter monitors—are testing the very definition of medical records - Amy Dockser Marcus and Christopher Weaver

Impotence

ED is a health disorder that is treatable and even curable. But, most people don't have the patience to control ongoing health issues or change their lifestyle. Do you?

In Flight Medical Emergencies

In-flight emergencies rely on one large decision point: can the flight continue to its intended destination or does the situation require alternative landing plans, aka “diversion” - Leland Chan MD MBA

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

Nobody knew in advance that in vitro fertilization would be, by and large, safe - Leon Kass

Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEMs)

For a considerable proportion of IEM, therapy is available, which dramatically improves patient outcomes. Accurate and timely diagnosis is therefore essential. However, the accuracy and timeliness of an IEM diagnosis is often difficult to achieve due to a staggering number of these rare genetic disorders - IEMbase

Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEMs) Emergencies

Inborn errors of metabolism present non-specifically. Always consider IEM when presented with unwell neonate or infant - Brian Lee

Incarceration

I would say in some circumstances, incarceration may be the most effective sanction, but incarceration in and of itself is not rehabilitative - Inimai Chettiar

Incarceration Californians for Safety & Justice

After four decades of an incarceration paradigm that has drained state coffers and created so many problems, it's time for a holistic and nuanced approach.

Incarceration Nation: America's Unhealthy Obsession with Jailing Its Citizens

Over the last 40 years the United States has sacrificed schools and other means of social betterment so as to incarcerate a greater number of nonviolent offenders than ever before. It's a practice that has damaged the fabric of our nation...

Incarceration Pay-to-Stay Jails Another Symptom of the Sickness of Financial Inequality

A guy walks in to behind bars. It's a nicer jail than it would have been otherwise because he can afford it. It's no joke: "pay-to-stay" is unequal justice by design.

Incest

The vast majority of incest begins years before the earliest conceivable age of consent - Judith Lewis Herman

Incision & Drainage

In general, the treatment of abscesses is incision and drainage; antibiotics are unnecessary in absence of surrounding cellulitis - Rob Stenstrom

Inclusion Body Myositis

Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is a muscle-wasting condition, which causes muscles to become thin and weak. It was recognised as a condition in its own right in the 1960s. It usually occurs in mid to later life and is more common in men than women - Muscular Dystrophy UK

Incretins

Incretin hormones are gut peptides that are secreted after nutrient intake and stimulate insulin secretion together with hyperglycaemia. GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) und GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) are the known incretin hormones from the upper (GIP, K cells) and lower (GLP-1, L cells) gut - Michael A Nauck

Indigenous People & Covid-19

Indigenous peoples tend to be at higher risk from emerging infectious diseases. Covid-19 is no exception – and some experts say it could destroy whole nations and communities - Terri Hansen

Indigestion (Dyspepsia)

Everyone experiences digestive problems now and then, and they’re nobody’s idea of a good time - Stacey Colino

Indoor Air Pollution

Around 2.4 billion people worldwide (around a third of the global population) cook using open fires or inefficient stoves fuelled by kerosene, biomass (wood, animal dung and crop waste) and coal, which generates harmful household air pollution - WHO

Infant Botulism

Who would have thought that honey and bioterrorism have something in common? The good news is the former is preventable - HWN

Infant Formula

Scientists might not yet have all the pieces, but the picture that is forming is that C-section and formula feeding could be significantly impacting the health of the next generation - Toni Harman

Infant Health

For many of us, parenthood is like being air-dropped into a foreign land, where protohumans rule and communication is performed through cryptic screams and colorful fluids - Michaeleen Doucleff

Infant Intracranial Hemorrhages (Brain Bleeds)

It can happen in different areas of the brain and is associated with factors such as prematurity, trauma, asphyxia, and other conditions - Eugene R. Schnitzler

Infant Mortality

Infant mortality and life expectancy are reasonable indicators of general well-being in a society - P. J. O'Rourke

Infant Reflux

I can’t highlight enough that this is a rare disease, yes it exists, but not in the sheer amounts that we see today - Sarah Ockwell-Smith

Infantile Hemangiomas (Birthmarks)

Infantile hemangioma (IH) is the most common neoplasm in children, but it may mimic other types of vascular anomalies or nonvascular benign and malignant tumors. In most cases, the clinical appearance, time of onset, and pattern of involution facilitate its diagnosis. Imaging evaluation is not always needed since the IH features at clinical presentation are usually characteristic - Emilio J. Inarejos Clemente

