health and living

ERCP is a combination of X-ray and a long, flexible, lighted tube Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a diagnostic procedure to diagnose and treat problems in the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas. It is a combination of X-ray and a long, flexible, lighted tube (endoscope). Doctors usually guide the endoscope through the mouth and …

Bicipital tendon injection involves injecting corticosteroids Bicipital tendon injection involves injecting corticosteroids into the tendon to relieve pain and inflammation. Steroids are effective anti-inflammatory medicines. It is useful in relieving symptoms that continue for more than four weeks. Occasionally, repeated steroid injections can further deteriorate the injured tendon, causing it to tear. What is a bicipital tendon? The biceps muscle …

What is sleep apnea? Warning signs of sleep apnea include snoring, nighttime gasping, pauses in breathing during sleep, and daytime sleepiness. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that can potentially lead to serious systemic health complications. It is a condition that causes a person to intermittently stop breathing during sleep. This is often indicated by the presence of snoring. Sleep …

Lowering altitude is the best remedy against altitude sickness Symptoms of altitude sickness that are not life threatening are called acute mountain sickness. If you remain at your current altitude or continue going higher, the symptoms will get worse and the sickness can be fatal.  There are various remedies to alleviate the symptoms of altitude sickness such as: Going down to a lower …

What anxiety can do to your body? Anxiety has a varied effect on the mind and the body Anxiety may affect people differently. It has a varied effect on the mind and the body because of the release of certain hormones and other chemicals in the body.  It increases a person’s chances of suffering from other medical conditions, such as …

Iron deficiency is a common anemia Anemia is a medical condition in which the person has less red blood cells (RBCs) than what is considered normal for their age and gender. Routine blood investigations may report anemia as low hemoglobin or hematocrit.   Depending on the reason for anemia, the causes may be categorized as: Nutritional anemia: When the body cannot …

Altitude sickness Altitude sickness usually resolves by itself within six to 48 hours. The main treatment involves going down to a lower altitude (descent) as quickly and safely as possible. The symptoms of moderate altitude sickness generally improve within 24 hours on reaching an elevation that is at least 1,000 to 2,000 feet lower. All the symptoms should subside completely …

Anemia Anemia if not treated for a long period can lead to serious complications. These include heart failure, severe weakness and poor immunity. Anemia is a medical condition in which the person does not have enough red blood cells or RBCs. The RBCs in the blood carry iron a specialized protein called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin helps carry oxygen within the RBCs …

What is an arthroscopy of the wrist? Arthroscopy of the wrist involves surgical visualization to diagnose and treat disorders of the wrist joints. The use of a fiber-optic instrument, known as an arthroscope, helps the surgeon to visualize the inner parts of the joints. The wrist is a complex joint that consists of eight bones and various connecting ligaments. When …

What is internal fixation? Internal fixation involves setting and stabilizing the fractured bones by cutting open the skin. The bones are realigned to their normal position. Internal fixation uses special implants such as plates, screws, nails, and wires, which hold together the corrected bones. The advantages of internal fixation are as follows: Shorter hospital stay Allows the patients to return …