Nerve Blocks: Get Facts on Surgery and Injections

Introduction Nerve blocks are used for pain treatment and management. There are several different types of nerve blocks that serve different purposes. Often a group of nerves, called a plexus or ganglion, that causes pain to a specific organ or body region can be blocked with the injection of medication into a specific area of …

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Malignant Hyperthermia: Get Facts on This Drug Reaction

Malignant hyperthermia facts* *Malignant hyperthermia facts medical author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Malignant hyperthermia is a severe reaction to particular drugs that are often used during general anesthesia for surgery. Malignant hyperthermia occurs in 1 in 5,000 to 50,000 instances in which people are given anesthetic gases. Muscle rigidity, breakdown of muscle fibers (rhabdomyolysis), a high fever, increased acid levels …

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Oral Health and Bone Disease: Get Facts About Them

Oral health and bone disease facts* *Oral health and bone disease facts medical author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by loss of bone density; affected bones are more likely to fracture. Tooth loss can occur when the bone of the jaw becomes less dense. Osteoporosis in the jaw bone has been associated with osteoporosis in other …

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Nightmares: Get Facts, Causes and Treatments

Nightmares and PTSD Nightmares are dreams that are threatening and scary. Nearly everyone has had a nightmare from time to time. For trauma survivors, though, nightmares are a common problem. Along with flashbacks and unwanted memories, nightmares are one of the ways in which a trauma survivor may relive the trauma for months or years after the event. How common …

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Khat: Learn the Side Effects of This Drug

What is Khat and what are the street names for Khat? Street terms for Khat: (pronounced Cot) Abyssinian tea, African salad, oat, kat, chat, and catha. Also referred to as qat in Yemen, tschat in Ethiopia, and miraa in Kenya. What does Khat look like? Khat is a flowering evergreen shrub native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Khat …

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Diabetes: Sex, Urinary, and Bladder Problems

Sexual and urological problems of diabetes facts* *Sexual and urological problems of diabetes facts Medically Edited by: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Sexual and urologic complications of diabetes occur because of the damage diabetes can cause to blood vessels and nerves. Both women and men can develop sexual problems from diabetes. Sexual problems in men with diabetes include erectile dysfunction and …

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Prostate Cancer Screening: Get the Facts on the Tests

What is screening? Cancer screening looks for a hidden cancer before a person has any warning signs or symptoms. This can help find cancer at an early stage. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat. By the time symptoms appear, cancer may have begun to spread. Scientists are trying to better understand which …

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Parry-Romberg Syndrome: Facts on the Disease and Diagnosis

What is and what causes Parry-Romberg syndrome? Parry-Romberg syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by slowly progressive deterioration (atrophy) of the skin and soft tissues of half of the face (hemifacial atrophy), usually the left side. It is more common in females than in males. What are the signs and symptoms of Parry-Romberg syndrome? Readers Comments 7 Share Your Story …

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Penis Pump: Get the Facts on Vacuum Constriction Devices

A vacuum constriction device (VCD) is an external pump with a band on it that a man with erectile dysfunction can use to get and maintain an erection. The VCD consists of an acrylic cylinder with a pump that may be attached directly to the end of the penis. A constriction ring or band is placed on the cylinder at …

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Temporal Lobe Resection: Read About Surgery and Side Effects

Introduction The largest part of the brain, the cerebrum, is divided into four paired sections — the frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes. Each lobe controls a specific group of activities. The temporal lobe, located on either side of the brain just above the ear, plays an important role in hearing, language, and memory. In people with temporal lobe epilepsy, …

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