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Reentrant tachycardias are a family of rapid cardiac arrhythmias caused by abnormal electrical connections in the heart. These abnormal connections form potential electrical circuits, which can disrupt the normal heart rhythm. The Normal Heart Rhythm With the normal heart rhythm (which is called normal sinus rhythm), the heart’s electrical impulse originates in the sinus node, and spreads evenly across the heart’s atrial chambers (causing the atria to contract), and then moves on to spread evenly across the heart’s ventricular chambers (causing the ventricles to contract)....

Nasal pillows are one of the most popular styles of CPAP masks. ResMed, one of the major manufacturers of this equipment, offers the AirFit P10 nasal pillows with some noteworthy improvements over prior models. Review some of the pros and cons of this mask and consider whether it might be the right mask option for you. Air Diffuser Screen Reduces Disturbances After using the AirFit P10 nasal pillows mask, I noted several modifications that I liked....

The muscles of your back and core (trunk), like all others, are described in layers. Superficial muscles are those that are more external than others. In other words, they are closer to the surface of the body. The superficial anatomy of your back and core is involved in moving your upper body, maintaining good posture, coughing, and even having a bowel movement. And like all muscles, they can be injured....

Tooth pulp is the most vital part of the tooth, originating in the center of the tooth, underneath the enamel layer (the top layer) and the dentin layer (the second layer), in the pulp chamber. The shape of a pulp chamber varies based on the size of the tooth itself. Tooth pulp is soft and consists of living blood vessels, connective tissue, and large nerves. Also commonly referred to as the nerve, the pulp branches out and continues down each root through the canals of the tooth and stops just shy of the apex, or tip, of the tooth....

For many years, scientists believed that the biggest risk factor for developing throat cancer was the use of alcohol and tobacco. However, studies also have shown a link between throat cancer and HPV infection, perhaps spread via oral sex. In addition, sun exposure, poor oral hygiene, radiation exposure to the head and neck, and chemical exposure are also possible risk factors for developing throat cancer. While the throat may seem like a small area, it is actually comprised of several regions, like the larynx and the oropharynx....

Event-free survival (EFS) is a term that denotes the possibility of having a particular group of defined events (could be a fracture, some lab test abnormality, a particular kind of progression like brain metastasis, etc.) after a treatment that is designed to delay or prevent that group of events. Event-free survival is calculated when a particular treatment is given that is directed not towards improving survival, but to prevent or delay specific complications of the disease....

Is the medical care provided by your healthcare provider in compliance with what other providers in his specialty do for their patients in the same circumstances? Does he follow evidence-based consensus statements or clinical practice guidelines? These questions show two sides of the definition of the standard of care in the medical setting. Legal Definition In legal terms, a standard of care is used as the benchmark against a healthcare provider’s actual work....

Are you experiencing dizziness or feelings of being off balance? Remember when you were a kid and would roll down the hill, spin the merry-go-round fast, or play on anything that spins. The world starts to spin when you stop, you stumble around aimlessly and are unable to focus. You might even have feelings of wanting to throw up. These feelings can make you feel miserable. In contrast, there are athletes that can spin in tight circles repeatedly on ice skates and then skate off in a straight line jumping along the way....

If you suspect your loved one may have Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, it can be hard to know what to do. It can be a touchy subject to raise, and you need to think carefully about what to say and when to say it. This article will help you learn to recognize the signs of Alzheimer’s disease in your loved one. It also offers advice on what to do if you think someone you love might be affected....

Food allergy symptoms, especially severe symptoms, are never something you can ignore. It’s sometimes possible to treat yourself at home, but if you’re not sure, or if these are symptoms you don’t normally experience, you absolutely should err on the side of caution. In general, if you think you might be experiencing an allergic reaction, have your healthcare provider check out your symptoms. Call 911 or seek emergency medical care at the nearest medical facility if your symptoms involve throat swelling or trouble breathing....

