Question: What other magnesium tests are available?

Answer: There are other tests. Some of them: Test how much magnesium you get rid of in your pee. Test the level of magnesium in your red blood cells ( RBC). Test the magnesium in your cells, not in your blood. This test is known as an â EXA Test,â and is done through a sample of your mouth cells. It is not easy to get this test because it is not commonly known and it is very expensive. Add magnesium to your blood, then see how much goes into your urine.


Question: Who usually gets high levels of magnesium?

Answer: High levels of magnesium are much less common than low levels. This happens to people who have damaged kidneys, or take certain drugs. It is a serious problem that can cause your heart to stop.


Question: How can I tell if I have low magnesium levels?

Answer: Some people don't get enough magnesium. If you're basically healthy, you probably wouldn't have symptoms from low magnesium unless it went on for a long time. Your doctor may want to test your magnesium level. This is important because too much or too little can make both adults and children sick.


Question: What could it mean to have low magnesium levels?

Answer: This happens to people who have damaged kidneys, or take certain drugs. It can also be a sign of diabetes, thyroid trouble, a problem with your pregnancy, or other health issues.


Question: How do blood tests measure magnesium levels?

Answer: A nurse or other health worker will clean your skin, insert a needle into a vein in your arm or hand, and take a sample of blood. It should feel like a pinprick, but not much more. Afterward, the nurse will take the needle out and may cover the area with a bandage in case it bleeds a little. Within a few days, the doctor will look at the test results and should talk to you about what they mean. Low levels might mean you don't get enough magnesium in your diet and need to take extra. Some experts don't think a blood test is the best way to find out your magnesium level. This can make it seem like you have more magnesium in your body than you really have if you simply have a blood test.


Question: When do I need other magnesium tests?

Answer: A blood test is the most common way to find out your magnesium level. This can make it seem like you have more magnesium in your body than you really have if you simply have a blood test. Test the magnesium in your cells, not in your blood.


Question: What should I know about magnesium?

Answer: Some of these are peanut butter, nuts, spinach, beans, whole grains, bananas, milk, and salmon. It's added to some breakfast cereals, bottled water, and other foods that you can buy. If you're basically healthy, you probably wouldn't have symptoms from low magnesium unless it went on for a long time. That's because much of the magnesium in your body is stored in your bones and other places, not in the blood.


Question: How can low magnesium levels affect your body?

Answer: It can also lead to low levels of other important minerals like calcium and potassium. This can make it seem like you have more magnesium in your body than you really have if you simply have a blood test.


Question: What are some tips to help you choose the right treatment for breast cancer?

Answer: Talk with your doctor about all the risks and benefits of each treatment option and how they will affect your lifestyle. Think about joining a support group. Other people with breast cancer know what you're going through and can give you advice and understanding. They might help you decide on a treatment, too. Ask your doctor if you should join a clinical trial, a research study that tests new treatments before they're available to everyone.


Question: What are the types of breast cancer treatment?

Answer: Some treatments remove or destroy the disease within the breast and nearby tissues, such as lymph nodes. These include: Surgery to remove the whole breast, called a mastectomy, or to remove just the tumor and tissues around it, called a lumpectomy or breast-conserving surgery. There are different types of mastectomies and lumpectomies. Radiation therapy, which uses high-energy waves to kill cancer cells.


Question: How do you know which breast cancer treatment to choose?

Answer: No matter which ones you choose, all breast cancer treatments have two main goals: To rid the body of as much of the cancer as possible To prevent the disease from coming back Your doctor will think about a few things before she recommends a treatment for you: The type of breast cancer you have The size of your tumor and how far the cancer has spread in your body, called the stage of your disease If your tumor has things called "receptors" for HER2 protein, estrogen, and progesterone, or other specific features. Your age, if you've gone through menopause, other health conditions you have, and your personal preferences also play a role in this decision-making process.


Question: How can I protect my skin from psoriasis outbreaks?

Answer: Skin damage is a known trigger for psoriasis flares. Scratches, scrapes, cuts, and burns all can set you up for a psoriasis outbreak on the area of damaged skin. Below are tips for preventing skin damage and psoriasis outbreaks: Keep your skin moist. Dry skin is more prone to injury. Wear protective clothing when doing yard work or household chores. Treat itching with lotions and creams -- scratching feels good at first, but it damages skin. Consider skipping a day between shaves, changing razors frequently, or using an electric razor, if facial psoriasis is a problem.


