breast cancer

What Is a UTI? Consistent hydration helps prevent infection by flushing bacteria out of your urinary tract. There are other home remedies that may help resolve and prevent UTIs. A UTI is an infection that affects the structures through which urine passes as it is being eliminated. These structures include the urethra, bladder, ureters, and …

What is high blood pressure? If your blood pressure is elevated and you want to see an immediate change, lie down and take deep breaths. This is how you lower your blood pressure within minutes, helping to slow your heart rate and decrease your blood pressure. A blood pressure reading is taken to measure how forcefully your blood flows through …

What are hives? For mild cases of hives, over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream can be used to alleviate itching and discomfort. Chronic hives require more intense treatments. Hives are an uncomfortable skin reaction that causes itchiness and swelling. Hives are quickly and easily treated. Hives (or urticaria) are characterized by itchy welts on the skin in response to many triggers. While uncomfortable, …

What Is bloating? Bloating is an uncomfortable belly feeling of being too full from food or air. Bloating usually resolves on its own after digestion and any gas that has passed. However, there are some medications and over-the counter food additives that can relieve symptoms faster than your body's normal processes. Bloating is that uncomfortable feeling when your belly seems …

Conch (medically known as “concha”) piercings are painful. Conch (medically known as “concha”) piercings are painful. Because each person has a different tolerance level, how much it hurts depends upon person to person. Some feel more pain than others.  Concha is the part of the ear that leads to the ear tube that opens at the eardrum (external auditory canal). …

What are white blood cells? White blood cells, also known as leukocytes, make up one of the four components of blood. They can rise for several reasons including stress, smoking, allergies, bacterial or viral infections, as well as certain drugs. White blood cells, also called leukocytes, are one of the four components that make up blood. Of all the blood …

What is a strained neck muscle? Treatment for a strained neck muscle usually involves the RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation), followed up with physical therapy. For serious strained neck muscle, immobilizing the muscle with a cast can be treatment. The muscles in your neck allow you to hold up your head and look around. There are many neck muscles …

Alkaptonuria is a type of metabolic disorder. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. They are usually broken down in the body in a series of chemical reactions. In alkaptonuria, however, a substance called homogentisic acid is produced that cannot be broken down any further. This happens because the enzyme that normally breaks it down does not work properly. The …

What is a bronchoscopy? A bronchoscopy is a procedure used to diagnose upper respiratory conditions. As you breathe, air travels down your throat and into your airway and lungs for oxygen to be extracted and absorbed into your blood. If you have a condition that keeps your respiratory system from functioning correctly, you might have a respiratory disease or another …

Shigella is a germ that causes a highly contagious disease called shigellosis (bacillary dysentery). Shigella is a germ that causes a highly contagious disease called shigellosis (bacillary dysentery). It is an acid-resistant, salt-tolerant bacteria. It has been increasingly involved in foodborne outbreaks. In 2002, Shigella was the third most reported foodborne bacterial pathogen, according to the Centers for Disease Control …