Posts

Moist heat—also called superficial heat—is a physical therapy modality used to control pain, speed healing, relax muscles, and increase range of motion. In a moist heat treatment, a hot pack is placed on the tight or painful area and left there for about 10 or 15 minutes. Other physical therapy treatments include ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and iontophoresis. Feels Good and Does Good With the exception of certain types of massage, moist heat treatment is perhaps the most relaxing of all the physical therapy modalities....

Men and women alike are prone to chronic pelvic nerve pain, usually resulting from damage to one of the following four nerves: Pudendal nerve Iliohypogastric nerve Ilioinguinal nerve Genito-femoral nerve These nerves are present either in the abdominal wall, in and around the pelvic cavity, and in the groin and perineal area. Damage to any of these nerves can lead to chronic pelvic nerve pain. What Causes Pelvic Nerve Damage? Pelvic nerve pain is caused by damage or dysfunction to pelvic nerves, which can happen through:...

Methotrexate is a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and certain other rheumatic diseases. The dose used for rheumatoid arthritis is considered low. Comparatively, methotrexate is also used as a high-dose cancer therapy and at high doses to terminate an ectopic pregnancy. Technically-speaking, methotrexate is a dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor that impairs purine metabolism. That said, it can lead to abnormalities in ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis. Methotrexate is contraindicated in pregnancy (category X) and is a known teratogen, which is defined as any substance, organism, or process that causes malformations in a fetus....

The scrotum is the sac of skin and other tissues that holds the testicles outside of the pelvis. Its primary function is to protect the testicles, or testes, and allow them to stay cooler than core body temperature. The testicles are more functional at lower temperatures. It is possible to experience injury to the scrotum, or diseases of the scrotum. However, most scrotum symptoms are related to the structures inside of it....

Have you ever experienced localized swelling at the site of an insect sting or bite? Some people are convinced that they have a “severe allergy” to mosquito bites because of the localized swelling that occurs as a result. Others are concerned about a possible “life-threatening reaction” to bee stings because the last time they were stung on the foot, their foot swelled to the point of not being able to put on their shoe....

On rare occasions, pregnancy can lead to a condition called peripartum cardiomyopathy, or pregnancy-associated heart failure. Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a form of dilated cardiomyopathy. (Cardiomyopathy means heart muscle weakness.) Women who develop peripartum cardiomyopathy experience the onset of heart failure either during the last month of pregnancy or within five months after delivering a baby. (“Peripartum” means “around the time of childbirth.”) Women who develop this condition usually have no prior underlying heart disease, and no other identifiable reason to develop heart disease....

Triglycerides are the most common form of fat in the body. In fact, almost all the excess calories you consume, whether you get them from eating fats or eating carbohydrates, are converted to triglycerides and stored in your fatty tissues. How Triglyceride Levels Relate to Cardiovascular Risk An elevated level of triglycerides in the blood (a condition referred to as hypertriglyceridemia) is now known to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease—in particular, heart attacks and strokes—in both men and women....

Hearing people often think of deafness as simply “an inability to hear.” Being Deaf, though, is about more than just whether or not a person can hear—it’s about being part of a community with its own history, values, and culture. Let’s take a look at some of the more surprising facts about Deaf culture and how it differs from hearing culture. Sign Language Is Not Universal While American Sign Language is used in the United States and Canada, most countries have their own distinct sign languages....

Although scientific studies seem conflicting on what you should and shouldn’t eat for colon cancer prevention, there is one constant: A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is good for you. There is no such thing as a cancer prevention diet, but there are things you can eat to reduce your personal risk of developing colon cancer, even if you have a strong family history of the disease. What Is a Healthy Diet?...

There are two distinct sleep conditions that might seem similar in their descriptions: sleep paralysis and night terrors. Each can have elements that terrify, either experienced by the person who has it or alternatively by those who witness it. Sometimes the terms may incorrectly be used one for another, but there are clear differences. What is the difference between sleep paralysis and night terrors? How can these conditions be distinguished from one another?...

A ketogenic (or “keto”) diet is an eating plan that’s designed to seriously minimize carbohydrates, your body’s favorite fuel source, and dramatically increase fats. The idea is that as carbohydrate levels drop, the body becomes forced to burn stored fat as its primary source of fuel, which can result in often dramatic weight loss. The diet represents a total turnaround from how most people eat: while the suggested American diet is about 50 percent carbohydrate, 15 percent protein, and 35 percent fat, the breakdown on most typical keto diets is 5 to 10 percent carbs, 70 to 75 percent fat, and the rest from protein....

The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease ~ William Osler (Canadian Physician, 1849-1919) Have you ever wondered what patients want from an encounter with a doctor? In the thoughts of one physician (Delbanco,1992): Patients want to be able to trust the competence and efficacy of their caregivers. Patients want to be able to negotiate the healthcare system effectively and to be treated with dignity and respect....

If you know anyone who has studied to become a doctor, or if you watch TV shows that take place in medical settings, you’ve probably heard terms like “intern,” “resident,” or “attending.” While they are all considered to be doctors, they have not all completed their medical training. Knowing the differences among them will help you determine their experience level, and whether they truly have enough experience to help you....

As teens become more independent in their food choices, they sometimes enjoy indulging in some not-so-healthy options. And if their friends have similar eating habits, they may underestimate how bad their diets really are because it seems normal to eat hot dogs and cookies for lunch. Here are the four worst food habits teens have and what parents can do to help change them. Skipping Breakfast According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, as many as 20% to 30% of teens do not eat breakfast on a regular basis....

Drugs work in your body in a variety of ways. They can interfere with microorganisms (germs) that invade your body, destroy abnormal cells that cause cancer, replace deficient substances (such as hormones or vitamins), or change the way that cells work in your body. There are more than 20,000 medications available by prescription, and still more available over the counter. Some can be used to treat several different health conditions. Aspirin, for example, can be used to treat pain, inflammation, and fever....

If you accidentally leave your NuvaRing in longer than you should, you may or may not still have pregnancy protection. This clear, bendable contraceptive ring is meant to stay in the vagina for three weeks each month. What happens—and what you need to do—if it is left in place beyond that depends on how long its removal is overdue. This hormonal birth control method slowly releases a low dose of estrogen and etonogestrel (a type progestin) to protect you against pregnancy for the month....

Back injury rehabilitation is often recommended shortly after an injury. As you resume your daily activities, a program of gentle stretching and strengthening of the back muscles can help you to recover. Approximately eight out of 10 people will experience the symptoms of back pain at least one time in their lives, so there is a high chance that you will have to deal with this problem at some point....

For years, doctors have known that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a heightened risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Now, new research has discovered a possible treatment to help reduce that risk: taking birth control pills. Key Takeaways New research found that birth control pills may help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes in women with PCOS.Women with PCOS were two times more likely to have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes than those without the condition....

High blood pressure and high cholesterol are the most common conditions that can lead to cardiovascular disease if ignored. The good news is that both conditions are treatable with lifestyle modifications and/or medication. There are many medications that can be used to help control your high blood pressure, but in some cases, these drugs may also have an effect on your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Some blood pressure-lowering medications may improve your lipid profile whereas some drugs may actually make it worse....

Cerebral edema is the swelling of the brain as a result of an injury. The thick skull surrounding the brain prevents tissue from expanding when injured. This pressure restricts blood circulation and deprives the brain of the oxygen it needs to function properly. Elevated pressure in the brain as a result of cerebral edema can be damaging and possibly life threatening without medical treatment. This article covers the types, symptoms, and treatment of cerebral edema....