For patients and caregivers, understanding clinical progression, diagnostic imaging results, and pharmacological treatment options is vital for managing acute and chronic health conditions.
The skin of the eyelids is the thinnest of the body, making this area highly vulnerable to irritation. Eyelid irritation commonly provokes itchiness, which can be intensely aggravating and potentially vision-endangering.
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The knee joint connects the upper leg to the lower leg and is used during many physical activities throughout the day. Overuse, however, makes the knee joint prone to inflammation, which can cause pain in a patient.
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Cerebral palsy describes a neurological disorder in which damage to the brain affects the ability to control muscles and coordinate movement. Most cases of cerebral palsy are classified as congenital, meaning present at birth, caused by brain damage sustained during fetal development or delivery.
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The evaporation of sweating from the skin’s surface cools the body to maintain a normal body temperature. Nerves of the sympathetic nervous system control the output of sweat glands to regulate how much sweat they produce. Eccrine glands, found all over the body including the armpits, secrete a watery, cooling sweat.
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Dry mouth, also called xerostomia, can cause serious problems that affect the enjoyment of food and the condition of the mouth. Without saliva, food and bacteria linger in the mouth, accelerating tooth decay. In addition, lack of saliva alters the taste of food and prevents the start of digestion.
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There’s a saying that “blood is thicker than water,” but blood that is too thick can be a serious medical issue.
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A baker's cyst, also called a popliteal cyst, occurs when synovial (joint) fluid forms behind the knee and creates a visible swelling. You can develop a baker's cyst because of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, a meniscal cartilage tear or other damage to the knee.
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Family history, poor diet, and obesity are just a few of the causes of high blood pressure. Aside from prescription medications, there’s not much a physician can do to reverse or reduce high blood pressure. However, one alternative is the incorporation of coconut oil into your diet.
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Your gallbladder is an organ that aids in digestion. Located beneath your liver, it’s a small sac that holds bile, bilirubin, bile salts, fats, proteins and cholesterol. After your liver has filtered out any toxins that you may have ingested, the contents are then transported and stored in your gallbladder.
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Fatigue can be a feeling of sleepiness or lack of energy. Many of you have experienced it for a short while, or maybe for a long period of time. Fatigue can be caused by a number of reasons such as stress, lack of sleep, a medical disorder, intense exercise or even your diet.
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Blood glucose levels and potassium share a complex relationship. Certain complications of diabetes, including diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperglycemia, involve both high blood glucose levels and abnormal potassium levels. Some medications can also cause both elevated blood glucose levels and potassium imbalances.
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Red bumps in the back of the throat can be part of your normal anatomy or a sign of a medical condition.Tonsils sit in the back of your mouth on either side of your tongue and, in some people, can be naturally large. They often have grooves in them, giving them a bumpy appearance.
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Millions of people suffer from headaches. There are many types including, migraine, cluster, and tension or stress headaches. Most can be treated and controlled, but some headaches are caused by more serious problems like brain tumors.
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There are many forms of arthritis, but the most common hip arthritis is ostereoarthritis, according to the University of Washington Department of Osteopaedics and Sports Medicine. Also called degenerative joint disease, this arthritic condition is characterized by a lack of articular cartilage in the hip.
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Phytochemicals are plant compounds capable of carrying out biological or biochemical activity within the body when consumed. Phytochemicals are not as widely known as macronutrients, such as protein and carbohydrates, or micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals.
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Staphylococcus and streptococcus are spherical bacteria that can cause mild to severe infections, especially in immunocompromised individuals. While staph skin infections are common, this bacterium can also invade the bloodstream, urinary tract, lungs and heart.
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Continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, machines deliver compressed air throughout the night to keep airways open in people with obstructive sleep apnea.
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A traumatic injury to the lower pelvic region can cause a bruised bladder. The bladder is a small organ that stores fluid waste, called urine, before it passes out of the body through the urethra.
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If you have leukopenia, your levels of infection-fighting white blood cells, or leukocytes, are too low. Because neutrophils are the most common white blood cell, neutropenia also is used to describe low white cell counts.
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Most consumers purchase toothpaste and other personal hygiene products without even bothering to read the list of ingredients, blindly trusting manufacturers to have the customer’s best interests at heart. It can be a costly mistake.
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