A stent is a wire mesh tube that holds an artery open when there is a blockage affecting blood flow. A blockage is caused by a fatty deposit, and a piece of the deposit can break off and cause a heart attack or stroke. Stent placement is an...
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), glucose monitoring is important to assist in the management of diabetes and its symptoms and consequences. Monitoring is important in the regulation of food...
The X-Stop, also called an interspinous process decompression system, refers to a surgical procedure designed to ease back and leg pain associated with lumbar spinal stenosis, a degenerative condition that occurs when the spinal nerves in the...
Tachyarrhythmia is the medical term used when your heart rate gets too fast. Tachycardia is diagnosed when your heart rate, or pulse, exceeds 100 beats per minute on a regular basis. You can also develop fibrillation, which means your heart is...
According to 2007 data from the American Diabetes Foundation, over 23 million people live with some type of diabetes. Controlling diabetes through diet can be effective; however, in some cases it is necessary to use insulin. Insulin doses can be...
The city of Minneapolis has a comprehensive exercise program that includes city marathons that offer walking and running events for children and families. There are many ways for your family to get a healthy work out while enjoying healthy...
If your heart is beating faster than normal, you may have a rapid heart rate. This condition is known as tachycardia. It is diagnosed when your pulse is chronically 100 beats per minute or higher. While you can increase your heart rate to that...
The aorta is the largest artery in the human body and carries oxygenated blood from the heart to other tissues and organs. The portion of the aorta that runs into the abdomen is called the abdominal aorta. The abdominal aorta can become weak,...
When exercising to improve scoliosis, the primary goal is to strengthen the back, shoulders and upper back. The main reason for this concentration is because scoliosis causes the spine to curve in the wrong direction. Aim for these exercises every...
Insulin pumps provide the convenience of lessening the need for multiple injections with a syringe. By providing continuous insulin infusion directly into the skin, pump wearers gain an increased sense of freedom and tighter control of glucose...
Women are twice as likely as men to experience symptoms of an overactive bladder and urinary incontinence (UI), according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC). The problems begin to occur as the muscles...
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...
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to see certain structures in the body, such as ligaments, tendons, nerve roots and soft tissues of the brain. Although MRI scans are generally considered safe and the actual scan is painless, there are some...
Spinal cord stimulators are thin electronic devices about the size of a pocket watch. They work just like a pacemaker, delivering very small electrical impulses to spinal nerves. These devices can treat chronic pain, movement disorders and...
A Foley catheter is a narrow flexible tube usually made from silicone that is placed in your bladder through the urethra so that urine can drain into a drainage bag. It generally is used as a temporary measure during a medical problem. While a...
A fast heart rate is referred to medically as tachycardia. A heart rate that is more than 100 beats per minute is considered to be rapid. Though it is often harmless, a fast rate can indicate a serious condition. When the heart beats fast for a...
Perhaps one of the most common ailments in the working world today, back pain can be both uncomfortable and debilitating for many Americans. While the causes and severity of back pain varies from person to person, anybody can benefit from...
Diet is an important component of treatment for your child's diabetes. But if your child is tired of following a strict diet plan, you may want to consider the insulin pump, which allows more freedom and flexibility with food choices and meal...
Exercise is essential to good health, but some individuals suffer from dizziness while performing exercises. Dizziness may indicate a more severe condition or may be caused by rapid changes in position. Some of the more severe causes include...
People who do not have diabetes have a functioning biofeedback loop in their bodies that keeps a small amount of insulin in their bloodstream at all times to keep blood glucose levels steady. When they eat carbohydrate-laden meals, their bodies...
Glucose pumps -- pager-sized devices that provide insulin through a catheter and cannula system -- work to regulate blood glucose levels in diabetics. Glucose pumps regularly release insulin throughout the day and night to keep blood sugar levels...
When you treat your diabetes with insulin, managing your carbohydrates will enable you to gain tight control of your blood sugar numbers. Joslin Diabetes Center finds that counting carbohydrates allows you more flexibility and variety in your...
An elevated heart rate can come on suddenly. In some cases, the cause of faster than normal heart rate, known as tachycardia, is never determined. There are a variety of conditions that can cause the heart rate to increase above normal. Rapid...
Blood flows through your heart in one direction, and the valves in your heart help to control this flow. If your heart valves cause blood to leak backwards or prevent blood from properly flowing through, you may need a valve transplant. If you...
Your heart relies on four valves to ensure that blood can move through your heart without leaking backward. If you experience weakness or damage to one of your heart valves, your physician may recommend heart valve replacement to restore your...
According to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, degenerative disc disease is not actually a disease but instead refers to a condition in which pain is produced by a damaged intervertebral disc. CSMC states that almost everybody's spinal discs...
Breads, rice, pasta, potatoes and sweets are often blamed for raising your blood sugar levels because of their high carbohydrate content. If you have diabetes, reactive hypoglycemia or simply keep an eye on your blood sugar levels to prevent...
The aortic, mitral, pulmonary and tricuspid valves are the four valves found in the heart; they open to allow blood flow forward, and close to prevent backward flow. A damaged valve can be replaced with either a mechanical valve created out of...
Nasal irrigation --- rinsing the nasal cavity with saline solution --- can be an inexpensive way to relieve nasal and sinus congestion, and is also a rehabilitative treatment used after nasal surgery. How vigorously you should exercise after nasal...
