For patients and caregivers, understanding clinical progression, diagnostic imaging results, and pharmacological treatment options is vital for managing acute and chronic health conditions.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)–a chronic condition affecting the colon–and urinary tract infections (UTIs)–acute or chronic bacterial infections of the urethra or bladder–can both cause discomfort and lifestyle impairment.
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Metformin is a medication that normally is used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. This medication is in the antihyperglyemic drug class, meaning that it counteracts glucose in the blood.
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Shin splints is the term used to describe pain that manifests in the front of your lower legs or shins. MedlinePlus states that if you have shin splints, your pain is concentrated along the inside edge of your tibi — the bigger of the two bones in your lower leg.
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Dry mouth, medically known as xerostomia, is a subjective lack of saliva in the mouth or dryness of the mucosal membranes. The predominant cause of dry mouth is related to reduced saliva gland output, which is affected by diseases, trauma, medications and medical treatments.
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A groin muscle pull – also known as a strain or over-stretch – can be one of the more painful and debilitating muscle injuries you can sustain. You're constantly using your groin muscles to walk, change directions, sit, stand and perform many other movements.
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High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, occurs when blood moves through vessels at a higher pressure than normal. In pregnancy, high blood pressure is often called preeclampsia.
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Heel pain may be a common complaint, but it should not be ignored. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, most heel pain will resolve on its own, if given enough rest. Most posterior heel pain, or pain in the back of the heel, is the result of overuse, over training and improper footwear.
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When a localized area of pus, called an abscess, develops in or around the root of a tooth, this provides the opportunity for bacteria to enter nearby blood vessels. This can lead to a potentially life-threatening blood infection, especially in people with an impaired immune system.
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Intestinal parasites that may infect children come in two varieties: protozoa and helminthes. Protozoa are single-celled worms. They are able to multiply inside the human body and can be a major cause of infection. Helminthes are multi-celled organisms, the most common forms being pinworms and tapeworms.
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A hookah is a water pipe that consists of one or more hoses for smoking, a pipe and a bowl to hold the tobacco. They come in many sizes and styles and are sold all over the world.
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Finding out you have HIV doesn't mean a death sentence. However, if you are infected with HIV and don’t get treatment, HIV will eventually overwhelm your immune system. This will lead to your being diagnosed with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
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An autoimmune disorder is an illness in which the body begins to attack its own healthy cells, producing inflammation and an overproduction of collagen, a naturally occurring protein that helps make up connective tissue and maintain skin elasticity.
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The heart functions as the motor of the circulatory system, which consists of the heart, blood vessels and blood. The heart pumps approximately 2,000 gallons of blood through the body each and every day, according to the American Heart Association.
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Rowing is very hard on the back. More lower back injuries are reported from rowing than other body part. Upper arm kinks are nothing compared to a lower back strain. In order to protect your back, you need to learn and follow proper rowing form.
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Arthritis will affect approximately 67 million people in the United States by the year 2030, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two main types of arthritis affect the fingers.
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Herpes zoster infection, or shingles, is the reactivation of the same virus that causes chickenpox, also known as varicella-zoster. Shingles is characterized by a painful blistering rash that can appear anywhere on the body, however is more common on the abdomen, chest or near the eye.
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The phrase “flesh-eating bacteria” refers to a rare but potentially life-threatening infection, which affects the skin and soft tissues down to the muscles. The medical term for a flesh-eating bacterial infection is necrotizing fasciitis (NF).
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Frequent sore throats or tonsils that are so large they interfere with swallowing or breathing are typical reasons why a health care provider might recommend removing the tonsils. While tonsil removal surgery -- a tonsillectomy -- typically lasts only 30 to 45 minutes, the recovery period is usually about 2 weeks.
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The bundle of nerves that exits the top of the spinal cord extends through the neck, where they branch off and rejoin to form the ulnar and median nerves of the arm and hand. The nerves send messages to the brain to initiate movement and feeling in the muscles and skin.
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Foot health and shoe comfort are critical factors for a runner. Shoes that curl your toes can cause pain, corns, blisters and calluses. Toe curling can result from anatomical imbalances, muscle or bone weaknesses or shoe deficiencies.
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