Stress and Heart Disease: Get Facts on the Warning Signs

Heart disease and stress introduction Are stress and heart disease related? Does stress increase the risk of heart disease? Stress is a normal part of life. But if left unmanaged, stress can lead to emotional, psychological, and even physical problems, including:  heart disease, high blood pressure, chest pains, or irregular heart beats. How Does Stress …

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Heart Valve Disease: Get facts on Symptoms and Treatment

According to the American Heart Association, about 5 million Americans are diagnosed with valvular heart disease each year. What Is Valvular Heart Disease? Heart valve disease occurs when your heart's valves do not work the way they should. How Do Heart Valves Work? Your heart valves lie at the exit of each of your four heart chambers and maintain one-way …

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Nebulizer for Asthma: Read About Attacks and Side Effects

Introduction An asthma nebulizer, also known as a breathing machine, changes asthma medication from a liquid to a mist, so that it can be more easily inhaled into the lungs. Home nebulizer therapy is particularly effective in delivering asthma medications to infants and small children and to anyone who is unable to use asthma inhalers with spacers. To obtain an …

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Seizures: Read About Symptoms and Types

Epilepsy and an overview of the types of seizures Based on the type of behavior and brain activity, seizures are divided into two broad categories: generalized and partial (also called local or focal). Classifying the type of seizure helps physicians diagnose whether or not a patient has epilepsy. Generalized seizures are produced by electrical impulses from throughout the entire brain, …

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Penis Disorders: Get Facts about Causes and Symptoms

There are two primary disorders that affect the male reproductive external organs. These include penis disorders and testicular disorders. Disorders of the penis and testes can affect a man's sexual functioning and fertility. What disorders affect the penis? Some disorders that affect the penis include priapism, Peyronie's disease , balanitis, phimosis, paraphimosis, and penile cancer . What is priapism? Priapism …

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Laparoscopy: Read All About This Procedure

Though many gastrointestinal disorders can be treated successfully with lifestyle changes or medications, some conditions may require surgery. Laparoscopic surgery and hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) are, “minimally invasive” procedures commonly used to treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Unlike traditional surgery on the colon or other parts of the intestines where a long incision down the center of the abdomen …

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Kegel Exercises for Women: Learn the Benefits

What are Kegel exercises? Kegel exercises are designed to make your pelvic floor muscles stronger. These are the muscles that hold up your bladder and help keep it from leaking. Kegel exercises are designed to make your pelvic floor muscles stronger. These are the muscles that hold up your bladder and help keep it from leaking. Building up your pelvic …

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Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome: Facts About Statistics

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome facts* *Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome facts medical author: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome is a genetic condition characterized by the dramatic and rapid appearance of aging; symptoms begin in early childhood. Signs and symptoms may include facial changes such as thin, beaked-tipped nose, a small chin, thin lips, protruding ears and prominent eyes; other non-facial …

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Vasectomy: Learn About Recovery From This Common Procedure

Vasectomy facts *Vasectomy facts medically edited by: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD Vasectomy is an effective method of birth control; only about 15 out of 10,000 couples had a pregnancy occur after vasectomy. Vasectomy is a surgical technique done in men to cut the vas deferens bilaterally to prevent sperm from reaching the seminal fluid during ejaculation. Vasectomies are usually …

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Problem Sleepiness: Get the Facts on Causes and Treatment

Problem sleepiness facts* Readers Comments 3 Share Your Story *Problem sleepiness facts medical author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Problem sleepiness occurs when sleepiness during the day interferes with work or social functioning. Symptoms of problem sleepiness may include difficulty concentrating, falling asleep while driving, or problems with emotional control. There are a number of causes of problem sleepiness, including sleep …

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