Infantile Spasms

Infantile spasms, also called epileptic spasms or West Syndrome, is a type of epilepsy that tends to affect infants under the age of 2 years, and is characterized by clusters of peculiar seizures. These seizures—termed spasms—are involuntary and usually consist of a brief interruption of behavior, often with lifting and extension of the arms and bending forward at the waist - Infantile Spasms Project

Infection Control & Prevention

The bad news is that it takes on average of 17 years for scientific evidence to be put into medical practice - Leah Binder

Infections

Despite advances in medical science and medicine, bugs will always be one step ahead of us - HWN

Infections Child

The five-second rule probably should become the zero-second rule - Dr. Roy M. Gulick, chief of the division of infectious diseases at Weill Cornell Medical College

Infectious Diarrhea

Clinically, acute infectious diarrhea is classified into two pathophysiologic syndromes, commonly referred to as noninflammatory (mostly viral, milder disease) and inflammatory (mostly invasive or with toxin-producing bacteria, more severe disease) - Wendy Barr MD

Infectious Disease (ID) Physicians

For our country, we are the expert leaders who can deal most cost-effectively with the extraordinary challenges that are contagious disease - Ronald G Nahass

Infectious Diseases

The existing shortfall in ID combined with the diminished interest in entering the field could be very problematic for the future in healthcare - John Parkinson

Infectious Epidemics

The explosive growth of the human population—from 2.5 billion to 6 billion since the second half of the 20th century—may have already started changing how infectious diseases emerge - Bahar Gholipour

Infertility

It’s not surprising that IVF research is all over the map. It's a young field and a difficult subject to study, since mice and primates aren’t great proxies for human reproductive biology - Annie Sneed

Infertility & Celine Dion

Infertility is very common. Used with in vitro fertilization and eggs of good quality, intracytoplasmic sperm injection is often a successful treatment for infertility and has an estimated 25% to 30% birth rate

Infertility & Health insurance

Laws in 15 states mandate that health-insurance providers cover infertility treatments, and there's a push to make it more. But should health insurers be required to pay for a service unrelated to ensuring health?

Inflammation

For centuries, scientists have debated whether inflammation is good or bad for us. Now we believe that it’s both - Jerome Groopman

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Understanding more about microbial involvement in IBD may eventually make it possible to individualize treatments by targeting specific gut flora - Marla Dubinsky, MD

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare type of breast cancer that is very fast-growing and aggressive. It makes up only one to five percent of all breast cancer patients—so infrequent that many breast care specialists have never met a patient who has it - Susan Dudley PhD

Inflammatory Markers

When someone references “inflammatory markers” in a clinical setting, they are probably referring to two laboratory assays that measure APPs: C-reactive Protein (CRP) and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR). A third APP, procalcitonin (PCT), is much newer but is often frequently discussed in the same circle as CRP and ESR - Taming the SRU

Inflammatory Myopathies

Living with myositis, or any chronic illness, requires certain adjustments. It is important to make healthy choices for ourself - no one else will - It's Myositis

Influenza

Flu vaccinations have become an annual event in most developed countries, yet the flu continues to affect tens of millions of people each year and causes 250,000 to 500,000 deaths worldwide. So, what's wrong? Is the flu virus smarter than us?

Influenza A

What in the heck do all these H's and N's mean? H is short for hemagglutinin. And N is short for neuraminidase - Michaeleen Doucleff

Influenza B

A big difference between influenza B and influenza A is that influenza B typically comes after influenza A, hitting later in the season around springtime - Leah Groth

Influenza C

Nearly all adults have been infected with influenza C virus, which causes mild upper respiratory tract illness. Lower respiratory tract complications are rare. There is no vaccine against influenza C virus - Vincent Racaniello

Influenza Types

Two types of virus cause winter flu. Influenza A viruses originate in birds and pigs. The h1n1 and h3n2 subtypes (named for the structures of two proteins on their surfaces) also infect humans. Influenza B infects only humans - The Economist

Infusion Therapy

Vascular access is the most common invasive experience for hospitalized patients. However, it is one of the least planned for events - Robert Dawson,

Ingrown Toenail

The most common ways you can increase your risk of getting ingrown nails include wearing tight-fitting shoes, cutting your nails too short and picking your nails - Howard J Bennett MD

Inguinal Hernia

Around one in ten of us will get a hernia of some description, and an inguinal hernia is by far the most common - Lesley Dobson

