What It Means To Have A Prolapsed Bladder

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What It Means To Have A Prolapsed Bladder

Under normal conditions, a woman’s bladder is held in place by a net of pelvic floor muscles and connective tissues.  When these muscles and tissues stretch and weaken, it allows the bladder to “drop” or prolapse through this net or wall.  A prolapsed bladder is one in which the bladder decends into the vagina following the deterioration of the vaginal wall. A proposed bladder is also known an as a cystocele or a fallen bladder. The bladder itself is the hollow organ in the pelvis that serves as a storage unit for our urine.  This urine is filtered from the body through the kidneys and makes its way down to the bladder. 

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Understanding the Difference Between Pneumonitis vs. Pneumonia

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Understanding the Difference Between Pneumonitis vs. Pneumonia

Pneumonitis, is often confused with pneumonia, but these are similar ailments but not the same.  While pneumonia is a type of infection which causes lung inflammation, pneumonitis is a general term to describe inflammation in pulmonary, or lung, tissue. So technically pneumonia would fall into the category of being a type of pneumonitis, but generally most physicians look to other causes of lung inflammation when referring to a patient having "pneumonitis."  These other causes vary dramatically, from airborne irritants, to different types of cancer treatments, and even some antibiotics or aspirin.  Airborne irritants are probably the most common cause of pneumonitis and can stem from being exposed to a type of chemical, dust, or bacteria.

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What is plantar fasciitis?

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What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that causes heel pain. It is actually one of the most common causes of heel pain. It is characterized by inflammation and pain that occurs in the plantar fascia, which is a thick band of tissue that is located along the bottom of the foot. The plantar fascia connects the toes to the bone of the heel. Plantar fasciitis affects about two million people in the United States every year. 

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Suffering From Chronic Pain in Your 20s?

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Suffering From Chronic Pain in Your 20s?

Many young people experience chronic pain even as early as their 20s. They tend to find themselves working closely with a team of medical experts trying to ease the symptoms and find a way through but obviously it can be very debilitating especially at a time in life when freedom and mobility are so critical to the lifestyle. The idea of going out and maintaining a normal 20-something social life is quite difficult with chronic pain. Many lifestyle changes young people are forced to inhibit such as medications, specific and strict diets gets in the way of social activities.

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Do you have Tourette syndrome?

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Do you have Tourette syndrome?

Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder that affects the nervous system. It begins to develop very early on in life, during childhood. Tourette syndrome causes repetitive movements or sounds that cannot be controlled. They are referred to as “tics” and are usually unusual movements or odd sounds that a person has no control over doing or making. An example of a tic is when a person repetitively jerks their head for a brief period of time. Another, more common and stereotypical example is when a person unintentionally yells out offensive words.

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Understanding Epilepsy

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Understanding Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder, one that affects the central nervous system, which is present in about 1 in every 26 people in the United States.  Epilepsy occurs when the nerve cell activity in the brain becomes disrupted.  This disruption can cause seizures, nervous system sensations, and sometimes loss of consciousness.

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Peptic Ulcers

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Peptic Ulcers

Peptic ulcers come about when acid from the digestive tract erodes, or eats away at, the inner layer of the esophagus, stomach or small intestine.  This constant wearing away of the inner digestive lining creates open sores that over time cause pain, nausea and other symptoms over time.   Currently, about 1 in 10 Americans experiences gastric ulcers at some point in their lives.  Depending on the location of the developing ulcer, whether in the esophagus, stomach, or upper portion of your small intestine, complications can arise over time.  

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What is inflammatory bowel disease?

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What is inflammatory bowel disease?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a disease that causes chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. It is considered an immune problem because the body actually attacks its own tissue in the intestines which results in swelling and symptoms like chronic diarrhea and cramps. About 1 out of 250 people in the United States (or 1.4 million people) have inflammatory bowel disease. 

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Learning about Gingivitis

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Learning about Gingivitis

Gingivitis is a form of gum disease caused most often by poor oral hygiene. It affects about 8 in 10 Americans, which is quite a lot of people.  Dentists recommend brushing and flossing day and night for healthy teeth and gums.   This habit of good oral hygiene can help you avoid some major health issues, aside from giving you whiter and brighter teeth.  Brushing and flossing give you a way to rid the mouth of disease causing bacteria.  When there is poor oral hygiene, bacteria and debris form a sticky plaque on teeth along the gum line.  This plaque causes gums to swell and redden, becoming inflamed.  Often, if allowed to progress, gums will get red, s

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What is hyperventilation?

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What is hyperventilation?

Hyperventilation is a condition that occurs when you begin to breathe very quickly. There are a number of things that can cause a person to hyperventilate. It occurs as a result of an imbalance in the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide entering and exiting your body. With hyperventilation, there is a decrease in carbon dioxide which is caused by exhaling more than inhaling. There are millions of people in the United States who experience hyperventilation every day.

