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A discectomy is a surgery done to remove a herniated disc from the spinal canal. When a disc herniation occurs, a fragment of the normal spinal disc is dislodged. This fragment may press against the nerves that come off the spinal cord. This pressure causes the symptoms that are characteristic of herniated discs, including electric shock pain, numbness and tingling, and weakness. The surgical treatment of a herniated disc is to remove the fragment of spinal disc that is causing the pressure on the nerve....

Patent ductus arteriosus, or PDA, is a congenital heart defect common in premature babies in which the ductus arteriosus (a vessel connecting the pulmonary artery to the descending aorta) fails to close. When this happens, it allows some of the baby’s blood to bypass the lungs. If left untreated, PDA can lead to pulmonary hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), and congestive heart failure. PDA affects nearly half of all micro preemies (delivered before 26 weeks or weighing less than one pound) and 15% of preemies born at 30 weeks....

A boxer’s fracture is a break in one of the bones in the hand, namely the fourth or fifth metacarpal. These bones run along the pinky and ring finger side of your hand from your wrist to the base of your fingers. Occasionally, a break in the first or second metacarpal will be classified as a boxer’s fracture. Some people refer to a boxer’s fracture as a brawler’s fracture. Causes The main cause of a boxer’s fracture is by a forceful blow to the hand that often occurs when you are punching something with a closed fist, hence the name boxer’s fracture....

Learning you have an autoimmune condition such as thyroid eye disease (TED) can be disconcerting. This condition commonly occurs in those with a hyperactive thyroid, but it can also affect those with a hypoactive thyroid and some with no prior thyroid issues. The hallmark of this eye disorder is the distinctive way the eyes may bulge. Thyroid eye disease can be caused by Graves’ disease, an autoimmune condition in which the body views its own thyroid as foreign and attacks it with antibodies....

Glands are organs that make and release different substances in your body. The salivary glands produce saliva in your mouth. It is possible for these glands to become infected, swollen, or to develop other problems. This article will explain more about the anatomy, location, and function of the salivary glands. Anatomy Your body has two types of salivary glands in your mouth: the major salivary glands and the minor salivary glands....

If your child sometimes shakes during everyday activities or makes repetitive motions or sounds, it could be a sign of a tremor or tic. These are sometimes associated with serious medical conditions, but they’re often not. That’s especially true if they’re otherwise healthy, growing, and developing normally. This article will look at tremors and tics in children, when you should be concerned, and how they’re diagnosed and treated. Tremors in Children A condition called familial tremor involves involuntary shaking that runs in the family....

Vaginal and vulvar atrophy (VVA), also known as vulvovaginal atrophy, is a condition causing uncomfortable changes to the vaginal area due to menopause. A range of symptoms causing pain and discomfort result from a decrease in estrogen levels. This condition affects about half of women going through menopause. Symptoms such as pain and dryness interfere with sexual activities and health, along with daily activities. This change in the ability to participate in enjoyable activities often causes a decrease in quality of life....

Benzoyl peroxide is the active ingredient in many over-the-counter (OTC) acne treatments. Whether you have just started treatment or have been using benzoyl peroxide for a while, a week-by-week guide of what to expect can be helpful. The results of using benzoyl peroxide vary from person to person. Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re not sure about the products in your skincare routine. You want to make sure you’re using the right strength and you’re applying it correctly....

Many companies have largely refused to provide insurance for hearing aids. While it is understandable that they would refuse to cover them for older adults on the grounds that too many people would want or need them, what about children? As the cost of hearing aids continues to rise, more parents and individuals are challenging insurance companies. How to Determine Your Coverage for Hearing Aids To determine if your health insurance covers hearing aids, check with your individual plan....

There are certain skin conditions that are more common in people with obesity. Some of these conditions can indicate that there is an underlying disorder going on, like pre-diabetes, that needs to be checked out. What Is Acanthosis Nigricans? Acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition in which dark-colored areas, usually tan or brown in color, appear around the neck. These areas also can appear in the armpits and groin, and sometimes on the knees, elbows, and hands as well....

