Laparoscopic abdominal surgery is a minimally invasive surgery. In this surgery, the abdomen is inflated with a gas such as carbon-dioxide. This helps in creating a wall between the other organs and the abdomen. Short incisions are then made and...
Chromium picolinate is a popular weight loss supplement. The manufacturer is the primary source of all data that indicates chromium picolinate has the ability to lower body fat and improve muscle tone. Chromium is a mineral that aids carbohydrate...
Almost every woman will experience heavy menstruation at some point during her reproductive years, according to the Mayo Clinic. But for some women, periods become so heavy or prolonged that they cause anemia, missed work, fatigue,...
Nasal polyps are small, benign growths of tissue that develop within the lining of the nasal passageways or sinuses. Patients with large nasal polyps can experience severe breathing difficulties, decreased sense of smell, headaches, nasal...
The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland found in the neck, produces hormones that affect nearly all other cells and tissues in your body, making thyroid hormone vital for maintaining normal function. To produce thyroid hormone, the gland requires...
A hernia develops when a portion of the intestine protrudes through a weakened section of the abdominal wall, belly button or groin. If the hernia can't be reduced or pushed back into the abdomen in a doctor's office, an affected patient may...
A sinus infection occurs when the walls of the sinus cavity become inflamed, blocking normal airflow and proper drainage, according to the Mayo Clinic. Although most acute sinusitis does not require extensive treatment, if left untreated, the...
Peppermint, scientifically known as Mentha piperita, is an herb native to Europe and Asia, now cultivated all around the word. It is commonly used as a flavor in foods, chewing gums, candies and toothpaste. Peppermint is also used as an herbal...
According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," acute respiratory illnesses such as colds and flu account for 30 to 50 percent of time lost from work and 60 to 80 percent of time lost from school each year. Colds and flu share many of...
Reproductive health involves the condition of your reproductive organs and the ability to produce healthy offspring. The gonads (testes and ovaries), outer genitals, breasts, sex hormones, semen and vaginal fluid make up the reproductive system,...
Hyperkalemia is a condition of high level of potassium in the blood. The kidneys normally measure the right amount of potassium in the bloodstream and excrete excess amounts. Potassium levels can get too high if the kidneys aren't working...
According to an article by S. C. Cannegieter M.D., in the medical journal "Circulation," artificial valves effectively simulate how natural heart valves work, although their implantation may lead to complications, such as blood clotting and...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that flu affects millions of Americans each year, causing symptoms such as fever, dry cough, headache, muscle pain and fatigue. A productive cough with the flu usually signals the...
The usual relationship between herbs and hair is the myriad oils, creams, liquids, shampoos, sprays, capsules, tonics, lotions and potions touted to grow hair on men, women and even on your pets. Product claims run the gamut from total regrowth of...
The abnormal protrusion of the intestinal tract through the abdominal wall, groin or belly button is a medical condition generally referred to as a hernia. Approximately 600,000 people undergo hernia surgery each year in the United States, reports...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), millions of Americans are affected by seasonal flu each year. Most people with the flu, including 2009 H1N1 flu or "swine flu", do not need medical care. However, sometimes flu...
Arthroscopic shoulder surgery is a procedure in which a small camera-mounted surgical instrument, called an arthroscope, is inserted into the shoulder to view and repair shoulder tissue damage. This technique is commonly used to repair rotator...
Chickenpox is a type of herpes virus also known as varicella zoster. It usually affects children but can also strike adults. Victims can develop hundreds of red, itchy, liquid-filled spots on the skin. These symptoms are often preceded by...
Celiac disease is an auto-immune genetic disorder that is caused and revolves completely around dietary choices. If a person with celiac ingests anything containing wheat or gluten, their own body will attack the lining of the intestine,...
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy, or RSD, is a progressive neurological condition that is most commonly diagnosed in people between the ages of 40 and 60, explain medical experts with Kansas Medical Clinic PA. This condition, which is also known as...
A knee replacement is a surgical procedure in which artificial components replace a knee joint that has been severely damaged by arthritis or injury. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), this surgery provides a...
A wound is an injury that typically causes a break in the integrity of the skin. The skin is the body's first protection against infection. When there is a break in the skin, there is an increased risk of infection. Certain wounds have a higher...
Chemical reactions occur in the human body every moment. The lungs and kidneys work together to keep the body in chemical balance, maintaining a pH close to neutral. When the level of acidic chemicals in the blood is abnormally elevated, the body...
Eclampsia is a serious complication of pre-eclampsia, which is also called pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) and toxemia. In PIH, blood pressure rises, fluid is retained in the face and hands and protein appears in the urine. Headache, blurred...
According to The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, an aortic aneurysm is an abnormal weak bulge in the wall of a large blood vessel, or aorta. Dissecting an aortic aneurysm is the splitting or dissecting of an aortic wall by blood, causing the three...
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the most common cause of a toenail infection is a fungus and 12 percent of Americans are affected by it. Normally, there are a number of bacteria and fungi present on the body, but a fungus can...
Spinal anesthesia is done through the introduction of local anesthetic into the cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that flows in the brain and spinal cord. Injection is usually done at the lumbar spine 2 level. Surgeries below the level of the navel...
Hypericum, more commonly known as St. John's wort, is a flowering plant native to Europe and Asia that has been used medicinally for centuries. Extracts of hypericum may have the potential to treat mild to moderate depression. Individuals seeking...
Each year, according to the CDC, 5 to 20 percent of U.S. residents get the flu. For most people, the symptoms of flu begin abruptly and resolve completely in two to five days. However, some people take longer than others to recover.
