Lung cancer is one of the most common causes of death among the elderly. According to the book "Clinical Oncology," lung cancer causes more deaths than prostate, colorectal and breast cancers combined. Prognosis of lung cancer in the elderly is...
Cerebral palsy results when areas of the brain controlling movement don't develop properly or become damaged during early growth. Patients have problems with muscle control, movement or balance, according to the National Institute of Neurologic...
Bipolar disorder is a form of mental illness characterized by alternating cycles of depression and manic behavior. Though the disorder can be serious and debilitating, a number of strategies exist to effectively manage its symptoms. Through...
Herpes zoster, also called shingles, is caused by the same virus (varicella-zoster, or VZV) that causes varicella (chickenpox); the virus lies dormant in the dorsal root ganglia for many years until reactivated by an unknown mechanism. The rash...
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth-leading cause of death among cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. Depending on how early it's detected, and the location, pancreatic cancer can be treated and the prognosis can be positive....
Individuals diagnosed with Refsum disease, a rare genetic disease, lack the enzyme to breakdown phytanic acid. Phytanic acid is found in a variety of foods such as certain animals and their by-products. A registered dietitian may recommend certain...
Epidemic typhus is due to a bacterium called rickettsia and transmitted by the human body louse which lives on clothes and is found in places with poor sanitary conditions such as jails; hence, the disease is sometimes called "jail fever."...
You are said to have a dual diagnosis when you suffer from a mental illness and a substance-abuse disorder at the same time. Often, a person begins to use, then abuse the substance as a way to medicate themselves from the effects of the mental...
According to the American Association of Endodontists, several myths exist about root canal treatment: Root canals are painful, cause illness and are no better for you than removing the tooth. The truth is that it is usually a comfortable, safe...
Ovarian cancer is the result of cells within the ovaries developing genetic mutations that cause them to grow abnormally quickly. Treatment for ovarian cancer works at stopping the growth and progression of this cancer, though in some cases the...
The medical term for low potassium is hypokalemia. The condition causes several health complications, as potassium is an essential mineral that the body uses for nerve and muscle cell functionality. Potassium is water soluble, so rather than...
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a distressing condition characterized by persistent, uncontrollable worry about a variety of things. The anxiety is so pronounced that it interferes with an individual's social and occupational functioning....
Charcot joint--neurogenic arthropathy--is a condition that occurs when nerve injury leads to destruction of a joint. There is bilateral involvement in between 9 percent and 35 percent of cases according to the "AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic...
Once ovarian cancer is diagnosed, staging occurs. Staging describes the spread and extent of the cancer, and helps to determine prognosis and treatment options. Because the symptoms of ovarian cancer can be vague, approximately 80 percent of...
Providing care for a parent with memory problems is a formidable challenge that requires commitment, patience and the ability to adapt to unforeseen changes in circumstances. Although age-related memory problems are not completely understood, when...
Rett Syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects girls exclusively, is usually first noticed when your child is six to 18 months of age. The so-called early onset stage of Rett syndrome can be marked by signs and symptoms that include a...
Acinic or acinar cells are grape-shaped cells present in many different glands, include the pancreas and salivary glands. Although rare, acinic cells can become cancerous, resulting in acinic cell carcinomas. These types of cancer tend to grow...
Autism is a mental health disorder that usually becomes apparent in childhood and can have a good prognosis if treatment is begun early. According to 2010 information from KidsHealth.org, autism usually affects one out of every 110 people and...
The American Cancer Society estimates that 20,580 new cases of multiple myeloma were diagnosed in 2009--about 11,680 in males and 8,900 in females--and that 10,580 Americans died from the disease. Two systems are used to classify this cancer in...
Calcium deposits, also known as calcinosis, are hardened deposits of calcium that are lodged in fatty tissue or muscles. According to the Myositis Foundation, calcium deposits affect 30 percent of children who have juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM),...
Bipolar depressive describes one mood cycle of bipolar disorder. Referred to as bipolar depression, this change in mood and behavior alternates with a manic phase. As explained on BipolarDepressionInfo.com, the diagnosis of bipolar disorder is...
Breast cancer is the result of cells within the breast growing out of control. There are different types of breast cancer, and each form has its own characteristics because of differences in their precursor cells. The National Cancer Institute...
Cellulitis is a potentially serious bacterial infection that invades the skin. The skin becomes swollen and red as well as hot and tender. Infections can spread rapidly and can occur anywhere on the body or face. Cellulitis might affect only...
Alcoholism is a chronic condition, which is considered terminal when left untreated. The Greater Dallas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse notes alcohol is the most widely used substance frequently causing fatal results, either due to medical...
Dementia is a group of symptoms that results in the loss of mental functioning in an individual. It impinges on brain function and cognitive skills. However, studies show that various treatments for dementia can help slow the course of the...
Pancreatitis is a painful inflammation of the lining of the pancreas that can be accompanied by a fever, chills and in most cases, severe abdominal pain. According to PubMed Health, pancreatitis can occur chronically or in an acute episode. Both...
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, atrophy of the brain is common in many neurological conditions. In atrophy, some neurons, or brain cells, have died and the connections between them have been lost. This can...
Lung cancer is a complex medical condition, which is the result of cells within the lungs developing the ability to grow very quickly and spread to other tissues. How far the cancerous cells have spread is important for determining a patient's...
As with any other form of cancer, regular physical activity is often essential to the prognosis and treatment of rectal cancer. Even if you haven't exercised for a while and you are out of shape, you can reap the benefits of regular physical...
