Introduction If you’re like most Americans, you plan for your future. When you take a job, you examine its benefit plan. When you buy a home, you consider its location and condition so that your investment is safe. Today, more and more Americans are protecting their most important asset–their health. Are you? Stroke ranks as the third leading killer in...
What Is the Most Effective Pain Relief for Sciatica? Symptom & Treatment
What is sciatica? Picture of Sciatica Symptoms The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. It’s rooted in the lower back and extends through the rump, providing nerve endings through the leg. Sciatica or sciatic nerve pain is centered on the lower back, and the cause is usually from a ruptured disc in the spinal column that irritates...
Superior Vena Cava Syndrome Treatment, Symptoms & Causes
Facts you should know about superior vena cava syndrome The most common cause of superior vena cava syndrome is cancer. Superior vena cava syndrome is most often caused by compression of the vein (the superior vena cava), that returns blood from the upper body back to the right atrium of the heart by the tumor. Symptoms include swelling of the...
Shigella Symptoms, Treatment & Transmission
Shigellosis facts* *Shigellosis facts by John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP Shigellosis is an infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella. There are four species of Shigella: Shigella sonnei (the most common species in the U.S.) Shigella flexneri Shigella boydii Shigella dysenteriae The transmission of most Shigella infections is caused by the bacterium passing from stools or soiled...
Shock: 5 Types, Treatment, Symptoms & 8 Main Causes
Shock facts Readers Comments 4 Share Your Story The main symptom of shock is low blood pressure. Shock is a life-threatening medical condition and is a medical emergency. If shock is suspected call 911 or get to an emergency department immediately. The main symptom of shock is low blood pressure. Other symptoms include rapid, shallow breathing; cold, clammy skin; rapid, weak...
Postpartum Depression Treatment, Screening, Causes & Symptoms
Postpartum depression facts Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common problem associated after childbirth. Peripartum depression is fatigue that a woman experiences during pregnancy or within four weeks of giving birth. Postpartum depression is medically considered a subset of peripartum depression. PPD can affect as many as 10% of fathers as well. Biological, psychological, and social factors play roles in predisposing...
What are the Risks and Complications of an Amygdalohippocampectomy?
What is an amygdalohippocampectomy? An amygdalohippocampectomy is a surgical operation to remove a portion of the brain as a treatment for temporal lobe epilepsy. An amygdalohippocampectomy is a surgical operation to remove a portion of the brain as a treatment for temporal lobe epilepsy. The procedure involves the selective removal of certain portions of the brain’s temporal lobe. The temporal...
Pendred Syndrome: Get the Facts on This Genetic Disease
What is Pendred syndrome? Pendred syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes early hearing loss in children. It also can affect the thyroid gland and sometimes may affect a person’s balance. The syndrome is named after Vaughan Pendred, the physician who first described individuals with the disorder. Children who are born with Pendred syndrome may begin to lose their hearing...
What Is the Best Treatment for Impetigo? Rash Causes & Symptoms
What is impetigo? Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection that causes a rash that forms blisters and can ooze pus, causing a crust. Impetigo can be caused by different kinds of bacteria, including strep and staph. Usually, impetigo is easy to treat and rarely leaves scarring. Are there home remedies for impetigo? An impetigo infection is not serious and is...
Takayasu Disease Treatment, Diagnosis & Life Expectancy
Facts you should know about Takayasu disease Takayasu disease is a chronic inflammation of the large blood vessels that distributes blood from the heart. The cause of Takayasu disease is unknown. Symptoms of Takayasu disease include painful, cool, or blanched extremities, dizziness, headaches, chest pain, and abdominal pain. The diagnosis of Takayasu disease involves detecting abnormal narrowing of the characteristic...