Question: Are there proven triggers for psoriasis?

Answer: But many people with psoriasis feel a connection between certain activities or exposures and their psoriasis outbreaks.


Question: What are some possible triggers of psoriasis?

Answer: Although these psoriasis triggers aren't all proven, individual people have found triggers they feel spark their own psoriasis outbreaks: Emotional stress Medications, including beta-blockers, anti-malaria drugs, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, and lithium Winter climates Shaving or any injury to your skin such as from vaccinations, scratches, or sunburns Caffeine Alcohol Infection (strep throat) Smoking Fatty meats Write down any associations you can think of.


Question: When should I talk to my doctor about my psoriasis outbreaks?

Answer: Once you have a handle on what causes your psoriasis to flare, it's time to talk to your doctor. There may not be time to go through every detail in a short visit, so the most important information is your response to psoriasis treatment. Have you applied topical therapies and taken other drugs consistently? Your treatment log will let you answer with certainty. Are there associations between your other medications and your psoriasis outbreaks? Discuss any possible psoriasis triggers with your doctor. Are your psoriasis treatments working? Your drawings or photographs over time will show the details that memory alone can't.


Question: How can I track patterns with my psoriasis?

Answer: Using either a digital camera or smartphone - or for the more artistically inclined, a piece of paper - record changes in the psoriasis plaques on your body to see where and how much skin is affected by flares. Keep at it each week, and make notes about events such as doctor visits and new treatment to see patterns over time.


Question: How can I track my psoriasis triggers?

Answer: Although these psoriasis triggers aren't all proven, individual people have found triggers they feel spark their own psoriasis outbreaks: Emotional stress Medications, including beta-blockers, anti-malaria drugs, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, and lithium Winter climates Shaving or any injury to your skin such as from vaccinations, scratches, or sunburns Caffeine Alcohol Infection (strep throat) Smoking Fatty meats Write down any associations you can think of. Over time, looking back through your records may reveal patterns that help identify your own triggers for psoriasis outbreaks.


Question: How can I tell what triggers my psoriasis?

Answer: Any time there is a change in your psoriasis -- for better or worse -- look for associations. Did the weather change? Was your skin recently injured? Did you run out of a psoriasis medicine? Did you start taking a new medicine? Are there associations between your other medications and your psoriasis outbreaks?


Question: Can medications cause indigestion?

Answer: An individual's risk increases with: Excess alcohol consumption Use of drugs that may irritate the stomach, such as aspirin and other pain relievers Conditions where there is an abnormality in the digestive tract, such as an ulcer Emotional problems, such as anxiety or depression Indigestion has many causes, including: Diseases: Ulcers GERD Stomach cancer (rare) Gastroparesis (a condition where the stomach doesn't empty properly; this often occurs in people with diabetes) Stomach infections Irritable bowel syndrome Chronic pancreatitis Thyroid disease Pregnancy Medications: Aspirin and other painkillers, such as NSAIDs like ibuprofen ( Motrin, Advil), and naproxen ( Naprosyn) Estrogen and oral contraceptives Steroid medications Certain antibiotics Thyroid medicines Lifestyle: Eating too much, eating too fast, eating high-fat foods, or eating during stressful situations Drinking too much alcohol Cigarette smoking Stress and fatigue Indigestion is not caused by excess stomach acid.


Question: What are the symptoms of GERD?

Answer: The symptoms of indigestion can include: Burning in the stomach or upper abdomen Abdominal pain Bloating (full feeling) Belching and gas Nausea and vomiting Acidic taste Growling stomach These symptoms may increase in times of stress.


Question: Can a medical condition cause indigestion?

