Facts you should know about marijuana (cannabis) Marijuana's (scientific name is Cannabis sativa) leaves, seeds, stems and/or roots are consumed by marijuana users for the purpose of feeling intoxicated. THC, or tetrahydrocannibinol, is one of the hundreds of compounds within marijuana that has major intoxicating effects. Marijuana that is consumed for medical purposes, like for patients with nausea or poor...
What Is Minimally Invasive Parathyroid Surgery? Benefits and Recovery Times
What is a minimally invasive parathyroid surgery? Minimally invasive parathyroid surgery is a procedure in which the parathyroid gland is removed through a small incision. The procedure is usually performed using a video-assisted or endoscopic camera, where the surgeon uses a camera to magnify the view to remove the affected gland. Minimally invasive parathyroid surgery is usually considered in the...
What Is Liver Resection?
A liver resection surgically removes a portion of the liver, usually to remove tumors. Liver resection is the surgical removal of a portion of the liver. This operation is usually done to remove various types of liver tumors that are located in the resected portion of the liver. The goal of liver resection is to completely remove the tumor and...
What Is a Nerve Conduction Velocity Test? Purpose & Results
What is a nerve conduction velocity test (NCV)? Readers Comments 6 Share Your Story A nerve conduction velocity test (NCV) is an electrical test that is used to determine the adequacy of the conduction of the nerve impulse as it courses down a nerve. This test is used to detect signs of nerve injury. In this test, the nerve is...
32 Osteoarthritis vs. Osteoporosis Symptoms, Causes, Treatments
What is osteoarthritis? What is osteoporosis? Share Your Story Picture of a doctor showing an X-ray to a woman. Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of chronic joint pain, and affects over 23 million Americans. The definition of osteoarthritis is degeneration of joint cartilage tissue and the underlying bone. The definition of osteoporosis is a medical condition that results in...
How Long Is the Recovery Period of a Laminectomy?
If you had a minor (decompressive) laminectomy, you may return to lighter activities such as sedentary work or housekeeping within a few days to weeks. If you had a minor (decompressive) laminectomy, you may return to lighter activities such as sedentary work or housekeeping within a few days to weeks. However, if you had another major procedure along with a...
NDM-1 Definition, Treatment & Symptoms of This Superbug Infection
Facts you should know about NDM-1 NDM-1 stands for a gene that produces New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase in certain bacteria that cause infections. This is a substance that destroys the commonest types of antibiotics. Bacteria with the NDM-1 gene are part of a larger group of superbug bacteria that are extremely hard to treat and can spread easily in hospitals. Most...
Stroke vs. Mini-Stroke Symptoms, Differences & Recovery
Stroke vs. mini-stroke (TIA) comparison of differences Readers Comments 12 Share Your Story A stroke and mini-stroke (transient ischemic attack) have similarities and differences. Mini-stroke (transient ischemic attack, TIA) and stroke usually are caused by blockage of an artery in the brain, and less often by bleeding into the brain tissue. Strokes usually are classified as either ischemic or hemorrhagic....
Muscle Spasms: 3 Types, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Duration
A woman experiences a muscle spasm in her back. The spasm occurs abruptly, is painful, and is usually short-lived. It may be relieved by gently stretching the muscle.Source: iStock Muscle spasm facts Spasms can affect many different types of muscles in the body, leading to many different symptoms. Spasms of skeletal muscles are most common and are often due to...
How to Get Rid of a Stye? 8 Home Remedies and Treatments
Getting a stye can be a real annoyance; there are many ways to treat them at home Getting a stye can be a real annoyance; there are many ways to treat them at home: Warm compress: This is one of the most effective ways to deal with a stye because the warmth brings the pus to the surface. The warmth...