Inguinal Hernia Childhood

Indirect inguinal hernias, present at birth, are caused by mistakes during development. Direct inguinal hernias form after birth - Carle

Inguinal Hernia Pediatrics

Indirect inguinal hernias, present at birth, are caused by mistakes during development. Direct inguinal hernias form after birth - Carle

Inhalants

Adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 are more likely to abuse inhalants than any other age group. Females are more likely to experiment with inhalants than males - Inhalation Addiction Treatment

Inhalational Anesthesia

Modern anesthetic compounds and advanced monitoring tools have revolutionized the field of medicine, allowing for complex surgical procedures to occur safely and effectively. Faster induction times and quicker recovery periods of current anesthetic agents have also helped reduce health care costs significantly - Fahad Iqbal

Inhaled Corticosteroids

The potent anti-inflammatory properties of ICS make them the ideal first choice for controller therapy in asthmatic patients with persistent symptoms. ICS appear to have a positive impact on lung function, quality of life, airway hyper responsiveness, and exacerbation rates. Addition of other agents to ICS is linked to improved asthma outcomes, including a reduction in severe exacerbations - Qian Ye, Xiao-Ou He

Injectables

Getting poked in the face with needles didn't use to be something considered part of one's regular beauty routine, but in recent years that's been changing - Sarah Y. Wu

Injuries Dental

Dental injuries are very common in sports, borderline inevitable, but they're also one of the easiest injuries to prevent - Sierra Soleimani

Innate Immunity

The innate system is the first line of defence, capable of detecting many common infectious agents, such as viruses and bacteria, as soon as they find their way into the body. Although it may respond quickly, the innate system cannot always eliminate infectious organisms and it doesn’t recognise all the pathogens - Raj Thaker

Inositol

Inositol is a carbohydrate with a cyclic structure and almost ubiquitous inside the human body. In fact, it is present in most of its cells. It is also known as vitamin B8 - Alberto Ricón

Inotropes

Inotropes aim at increasing cardiac output by enhancing cardiac contractility. They constitute the third pharmacological pillar in the treatment of patients with decompensated heart failure (HF), the other two being diuretics and vasodilators - Dimitrios Farmakis

Insect (Bug) Repellents

Why cover yourself in a toxic solvent when there are plenty of natural alternatives for getting bugs to leave you alone? Dr. Squatch

Inside the ER Emergencies

What truly makes the practice of emergency medicine different is our innate ability to recognize sick from not-sick - Andrew Sloas DO

Insomnia

To the wakeful, insomnia can feel like the loneliest affliction in the world - Simon Parkin

Insomnia & CBD

Depending on who you ask, cannabidiol (CBD) is either a miracle cure or a placebo, a stress reliever, mood booster, pain killer, or inflammation fighter. For troubled sleepers, however, it’s a possible reprieve as research, though limited, gains steam - Melissa Kvidahl Reilly

Inspire (Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation)

Inspire treatment is considered a second-line therapy, meaning it’s only considered an option if other methods like using CPAP don’t deliver consistent benefit - Nina Chamlou

Insulin

Since insulin was discovered in 1921, it has become one of the most thoroughly studied molecules in scientific history - Deepinder Brar

Insulin Costs & Availability

When cheaper generic options are introduced to the market, overall drug prices come down. A century after insulin was discovered, it’s about time we had one - Julia Belluz

Insulin Dependant Diabetes

Even with the use of insulin pumps it is without a doubt one of the most challenging chronic medical issues for families - ChildrenwithDiabetes.com

Insulin Pumps

Someday an artificial pancreas or stem cell therapy may ultimately replace the need for pumps and meters. In the meantime, what would we do without the insulin pump? And they keep getting better and better - HWN

Insulin Resistance

In a nutshell, insulin resistance is the inability of your body to properly convert the food that you eat into energy to fuel your cells - Caroline J Cederquist MD

Insulinoma

Insulinoma remains a rare entity with sometimes misleading absence of classic neuroglycopenic symptoms. Index of suspicion must be high to reach the correct diagnosis - Annis Marney MD

Insurance

Information on the various forms of health insurance...Which do you choose? ObamaCare, PPO, HMO, ManagedCare, HSAs, Critical Illness, Long Term, Disability, Vision, Dental...