Answer: An individual's risk increases with: Excess alcohol consumption Use of drugs that may irritate the stomach, such as aspirin and other pain relievers Conditions where there is an abnormality in the digestive tract, such as an ulcer Emotional problems, such as anxiety or depression Indigestion has many causes, including: Diseases: Ulcers GERD Stomach cancer (rare) Gastroparesis (a condition where the stomach doesn't empty properly; this often occurs in people with diabetes) Stomach infections Irritable bowel syndrome Chronic pancreatitis Thyroid disease Pregnancy Medications: Aspirin and other painkillers, such as NSAIDs like ibuprofen ( Motrin, Advil), and naproxen ( Naprosyn) Estrogen and oral contraceptives Steroid medications Certain antibiotics Thyroid medicines Lifestyle: Eating too much, eating too fast, eating high-fat foods, or eating during stressful situations Drinking too much alcohol Cigarette smoking Stress and fatigue Indigestion is not caused by excess stomach acid.


Question: How can you eat to avoid indigestion?

Answer: The best way to prevent indigestion is to avoid the foods and situations that seem to cause it. Keeping a food diary is helpful in identifying foods that cause indigestion. Here are some other suggestions: Eat small meals so the stomach does not have to work as hard or as long. Eat slowly. Avoid foods that contain high amounts of acids, such as citrus fruits and tomatoes. Reduce or avoid foods and beverages that contain caffeine.


Question: Can lifestyle habits cause indigestion?

Answer: Eat slowly.


Question: What does a physical exam for Chiari malformation check?

Answer: The doctor will also check functions controlled by the cerebellum and spinal cord. These functions include: balance touch reflexes sensation motor skills The doctor may order diagnostic tests, such as: X-ray CT scan MRI An MRI is the test most often used to diagnose Chiari malformations.


Question: What are the most common symptoms of Chiari malformation?

Answer: Older children with type II Chiari malformation may develop head pain associated with: coughing or sneezing bending over strenuous physical activities straining to have a bowel movement Some of the most common symptoms are linked to problems with the function of nerves in the brain stem. These include: weakness of vocal cords swallowing difficulties breathing irregularities serious changes in the function of nerves in the throat and tongue If a Chiari malformation is suspected, a doctor will perform a physical exam.


Question: What are the treatments for Chiari malformations?

Answer: If Chiari malformations cause no symptoms and do not interfere with activities of daily living, no treatment is necessary. In other cases, medications can be used to manage symptoms such as pain. Surgery is the only treatment that can correct functional defects or stop progression of damage to the central nervous system. In both type I and type II Chiari malformations, the goals of surgery are to: Relieve pressure on the brain and spinal cord Re-establish normal fluid circulation through and around the area In adults and children with Chiari malformations, several types of surgery can be performed.


Question: What are the diagnostic tests for Chiari malformation?

Answer: These functions include: balance touch reflexes sensation motor skills The doctor may order diagnostic tests, such as: X-ray CT scan MRI An MRI is the test most often used to diagnose Chiari malformations.


Question: When do Chiari malformations happen?

Answer: Most Chiari malformations occur during fetal development. Much less commonly, Chiari malformations can occur later in life.


Question: Does surgery work for Chiari malformation?

Answer: According to Children's Hospital in Boston, which specializes in the treatment of Chiari malformations, surgery virtually eliminates symptoms in 50% of pediatric cases. Surgery substantially reduces symptoms in another 45% of cases.


Question: What are the symptoms of Chiari malformation?

Answer: Some people with Chiari malformations may have no symptoms. Others may have symptoms such as: dizziness muscle weakness numbness vision problems headaches problems with balance and coordination Chiari malformations affect females more often than males.


Question: What are the symptoms of type 2 Chiari malformation?

Answer: Dizziness and problems with balance and coordination Swallowing difficulties Sleep apnea Most children born with type II Chiari malformation have hydrocephalus. Older children with type II Chiari malformation may develop head pain associated with: coughing or sneezing bending over strenuous physical activities straining to have a bowel movement Some of the most common symptoms are linked to problems with the function of nerves in the brain stem.


Question: What is Chiari malformation?

Answer: That's the part of the brain that controls balance.


Question: What are the symptoms of type 1 Chiari malformation?

Answer: This usually causes severe neurological defects. Most people with the condition don't even know that they have it unless it is incidentally discovered during a diagnostic imaging test. But if the malformation is severe, type I may cause symptoms such as: Pain in the lower back of the head into the neck; it usually develops quickly and intensifies with any activity that increases pressure in the brain, such as coughing and sneezing.


Question: What usually causes Chiari malformation?

