The calcium score test is a noninvasive procedure using computed tomography to measure the quantity of calcium deposits in the heart, especially deposits in the coronary arteries. An increase in deposits contributes to narrowing in the arteries...
Lung cancer is a devastating medical condition that begins with abnormal cell changes in your lung. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of lung cancer include trouble breathing, chest pain, unexplained weight loss, wheezing and hoarseness. You...
Ligaments' main purpose is to connect bones to each other. However, even though ligaments are tough structures comprised of dense fibrous tissue, they can still can be stretched or even torn. This can be very painful, and if not remedied can...
Eye cancer is a rare cancer that can affect the orbit (bony portion surrounding your eye), globe (eyeball) and its adnexal structures (eye tissues such as the eyelid). According to the American Cancer Society, eye cancers can appear at any age but...
Diagnostic procedures, ranging from non-invasive to invasive testing, are valuable diagnostic tools for the cardiovascular system. These procedures can catch cardiac problems before symptoms develop in most cases. Based on your needs, the...
A CT or CAT scan is the informal name for computerized tomography, which combines many X-ray images from different angles into a cross-sectional or even 3-D image of the body, according to MayoClinic.com. This computer-enhanced image provides far...
Coronary arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart. When they have a buildup of cholesterol in the arterial wall, this is considered coronary heart disease (CHD). It is often referred to as atherosclerosis. CHD can cause significant...
Brain atrophy occurs with the loss of neurons or the connections between them. Some degree of atrophy is a normal part of aging, but pathological conditions, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease, also feature atrophy as a symptom. Common...
Radiation can disrupt both healthy and cancerous cell growth. The reason you wear a lead vest and the dental hygienist steps out of the room when she gives your teeth an x-ray is because too much radiation on your body can have negative effects....
Plaque in the arteries, also known as atherosclerosis, is a medical condition in which cholesterol (a fatty substance floating in your blood) builds up and forms plaque in your blood vessels. This decreases blood flow in your body and can lead to...
A diagnosis of epilepsy involves a combination of observation and diagnostic tests. The doctor will listen to a description of the seizures a person has, and perhaps monitor the patient using video for a few hours or days to try and observe a...
Angiography describes a diagnostic procedure that allows doctors to visualize the inside of blood vessels. Angiography can determine the blood flow in and around organs such as the lungs, brain and kidneys, but doctors commonly perform coronary...
According to the American Cancer Society, the first step in diagnosing suspected skin cancer is a visual examination of the patient. Skin cancer typically begins as a change of color, size or texture of a freckle, mole or other spot of skin that...
A brain tumor is an abnormal mass of cells that grows uncontrollably and expands inside the brain. An expanding tumor, which can be benign or malignant, can exert pressure on delicate tissues and interfere with brain function. A benign tumor is...
Bone density tests, which measure the number of grams of calcium and other bone minerals in a segment of bone, determines the risk of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis presents with low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue, resulting in increased...
According to Emedtv.com, a colonoscopy is a test that enables the direct visualization of the lining of the colon and rectum. A flexible lighted fiberoptic tube is usually inserted into the colon. A colonoscopy is used to help diagnose...
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurologic disorders; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 2 million people have epilepsy in the United States. But there are several causes of seizures, like tumors, brain damage or...
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a condition caused by plaque, a sticky substance made of fat, cholesterol and calcium, that builds up in the coronary artery, the main artery that supplies blood to the heart. With The American Heart Association...
Merck Manuals, an online medical library, reports that multiple myeloma is a form of cancer in which plasma cells become cancerous. Plasma cells are a relatively rare type of blood cell, making up less than 1 percent of total blood cells. However,...
Cancer is the abnormal growth of cells that divide to form lumps or tumors, according to the American Cancer Society. Malignant tumors can interfere with the nervous, digestive and circulatory systems. Most people are familiar with breast cancer,...
The spleen is the organ responsible for storing blood, disposing of old blood cells, and producing lymphocytes. A splenic infarction is the necrosis of splenic tissue caused by impaired blood flow to the spleen, according to "Splenic Infarction...
The Family Caregiver Alliance points out that over 100 types of brain tumors exist; these can affect both adults and children. Brain tumors can start in the brain, called primary brain tumors, or come from another tumor elsewhere in the body,...
Imagine you are 66 years old. You are a seasoned professor at a local university and are set to give a lecture on modern civilization. You notice you are not acting like yourself. When you give your lecture, you constantly repeat words and are...
Bicycling is a fast-paced aerobic exercise with a variety of health benefits. These health benefits include a healthier cardiovascular system, weight loss and stronger lower body. This activity is not without its drawbacks. High-speed bike riding...
Pain in your left arm during exercise may be due to local issues or problems that involve other areas of the body.This pain can range in severity from a minor inconvenience to a life-threatening condition.
Bone density tests determine your risk for osteoporosis and can also indicate whether or not you already have the disease. Osteoporosis causes bones to degenerate, becoming fragile, porous and vulnerable to fractures and breaks. Bone density tests...
Lung cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths throughout the world. This alarming statistic is due to the fact that the diagnosis is often made in the advanced stages. Such is the insidious nature of the disease. There are...
According to the American Heart Association, an enlarged heart is identified through physical exam or other diagnostic procedure. It can occur as a result of damage to the heart muscle from heart attack, congestive heart failure and other...
Vitamins play an important role in many different parts of your body, including blood clotting. Some anticoagulant medications function by blocking the action of vitamin K in your body. Therefore, a lack of vitamin K may result in increased...