Top videos
Elizabeth Stephens, MD joined the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota in 2019. To learn more about Dr. Stephens’ practice: https://www.mayoclinic.org/bio....graphies/stephens-el
Elizabeth H. Stephens, M.D., Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Surgery in Cardiovascular Surgery specializing in congenital cardiac surgery. She received her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and Ph.D in Bioengineering from Rice University focusing on tissue engineering heart valves. Her adult cardiothoracic training was completed at Columbia University and congenital training at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago. Her clinical areas of expertise include the treatment of:
• Neonates, infants, and children with complex congenital heart disease
• Adult patients with congenital heart disease, including patients previously repaired
• Valve disease, including Ebstein's anomaly
• Pediatric patients with heart failure, including mechanical circulatory support and heart transplantation
• Patients with vascular rings and tracheal stenosis
In addition to her clinical areas of expertise, Dr. Stephens is active in outcomes research relative to congenital heart disease and is extensively published on various cardiac surgery conditions. She has a particular interest in education, including serving on national committees and mentoring trainees of all levels.
Cognitive impairment is seen in over half of people with multiple sclerosis. In this video I review factors that can contribute to multiple sclerosis brain fog, ways to assess cognition, and tips to improve thinking and memory.
Oral sex can be an enjoyable, healthy part of an adult relationship. But there are some things that many people don't know about oral sex. Here are four facts that might surprise you. 1. Oral sex is linked to throat cancer. Cancer? Yes, you can get throat cancer from oral sex, says American Cancer Society Chief Medical Officer Otis Brawley, MD. It's not oral sex, per se, that causes cancer, but the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can be passed from person to person during sex, including oral sex.
Frostbite is an injury caused by freezing of the skin and underlying tissues. First your skin becomes very cold and red, then numb, hard and pale. Frostbite is most common on the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin. Exposed skin in cold, windy weather is most vulnerable to frostbite. But frostbite can occur on skin covered by gloves or other clothing. Frostnip, the first stage of frostbite, doesn't cause permanent skin damage. You can treat very mild frostbite with first-aid measures, including rewarming your skin. All other frostbite requires medical attention because it can damage skin, tissues, muscle and bones. Possible complications of severe frostbite include infection and nerve damage.
Paronychias are most often caused by common skin bacteria (most commonly staphylococci bacteria) entering the skin around the nail that has been damaged by trauma, such as nail biting, finger sucking, dishwashing, or chemical irritants. Fungal infection also can be a cause of paronychia formation and should be considered especially in people with recurrent infection. Paronychia should not be confused with herpetic whitlow, which can form tiny pustules on the finger and is caused by a virus but is not typically located at the nail edge. Herpetic whitlow is not treated with an incision and drainage and therefore needs to be distinguished from a paronychia.
Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that occurs most often during the growth spurt just before puberty. While scoliosis can be caused by conditions such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, the cause of most scoliosis is unknown.
Varicose veins are generally benign. The cause of this condition is not known. For many people, there are no symptoms and varicose veins are simply a cosmetic concern. In some cases, they cause aching pain and discomfort or signal an underlying circulatory problem. Treatment involves compression stockings, exercise, or procedures to close or remove the veins.
A prenatal ultrasound (also called a sonogram) is a noninvasive diagnostic test that uses sound waves to create a visual image of your baby, placenta, and uterus, as well as other pelvic organs. It allows your healthcare practitioner to gather valuable information about the progress of your pregnancy and your baby's health. During the test, an ultrasound technician (sonographer) transmits high-frequency sound waves through your uterus that bounce off your baby. A computer then translates the echoing sounds into video images that reveal your baby's shape, position, and movements. (Ultrasound waves are also used in the handheld instrument called a Doppler that your practitioner uses during your prenatal visits to listen to your baby's heartbeat.) You may have an early ultrasound at your practitioner's office at 6 to 10 weeks to confirm and date the pregnancy. Or you may not have one until the standard midpregnancy ultrasound between 16 and 20 weeks. That's when you may learn your baby's sex, if you like. (The technician will probably present you with a grainy printout of the sonogram as a keepsake.) You may also have a sonogram as part of a genetic test, such as the nuchal translucency test, chorionic villus sampling, or amniocentesis, or at any other time if there are signs of a problem with your baby. You'll have more frequent ultrasounds if you have diabetes, hypertension, or other medical complications.
Pulmonary edema is usually caused by a heart condition. Other causes include pneumonia, exposure to certain toxins and drugs, and being at high elevations. Depending on the cause, pulmonary edema symptoms may appear suddenly or develop over time. Mild to extreme breathing difficulty can occur. Cough, chest pain, and fatigue are other symptoms. Treatment generally includes supplemental oxygen and medications.
Vaginal prolapse (also called vaginal vault prolapse) is quite common after a hysterectomy (surgery to remove the uterus), but not everyone who has a hysterectomy experiences POP. Without the uterine attachments to hold it up, the top of the vagina can drop into the vaginal canal.
Colorectal cancer (also known as colon cancer, rectal cancer or bowel cancer) is the development of cancer in the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). It is due to the abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. People with HNPCC tend to develop colon cancer before age 50. Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). FAP is a rare disorder that causes you to develop thousands of polyps in the lining of your colon and rectum. People with untreated FAP have a greatly increased risk of developing colon cancer before age 40.
Mastitis is an infection of the breast tissue that results in breast pain, swelling, warmth and redness. You also might have fever and chills. Mastitis most commonly affects women who are breast-feeding (lactation mastitis), although sometimes this condition can occur in women who aren't breast-feeding. In most cases, lactation mastitis occurs within the first six to 12 weeks after giving birth (postpartum), but it can happen later during breast-feeding. The condition can cause you to feel run down, making it difficult to care for your baby. Sometimes mastitis leads a mother to wean her baby before she intends to, but continuing to breast-feed, even while taking an antibiotic for the mastitis, is better for you and your baby.
To get started, you need to find your pelvic floor muscles by stopping urination in midstream. If you succeed, you have located the right muscles. Once you have located your pelvic floor muscles, tighten the contraction for about 5 seconds, before relaxing for another 5 seconds.