Coughing up blood or hemoptysis refers to the spitting of blood Coughing up blood or hemoptysis refers to the spitting of blood or blood-stained mucus from the throat and lungs (the respiratory tract). Coughed up blood often looks bubbly and is mixed with mucus. It may be red or rust-colored in appearance. It is often small in amounts, unlike vomiting...
What Order Do Baby Teeth Come In?
There are five different types of teeth a baby will develop during the first 3 years. There are five different types of teeth a baby will develop during the first 3 years. There is an order in which the teeth erupt; however, this may vary slightly with each baby, and it is nothing to worry about. The order in which...
Why Do People Get Tonsil Stones?
What are tonsil stones? Tonsil stones are yellow or white deposits that form on your tonsils. People get tonsil stones when mucus, food particles, bacteria and debris build up in tonsil crypts. Tonsil stones are small white or yellow deposits that can form on your tonsils. Made of debris and bacteria, these deposits accumulate in the crevices of the tonsils....
Why Are Hangnails So Painful?
Hangnails are often seen at the end of a digit near the nail. Despite the name, hangnails aren’t part of your nails, but they are a jagged piece of the skin at the edge of the nail. Hangnails are often seen at the end of a digit near the nail. There are many blood vessels and nerve endings in this...
Aldactone (spironolactone) vs. Lasix (furosemide)
Aldactone vs. Lasix: What’s the difference? Aldactone (spironolactone) and Lasix (furosemide) are types of diuretics used to remove excess fluid from the body in congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, and kidney disease. Aldactone also is used to counteract the effects of excessive adrenal aldosterone production (hyperaldosteronism). Side effects of Aldactone and that are similar include diarrhea, rash, and...
loratadine/pseudoephedrine (Claritin-D) Side Effects & Dosage
What is loratadine/pseudoephedrine? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Loratadine/pseudoephedrine is a combination of two drugs, an antihistamine (loratadine) and a decongestant (pseudoephedrine). Loratadine is a long-acting antihistamine that blocks the actions of histamine that causes some of the symptoms of allergic reactions. Histamine is released from histamine-storing cells (mast cells) and attaches to other cells that have receptors...
What Should I Be Feeling at 18 Weeks Pregnant?
At 18 weeks, the mother is halfway through pregnancy and experiences multiple changes in the body At 18 weeks, the mother is halfway through pregnancy and experiences multiple changes in the body due to the increased growth and metabolic needs of the fetal body. The height of the uterus is midway between the pubic symphysis and umbilicus. The waistline expands,...
Why Do You Get Gallstones?
What is the gallbladder? Gallstones are made of material in the bile that crystallizes. The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ located below the liver on the right side of the belly. The main function of the gallbladder is to store bile, a substance secreted by the liver that is required for digestion. The bile contents in the bile may sometimes...
What Triggers Tension Headaches?
What is a tension headache? The exact cause for tension headaches is unknown, but the triggering factors are stress, anxiety, poor posture, depression. and more. A tension headache is the most common type of headache seen in adults. It is so common that we often consider it a normal occurrence. A tension headache is also called a tension-type headache (TTH)....
When Should You See a Doctor for a Baker’s Cyst?
When should you see a doctor for a baker’s cyst? Baker's cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form behind the knee. Baker's cysts are often harmless, but you should see a doctor if it is painful because it may indicate a more serious problem like an infection or a blood clot. Cysts are small, fluid-filled sacs that can appear anywhere on...