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Vaginal Yeast Infection Inflamed Vaginal Tissue Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vaginal tissue that can be accompanied by intense itching, pain, and discharge. One of the most common causes of vaginitis is an overgrowth of Candida albicans, often found in the vagina in small quantities. The acidic environment of the vagina keeps the growth …
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, …
Gastric and Duodenal Ulcer Damage to Lining During normal digestion, food is chewed and swallowed, moving from the mouth through the esophagus and into the stomach. In the stomach, food is digested by hydrochloric acid and an enzyme known as pepsin. As the food continues through the gastrointestinal tract, it moves into the duodenum, the …
TMJ: A Disorder of the Jaw The Jaw Is Not Properly Aligned TMJ Temporomandibular joint disorderis a condition in which the temporomandibular joint, where the skull attaches to the jawbone, is not aligned or functioning properly. This results in extra pressure on the joint. The cartilage cushion wears away, leading to a popping sound when …
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 …
Rosacea Rosacea is an inflammatory condition of the face which most often occurs in people between 30 and 60 years of age. The primary complaint of patients with rosacea is flushing, redness, and sometimes a stinging sensation of the central part of the face. This redness and flushing can be triggered by a wide variety …
Ringworm Infections Different Areas of the Body Are Affected Ringworm is an infection caused by one of a group of fungal parasites (dermatophytes) that affect the skin. Dermatophytes thrive in warm, moist places and live on keratin, a protein found in dead skin, nails, and hair cells. These fungal infections are called tinea infections, 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 urushiolan oily, toxic, irritating chemical found …
Pacemakers: How They Work Device Normalizes Heartbeat The heart beats about 100,000 times each day. Each heartbeat begins with an electrical impulse from the heart’s natural pacemaker, the sinoatrial node (S-A node), found at the right atrium. The electrical impulse it produces travels across a pathway of heart muscle to the lower pumping chambers, causing …
Using a Metered Dose Inhaler Drugs Go Directly to the Lungs Metered dose inhalers (MDIs) are used to treat asthma or other lung diseases. The inhalers deliver medication directly to the lungs, where it can be absorbed quickly and completely at the site where it is needed. MDIs are designed to deliver an exact amount, …