What is an eye twitch? Infections and nerve disorders may cause eye twitching, but it can also be a harmless response to stress or fatigue. A blepharospasm (eye twitch) is a harmless tic of the eyelid muscle, which may resolve on its own. Eye twitch causes the eyelid to blink every few seconds for a minute or two. Twitches are...
What Causes You to Get Shingles?
Shingles is a reactivation of the dormant herpes zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles is often triggered by severe stress, trauma or an illness. Shingles (herpes zoster) is caused by varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Sometimes, in patients with a history of chickenpox, the virus may live in the nervous system for years...
What Are Video Laryngoscopy and Fiberoptic-Assisted Tracheal Intubation?
What are video laryngoscopy and fiberoptic-assisted tracheal intubation? Video laryngoscopy allows for the larynx to be seen with a fiberoptic or digital laryngoscope inserted through the nose or mouth. Fiberoptic intubation inserts an ET tube over the shaft of a flexible fiberoptic scope for visualization. Tracheal intubation, also called intubation, involves placing a flexible plastic tube (endotracheal [ET] tube) into the...
What Are the Four Types of Breast Cancer?
What is breast cancer? The four main classifications of breast cancer are invasive and in-situ ductal carinomas and invasive and in-situ lobular carcinomas. Designations are based on the location and spread of the tumors. Breast cancer is the disease in which cells in the breast grow out-of-control, displacing normal breast cells. When breast cancer spreads to other parts of the...
What Are the Four Types of Lung Cancer?
The four types of lung cancer are based on the cell types and location, as well as how they look under a microscope. Lung cancer is classified into four types, depending on how the cancer cells look under the microscope. Small Cell Lung Cancer (Oat cell lung cancer): This cancer often starts in the bronchi (major airways). Small cell cancers...
What Is Usually the First Symptom of Testicular Cancer?
What is testicular cancer? The first signs of testicular cancer may be a painless lump, unusual firmness in the affected testicle or dull pain in the groin. Testicular cancer arises from the testes. The testicles are responsible for the production of male sex hormones and sperm for reproduction. They are located within the scrotum, a loose bag of skin below...
Rheumatoid Arthritis vs. Lupus: Differences and Similarities
What are rheumatoid arthritis and lupus? Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and lupus are both autoimmune diseases. RA is mainly limited to the joints, while lupus affects more than just the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and lupus are two varieties of autoimmune diseases. This means they are caused when the body’s immune system attacks its own tissue by mistaking it for a...
Mental Illness in Children: Signs, Types & Causes
Facts you should know about mental illness in children Share Your Story ADHD, anxiety, and depression are the most common mental illnesses in children. Mental disorders in children are quite common, occurring in about one-quarter of this age group in any given year. The most common childhood mental disorders are anxiety disorders, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although...
What Is the Life Expectancy of Someone With Ulcerative Colitis?
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects the inner lining of the large intestine (large bowel) leading to erosion and ulcers. It is a lifelong illness with no specific cause or cure. The life expectancy of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) is usually the same as anybody without the disease. UC is a lifelong disease with...
How Serious Is Ulcerative Colitis?
The possible complications of ulcerative colitis are bleeding, inflammation of other organs, toxic megacolon, dehydration, and colon cancer. The life expectancy of patients with ulcerative is usually the same as the general population. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a lifelong disease with periods of flare-ups and remissions. The longer the periods of remission, the better will be the general condition of...