Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement is a type of procedure to treat aortic valve stenosis. Aortic valve stenosis occurs when there is a narrowing of the aortic valve in the heart. When the aortic valve becomes narrow, the valve is no longer able to fully open. This leads to an obstruction of blood from the heart to the aorta and throughout the rest of the body.
Read MoreLactose intolerance is a condition in which people are unable to completely digest lactose. Lactose is the sugar that is found in milk. Being lactose intolerant causes a number of embarrassing and uncomfortable symptoms such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea after eating or drinking dairy products. Lactose intolerance may also be known as lactose malabsorption. There are no serious complications associated with the condition and the symptoms can be managed. There are millions of people in the United States who have some degree of lactose intolerance.
Read MorePatients with Crohn's disease have found that specific foods can trigger intestinal symptoms when the disease flares. Patients who learn to avoid these foods can better manage the disease and live their daily lives. It also can help reduce gastointestinal symptoms and promote healing. Crohn's disease involves an immune reaction against the intestinal tract. With this condition, the small intestine is usually inflamed which leads to difficult digesting and absorbing key nutrients. A poor appetite can lead to malnutrition for people. It can result in taste bud alterations and reduced food and nutrient intake.
Read MoreInterstitial cystitis is a chronic bladder condition that causes pain and pressure in the bladder as well as pelvic pain. The condition is also known as painful bladder syndrome. Women are most often affected by this condition, however, men can develop it too. Having interstitial cystitis is usually long-term and can negatively affect your quality of life. Unfortunately, there is no cure for the condition. But there are a number of treatment options to manage the condition and help relieve some of the symptoms.
Read MoreIrritable bowel syndrome, also known as IBS, is a common disorder that affects the colon, (aka large intestine). The condition causes a number of embarrassing and uncomfortable symptoms such as gas, constipation, cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. Most people who are at risk for Irritable bowel syndrome usually begin to experience signs and symptoms before age 35. Women are more likely to suffer from irritable bowel syndrome than men are. Some people may only experience irritable bowel syndrome a few times in their life. However, some people may suffer from it for many years. It is estimated that about one in every five people in the United States suffers from has symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Read MoreTraveler's diarrhea affects about 10 million people a year, and is a digestive tract disorder that causes diarrhea, as the name suggests. Loose stools and abdominal cramps that are associated with diarrhea are not only uncomfortable and painful, but can cause dehydration that puts a traveler at serious health risk. Fortunately, most cases of traveler's diarrhea does develop into anything serious or life threatening and resolves within a few days.
Read MoreMallet finger is a common injury that usually occurs as a result of an athletic injury. The condition occurs when the outermost joint of the finger is injured. Mallet finger is the most common closed tendon injury. Mallet finger is also known as baseball finger, drop finger, or hammer finger. With mallet finger, the tendon on the back of the finger is separated from the muscles it connects. There are three types of injuries that usually occur: the tendon is damaged, but no fractures (bone cracks or breaks) are present; the tendon ruptures with a small fracture caused by the force of the injury; or the tendon ruptures with a large fracture.
Read MoreSarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease and is characterized by the growth of tiny collections of inflammatory cells. These patches of inflamed cells can occur in different parts of the body but are most common, or most likely to affect the lungs, lymph nodes, eyes and skin. Most cases are only temporary, and over half heal without any treatment at all. Of all the parts of the body which can be affected, the lungs are the most common organs to be hit by sarcoidosis. This is known as pulmonary sarcoidosis, which specifically presents as small patches of inflamed cells on the breathing tubes of the lungs, known as the bronchioles, the tiny air sacs contained in the lungs, known as the alveoli, or on the lymph nodes.
Read MoreGenerally speaking, encephalitis refers to an inflammation of the brain tissue. Japanese encephalitis refers to a type of encephalitis that is caused by a virus and is the leading cause of encephalitis in Asia and the western Pacific. This type of encephalitis is vaccine-preventable, and the risk of contraction is low, but still a concern for those traveling to Asia. The risk for exposure varies by destination, season and the types of activities someone is involved in.
Read MoreKyphosis is a condition that is characterized by a rounding or curving of the spine. It can lead to a permanent slouch in a person’s posture. Kyphosis may also be known as a roundback or a hunchback. While everyone has a slight curve in their spine, kyphosis causes the spine to be curved at an angle of fifty degrees or more. This is a significant difference. It is estimated that about four percent to eight percent of people have a type of kyphosis called Scheuermann’s kyphosis. The condition can occur among people of any age and in both men and women. However, older women are the most common group affected by this condition.
