What does an insect bite look like? You may be bitten by an insect and get a small, painful, itchy, red bump on the skin. Some insect bites may be serious and you can see the marks at the site of bite. There may be oozing from the marks in the case of a black widow spider bite or a...
Erythema Nodosum Treatment, Symptoms & Diagnosis
What is erythema nodosum? Readers Comments 76 Share Your Story Erythema nodosum is a type of skin inflammation that is located in a certain portion of the fatty layer of skin. Erythema nodosum (also called EN) results in reddish, painful, tender lumps most commonly located in the front of the legs. The tender lumps, or nodules, of erythema nodosum range...
Breast Cancer Gene: What Is the Procedure for Testing?
Who should get genetic for breast cancer genes? Ms. G. is a 40-year-old woman with two small children. Like most women, she is concerned about her chances of developing breast cancer. She asks her doctor about her risks. Although breast cancer is a worry for most women, Ms. G. is especially worried because of a family history of breast cancer....
Pancreatic Divisum: Treatment, Symptoms & Causes
What is pancreas divisum? Pancreas divisum is a common congenital anomaly (an anomaly that is present at birth) of the pancreatic duct(s). The pancreas is a deep-seated organ located behind the stomach. One of its functions is to produce enzymes that are important for the digestion of food in the intestine. The digestive enzymes, in the form of digestive juice,...
Diverticulosis vs Diverticulitis
What is diverticulosis and diverticulitis? Diverticulosis is asymptomatic, however, diverticulitis causes symptoms Diverticulosis: Diverticula are small, bulging pouches that form in the lining of the large gut in some individuals. The presence of diverticula is known as diverticulosis. They are usually seen in people over the age of 40 years and are mostly harmless. Diverticulitis: The condition when one or...
Early Signs of Arthritis in the Feet
There are more than 30 joints in the ankle and feet. There are more than 30 joints in the ankle and feet. Arthritis can affect one or multiple joints in the feet. Excess weight, hereditary tendencies, old injuries, and poor footwear are a few predisposing factors of arthritis. There are over a hundred different types of arthritis; the three most common...
Disease Prevention in Women: Osteoporosis, Diabetes, Cancer & High Cholesterol
Facts you should know about disease prevention in women Screening tests are a basic part of preventative medicine. All screening tests are commonly available through your primary care physician. Some specialized tests may be available only through specialists. Take an active role and discuss screening tests with your doctor early in life. The following examinations represent beneficial (generally simple and safe)...
Sedimentation Rate: Blood Test, Purpose & Normal Range Chart
What is a sedimentation rate? Readers Comments 16 Share Your Story A sedimentation rate blood test (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ESR, or sed rate) measures how quickly red blood cells collect at the bottom of a container, revealing information about general inflammation levels in the body. It's non-specific and is part of screening for a variety of conditions. A sedimentation rate...
Do Hair Transplants Really Work?
A hair transplant is typically done as an out-patient procedure in the doctor’s office Modern-day hair transplants provide natural-looking hair compared to the unnatural looking hair of the hair transplants performed in older days. The results are typically permanent. The outcome of the transplant, however, greatly depends on the expertise of the surgeon performing the procedure. The presence of underlying...
Endometrial Cancer Prevention: Get the Facts
What is cancer prevention? Cancer prevention is action taken to lower the chance of getting cancer. By preventing cancer, the number of new cases of cancer in a group or population is lowered. Hopefully, this will lower the number of deaths caused by cancer. To prevent new cancers from starting, scientists look at risk factors and protective factors. Anything that...