Health

The knee joint is commonly afflicted with arthritis, especially as we age. The cartilage covering the knee joints slowly wears away, exposing bone and causing pain as the joint moves. Sufferers of...

Bladder spasms are sudden, involuntary squeezing of the muscle. The spasm occurs without warning and results in an urgency to release urine. Leakage may occur when the spasm forces urine from...

Allergies affect 40 to 50 million Americans, according to the American Academy of Allergy and Asthma Immunology (AAAAI). Each person reacts differently to allergies. Some people experience skin...

Radiation seeding, or brachytherapy, is a medical procedure commonly used to treat prostate cancer. Brachytherapy is often substituted for external radiation. Treatments last from a few minutes...

Typhoid fever is a disease spread by bacteria in contaminated food and water. It also can spread from person to person. Symptoms include fever, stomach pain and digestive issues. Typhoid fever is...

Lexapro is a commonly prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor used to treat depressive and/or anxiety disorders. There may come a time when you feel that you no longer need to take...

According to the National Institutes of Health, a vast majority of people over the age of 50 have developed high blood pressure. Diastolic blood pressure refers to the cardiovascular pressure...

Your patient sits atop an examination table covered only by a thin paper sheet while someone asks questions about symptoms and complaints. Fingers fly over the computer keyboard and when the...

Anemia is a health condition in which the amounts of red blood cells in the body are below normal. Extrinsic hemolytic anemia is a form of anemia that affects the spleen.

A blood oxygen test, otherwise known as a blood gases test, is a measurement of the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). ...

A cataract occurs when there is clouding in the lens of the eye, resulting in blurry vision. One way to treat cataracts is laser eye surgery. Recovery from this kind of surgery is fairly simple....

A lot of the foods we eat today contain artificial additives and chemicals. Many are stripped of their natural nutrients. We consume foods that are highly refined and processed, and that contain...

High cholesterol is a big problem in America, and commercials, foods and medicines push for consumers to lower their cholesterol. However, there are health risks associated with extremely low...

Lexapro is a common anti-depressant medication with the potential for serious side effects. Consuming alcohol while taking Lexapro is not recommended, but if you decide to drink, consider the...

Contrary to what many people believe, an allergy to cats is not your allergy to their fur. Instead, what is causing your allergy symptoms is exposure to their saliva, dander, and possibly urine....

Carotemia is a general discoloration of the skin through excess consumption of carotene, an substance in carrots and other vegetables.

A spinal fusion corrects problems with vertebrae in the back by fusing bone together and eliminating motion (see Reference 1). The procedure has many risks to be balanced with potential benefits...

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system, leading to distortions or interruptions in nerve impulses. When diagnosing a patient with MS, a physician...

Colostomies are usually performed either after an injury or bowel resection and may be either permanent or temporary. This surgery takes the end of your large intestine and attaches it to an...

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer with more than 53,000 U.S. individuals diagnosed each year. With melanoma, your pigment cells...

Women tend to gain spare tires around the middle while men acquire pot bellies, especially as they age. The reality is that both kinds of midriff-weight gain can be dangerous to your health and...

Joints can be swollen and inflamed for many reasons, including arthritis, strains and injuries. An increase of fluid in tissues surrounding the joints causes the swelling. People with rheumatoid...

Thalassemia and sickle cell are genetic disorders. Thalassemia is the result of an imbalance in the two globin chains that produce the hemoglobin molecule. In sickle cell, a mutation of the genes...

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can save lives. According to the American Heart Association, about 335,000 people die every year of coronary heart disease, which equals more than 900 people...

Saunas and steam rooms are designed to produce high heat and humidity environments. A hot and humid environment induces sweating and other physiological changes that have been found to have...

You can have a brain aneurysm your whole life and not be aware of it. In cases where an unruptured brain aneurysm is discovered, early care is critical to try to prevent rupture.

Prescription painkillers are often a necessary part of treatment following surgery or injury. However, when not used correctly, they can become very dangerous drugs. Possession and use of these...

Social anxiety disorder (also known as social phobia), is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by an unreasonable and excessive fear of social situations. People suffering from social anxiety...

Hydrogenated oils have recently been the subject of much health debate. Added into products to improve shelf life and texture, some types of hydrogenated oils may also cause a number of negative...

Microwave ovens work by heating foods with a form of electromagnetic radiation. This radiation is reflected by metal, so it is generally safe, even when used near food storage.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that limits the range of motion in your hands, hips, spine and knees. While the direct cause of osteoarthritis is unknown, it affects millions in the...

Millions of Americans struggle with sleep anxiety every night. Sleep anxiety is an anxiety disorder that disrupts or eliminates peaceful sleep. Attacking the problem of sleep anxiety can often be...

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention report as many as five million people in the United States suffer from congestive heart failure in any given year. Conditions like coronary artery...

According to the Mayo Clinic, plantar fasciitis is an inflamed ligament caused by overexertion of the foot; it can cause immense pain in the heel area. There are several ways to treat the...

Dizziness can strike anyone at any age, but is common in adolescents. The cause of a rare, brief bout of dizziness often is never diagnosed; however, frequent or prolonged dizziness could be a...

Osteoporosis is a serious health concern faced by men and women over the age of 50. It is characterized by fragile bones and low bone density, which increases the risk of fractures particularly in...

Salmonella is a bacterium that affects more than 40,000 people in the U.S. each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. It is the most commonly reported type of...

Hernias can be caused by genetic deficiencies like weakening of the abdominal wall or by accidental injuries. Twisting, pulling muscles, lifting heavy objects, constipation, weight gain, and a...

When purchasing eyeglasses, you are faced with numerous options. After choosing the style and color of the frames, you may opt for basic lenses that are customized to your prescription and to fit...

Many people may need some assistance to stop drinking and doing drugs. Whether you are forced to stop drinking and doing drugs due to a legal infraction or intervention or have decided to quit on...

According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, more than 13,000 people in the United States were diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 2008. There are several subtypes of the disease...

Dry macular degeneration is an age-related eye disease characterized by the progressive deterioration of the macula. The macula is part of the center of the retina, which plays an important role...

Diabetes is a serious condition that requires lifetime maintenance to prevent the development of further complications. By taking control of your diabetes, you can help yourself live a longer,...

Usually, women only experience vaginal bleeding during their menstrual periods. Seeing blood appear when it is not time for menstruation can be alarming. However, breakthrough bleeding is not...

If you have a missing tooth, you can replace it with a modern dental implant or the traditional partials. Modern dental developments such as dental implants have some advantages over partials.

Asthma can be a debilitating condition that can prevent those who have it from working. At present, the U.S. Social Security Administration recognizes asthma as a disability and may provide...

Skelaxin, a prescription muscle relaxant marketed by King Pharmaceuticals, is used in the treatment of muscle spasms, typically in the muscles of the back.

Allergies, sinusitis and upper-respiratory infection can cause nasal congestion. Sinus problems among pregnant women are common, as hormones cause those passages to swell. But pregnancy also...

The average American woman gains about 30 pounds during a pregnancy. After delivering a baby who weighs about 8 pounds, and losing another 10-12 pounds that were gained in excess blood volume,...

Multi-focus lenses are a special type of contact lens. They are intended for users who have poor close vision and are far-sighted, rather than near-sighted.