Read MoreObesity is an extremely common problem in the United States, and all over the world. It is estimated that more than one-third of adults (72 million people) and 17 percent of children in the United States are obese. The most common causes of obesity include a lack of physical activity and eating an unhealthy diet. Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. These are some of the leading causes of preventable death.
Read MoreLegg-Calves-Perthes disease is a condition that often begins in childhood. It occurs when part of the hip joint does not receive an adequate amount of blood supply. When this happens, bone cells begin to die, and the joint deteriorates. As a result, a person may experience pain and gait problems. It can also increase the risk of a person developing osteoarthritis later in life. Legg-Calves-Perthes disease is also known as idiopathic osteonecrosis, ischemic necrosis of the hip, coxa plana, osteochondritis, or avascular necrosis of the femoral head. It is estimated that about one in every 1,200 children have Legg-Calves-Perthes disease.
Read MoreRhinophyma is a skin condition that is characterized by a large, swollen, red and bulbous or bumpy nose. It is actually the advanced form of acne rosacea, which is known to cause red swelling and inflammation on the face, neck and scalp. The condition is actually much more common than one might think, as about 13 million people in the U.S. have rosacea and could potentially develop rhinophyma.
Read MoreThis may be the scariest thing you ever read on SamadiMD. There is a condition called Sleep Paralysis. No this is not insomnia or sleep apnea, this is a condition or phenomenon that occurs either when falling asleep or being awakened. It's thought to be a mix-up of normal REM sleep (the deepest sleep we achieve throughout the night.) People who experience it are in some sense conscious and aware that they're aware they're in bed for example. But some part of their body believes they're still asleep, in particular their muscles. The muscles become paralyzed, something that happens in REM sleep. Some scientists believe this is an evolutionary mechanism that prevents people from acting out their dreams.
Read MoreA ganglion cyst is a benign (noncancerous) lump or sac-like swelling that most commonly occurs on the tissues that line the tendons or joints of your wrists or hands. They also may occur in the ankles and feet. They are usually harmless. Ganglion cysts are the most common cyst of the hands and wrists. A ganglion cyst usually appears round or oval in shape and are filled with a jelly-like fluid. Ganglion cysts may be small or large. The larger cysts are usually about an inch in diameter. If a ganglion cyst grows near a nerve and puts pressure on that nerve, they can be painful. Depending on where they are growing, they may disrupt a person’s normal movement, especially within their joints.
Read MoreHow does blood sugar work? How is sugar transferred into the blood? Sugar in the blood or also called glucose comes directly from what we eat. The digestive system breaks down that food into glucose and absorbs it into the blood. That's why eating foods high in carbohydrates provide most of the glucose in your diet. Once glucose enters the blood, cells throughout the body use it for energy. The pancreas produces insulin as soon as blood sugar levels begin to rise. Insulin is an important hormone that helps transport glucose into cells.
Read MoreAn acoustic neuroma is a rare, benign tumor that occurs on a nerve that connects the brain to the inner ear. It is usually a very slow-growing tumor. Although an acoustic neuroma is noncancerous and will not spread throughout the body, they can grow to become quite large. When this happens, it can damage parts of the brain. This is due to the fact that the branches in the nerve that runs from the brain to the inner ear are directly associated with your hearing and balance. If the acoustic neuroma becomes big enough, it can place significant pressure on the nerve which may result in hearing loss. It is estimated that about ten out of every one million people are diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma each year.
Read MoreAgoraphobia is a condition that is characterized by the fear of open spaces or being in any environment where escaping is difficult. People with agoraphobia have an intense fear of being in open places such as in a crowd or on public transportation. It is considered an anxiety disorder and people develop it as a result of having a panic disorder. The condition can sometimes be so severe that it interferes with people’s daily lives because in some cases, agoraphobia causes people to never leave their house. It is estimated that about one percent of people in the United States suffer from agoraphobia.
Read MoreHave you heard? Toxic algae is taking over the West Coast, and has become denser and more widespread and deeper than scientists predicting a few weeks back. According to surveyors aboard a National Oceanic Atmosphere Administration research ship found a coastal ribbon microscopic algae up to 40 miles wide and 650 feet deep in places. It seems to be growing rapidly in areas of the unusually warm Pacific Ocean. Now stretching from California to Alaska, the algae has even shut down larger fisheries.
Read MoreParagonimiasis is an infection that is caused by a parasitic worm called a fluke. The infection is caused by eating raw, undercooked, pickled, or salted crustaceans, such as crab or crayfish. The infection may also be caused by eating raw meat, such as wild boar. Sometimes, the infection in transmitted by using contaminated food utensils. Not long after the infection, larvae will inhabit the lungs. It may also spread to other organs such as the brain.
Read More
