breast cancer

Postsurgical fatigue introduction When you are tired after surgery, your body is telling you to rest. Patients often question why they are so tired after surgery. Many patients think that because they have been “put to sleep with anesthesia” that they should be refreshed and have more energy as they recover from their surgery. However, …

What is Cipro? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic that is used to treat bacterial infections. It stops the multiplication of bacteria by inhibiting the reproduction and repair of their genetic material (DNA). The FDA approved ciprofloxacin in October 1987. Ciprofloxacin belongs to the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics. Examples of other antibiotics in the fluoroquinolone class …

What are uterine growths? Readers Comments 1 Share Your Story Illustration of the female reproductive system Uterine growths are tissue enlargements of the female womb (uterus). Uterine growths can be caused by either harmless or dangerous conditions. Growths are sometimes referred to medically as masses or tumors. An example of a harmless (benign or non-cancerous) growth, which does not pose …

What is Topical Calamine Lotion? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Calamine is a mixture of zinc oxide and other components. Calamine and zinc oxide are topical anti-itch lotions. Although the exact mechanism of how calamine and zinc oxide work is not known, they have skin protecting and astringent properties that relieve itching. They also seem to slow down …

What is hepatitis A vaccine? What are the uses for hepatitis A vaccine? Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix, Vaqta) is used to prevent hepatitis A, a type of liver disease that is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A is usually spread when a person ingests fecal matter from contact with food, drinks, or objects which have been contaminated …

Mercury poisoning definition and facts* Readers Comments 7 Share Your Story *Mercury poisoning facts by John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP The severity of mercury poisoning depends on the level of exposure, usually determined by a blood test. Mercury is a naturally occurring element found in air, water and soil. A highly toxic form (methylmercury) builds up in fish, shellfish and …

What is high blood pressure (hypertension)? Readers Comments 36 Share Your Story Regular blood pressure monitoring is a necessary part of treating hypertension. High blood pressure or hypertension, means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. Arteries are vessels that carry blood from the pumping heart to all the tissues and organs of the body. High blood pressure does not mean …

Leprosy (Hansen's disease) facts The progression of leprosy includes skin ulcers and lesions accompanied by loss of sensation and eventual loss of digits and other extremities. Leprosy is a slowly developing, progressive disease that damages the skin and nervous system. An infection with Mycobacterium leprae or M. lepromatosis bacteria causes leprosy. Early symptoms begin in cooler areas of the body …

Subconjunctival hemorrhage facts A red patch on the white of the eye is a sign of a subconjunctival hemorrhage. The conjunctiva is the thin tissue that covers the sclera. It is the outermost protective coating of the eyeball. The wall of a small blood vessel within the conjunctiva may break spontaneously or from injury, causing a red area on the …

Keloid facts Keloids are firm, pink to red, itchy, irritated bumps that tend to gradually enlarge and appear at the site of previous skin damage. Keloids develop as a consequence of abnormal scar formation. People with darker skin are typically more predisposed to develop keloids. Simply cutting out a keloid is likely to result in an even larger keloid developing …