Insurance for Pets

Dog is said to be man’s best friend, and cats are notoriously curious … so what are we doing to make sure these curious, furry friends stay healthy throughout their lives? - Michael G. Malloy

Insurance: Low-Cost Auto Insurance: Helping More Than Just the Poor

Although auto insurance is a legal requirement, 1 in 8 motorists don't have it. The reason: money. But California has a program to help those in need get on the right side of the law.

Integrative Healthcare

Integrative health is an individualized, client-centered model of promoting optimal health and wellness, combining a whole person approach with evidence-based strategies to reduce disease risk by turning around lifestyle behaviors - Meg Jordan PhD

Integrative Medicine

When doctors talk about treating the patient’s “body, mind, and spirit,” it can sound like a feel-good catchphrase. But in fact, there may be no other way to treat diseases that take years to develop...Jennie Rothenberg Gritz

Intelligence

Intelligence is quickness in seeing things as they are - George Santayana

Intensivists

The physician's highest calling, his only calling, is to make sick people healthy - to heal, as it is termed - Samuel Hahnemann

Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) tests

It’s more advanced and faster than the old skin test method and doesn’t get mixed up with the TB vaccination, making the results more reliable - STI Test London

Intermittent Fasting

The scientific community remains divided about the value of intermittent fasting. Critics say that the science is not yet strong enough to justify widespread recommendations for fasting as a way to lose weight or boost health - Anahad O'Connor

Internal Medicine

We should “own” diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, hepatitis C, HIV, palliative/hospice care, dementia, and so on - Douglas M. DeLong, MD MACP

Internal Medicine Journals

It is reasonable to expect the doctor to recognize that science may not have all the answers to problems of health and healing - Norman Cousins

Internal Medicine Orgs

The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease - William Osler

International Disaster Relief

Each of us as human beings has a responsibility to reach out to help our brothers and sisters affected by disasters. One day it may be us or our loved ones needing someone to reach out and help - Michael W. Hawkins, American Red Cross

Internet Addiction

Many Internet companies are learning what the tobacco industry has long known -- addiction is good for business - Bill Davidow

Internet: The Value of Struggle, and How You're Letting Technology Diminish It

You can find so much on the Internet. But if you want to increase your brainpower, you may be looking in the wrong place.

Internists

Resources for the practicing internist - HWN

Intersex

Intersex conditions can restrict people’s life options. In many cases, it is not possible to have a biologically related child or carry a pregnancy. Unfortunately, it can still carry stigma and discrimination... One possible upside is an advantage in sports. This should not be denied - Julian Savulescu

Interstitial Cystitis (Bladder Pain Syndrome)

If you’re like most patients, it has probably taken months or years before you received a diagnosis of interstitial cystitis or bladder pain syndrome. You may have believed, incorrectly, that you were suffering from repeated bladder infections - ICN

Interstitial Lung Disease

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is an umbrella term for ~200 different diseases that may result in inflammation and scarring of the lung tissue. ILD is characterized by progressive dyspnoea, cough, hypoxia, impaired lung function, diffuse bilateral infiltrates on imaging, inflammation, fibrosis, limited patient mobility and reduced quality-of-life - Malik A Althobiani

Interstitial Nephritis

A very difficult diagnosis – so many other usual suspects normally at play (vancomycin, pressors, contrast, etc.) - Joel Topf MD

Intertrigo

Intertrigo is a common inflammatory skin disorder caused by skin-on-skin friction in skin folds, due to moisture becoming trapped because of poor air circulation. This can occur in any area of the body where two skin surfaces are in close contact with each other - Marco Romanelli

Interventional Radiology (Interventional Radiologists)

It is time for IR to think about rebranding and marketing itself for what it is: a community of specialists who perform cutting-edge operative therapies for multiple diseases throughout the human body - Lahav Nissim MD

Interventional Therapies for High Risk PE

Pulmonary embolism interventions include catheter-directed thrombolysis, mechanical thrombectomy, & surgical embolectomy. Catheter directed thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy are alternative treatments for patients who do not respond well to systemic anticoagulation - Quynh-Anh Dang

Intestinal (Bowel) Conditions

Intestinal diseases are those that affect any segment of the intestine (small or large intestine), from the duodenum to the rectum. The term encompasses acute or chronic conditions and covers a wide range of diseases including constipation, diverticular disease and irritable bowel syndrome - Nature.com

Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump

As a general consideration and also when no early revascularisation is available the use of another left-ventricular assist device like the Impella pump might prove to be a good and easy to use alternative - Timothy Aebi

Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) represents 10–15% of all cerebrovascular events, and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality - M Moussouttas

Intracranial Hemorrhage

All intracranial hemorrhages (ICH) share some classic clinical features. Common presenting symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, confusion, somnolence, or seizure. There is a wide clinical spectrum: patients may be alert and conversant, or moribund - Holly Caretta-Weyer MD

Intranasal Medications

This method is used to rapidly provide anxiolysis, sedation, amnesia, and/or analgesia in the pediatric population and can play an important role in a safe and successful intervention - Alia Church MD, Sonny Tat MD MPH and Zlatan Coralic PharmD

Intraocular Foreign Bodies

Apart from evidence of a ruptured globe with a positive Seidel sign or shallow anterior chamber, suspect intraocular foreign bodies in cases with an irregular pupil contour, iris transillumination defects, lens opacities or a persistent iritis - Caroline B. Pate OD

Intraocular Pressure

IOP measurements above 21 mmHg in the setting of ocular complaints are an indication for emergent treatment and referral - Melanie Yates MD

Intraocular Pressure (IOP)

IOP measurements above 21 mmHg in the setting of ocular complaints are an indication for emergent treatment and referral - Melanie Yates MD

Intraosseous Access (IOs)

Since its development in the 1940s, intraosseous (IO) access has been a mainstay of resuscitation in both pediatric and adult patients - Dana Loke MD

Intrathecal Pain Pumps

One would think that since this technology has been around for years that these pumps would be bomb proof by now. Nope, think again - Christina Lasich MD

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

It’s always desirable to conceive in the least invasive way possible, and IUI offers that option - Ari Baratz

Intrinsic (Intrarenal) Kidney Injury

Intra-renal AKI occurs when there is a structural or functional change at the level of the nephron. This can occur independently or as a transformation of a pre-renal AKI - Mathew Aranha

Intubation

In the event you can’t intubate easily, stop after 30 – 60 seconds. Ventilate the patient briefly before your next attempt in order to maintain oxygenation. As long as you can ventilate the patient you have time - Christine Whitten MD

Intuition (Gut Feeling)

It's learned expertise--something we might not even be aware we had-that is instantly accessible - David Myers PhD

Intussusception

While it’s the most common abdominal emergency for children under age two, and the most common reason for bowel obstruction in babies, it’s still, overall, not that common - Amy Sarah Marshall

Inulin

Inulin belongs to a group of non-digestible, plant-based carbohydrates called fructans. They can be found in about 36,000 species of plants, but the hearty chicory root is considered the richest source - Pendulum

Investing for Early Retirement

The price of overspending can be counted not merely in the cost of each excessive or needless purchase, but also in how such a lifestyle cuts into your financial freedom. But a young retiree is looking to guide others in a different direction.

Investing in Healthcare

Sustainable finance has finally hit the big time. Is it time to risk your wallet to save the planet - Heather Hansman

Invisible Illness

Clearly ‘invisible illness’ affects a significant portion of the population, but how do we even begin to tackle an issue that is by its very name, invisible - Catherine Leedon

Iodine

Over the last few years, iodine has become a hot topic of debate in the nutrition world. Suddenly, we are seeing books about it, new supplements on the market and specialized tests for it. I can think of no other mineral that is the source of as much confusion or controversy - Dr. Alan Glen Christianson

Iodine Allergy

Despite recent advances in our understanding of contrast allergies, the term "iodine allergy" is still used to describe contrast dye allergy, Betadine soap allergy, and even shellfish allergy - Gabrielle Gard

Iodine Deficiency

According to the World Health Organization, iodine is the most common nutrient deficiency—affecting 2 billion people around the world. It’s really a shame, because iodine is cheap and the costs of iodine deficiency (both in financial and human terms) are large - Nutrition Diva

Iodine Supplementation

Iodine can be very individualistic. Some people can achieve the same benefits at lower doses that others require higher ones - Narra VI Foretold

Ionizing Radiation

Non-ionising radiation is mostly damaging in obvious ways. Alternatively, ionising radiation can be less obvious but, by changing an atom into a more reactive ion, can create longer lasting damage - Martin Boland

IQ (Intelligence Quotient)

Nobody wants to be a number. But there is one number that probably says a lot about you, whether you know it or not: your IQ, or intelligence quotient - Brian Resnick

IQ Tests

From first grade to college, and in industry and the military as well, the intelligence quotient is the chief U.S. measuring rod for separating the bright from the dull. But to a growing body of angry critics. I.Q. tests are unfair - Time.com

IR3535

To scientists, IR3535® is known as ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate [EBAAP]. Not only does it discourage insects from biting humans, it is also safe to use around your beloved four-legged friends - Merck Global

Iran & Global Health

International relations are rarely simple even between nations with long and amiable histories. The Iran deal isn't just about nuclear weapons; it's also about building relations—something everyone should care about.