Almost everyone has experienced an ankle injury, like a mild strain or sprain, during their lifetime. But regardless of the type of injury, there’s one thing patients have in common: a desire to recover as quickly as possible, especially if they are athletes. Each case is different, and there’s no “one size fits all” approach to treatment. However, the process of ankle injury rehab can be similar for many people, and it’s important to take it step by step to make a full recovery....

Making positive lifestyle changes are key to managing PCOS. Diet and exercise are two of the main ways you can do that and both areas need to be addressed for these lifestyle changes to be successful. Regular exercise has incredible benefits that go way beyond weight loss for women with PCOS. Boosts Insulin Sensitivity Regular cardio exercise and strength training have been shown to help your body respond better to insulin, lowering your risk for diabetes and other complications....

Researchers aren’t certain what specific causes lead to the growth of pheochromocytomas. However, more than 20 genes have been discovered that are linked to the development of pheochromocytomas. Yet in cases that are not genetic, no known environmental or lifestyle factors have been associated with pheochromocytomas. The presence of pheochromocytoma in an adrenal gland can cause problems as a result of tumor-producing epinephrine and other compounds similar to epinephrine. As a subsequent risk factor, when too much epinephrine is in your body, you can experience episodes in which your blood pressure is elevated and your heart rate becomes too fast....

A cheilectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove bone spurs from the base of the big toe in the foot. Patients with a condition called hallux rigidis, or arthritis of the big toe, can have pain and stiffness in the big toe. Pain is usually worse with extension of the big toe, such as when ascending stairs, running, or doing push-ups.  The word cheilectomy comes from the Greek word Cheilos, meaning “lip....

Penile injection therapy is a proven and FDA-approved medication to help people struggling with erectile dysfunction achieve and maintain an erection. Injection therapy is especially sought after by people who want more immediate erections. Injectable alprostadil, sold under the brand names Caverject, Edex, and Prostin VR, causes an erection by relaxing the smooth muscle and opening blood vessels in the penis. Alprostadil is also available as a suppository—a solid piece of medicine that dissolves into the urethra—but it is less commonly used due to cost, efficiency, and side effects....

A free fragment, also known as a sequestered disc, is one type of herniated disc in which a piece breaks off from the main structure. Once separated, the detached fragment can, and often does, move up or down, causing symptoms or repercussions at an entirely different level of the spine. Symptoms, which are called radiculopathy, generally result from contact between the free fragment and spinal nerve root, whether this takes place where the sequestration (breaking off from the main disc) first occurs, or at the level to which the fragment subsequently migrates....

For many years, established medical and scientific thinking professed that women were at a universally lower risk of ailments such as high blood pressure and heart attack. These diseases, along with coronary artery disease and various forms of heart disease, were overwhelmingly seen as male problems. Research, however, has clarified several of the links between gender and cardiac disease, especially high blood pressure. The Protective Effects of Estrogen During a woman’s reproductive life (the span of time from first menses until menopause) she is indeed at a lower overall risk of developing high blood pressure because of the protective effects of estrogen....

Endometriosis is a condition in which the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus (the endometrium) grows in other areas of the body. It causes pain, irregular bleeding, and, in some cases, infertility. Endometriosis is a common problem and probably begins about the time that regular menstruation begins. The Depo-subQ Provera 104 injection has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help treat the pain associated with endometriosis....

As we age, changes in our body can affect the way medications are absorbed and utilized. We become more sensitive to medications, and we are more likely to experience increased side effects, drug interactions, and other adverse drug reactions. Effects of Medication Types, Interactions, and Dosing Schedules Older adults are more likely to have one or more chronic illnesses, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulminary disease (COPD), depression, etc....

The odontoid process, also known as the dens, is an upward projectile of bone that arises from the front part of the center of the axis vertebra. (The axis is the 2nd highest spinal bone.) The atlas is the first bone of your neck; it sits on top of the axis. (The skull sits on top of the atlas.) The dens projects into a central space in the atlas and this is how the bones of the atlantoaxial (atlanto relates to atlas, and axial relates to the axis bone) joint fit together....