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The renal veins are blood vessels that return blood to the heart from the kidney. Each kidney is drained by its own renal vein (the right and left renal vein). Each renal vein drains into a large vein called the inferior vena cava (IVC), which carries blood directly to the heart. Anatomy The kidneys are bean-shaped, with a concave central portion called the renal hilum. Each renal vein is formed by the confluence of several smaller veins which drain the different parts of the kidney and join together in the renal hilum....

Those interested in performing a colon cleanse (also referred to as colonic irrigation, colon hydrotherapy, and herbal cleansing) may go about it one of several ways. Taking herbal supplements with laxative effects or over-the-counter laxatives may be considered a colon cleanse. Self-administering an enema is another form. Finally, there are clinics where you can go to have water flushed through your rectum and colon. Should I Do a Colon Cleanse? A colon cleanse may seem like just the ticket if you’re looking to “cleanse” your body, or if you’re constipated....

Salmonella septicemia is a condition wherein the presence of Salmonella bacteria in the blood triggers a potentially life-threatening, whole-body inflammatory response. Recurrent Salmonella septicemia is classified as an AIDS-defining condition by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With the advent of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), Salmonella septicemia is considered rare among people living with HIV in the developed world, with one study showing only 22 cases out of 9,000 patients monitored over a nine-year period....

Sneezing is forced air from the lungs through the nose and mouth, which occurs when there is an irritation in the nasal cavity. People sneeze for many different reasons—exposure to dust, allergens, illness, and inhalation of certain substances, to name a few. Sometimes people sneeze after eating. This article explains why some people sneeze after eating, its causes, and tips to prevent it. Causes of Sneezing After Eating Sneezing after eating can occasionally occur for various reasons and is typically not a cause for concern....

Synvisc (hylan G-F 20) is an elastic, viscous, high molecular weight fluid which contains hylan A fluid, hylan B gel, and salt water. Hylan A and hylan B are derived from hyaluronan (also called sodium hyaluronate) which is made from chicken combs. Hyaluronan is also a natural substance found in the body, specifically, in large amounts in the joints. The body’s natural hyaluronan acts as a lubricant and shock absorber which is necessary for normal joint function....

When you look online for fibromyalgia treatments, it’s common to come across references to guaifenesin, which is the drug in Mucinex. The Guaifenesin Protocol for treating fibromyalgia (FMS) is based on a theory that is as yet unproven and is not supported by most FMS experts. What Is the Guaifenesin Protocol? The Guaifenesin Protocol was developed by Paul St. Amand, MD, an endocrinologist who has FMS, as do several members of his family....

When conservative treatments for ankle arthritis fail to provide relief, it may be time to consider surgery. There are several options for this. When pain caused by ankle arthritis is severe and unrelenting, surgeons will often consider a type of surgery called ankle arthrodesis, also known as ankle fusion. Background Pain from ankle arthritis is caused when cartilage that caps the bones in your joints begins to wear away. When this occurs, the bones can rub directly against each other, triggering severe pain while accelerating joint damage....

In fibromyalgia, dizziness, poor balance, and falls are common complaints. For some people, they’re a minor annoyance that crops up on occasion. In others, they can be severely debilitating and lead to regular injuries. Falling, and especially falling frequently, is a serious problem. The last thing you need when you’re already in constant pain is to hurt yourself all the time. Frequent falls or balance problems can also lead to a fear of falling....

A herpes IgM (immunoglobulin M) test is a blood test that can detect early herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. HSV is a contagious condition that causes sores around the mouth or genitals. The IgM test does not detect herpes directly. Instead, it looks for IgM, a type of antibody. This is a protein produced by the immune system in response to a herpes infection. This article explains the purpose of the herpes IgM test....

While taking a pill for back or neck pain is usually the most well-known and easiest form of medication delivery, there are other ways to introduce a pain-relieving substance into your body. A route of administration is the way in which a drug enters your system. Aside from taking a medication by mouth, also called the oral route, you might have an injection into a muscle, as sometimes is the case with painful trigger points....

