Facts you should know about eye allergies Most allergic eye conditions are more irritating than dangerous. Allergic or vernal keratoconjunctivitis may result in scarring of the cornea and vision problems. Itchy, watery eyes are probably allergic eyes. Topical antihistamine/decongestant preparations are effective and safe for mildly itchy, puffy, red eyes. Patanol, a topical mast-cell stabilizer,...
Cystocele facts* *Cystocele (Fallen Bladder) Facts by John P. Cunha, DO, FACOE A cystocele occurs when the wall between a woman’s bladder and her vagina weakens and allows the bladder to droop into the vagina. Symptoms of a cystocele include urine leakage and incomplete emptying of the bladder. Causes of cystocele include muscle straining during...
The allergic cascade facts Share Your Story The allergic response is usually very selective for specific allergens. T- and B-lymphocytes play important roles in the allergic reaction. Mast cells and basophils release a variety of chemical mediators and cytokines that cause allergic inflammation. In an allergic cascade, the immediate or "early" phase allergic reaction is...
Asthma complexities facts Symptoms of asthma include cough, rapid breathing, fatigue, sighing, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating. These symptoms can mimic other illnesses. Asthma can be mimicked by other conditions, such as heart failure, bronchitis, emphysema, bronchiectasis, bronchial obstruction, vocal-cord dysfunction, and hypersensitivity reactions. Exercise is a common trigger for asthma and may cause...
Facts you should know about arthroscopy Readers Comments 68 Share Your Story Arthroscopy uses a small tube-like viewing device to view the internal structure of a joint. Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure that can be performed for diagnosis and/or treatment of joint abnormalities. Arthroscopy is most often an outpatient procedure. Arthroscopy can be performed using...
What is pharyngitis? Readers Comments 1 Share Your Story Pharyngitis is medical term for a sore throat. Pharyngitis is an inflammation of the pharynx (throat) that results in throat discomfort, pain and/or throat scratchiness; in some individuals it may cause painful swallowing. Sore throat is usually caused by a viral infection and less commonly, a...
Laxatives and constipation definitions and facts Fruits and vegetables can act as natural laxatives. The definition of constipation is infrequent bowel movements that may be painful or difficult, along with hard stool. Common causes of constipation include diets low in fiber, side effects of medications (such as narcotics, antidepressants, iron supplements, calcium channel blockers and...
What is Crohn’s disease? Readers Comments 1 Share Your Story Crohn's disease can occur anywhere along the digestive tract. Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the bowels, mainly involving the small and large intestines. Additionally, Crohn's disease may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. Crohn's disease...
Facts you should know about seizures Seizures occur because the brain becomes irritated and an "electrical storm" occurs. This "electrical storm" occurs because the normal connections between the cells in the brain do not function properly. This causes the brain to try to shut down because of the electrical surge. The muscle shaking occurs because...
How much sleep do children need? Share Your Story Just as with adults, the amount of sleep children need varies with both age and unique needs of the individual. Below are general guidelines for children of various ages. If your child is happy and thriving, but needs more or fewer hours of sleep than indicated...