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Urinary Incontinence Inability to Control Urination Incontinence is an inability to control urination, that is, to keep from urinating until you want to release it. Stress incontinence and urge incontinence (“overactive bladder”) are the most common bladder control problems. Control of bladder function is a very complicated process involving specific muscles. In normal bladder function, …
Sleep Apnea Breathing Is Blocked in Sleep Sleep apnea is a disorder in which a person stops breathing several times while sleeping for periods of a few seconds up to two minutes. The disorder is characterized by loud snoring, restless or unrefreshing sleep, a feeling of choking or shortness of breath and daytime sleepiness. The …
Skin Cancer Most Common Cancer Skin cancer is 99% curable when detected and treated at an early stage. More cases of skin cancer are diagnosed and cured each year than all other types of cancer combined. The most serious type, malignant melanoma, is also the most rare but it must be treated early. Risk factors …
Sickle Cell Disease Sickle-Shaped Cells Clog the Bloodstream Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder affecting mainly people of African descent. This blood disorder affects the hemoglobin in the red blood cell. Hemoglobin is the protein that carries oxygen throughout the bloodstream. People with sickle cell disease have inherited a gene from both their …
Shingles Rash, Pain and Itching Shingles (herpes zoster) is a viral disease caused by the same virus that is responsible for chicken pox. It usually strikes people in their 60s who had chicken pox as children. The virus causes pain in the area of the inflamed nerves, followed by a red rash with small fluid-filled …
Rheumatoid Arthritis RA Causes Deformed Joints Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that eventually results in severely swollen and deformed joints. In RA, the immune system, which helps the body rid itself of infections or tumors, attacks the tissue lining of a joint, causing inflammation. The reason this happens is not clear. With …
Pulmonary Embolism Blockage of an Artery in the Lung A pulmonary embolism, is a blood clot that breaks off from the walls of a vein and travels through the circulation to the heart and eventually the lungs. The clot blocks the flow of blood to the lung tissue, which can result in serious complications and …
Poison Ivy/Oak/Sumac Contact with plant oil triggers rash A sure sign of spring and summer are the skin rashes caused by exposure to poison ivy, oak, and sumac. These three native American weeds are a common cause of allergic reactions in millions of people each year. Contact with the urushiol—an oily, toxic, irritating chemical found …
Childhood Poisoning Danger to Children Under 6 The majority of poisonings are accidental, occur in the home and are preventable. Children under age 6 are most often the victims. Children, who are naturally curious, find many opportunities to eat, drink or touch potentially poisonous substances, such as prescription and over-the-counter drugs, cleaners, toiletries, cosmetics and …
Paget’s Disease A Chronic Bone Disease Paget’s disease is the second most common bone disease after osteoporosis. Its cause is unknown, but it may be linked with a viral infection early in life. Symptoms are rare. Pain, bone deformities and fractures may be the first signs of the disease. Bone tissue is constantly changing throughout …