Overview Cavities are permanently damaged areas that form into tiny gaps or holes in the hard surface of your teeth. Cavities, also known as caries or tooth decay, are caused by a combination of factors, including bacteria in your mouth, frequent snacking, sipping sugar beverages, and failing to clean your teeth. Cavities and tooth decay […]
What is a Bruise? You’ll fall off your bike, bang your shin on the coffee table (which you swore you’d be moving months ago), or run into a wall and wake up with a bruise. A bruise is caused by damaging or fracturing tiny blood vessels as a result of damage to the skin (be […]
Nosebleeds are common. They may be frightening but they rarely point to a serious medical problem. The nose contains many blood vessels in the front and backs of the nose, located near the surface. They’re very fragile and bleed easily. Nosebleeds are common in adults and children between the ages of 3 and 10. There […]
Overview Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a state of mental health that induces severe mood swings with emotional peaks (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). You may feel sad or hopeless when you become depressed, and lose interest or pleasure in most activities. You may feel euphoric, full of energy or excessively […]
Overview Fibrous tissue called scar tissue grows around the wound to heal and protect the injury when skin injure. The extra scar tissue develops in some cases, producing smooth, rough growths called keloids. Keloids can be considerably larger than the original cut. Most usually they are found on the chest, shoulders, earlobes and cheeks. Keloids, […]
Overview Dysmenorrhea (Menstrual cramps) are throbbing or cramping pains in the lower abdomen. Many women suffer from menstrual cramps just before and during menstrual periods. For some women, the discomfort is merely annoying. For others, menstrual cramps may be serious enough to interfere with the daily activities every month for a few days. Menstrual cramps […]
Overview Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anus and lower rectum, close to varicose veins, which are sometimes called piles. Hemorrhoids can grow within the rectum (inner hemorrhoids) or around the anus (external hemorrhoids) under the skin. Close to three out of four adults will occasionally have hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids have multiple causes but the cause […]
Chronic constipation is rare bowel movements or difficult passage that persists for several weeks or longer. Constipation is usually described as having less than three movements in the intestine per week. While sometimes constipation is very common, some people have chronic constipation that can interfere with their ability to perform their daily tasks. Chronic constipation […]
What Is Congenital Heart Disease? Congenital heart disease, or congenital heart defect, is a heart abnormality that occurs at birth. The problem can affect: The Heart Walls The Heart Valves The Blood Vessels There are numerous types of congenital heart defects. They can range from simple conditions that do not cause symptoms, to complex problems […]
What is cerebral edema? Cerebral edema is also known as brain swelling. It’s a life-threatening condition that causes fluid to develop in the brain. Such fluid raises the pressure inside the skull — more commonly called intracranial pressure (ICP). Increased ICP will reduce the flow of brain blood and reduce the oxygen your brain gets. […]