Iridology

Often used as a diagnostic tool by naturopaths, herbalists, nutritional therapists and homeopaths, iridology is not used to diagnose diseases. The basic principle of iridology is to treat the patient rather than treating the disease. It will help you identify any underlying imbalances in the body that may produce certain symptoms - Iridology Scotland

Iridoplegia Iridodialysis

Iris injuries usually do not require treatment other than incidental repair of the associated major injuries. Except for an increase in the amount of light entering an eye, a patient may still be able to see without an iris or with an iris with multiple holes - Habib Olapade

Iris

It is not a structure that usually gives many ophthalmological problems, but when one appears it can be very annoying and difficult to treat - Clínica Castanera TACIR

Iris Injuries

Iris injuries usually do not require treatment other than incidental repair of the associated major injuries. Except for an increase in the amount of light entering an eye, a patient may still be able to see without an iris or with an iris with multiple holes - Habib Olapade

Iritis (Anterior Uveitis)

One synonym of uveitis is iritis, and although iritis is more technically and anatomically specific, clinicians often use the terms interchangeably. The most common form of this disease is nongranulomatous anterior uveitis - Kyle D. Dohm OD

Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency in the developed world, affecting around one in three women of reproductive age. Iron deficiency has several stages of severity and is diagnosed by a blood test showing the level of serum ferritin (a protein that stores iron in the body) and/or haemoglobin (a protein responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood) - Amanda Patterson & Jacklyn Jackson

Iron Deficiency Anemia

Because the signs and symptoms of iron deficiency (also termed anemia, iron deficiency anemia, sideropenia, and hypoferremia) can be very subtle, only a blood test can tell you for sure if your iron levels are too low - MedicineNet.com

Iron Infusion

Although oral iron is often viewed as front-line therapy, extensive published evidence has accumulated that IV iron is superior, in both efficacy and safety, to oral iron in many clinical situations and should be introduced much sooner in the treatment paradigm of iron-deficient patients - Michael Auerbach

Iron Overdose

Iron poisoning is one of the most common toxic ingestion and one of the most deadly among children. Failure to diagnose and treat iron poisoning can have serious consequences including multi-organ failure and death - Ho-Wang Yuen

Iron Overload

As elements go, iron is a fickle and mischievous companion. Essential to life, yet impulsive, promiscuous, and destructive when allowed to roam unescorted, it poses a tremendous engineering challenge to human tissues - Bradley Wertheim

Iron Supplements

Side effects like stomach upset, nausea, constipation or diarrhea are common when taking iron supplements, although some classes of iron are better tolerated than others - The Iron Maiden

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

If you have IBS, it's not all in your head. But as with all humans, your head and your gut are intimately connected - Craig Bowron

Is It True What They Say About CBD Oil?

You don't have to wander too far afoot to find someone who will swear that CBD oil has improved the quality of life and lessened the pain. How reliable, however, are these claims? - Shilo Zylbergold

Ischemic Colitis

The incidence of CI is underestimated because many patients suffer only mild or transient damage and do not seek medical attention. Also, CI is commonly misdiagnosed and confused with other disorders, notably inflammatory bowel syndrome - Indian J Surgery

Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

Ischemic optic neuropathy is a major cause of blindness or significantly impaired vision, and there are few definitive answers regarding its cause, clinical features and treatment - Michelle Stephenson

Ischemic Stroke

Ischemic stroke is by far the most common kind of stroke, accounting for about 88 percent of all strokes. Stroke can affect people of all ages, including children - Internet Stroke Center

Isoflavones

Soy phytoestrogens are probably the most notable examples of phytoestrogens in nature - Suzanna Wallace

Isolate Covid-19

Whether or not you've got symptoms, getting a positive test for the coronavirus can be stressful, and isolating alone can make that even worse - Kristen Kendrick

Isometric Exercises

Isometric exercises increase the target muscle’s time under tension, which is a key growth stimulus - Trevor Thieme