Research shows that a booster or third dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine provides greater protection against infection from Omicron. However, some evidence suggests that booster protection wanes by about 15% to 25% after 10 weeks. Does this mean we’ll need a fourth vaccine dose sometime soon? Key Takeaways COVID-19 vaccines remain effective against severe disease, hospitalization, and death.For people with weakened immune systems, getting a booster dose after three primary doses is recommended....

In order to monitor your asthma, you need to track and record your asthma symptoms on a regular basis. Monitoring asthma is an important part of your overall asthma plan. In business, there is an adage that “that which cannot be measured cannot be changed.” Your asthma is no different, and monitoring asthma symptoms is a very important part of your overall asthma action plan. You can monitor asthma in two ways: peak flow and symptoms...

The Affordable Care Act of 2010 created a hospital reward system that focuses on quality of care and maintenance of high levels of patient satisfaction. As part of a bigger initiative called the Partnership for Patients, this focus on the quality of care affects how hospitals are paid for Medicare patients. Hospitals are forced to improve their service to patients or risk losing Medicare money. Since private insurers typically follow Medicare’s lead, it’s expected they, too, will eventually align reimbursements with patient satisfaction....

Ever wonder how your spine, which spans twenty-six bones lengthwise, is able to move without giving you pain? Or why it hurts when you do move? The spinal column employs a number of inherent, but intricate, anatomical mechanisms in carrying out its responsibilities of supporting upright body posture and moving into different directions. The most basic of these mechanisms is the intervertebral joint. What Is the Intervertebral Joint? The intervertebral joint consists of two adjacent vertebrae with a cushion in between....

While a large percentage of asthma is due to eosinophilic inflammation, patients whose asthma symptoms are due to other causes of inflammation (e.g. basophils, lymphocytes, or neutrophils) are not likely to benefit from FeNO testing. According to a Clinical Practice Guideline from the American Thoracic Society, FeNO can be used to make a diagnosis of eosinophilic inflammation and support a diagnosis of asthma if objective evidence is needed. More specifically, elevated levels of FeNO indicate inflammation in the lungs and that a patient is likely to respond to inhaled steroids based on previous research....

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new COVID-19 guidelines for cruise ships, saying they could start sailing again by mid-July under strict regulations. Key Takeaways Cruise ships may begin sailing again by mid-July, the CDC states in a new letter.A high vaccination rate is required for passengers and crew members in order to forego COVID-19 testing.The CDC still considers cruise ship travel a high-risk activity and advises against it....

When you have a cough and you can’t get rid of it, the choices at the pharmacy might seem overwhelming. Some meds are only available with a prescription; others are over-the-counter (OTC) and some are sold behind-the-counter. Making sense of it all can be daunting. Cough Suppressants vs Expectorants One of the most confusing things about cough medicines is understanding the difference between cough suppressants and expectorants. Cough suppressants stop you from coughing....

Pneumonia causes over 50,000 deaths in the U.S. every year and accounts for over 400,000 emergency room visits, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In recent years, the increased use of pneumonia vaccines, particularly among older people, has led to an 8% reduction in the numbers of deaths since 1999. With that being said, only around 65% of those at high risk have been properly vaccinated....

Could the occasional glass of wine prevent cancer? Some experts propose that red wines are rich in phytochemicals such as resveratrol which act as antioxidants and could have effects that work to prevent cancer. As much as red wine lovers may wish this to be proven beyond a doubt, in fact, the research studies are still inconclusive and we don’t know that it has preventative effects in humans. Red vs White Wine and Anti-Cancer Properties Red wine is thought to have more anti-cancer properties because the skin of the grape is maintained during the winemaking process....

Dysbiosis is a state in which there is an imbalance of microorganisms on or within our bodies. When in balance, these colonies of microorganisms tend to have a favorable effect on our bodies. When there is an imbalance, we may experience unwanted symptoms. Overview Gut dysbiosis means there is an imbalance of microorganisms in the intestines. Dysbiosis is also known as intestinal or gastrointestinal dysbiosis. Gut microorganisms, collectively known as gut flora, consist predominantly of various strains of bacteria, and to a lesser extent include fungi and protozoa....