Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency definition and facts* *Facts medically reviewed by Charles P. Patrick, MD, PhD Alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD, antitrypsin deficiency, or alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency) is a disorder (disease) that causes the alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) protein to be reduced or missing from the blood. This protein is necessary for healthy lungs, and the body uses it to protect the...
Miscarriage: Signs, Symptoms, Causes, & Treatments
What is a miscarriage? Miscarriage is very common. As many or even most miscarriages occur so early in pregnancy that a woman does not even realize that she is pregnant, A miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of pregnancy from conception to 20 weeks gestation. The term stillbirth refers to the death of a fetus after 20 weeks of gestation. Miscarriage...
Insect Sting Allergy Treatment, Symptoms, Testing & Action Plan
Facts you should know about stinging insect allergies Severity of reactions to stings varies greatly. Most insect stings do not produce allergic reactions. Anaphylactic reactions are the most serious reactions and can be fatal. Anaphylactic reactions can cause swelling of the tongue, hoarseness, difficulty breathing, and loss of consciousness. Itching, hives, skin flushing, and tingling or itching inside the mouth...
Are Bananas Good for Diabetes?
Bananas and diabetes Bananas have gained a bad reputation for increasing blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. However, it is not completely true. Although a medium-sized banana has 22 grams of carbohydrates and a sweet flavor, there’s a lot more in bananas that would attenuate these negatives. Bananas are rich in phytochemicals Nearly all fruits have phytochemicals that lower...
Swollen Feet and Ankles: How to Reduce Swelling and Causes
Swollen feet and ankles are often signs of an underlying disease or medical condition, such as dependent swelling (edema), pregnancy, medications, injuries, diseases (congestive heart failure, alcoholism, and liver failure), infections, lymphedema, blood clots (for example, deep vein thrombosis [DVT]), varicose veins, and others.Source: Getty Images Swollen feet and ankles definition and facts Readers Comments 16 Share Your Story Swelling...
Are Loofahs Bad for You?
Loofahs can prove dangerous to your skin because they can be a microbe reservoir Loofahs can prove dangerous to your skin because they can be a microbe reservoir, especially if they hang unused for days or even hours without a good rinse. Loofahs have lots of nooks and corners, and they are very porous. Hence, when you use a loofah...
Cysts: Causes, Types, and Treatments
What is a cyst? A cyst is a noncancerous, sac-like structure filled with fluid A cyst is a noncancerous, sac-like structure filled with fluid or gelatinous material that may form on the skin or within the body. Cysts may occur anywhere in the body; most frequently, they develop in the skin, ovaries, breast, or kidneys. Cysts can vary in size...
Atrial Flutter vs. Atrial Fibrillation (AFib): ECG, 11 Symptoms & Differences
What is atrial flutter, and what is atrial fibrillation (definitions)? Readers Comments 3 Share Your Story Atrial flutter is a type of atrial tachycardia that results in an arrhythmia (rhythm disorder or not a normal rhythm) where the atria of the heart beat too quickly in a fast, usually regular, rhythm. Atrial fibrillation is another type of atrial tachycardia that...
What Happens When There Is Damage to the Amygdala?
Amygdala may be best known as the part of the brain that drives the fight-or-flight response. Amygdala or corpus amygdaloideum is a pair of almond-shaped neurons (nerve cells) located deep in the brain’s medial temporal lobe (the part of the brain situated behind the temples within the skull). In humans, this is a subcortical brain structure (present deep beneath the...
Depression in the Elderly: Facts About Treatments
Clinical depression in the elderly is common. Although, that doesn’t mean it’s normal. Late-life depression affects about 6 million Americans age 65 and older. But only 10% receive treatment for depression. The likely reason is that the elderly often display symptoms of depression differently. Depression in the elderly is also frequently confused with the effects of multiple illnesses and the...