Diseases & Health Conditions

Overview Unlike other psychological therapies, existentialism does not employ a systematic model with prescribed techniques. Instead, existentialists emphasize personal freedom and responsibility versus the determinism accepted by other theorists. At the core of human nature is the concept of existential…
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Overview Though it affects only a small percentage of babies, cow’s milk protein is the most common cause of allergic reaction in infants. It is often the source of excessive gas and fussiness. The protein is passed through breast milk,…
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Lymphoma, cancer of the lymph nodes, includes a number of cancer subtypes. In general, lymphomas occur when the cells of the immune system, called lymphocytes, become mutated and begin to divide uncontrollably, leading to tumors. Lymphomas are generally classified as…
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Keloids are overgrowths of scar tissue that form during wound healing when too much of a connective tissue called collagen is formed and deposited at areas on the skin that have been injured. The reason some people—for instance, African-Americans or…
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According to the American Psychological Association (APA), anxiety “is characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes. Anxiety disorders cause recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns and physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, dizziness, or a rapid heartbeat.” Because…
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Starting with a craniotomy, whereby an opening is created in the skull, brain surgery allows the doctor to remove abnormal growths, or repair problems in the brain. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that brain surgery requires three to…
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A mini stroke, also known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted for a brief period. The National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke reports that approximately one-third of…
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Breast cancer develops in the cells of the breast, and may present itself in a variety of forms. With improvement of treatment methods over the years, the number of deaths from this disease has declined, according to the Mayo Clinic….
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Leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood. Leukemia causes an uncontrolled accumulation of blood cells in the body. The leukemia and lymphoma Society estimates that roughly 3,500 children under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with…
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Nose piercings are becoming more common. You can pierce either nostril, or you may decide to pierce your septum, the cartilage that divides your nostrils. Any time the skin is broken, you risk infection. There are other risks to consider…
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Migraines affect three times as many women as men, according to The Mayo Clinic. Several medications treat migraines, but finding just the right medication to treat individual symptoms can take time and frustrate patients while they continue to suffer migraines….
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Overview Amoxicillin is an antibiotic in the same drug class as penicillin and is taken orally. It acts by attacking the bacterial cell wall. Amoxicillin has been in use for a long time and is fairly safe and effective against…
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Many people suffer from feeling embarrassed or nervous, but if you also tend to blush, everyone knows when you are having a stressful moment, because it shows on your face. Whether it’s the result of rosacea, nervousness or an occasional…
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Afinitor (everolimus) is a chemotherapeutic (chemo) drug used to treat renal cell cancer patients who have not responded to treatment with sunitinib and sorafenib, two commonly utilized chemo drugs. This chemo treatment works by blocking the activity of a specific…
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Overview The H1N1 virus, commonly referred to as swine flu, is a hybrid of human, swine and avian flu viruses. Because this virus strain is more complex than the typical influenza virus, it is highly contagious. Being able to stop…
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The esophagus is a tube starting at the throat and ending at the stomach. Food and liquid that is swallowed travels through this tube to get to the stomach. Cancer that starts in this tube is called esophageal cancer, which…
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Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, is a treatment for breast cancer that uses powerful beams of radiation to destroy cancerous cells in the breast. Radiation can be very effective in preventing the spread of cancer and removing the dangerous cells from…
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Autism is a developmental disorder that occurs in about 1 in 150 children born in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The signs of autism show up before age 3 and continue to some…
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The tobacco and smoking industry is huge by global standards, with the World Health Organization estimating that 846 billion cigarettes are exported and traded annually. The effects of smoking are likewise large. You may think that taking a drag from…
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Overview Artemisinin combination therapies (ACT) are currently recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the best available treatment for malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum infection. As of 2010, artemisinin and its synthetic derivatives, artesunate, artemether and dihydroartemisinin, are the…
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Diarrhea is not only uncomfortable and embarrassing, it can potentially cause dehydration. Diarrhea is usually caused by a virus, parasite or bacteria in the stomach. Other times, diarrhea is caused by a food intolerance such as gluten or lactose. In…
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A pinched nerve in the neck can be caused by damage and degeneration to the cervical (neck) vertebrae or due to stenosis (narrowing) of the spinal nerve canals, according to research published in “The Spine Journal.” A slipped or damaged…
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The liver is an organ responsible for filtering wastes, producing hormones, and aiding in the process of digestion. Liver cancer occurs when malignant cancer cells begin to grow and spread within the tissue of the liver. Liver cancer can be…
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A keloid is scar tissue that grows and rises in or around a cartilage piercing. Keloids are commonly confused with hypertrophic scarring in ear cartilage piercings. Hypertrophic scarring is a temporary condition and is treated by changing the jewelry and…
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Overview Anal cancer is a rare cancer of the opening at the end of the intestines called the anus. The tube joining the end of the large intestine to the outside of the body and the anus is called the…
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Overview Facial scars from blackhead extraction are the result of damage to the deeper layers of your skin. It can be difficult to eradicate blackheads, which may make it tempting to extract them. However, you should refrain from doing so…
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According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), cocaine is a highly addictive stimulating narcotic. Cocaine is used primarily in powder form or as a crystallized powder known as crack. Crack is typically processed with various home mixtures, such…
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Anticholinergic bronchodilators block parasympathetic nervous fibers, relaxing the smooth muscles in the airway. In other words, these medications reduce the airway constriction experienced by so many asthmatics. Ipratropium bromide and tiotropium bromide, considered maintenance drugs, can be used to treat…
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Approximately 10 to 15 million Americans experience clinical depression in any given year, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Effective treatment can be gained through the use of psychotherapy or medications. Scientists have developed numerous antidepressant medications,…
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1. Clear Out the Pipes With Water Banish the acid and muck that causes heartburn by drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. Water reduces the amount of acid in the stomach and prevents it from making its…
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