Transverse myelitis is an inflammatory condition that occurs when a person’s own immune system attacks their spinal cord at one level or segment. This misguided attack damages myelin, which is a fatty sheath that covers nerve fibers. Since myelin allows for the transmission of rapid nerve impulses, if damaged, the affected nerves in the spinal cord cannot communicate well with the rest of the body. This may then lead to a variety of symptoms, such as sensory or movement problems and bladder/bowel dysfunction....

Primary biliary cirrhosis is now known by a different name: primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). PBC is a chronic disease of the liver where the small bile ducts become damaged, and ultimately, destroyed, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Bile plays an important role in your liver. It aids in the digestive process by breaking down fats, cholesterol, and fat-soluble vitamins in the small intestine....

Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is a rare type of cancer that affects the pigments in a person’s skin, specifically on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and nail beds. ALM is an aggressive form of melanoma. When detected early, it can be cured by surgically removing the lesion. However, diagnosis presents challenges, especially for those who are not diagnosed early. This article discusses the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of ALM....

In the vast majority of patients with angina, their symptoms are caused by typical coronary artery disease (CAD), in which an atherosclerotic plaque is partially obstructing a coronary artery. In these cases, a stress test is likely to show evidence of a discrete blockage in one or more of the coronary arteries, and coronary angiography usually will readily identify the number and location of the obstruction or obstructions. Angina is so closely associated with typical CAD in the minds of most patients and many healthcare providers, that patients with apparent angina who have a “normal” angiogram are often told, in no uncertain terms, that their chest discomfort is due to something other than angina....

Sleep is among the many physiological processes in the human body directed by circadian rhythms, a collection of interrelated internal clocks that oscillate independently throughout the day. It isn’t surprising, then, that when a person’s circadian rhythms are off they may experience problems such as insomnia or daytime sleepiness. If you’re dealing with sleep issues, having a general understanding of how circadian rhythms are established and how they can be thrown off can help you make sense of the steps you can take to get establish a healthy sleep schedule....

Arthroscopic ankle surgery may be a treatment option for certain types of ankle pain. In arthroscopic surgery, a small camera is inserted inside the joint. Through other small incisions, instruments can be inserted to repair or remove damaged structures. Arthroscopic ankle surgery is often called “scoping the ankle” or arthroscopy. 4 Reasons for Surgery Not all causes of ankle pain can be effectively treated with an arthroscopic procedure. Some of the reasons to perform an arthroscopic ankle surgery include:...

Domesticated horses can be seen on most trips to the countryside, at the racetrack, or at special events such as parades and county fairs. Horses are among the most common domesticated animals, but daily contact with horses is not as common as it was 100 years ago. That’s why many people who are allergic to horses might not realize it. Horse allergies affect as many as 5% of people with allergies....

Fear of feet, also known as podophobia, is considered a specific phobia. A specific phobia is an intense and irrational fear of something that presents little to no actual danger. The fear is often so strong that you will go to significant lengths and make considerable efforts to avoid the trigger of the fear, even if you realize the fear is outsized and irrational. It’s estimated that approximately 12.5% of U....

Justice can be blind. Despite more than 30 years of research and reams of evidence as to the nature of HIV transmission and risk, we still have laws in some states that define spitting as a criminal act if you have HIV. Others allow for prison sentences for up to 20 years if you fail to disclose your HIV status, irrespective of the type of sex you have or whether or not your partner had acquired the virus....

If you have been hospitalized due to COVID-19, then you understand how difficult it may be to return to your previous level of functioning. You may feel fatigued, have trouble breathing, or have difficulty with basic tasks like walking or climbing stairs. But what if there was a way to improve your function while in the hospital and enjoy improved outcomes, like a lower risk of mortality, after being hospitalized for COVID-19?...