Hyperglycemia refers to elevated blood glucose levels; persistently high levels are the hallmark of diabetes. They can also be indicative of other disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome, Cushing’s syndrome, hyperthyroidism, cystic...
LASIK surgery is a type of corrective eye surgery that eliminates the need for further visual assistance such as eyeglasses or contact lenses. LASIK (an acronym for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is performed when a doctor uses an eximer...
Pregnancy is a happy, yet scary time for most expectant parents. However, many different complications can arise during the course of a pregnancy. Maintaining compliance with pre-natal care and doctor's visits will help to ensure that if a...
An abortion is a procedure that results in the intentional termination of a pregnancy. While surgical abortions involve the physical removal of a fetus from a woman's uterus using mechanical suction, medical abortions involve the administration of...
The name arthritis refers to joint inflammation. According to the West Virginia Osteoporosis and Arthritis program, there are more than 100 different types of rheumatic diseases and conditions that fall under the umbrella of arthritis, including...
Cerebral vascular accidents, or CVAs -- better known as strokes -- are often debilitating and life-threatening. According to the American Heart Association, or AHA, strokes killed over 137,000 Americans in 2006. Strokes are the third leading cause...
A c-section, also called a cesarean section, is a surgical procedure used to deliver a baby. Approximately 25 percent of pregnant women give birth by c-section, according to medical experts with MedlinePlus. Expectant mothers who elect or need to...
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting 16 million Americans, reports the Cleveland Clinic. The condition mainly affects the hands, knees, hips and spine and is caused by the deterioration of cartilage surrounding the...
Prostate biopsy is a diagnostic procedure used to test abnormal growths and tumors in the prostate of male patients, states the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. The prostate, a walnut-sized gland that produces the...
Mayoclinic.org states that heart valves are vital to the proper functioning of the circulatory system as their function is to prevent the blood from regurgitating. Several diseases can destroy or damage valves. When the heart valve's function is...
Cracked feet are often caused by skin dryness. The heels on the feet contain fissures surrounded by rough and calloused skin. Other symptoms associated with cracked feet are pain while walking, discolored skin,and itchiness. Cracked heels are...
Cracks in the heels, also called heel fissures, are a common problem, especially for people who spend a lot of time on their feet. Dry skin is the primary cause of cracked heels, causing thickened areas, or calluses, that develop unsightly cracks....
Vasectomy is the surgical procedure in which the vas deferens are severed, rendering a man sterile. The vas deferens are the tubes that deliver sperm from the testicles to the urethra. Vasectomy is an outpatient procedure with little medical risk...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that influenza causes 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths each year, mostly among children and the elderly. Although most kids with influenza recover without medical care, there are...
Swine flu, also known as H1N1 influenza, is a widespread illness caused by a respiratory virus. According to the Mayo Clinic, H1N1 is composed of genetic matter from human, bird and pig viruses. It typically causes fever, cough, sore throat and...
Flu symptoms include a high fever, headache, extreme fatigue, coughing, sore throat, muscle aches and nasal drainage. The March of Dimes indicates some women may experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. It is possible for the flu to cause...
Total hip replacement surgery, also called total hip arthroplasty, is performed more than 193,000 times a year in the United States to relieve severe pain from arthritis of the hip, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The...
The scaphoid is a bone in the wrist that is the most frequently fractured of the carpal bones. Due to the anatomy of the blood supply to the bone, a fracture is capable of disrupting blood supply, resulting in necrosis or death of the bone....
Newly pierced ears require special care for about six to eight weeks after the piercing. During this time, situations may arise that make it necessary to remove the piercing studs. Such situations may involve a particular dress code at school or...
You may have heard the saying, "Your eyes are like a window to your soul," but you may not be so familiar with the saying, "The area under your eyes broadcasts your personal life." If you've had a few too many drinks lately, if you've been working...
Diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by high blood sugar. The Mediterranean diet is a nutritious eating plan that can increase longevity, according to research by scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of...
When your 5-month-old comes down with a cold or shows symptoms of illness, finding the cause of the problem is a priority. RSV -- or respiratory syncytial virus -- is a serious condition that affects the breathing passages and lungs. A child in...
Diabetes is a metabolic condition that involves high blood sugar and complications that include cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, nerve damage, loss of vision and hearing and kidney disease. Diabetics must watch the types and amount of...
Diabetes affects approximately 23.6 million people in the United States, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. This disorder affects the way your body uses food for energy and results in high levels of blood glucose. A...
Chickenpox is not usually serious, but for some, it can lead to dangerous complications and hospitalization, according to the Mayo Clinic. The viral disease is highly contagious and causes a red, itchy rash, fever, headache, fatigue and other...
If it's between November and March, and you're achy, sneezing, and have a sore throat, odds are you either have a cold or the flu. At first, the two might seem alike, but they're very different. While colds develop slowly, the flu comes on fast...
Body lifts provide a way to tighten loose skin after major weight loss. Ideal candidates are those who have undergone gastric bypass surgery or Lap-Band surgery a year or more before the scheduled lift. Body lifts are also ideal for those who have...
Obesity is a problem that is plaguing our nation. Some people feel desperate to lose weight and will take any option they have available to them in order to reach their goals. Gastric bypass surgery was created specifically for that reason....
Inflammation of the skin is known as a rash, or dermatitis. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that various causes can lead to skin rash conditions, with symptoms including blisters, oozing of sores and itchiness. Allergic...
Views 36
Views 32
Views 32
