Pernicious anemia definition and facts Pernicious anemia is a deficiency in red blood cells caused by lack of vitamin B12 in the blood. Pernicious anemia is defined as a type of vitamin B12 deficiency that results from impaired uptake of vitamin B-12 due to the lack of a substance known as intrinsic factor (IF) produced...
Hip pain facts Readers Comments 27 Share Your Story Pain in the hip joint can have a variety of causes. Pain in the hip joint can be temporary of chronic. There are many causes of hip pain. The treatment of hip pain depends on its particular cause. What is the anatomy of the hip? The...
What is hyperkalemia? Readers Comments 2 Share Your Story Hyperkalemia, an abnormally high level of blood potassium, sometimes causes symptoms. Hyperkalemia is a common diagnosis. Fortunately, most patients who are diagnosed have mild hyperkalemia (which is usually well tolerated). However, any condition causing even mild hyperkalemia should be treated to prevent progression into more severe...
Hoarseness facts Hoarseness or raspy voice is a symptom with a number of different causes. Hoarseness is an abnormal change in the voice. The most common cause of hoarseness is acute laryngitis. The underlying cause of hoarseness can usually be diagnosed by a health care professional based on the patient’s history and physical exam. The...
Candida auris (C. auris) facts* *C. auris facts by Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD Candida auris (C. auris) is a yeast-like fungus related to Candida albicans. It was first described as a pathogen in 2009 when isolated from a patient with an ear infection in Japan. The fungus causes invasive infections with a high death...
What is dexamethasone, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Dexamethasone is a synthetic (created by a chemical processes) corticosteroid hormone like prednisone, betamethasone, and triamcinolone. More specifically, dexamethasone is a glucocorticoid hormone, which means that it has anti-inflammatory effects, as well as the ability to affect blood glucose use, fat breakdown, and bone...
Introduction to Arrhythmia Arrhythmia is an abnormal heartbeat, which can be diagnosed by an EKG readout. An irregular heartbeat is an arrhythmia (also called dysrhythmia). Heart rates can also be irregular. A normal heart rate is 50 to 100 beats per minute. Arrhythmias and abnormal heart rates don’t necessarily occur together. Arrhythmias can occur with...
What are e-cigarettes? What is “vaping”? Readers Comments 9 Share Your Story The long-term dangers of vaping remain unclear, but it has been implicated in some lung problems. E-cigarettes (e cigarettes, or vaping) are smokable, refillable or replaceable cartridges or containers that hold liquid that contains nicotine, solvents, and chemical flavors. When a person inhales...
What are the uses for mirabegron? Mirabegron is a prescription medicine used to treat overactive bladder with symptoms of urgency (a strong need to urinate that is difficult to control), frequency (urinating often), and leakage (accidental urination due to a sudden or uncontrollable urge) in adults. What brand names are available for mirabegron? Myrbetriq Is...
Black eye facts Picture of the anatomy of the eye A black eye often results from injury to the face or the head, and is caused when blood and other fluids collect in the space around the eye. Swelling and dark discoloration result in a "black eye." Most black eyes are relatively minor injuries. Many...