Melanoma facts Picture of Melanoma Skin Cancer Melanoma is a cancer of melanocytes, cells that produce the pigment melanin. Although most melanomas develop on the skin, they can originate in almost any organ including the eye, brain, and lymph nodes. It is not unusual for patients or their spouses to recognize cutaneous (skin) melanomas. Caught …
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What is morning sickness? Share Your Story Morning sickness usually begins in the 9th week of pregnancy. Morning sickness is the term used to refer to the symptoms that a pregnant woman may have during her 1st, 2nd, or 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Common symptoms of morning sickness in early pregnancy that can occur at any time of day are; nausea, and …
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What is sciatica? Picture of Sciatica Symptoms The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. It’s rooted in the lower back and extends through the rump, providing nerve endings through the leg. Sciatica or sciatic nerve pain is centered on the lower back, and the cause is usually from a ruptured disc in the spinal column that irritates …
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Measles facts Measles on a child's back by Watney Collection/Phototake A virus causes measles, a potentially serious disease that spreads easily. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. Measles symptoms and signs include dry cough, conjunctivitis, runny nose (coryza), and high fever. Many patients will get sick 7 to 14 days after exposure and will start with a prodrome of …
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What are oral digestive enzymes? Oral digestive enzymes are complex proteins naturally produced by the body to help digest and breakdown the foods we eat. The pancreas is the organ responsible for making and secreting digestive enzymes. Oral digestive enzymes are used when the pancreas is unable to produce enough digestive enzymes. The main digestive enzymes are: Proteases for digesting …
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Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) definition and facts Readers Comments 1 Share Your Story Picture of SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) SIBO stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. SIBO can be considered to be of two types. One is associated with identifiable diseases or conditions of the intestines. The other is not. SIBO of either type can give rise to …
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Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) facts* Readers Comments 5 Share Your Story Picture of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) *Pelvic inflammatory facts medical author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection and inflammation of a woman's pelvic organs including the uterus (womb), Fallopian tubes (tubes), ovaries, and cervix. PID is very common and is estimated to affect around …
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Tramadol vs. codeine comparison Tramadol (Ultram) and codeine are both opiates and narcotics prescribed for moderate pain. Codeine is also a cough suppressant. Codeine is derived from the poppy plant like other narcotics, including morphine, heroin, and opium. Tramadol, on the other hand, is synthetic, though it is similar to codeine. Both these drugs are less potent than other opiates, …
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What are angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs? How do they work (mechanism of action)? Angiotensin II is a very potent chemical formed in the blood that causes muscles surrounding blood vessels to contract, thereby narrowing the vessels. This narrowing increases the pressure within the vessels and can cause high blood pressure (hypertension). Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are medications that block …
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What is amoxicillin? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Amoxicillin belongs to a class of antibiotics called penicillins. Other members of this class include ampicillin (Unasyn), piperacillin (Pipracil), ticarcillin (Ticar), and several others. These antibiotics all have a similar mechanism of action. They do not directly kill bacteria, but they stop bacteria from multiplying by preventing bacteria from forming …
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