Brain eating amoeba (Naegleria fowleri) infection facts Naegleria fowleri is also known as the brain-eating amoeba. Naegleria is easy to miss if doctors do not look for it. Like bacterial meningitis, diagnosis requires a spinal tap (lumbar puncture). Naegleria fowleri is an ameba (amoeba) that is common throughout the world and lives in soil and warm freshwater. When conditions are favorable, usually summer, it...
Lower Triglyceride Levels to Normal Range With Diet, Exercise & More
Triglycerides definition and facts High triglyceride levels can be lowered with medication and naturally through diet and exercise. Triglycerides are particles in the blood that transport fat. They come from excess sugar (refined carbohydrate) and fat intake in the diet and can also be made in the liver. Triglycerides are converted into energy in the body; for example, to fuel...
Microcephaly Prognosis, Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis
Microcephaly facts* *Microcephaly facts medical author: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD Microcephaly is a condition where the head (circumference) is smaller than normal. Microcephaly may be caused by genetic abnormalities or by drugs, alcohol, certain viruses, and toxins that are exposed to the fetus during pregnancy and damage the developing brain tissue. Unfortunately, a 2015-2016 outbreak of Zika virus in...
High Blood Pressure Related Kidney Disease: Get Answers
High blood pressure and kidney disease facts *High blood pressure and kidney disease facts medically edited by: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD High blood pressure can damage kidneys and result in chronic kidney disease High blood pressure is the excessive force of blood placed against blood vessel walls. High blood pressure damages the vessels that, in turn, can’t provide the...
How Long Does Laryngitis Last?
What is laryngitis? Acute laryngitis lasts less than two weeks and chronic laryngitis lasts longer than three weeks. Laryngitis is when your voice box (larynx) or vocal cords become inflamed from infection, irritation, or being overused. This inflammation can change the way your vocal cords vibrate, causing changes to your voice. Most cases of laryngitis go away by themselves in...
Osteoarthritis (OA) vs. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Similarities, Differences & Treatment
What is osteoarthritis (OA)? Share Your Story Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are both chronic joint disorders that cause joint pain. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disorder featuring degeneration and inflammation of cartilage of one or many joints. What is rheumatoid arthritis (RA)? Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune joint disorder characterized by inflammation of the tissue (synovium) that...
How Long Does It Take To Heal From Mononucleosis?
It takes two to three months to completely recover from mononucleosis. Most of the people infected with mononucleosis may start to feel better within two to four weeks, but fatigue may last longer. It generally takes two to three months to completely recover from mononucleosis. Make sure the patient gets proper rest for fast healing. Occasionally, the symptoms of mononucleosis...
How Long Does It Take to Recover From a Fractured Growth Plate?
Growth plates are the areas of new bone growth in children and teens. Bone fractures in children heal quickly as compared to adults, but fractures of the growth plate may require several weeks to heal. Growth plates are the areas of new bone growth in children and teens. They are made up of cartilage, a gelatinous tissue and are found near...
What Happens During Menopause? Symptoms, Age & Treatment
A middle-aged woman sits with her chin on her hand.Source: iStock Menopause definition and facts Menopause is defined as the absence of menstrual periods for 12 months. It is the time in a woman's life when the function of the ovaries ceases. The process of menopause does not occur overnight, but rather is a gradual process. This so-called perimenopausal transition...
Who Is Most Affected by Tinnitus? Treatment & Causes
Who gets tinnitus? Tinnitus is ear ringing. The most effective treatments for tinnitus involve noise-canceling headphones, cognitive behavioral therapy, background music and lifestyle changes. Tinnitus (pronounced either “TIN-uh-tus” or “tin-NY-tus”) is a sound in the ears, like ringing, buzzing, whistling, or even roaring. It can come and go or can be continuous. It can also range in pitch from low...