Peripheral neuropathy definition and facts Readers Comments 10 Share Your Story Peripheral neuropathy is nerve pain that affects the limbs. Peripheral neuropathy is a condition in which the nerves in the peripheral nervous system become damaged. Peripheral neuropathy symptoms and signs depend upon the cause. Usually, the disorder affects the nerves that provide sensation, which …

Liver cancer facts Liver cancer is often the result of chronic liver disease. Most people who get liver cancer (hepatic cancer) get it in the setting of chronic liver disease. Incidence rates of hepatocellular cancer are rising in the United States due to increasing prevalence of cirrhosis caused by chronic hepatitis C and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. There are many …

Hoarseness facts Hoarseness or raspy voice is a symptom with a number of different causes. Hoarseness is an abnormal change in the voice. The most common cause of hoarseness is acute laryngitis. The underlying cause of hoarseness can usually be diagnosed by a health care professional based on the patient’s history and physical exam. The treatment for hoarseness depends on …

Hip pain facts Readers Comments 27 Share Your Story Pain in the hip joint can have a variety of causes. Pain in the hip joint can be temporary of chronic. There are many causes of hip pain. The treatment of hip pain depends on its particular cause. What is the anatomy of the hip? The hip joint is where the …

Triglyceride test definition and facts Readers Comments 6 Share Your Story Diagram showing makeup of HDL and LDL cholesterol types measured by triglyceride tests Elevated triglyceride levels may be a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Highly elevated triglyceride levels may also cause fatty liver disease and pancreatitis. High triglyceride levels can also be associated with diabetes, kidney disease, and the use …

What is hyperkalemia? Readers Comments 2 Share Your Story Hyperkalemia, an abnormally high level of blood potassium, sometimes causes symptoms. Hyperkalemia is a common diagnosis. Fortunately, most patients who are diagnosed have mild hyperkalemia (which is usually well tolerated). However, any condition causing even mild hyperkalemia should be treated to prevent progression into more severe hyperkalemia. Extremely high levels of …

Tongue facts Your tongue can say a lot about your health. The tongue is made up of a mobile group of muscles that is attached to the floor of the mouth. The surface of the tongue is covered with small bumps called papillae. The majority of our taste buds are in these papillae. The tongue is used for tasting, swallowing, …

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test facts This diagram shows the different levels of PSA and what they mean for health The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a blood test. The PSA test can be useful for detecting prostate cancer, monitoring its treatment, or assessing its recurrence. The PSA test can also be abnormal with benign enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH), …

What is Brilinta? What is Brilinta used for? Brilinta is a P2Y12 platelet inhibitor indicated to reduce the rate of for cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or a history of myocardial infarction (MI). For at least the first 12 months following ACS, it is superior to clopidogrel. Brilinta also reduces the rate …

Swimmer’s ear in adults and children definition and facts Share Your Story Swimmer’s Ear (Outer Ear Infection) Swimmer's ear, or external otitis, is typically a bacterial infection of the skin of the outer ear canal. In contrast to a middle ear infection, swimmer's ear is an infection of the outer ear. Swimmer's ear can occur in both acute and chronic …