Isoniazid (INH)

For decades, the standard course has been an antibiotic called isoniazid that kills the bacteria causing TB only when they are replicating. The drug must be taken daily for nine months, in the hope of catching the bacteria as they multiply, and it can cause numbness, nausea and fever. Isoniazid also can cause liver toxicity, so people taking it are advised not to drink alcohol for the entire nine months - Apoorva Mandavilli

Isopropyl Alcohol

The parent molecule does exhibit toxic effects here, unlike methanol and ethylene glycol. If untreated, the lethal dose is between 4-8 g/kg - Rafael Lima MD

Isoproterenol (Isuprel)

The drug is not commonly used anymore but is effective in treating persistent bradycardia or for overdrive pacing in patients with intermittent torsades de pointes when magnesium is ineffective - Amal Mattu MD

Isotretinoin (Accutane)

If you thought Accutane disappeared, it turns out it's still here, and it's still the top prescription to fight severe acne - Susan Yara

Israel-Palestine Conflict

The goings-on in Gaza are big news right now. But the current flare-up is symptomatic of the perpetual unhealthiness—physical, psychological, and moral—that plagues the region.

IT

There’s no going back, and there’s no hiding the information. So let everyone have it - Andrew Kantor

IT Band Syndrome (IlioTibial)

From rowing & CrossFit to running & cycling, we know that IT (Iliotibial Band) Syndrome is one of the more common knee pain struggles out there for athletes - Limitless Physio

It's All Right if You Can't Remember

Nobody asked me, but I truly believe that forgetfulness is a useful survival tool - Shilo Zylbergold

It's That SAD Time of The Year

Although medical researchers and experts can’t seem to agree on the root cause of Seasonal Affective Disorder, there are a number of useful steps available to help minimize its debilitating impact - Shilo

It's Time to Get Ballsy Testicular Cancer

Working alongside Testicular Cancer Foundation, Tommy John is hoping to erase the stigma surrounding the disease

ITBS

From rowing & CrossFit to running & cycling, we know that IT (Iliotibial Band) Syndrome is one of the more common knee pain struggles out there for athletes - Limitless Physio

Itch Mites (Scabies)

Scabies is frequently misdiagnosed and mistreated, partly because most physicians are unfamiliar with it and partly because its symptoms mimic so many other skin diseases - Jane Brody

Itching (Pruritus)

Itching was long overshadowed by pain in both research and treatment, and was even considered just a mild form of pain. But millions of people suffer from itching, and times have changed - Denise Grady

Itchy Eyes

cular pruritus is a common symptom that brings patients to the ophthalmologist’s office - Jocelyn Kuryan MD

It’s October - Time to Squeeze Your Boobs Again

There can be life after breast cancer. The prerequisite is early detection - Ann Jillian

IUDs

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are amazingly, fantastically good at preventing pregnancy — better than pretty much any other available contraceptive - Sarah Kliff

IV Immunoglobulin

Because Ig is used to treat a variety of life-threatening conditions, the demand continues to grow - Megan Ryan

IV Sedation (Monitored Anesthesia Care)

Intravenous sedation (IV sedation) offers a safe alternative to general anesthesia for minor surgical procedures. It can provide sedation ranging from slight (relaxed and mildly sleepy) to deep sleep - Mary Nolan-Pleckham RN

IVC Filters

Although IVC filters are an established therapy for DVT and PE, the evidence base for their benefits is thin - PulmCCM

Ivermectin

With the advent of 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, ivermectin began garnering notoriety due to its off-label use for the prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19 ... studies on the use of ivermectin in COVID-19 have been fraught with statistical errors and accusations of plagiarism.- DrugBank

Ivermectin & Covid-19

What are the chances that an antiparasitic with mere hints of anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties would amount to the most effective medication on the face of the planet against SARS-CoV-2 on both counts? - Buzz Hollander MD

Ivermectin Prophylaxis & Covid-19

My words to the patients asking for Ivermectin. The best way to avoid ending up on a ventilator in the intensive care unit? Take the vaccine - Anish Koka

IVF Access

Infertile people must be able to equitably access the infertility information and care they need. Access to such information and care not only addresses infertile people’s reproductive health needs but may also have a positive impact on the stigma associated with infertility - Center for Reproductive Rights

IVIG

Because Ig is used to treat a variety of life-threatening conditions, the demand continues to grow - Megan Ryan