Why is Actos (pioglitazone) prescribed to patients? Actos is used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults. It is used along with a healthy diabetic diet, regular exercise, weight control, smoking reduction, and careful monitoring of blood glucose. Actos may be used alone or in combination with metformin (Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Glumetza, Fortamet, Riomet), a drug in a...
Actonel (risedronate): Osteoporosis Medication Side Effects & Dosage
What is risedronate, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Risedronate is in a class of drugs called bisphosphonates used for the treatment of Paget's disease of bone (in which the formation of bone is abnormal) and in persons with osteoporosis (in which the density and strength of bones are reduced). Other biphosphonates include the drugs alendronate (Fosamax), ibandronate...
nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is nifedipine? Nifedipine belongs to a class of medications called calcium channel blockers (CCBs) that are used to treat angina (heart pain), high blood pressure, and abnormal heart rhythms. Why is nifedipine prescribed to patients? Nifedipine is used for the treatment and prevention of angina resulting from either an increased workload on the heart (as with exercise) or spasm...
Chest Pain Symptoms That Are Serious, Remedies & Treatments
What should you know about chest pain? Readers Comments 8 Share Your Story Chest pain is one of the most common symptoms that bring an individual to the emergency department. Seeking immediate care may be lifesaving, and considerable public education has been undertaken to get patients to seek medical care when chest pain strikes. You may be worried that you...
Blepharoplasty Cost & Recovery Time for Eyelid Surgery
What is eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty)? The recovery time after blepharoplasty is usually short. An eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, is a procedure to remove skin and to add or remove fat from the eyelids. The term "eyelid lift" is a misnomer because the eyelid is not truly lifted during surgery. Upper blepharoplasty surgery uses incisions to allow for removal of skin...
How to Treat Burns, Degrees of Burns, First Aid & Home Remedies
Introduction to burns Readers Comments 56 Share Your Story Burn treatment depends upon the location, body surface area, and degree of burn. The skin has an important role to play in the fluid and temperature regulation of the body. If enough skin area is injured, the ability to maintain that control can be lost. The skin also acts as a...
Does Osteopenia Hurt? Causes, Treatment & Diet
Osteopenia facts Decreased bone density characterizes osteopenia. Osteopenia is decreased bone density but not to the extent of osteoporosis. This decreased bone density leads to bone fragility and an increased chance of breaking a bone (fracture). Women over the age of 65 and any postmenopausal woman with risk factors for bone loss should be tested for osteopenia or osteoporosis. The...
7 Symptoms of Peyronie’s Disease, Causes, Treatment, and Cure
Peyronie’s disease definition and facts Peyronie’s disease is a condition in which scar tissue develops inside the penis. Peyronie's disease is the development of scar tissue inside the penis that results in abnormal curvature of the penis. The exact cause of Peyronie's disease is not known; however, research has suggested these agents as possible causes of plaque or scar formation...
Stomach Flu Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Stomach flu (gastroenteritis) facts Readers Comments 18 Share Your Story Acute gastroenteritis lasts about seven to 14 days while chronic may last for months or longer. The stomach flu (gastroenteritis) is a nonspecific term for various inflammatory problems in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Gastroenteritis may be of short duration (acute viral) or for many months (chronic gastroenteritis,...
Blepharoplasty Cost & Recovery Time for Eyelid Surgery
What is eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty)? The recovery time after blepharoplasty is usually short. An eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, is a procedure to remove skin and to add or remove fat from the eyelids. The term "eyelid lift" is a misnomer because the eyelid is not truly lifted during surgery. Upper blepharoplasty surgery uses incisions to allow for removal of skin...