Facts you should know about abdominal aortic aneurysms Picture of grafted stent to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm What is the medical definition of aortic aneurysm? An aneurysm is an abnormal area of localized widening of a blood vessel. The aorta bulges at the site of an aneurysm like a weak spot on a worn...
Who is a candidate for asthma medication? Any patient who has a diagnosis of asthma is a candidate for an asthma medication. Patients with mild, infrequent asthma symptoms may only need a short-acting rescue medication to use when needed, such as albuterol (Ventolin HFA, Proventil-HFA, Vospire ER, ProAir HFA, ProAir, RespiClick). Patients with more frequent...
Breast cancer survivors may have a higher risk of abnormal lymph node swelling Lymphedema in breast cancer survivors occurs due to blockage of the lymph carrying vessels after cancer therapy such as lymph node removal surgery and radiotherapy as a side effect of these treatments. Breast cancer survivors may have a higher risk of abnormal...
Introduction As you and your family evaluate your long-term care needs for dealing with Alzheimer’s disease, it is important to consider financing options including health coverage, Medicare, and Medicaid. Long-term financial planning is important for everyone — but is essential if you are coping with the expense of a long-term illness, such as Alzheimer’s disease....
When asthma symptoms appear and are diagnosed in adults older than age 20, it is typically known as adult-onset asthma. About half of adults who have asthma also have allergies. Adult-onset asthma also may be the result of commonplace irritants in the workplace (called occupational asthma) or home environments, and the asthma symptoms come on...
Iron and iron deficiency facts* Picture of a Man with Iron Overload or Hemochromatosis *Iron deficiency facts medical author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency and the leading cause of anemia in the United States. Iron deficiency is due either to increased need for iron by the body or...
Contact lenses vs glasses One is not necessarily better than the other Choosing to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses for vision correction mostly depends on personal preferences, such as lifestyle, comfort, convenience, and budget. One is not necessarily better than the other; each has its pros and cons in terms of vision, ease of use, and eye health. Below...
Introduction to hemodialysis Hemodialysis is the most common method used to treat advanced and permanent kidney failure. Since the 1960s, when hemodialysis first became a practical treatment for kidney failure, we’ve learned much about how to make hemodialysis treatments more effective and minimize side effects. In recent years, more compact and simpler dialysis machines have...
Amebiasis facts The cause of amebiasis is mainly the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica. Life cycle of E. histolytica; SOURCE: CDC Amebiasis is a disease caused by infection with a parasitic amoeba that, when symptomatic, can cause dysentery and invasive extraintestinal problems. The cause of amebiasis is mainly the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica. Some risk factors...
Are a stroke and an aneurysm the same thing? No, a stroke and an aneurysm are not the same thing. They are two very different medical health problems. Stroke is a process or an event that happens in your body, while an aneurysm is a problem with a person’s anatomy (anatomical abnormality). What is a...