Author Archive: Contributor

Oxygen attaches to the hemoglobin in your red blood cells. It is in this way, that your red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to your tissues and organs. Adult hemoglobin is made of four chains: two alpha chains…
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One way to classify brain tumors is to assess their location in proximity to the tentorium cerebelli, a thick membrane separating the back of the brain from the cerebellum. Supratentorial tumors are found above the tentorium cerebelli, and most are…
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Digestive disorders affect about 70 million Americans and require nearly 60 million doctor, outpatient and emergency room visits, as reported by Johns Hopkins Health Alerts. Some of the most common digestive disorders include ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), difficulty swallowing…
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Overview HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a serious problem because it infects and kills special white blood cells called CD4 cells. These cells are important in fighting many kinds of infections. As HIV progresses it can cause a condition known…
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Dementia is a broad term that has been used to describe a group of illnesses that cause a progressive decline in functioning. If you suffer from dementia, you will experience a gradual loss of memory, intellect, rationality, social skills and…
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1. Understand the Issue and Begin the Acceptance Process Experiencing vascular dementia, or living and caring for someone with vascular dementia, first demands an understanding of the disease. Due to the nature of the multiple “infarcts” or damaged areas to…
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High blood pressure, also medically referred to as hypertension, is a disease where a person’s blood pressure, on two or more readings on different dates, is higher than the normal range, according to “Understanding Medical Surgical Nursing” by Linda Williams…
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Temporomandibular joint disorders, or TMJ, refer to problems with the muscles and bones in the jaw. TMJ, the Mayo Clinic reports, typically can be managed without the need for surgery. In cases that are severe, however, surgical or dental procedures…
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Overview Asthma is a chronic condition in which the immune system has an abnormally strong response to normally benign stimuli such as smoke, dust, pollen and cold air. Medications such as albuterol work to rapidly relieve asthma symptoms; they do…
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The pancreas helps you digest your food by producing enzymes and digestive substances directly into the duodenum, the small intestine’s first section near the pancreas. When inflammation occurs in the pancreas gland, it is called pancreatitis. This occurs if the…
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1. Bring Epinephrine with You into Any Restaurant Epinephrine (often called adrenaline) will stabilize your body when you go into anaphylactic shock–the severe reaction caused by most food allergies. Because shellfish allergies are usually serious, you should carry an epinephrine…
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Bacteria causes the infection commonly known as strep throat. While many infections can occur in your throat and cause discomfort, strep throat is more serious. The Mayo Clinic reports that this type of infection can lead to rheumatic fever and…
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Red blood cells continually recycle in the body and when old cells die, the byproduct results in a yellow pigment called bilirubin. Normally, your liver processes it and removes it from the body via bowel movements. Without adequate excretion, bilirubin…
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