For patients and caregivers, understanding clinical progression, diagnostic imaging results, and pharmacological treatment options is vital for managing acute and chronic health conditions.
Colonoscopy is an examination of the large intestine through a scope placed into the body at the rectum. It is performed routinely every 10 years beginning at age 50 unless symptoms require the study be done earlier. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is an examination of the esophagus, stomach and small intestine.
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Dowager’s hump, or kyphosis, describes a condition in which there is an abnormality in the curve of the spine. Kyphosis is specifically the extreme curvature of the spinal column in the chest. The excessive curvature causes the formation of a hump on the back and shoulders of the affected patient.
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For the safety and well-being of both the mother and the baby, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends vaginal delivery unless there is medical reason for a cesarean section.
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Tinea versicolor (TV) is a common skin condition caused by yeast overgrowth on the skin. The yeast lives normally on everyone's skin, but becomes overgrown in some people, especially during the warm summer months.
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Diabetes--too much sugar, or glucose, in the blood--is caused by your body's inability to regulate insulin.
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Airborne diseases, caused by microorganisms called pathogens, are primarily dispersed through moist air droplets or dust. Using air as transportation, pathogens use your respiratory tract as a channel for both entrance and exit via breathing, coughing or sneezing.
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Arm pain when hitting a volleyball can be due to a wide range of reasons. You can incur systemic-overuse damage after playing for years or develop a sudden injury by spiking the ball and applying excessive pressure on your arm at one time.
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Many physical activities and sports require jumping. When you land following a jump, your knees are at risk for injury because a great deal of force is placed on your bones, muscles and joints. This force can lead to strains, sprains and muscle tears.
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Different varieties of hot chocolate may help to soothe an upset stomach, depending on the cause of the condition. Some naturopaths recommend dark chocolate for certain types of stomachaches. Hot beverages made with milk can also be soothing.
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High blood pressure affects about one out of every three adults in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. High blood pressure increases your risk of heart and kidney disease. Sodium in the diet increases blood pressure.
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A bit of muscle soreness following exercise is normal and results from pushing yourself beyond your normal levels during a workout. Typical muscle pain results from small tears that occur in muscle tissue during exercise.
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Magnetic resonance imaging is a test that uses a computer to produce very detailed pictures of body structure to help diagnose various diseases and medical conditions. MRIs are not X-rays and do not use radiation. A serum creatinine is a lab test that may be done to measure kidney function before an MRI is performed.
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Levothyroxine helps regulate your metabolism and energy, as it is a replacement for a hormone your thyroid normally produces that does this. Levothyroxine is used to treat low thyroid hormone levels in your body, called hypothyroidism.
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The infraspinatus muscle is on the lower back of the scapula, or shoulder blade. It attaches to the humerus, the long bone in the upper arm, near the shoulder joint. When reaching out to the side and behind, this muscle contracts to complete this motion.
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While you may have heard of tennis elbow, another injury affecting the arm is common: tennis shoulder. If you feel twinges of pain in the shoulder after a tennis session that develops over time, this can be an indicator your tennis shoulder pain is developing into a more serious condition.
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When swelling occurs in both legs, it is usually caused by edema, which is an accumulation of fluid in the body tissues. Swelling of the legs is often accompanied by tenderness and pain in the affected area.
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You might not think about your great toe’s function all that much, but when it does not function within its proper range of motion, you are likely to notice right away because it will lead to problems with your walking gait. If it malfunctions for long enough, it will also cause pain.
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Foods that are highly processed and contain a lot of fat do not cause diarrhea but they can lead to a bout of loose stools. Diarrhea is properly defined as loose, watery stools that occur frequently, according to MedlinePlus. Eating junk food while you have diarrhea can prolong or worsen the condition.
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If you rely on oral contraceptives for birth control, chances are you have heard that antibiotics like amoxicillin can decrease their effectiveness. You may be wondering how this can occur and if it is true.
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A parasite is an organism that depends on a living host for its survival. Usually, the parasite derives all the benefit from the infection, to the detriment of the host. Parasitology is the study of this relationship between parasite and host.
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