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What is a hiatal hernia?

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What is a hiatal hernia?

A hiatal hernia is when part of the stomach pushes upward through your diaphragm. About 15 percent of people in the United States have a hiatal hernia. Most people only experience mild or occasional symptoms. People who develop a small hiatal hernia do not often have any problems associated with the condition. Sometimes, people with small hiatal hernias don’t even know they have one until it is found incidentally by a doctor. However, when people have a large hiatal hernia, food and acid can get backed up into the esophagus, which can cause heartburn.

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What is hyperthyroidism?

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What is hyperthyroidism?

Hyperthyroidism is a condition that occurs when a person’s thyroid is overactive. In other words, the thyroid gland produces too much thyroxine. Thyroxine is the main hormone that is secreted into the bloodstream by the thyroid gland. Hyperthyroidism is also known as thyroiditis, Grave’s disease, or thyrotoxicosis.

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What you should know about high blood pressure

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What you should know about high blood pressure

High blood pressure is a very common condition and affects millions of people within the United States. High blood pressure is also known as hypertension and is a condition in which a person’s blood pressure is greater than a healthy level and puts too much force on the artery walls. About one-third of adults in the United States have high blood pressure.

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High-Risk Areas for Lyme Disease

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High-Risk Areas for Lyme Disease

Lyme disease diagnoses are on the rise according to a new study published by the government this week. The geographic areas where Lyme disease appears to be the biggest danger has dramatically increased with U.S. cases remaining concentrated in the Northeast and upper Midwest. The study revealed that more areas in those regions are considered high-risk. With a total of 260 counties where the number of Lyme disease cases doubled is expected given the growing number of America's population. That increase is up from 130 just 10 years ago.

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Do you have gas pains?

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Do you have gas pains?

Gas pains, otherwise known as gas, flatulence, bloating, or intestinal gas. We all get it. While gas pains are by no means a serious condition, it can be annoying, uncomfortable, sometimes painful, and definitely embarrassing. There are a number of things that can cause gas pains, but it is most often a result of being constipated or diarrhea. When gas builds up in the intestines it can become painful if you are unable to get rid of it with ease.

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Learning About Emphysema

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Learning About Emphysema

Emphysema is a chronic lung condition where the alveoli in your lungs are slowly damaged and destroyed.  The alveoli are small air sacs in your lungs that make breathing possible.  These tiny sacs allow oxygen and carbon dioxide to be exchanged between the lungs and the bloodstream.  When these air sacs become compromised, it makes it difficult for your body to get the oxygen it needs, and makes breathing difficult.  Emphysema is part of a group of lung diseases known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.   The most common cause of this pulmonary obstructive disease is smoking.  Although it may take years to develop, emphysema is characterized by symptoms like shortness of breath, chronic cough, wheezing, fatigue, and chest tightness.

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What is frostbite?

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What is frostbite?

Frostbite is a painful skin injury as a result of the skin and tissue beneath freezing. It most commonly affects the nose, cheeks, fingers, toes, ears and chin. When the skin is open to air in very cold and windy weather, it is most susceptible to getting frostbite. In extremely cold temperatures, frostbite can even occur despite wearing gloves, scarves, and other cold-weather gear. With frostbite, the skin first becomes very cold and red, then you lose feeling in that part of the skin, and finally the skin becomes pale and hard. 

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Hemorrhoids: What You Need to Know

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Hemorrhoids: What You Need to Know

Hemorrhoids are swollen and inflamed veins that appear on the anus and lower rectum. They are also known as piles. Hemorrhoids often occur when a person strains during bowel movements or is constipated, or when women experiences increased pressure on the veins during pregnancy. Hemorrhoids can be internal or external. They may appear inside the rectum (internal) or under the skin around the anus (external). Both types of hemorrhoids can cause anal pain, bleeding, itching, or a hard lump near the anus.

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What is hydronephrosis?

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What is hydronephrosis?

Hydronephrosis is the swelling of a kidney which is caused by the accumulation of urine. This happens when the kidney cannot empty urine out through the bladder as a result of a blockage or obstruction such as a kidney stone, blood clot, tumor, enlarged prostate, or enlarged uterus during pregnancy. Hydronephrosis can occur in either one or both kidneys. If the condition appears suddenly, it can be extremely painful. Early diagnosis is crucial in order to prevent permanent kidney damage.

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How Gallstones Are Detected

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How Gallstones Are Detected

Gallstones, known by its medical term cholelithiasis, is a condition of the gallbladder where hardened deposits (stones) develop within the digestive fluid of the gallbladder.  The gallbladder is a small organ found under the liver on the right side of the body, which stores bile produced by the liver.  After meals, the gallbladder transports bile, a yellowish-brown fluid, to the small intestine and helps the body break up and digest fatty foods.

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