Answer: Chiari malformations are usually caused by structural defects in the brain and spinal cord. Due to genetic mutations or a maternal diet that lacked certain nutrients, the indented bony space at the base of the skull is abnormally small. As a result, pressure is placed on the cerebellum. That's the fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord.


Question: How many times does your heart beat each day?

Answer: This fist-sized powerhouse beats (expands and contracts) 100,000 times per day, pumping five or six quarts of blood each minute, or about 2,000 gallons per day.


Question: How do heart valve works?

Answer: The aortic and pulmonic valves lie between the ventricles and the major blood vessels leaving the heart. The heart valves work the same way as one-way valves in the plumbing of your home. They prevent blood from flowing in the wrong direction. Each valve has a set of flaps, called leaflets or cusps. The mitral valve has two leaflets; the others have three. The leaflets are attached to and supported by a ring of tough, fibrous tissue called the annulus. The annulus helps to maintain the proper shape of the valve.


Question: Where in your body is your heart located?

Answer: The heart is located under the rib cage, slightly to the left of your breastbone (sternum) and between your lungs.


Question: What are collateral blood vessels in the heart?

Answer: If this happens, a network of tiny blood vessels in the heart that aren't usually open called collateral vessels may enlarge and become active.


Question: What is the circulatory system?

Answer: As the heart beats, it pumps blood through a system of blood vessels, called the circulatory system. The vessels are elastic, muscular tubes that carry blood to every part of the body.


Question: What are the right and left coronary arteries?

Answer: On the surface of the heart, there are coronary arteries, which supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle itself. Two major coronary arteries branch off from the aorta near the point where the aorta and the left ventricle meet: Right coronary artery supplies the right atrium and right ventricle with blood. It branches into the posterior descending artery, which supplies the bottom portion of the left ventricle and back of the septum with blood. Left main coronary artery branches into the circumflex artery and the left anterior descending artery.


Question: What causes an astigmatism?

Answer: It's a big word, but it simply means your eye isn't completely round. We don't know the exact cause. You can also get it after an eye injury, eye disease, or surgery. There's a myth that you can get it if you read in low light or sit too close to the TV, but that isn't true.


Question: How are most cases of astigmatism treated?

Answer: Almost all cases can be corrected with glasses or contacts. But if you only have a slight astigmatism -- your doctor may refer to it as a degree -- and you don't have another vision problem, you may not need them. There's more than one type, so your doctor will help you pick the one that's right for you.


Question: Do I need to pay attention to caloric intake and burning if I want to lose weight?

Answer: That's just one approach. To create your own weight loss plan, you might ask your doctor to refer you to a registered dietitian, who can give you eating tips and help you make a plan.


Question: What are some small long-term diet goals for people with diabetes?

Answer: Try these goals on for size. Which ones fit your lifestyle? I'll eat whole-grain cereal and skim milk instead of a muffin for breakfast 4 days a week. I'll cut back on eating out, or I'll plan before I do by looking at the menu online and deciding ahead of time what to order. I'll eat blueberries and nonfat yogurt instead of ice cream. I'll use the " Plate Method" to help manage my portions. Non-starchy vegetables and fruits go on half the plate, starchy foods such as brown rice go on 1/4 of the plate, and lean proteins such as skinless poultry, fish, and lean meat go on the other 1/4th. I'll write down everything I eat for 2 weeks.


Question: How can I avoid getting bored with my exercises for diabetes?

Answer: Plan different activities you can do during the week. Experts recommend a mix of aerobic and strength-training exercises. Aerobic exercise could include walking, climbing stairs, dancing, or swimming. Strength training uses weights or exercise bands to strengthen muscles. It should be part of your exercise routine at least 2-3 days a week. Tell your doctor before you start an exercise program to make sure it's safe for you.


Question: Where do I begin if I want to lose weight for diabetes?

Answer: Start with these three steps: Ask yourself why you want to lose weight, and why now. Set clear goals that you can follow to help you lose weight and keep it off. Think about the hurdles you might face, and plan ways to get over them.


Question: How can I go about making small daily changes to lose weight?

Answer: Diabetes and Your Weight: Healthy Weight Loss Tips Plan for Weight Loss Challenges Think about all the things that happen during the day that make you want to overeat or make less-than-healthy choices. Job stress can be one, especially if your office mate keeps a tin of chocolate on her desk. Boredom can also trigger mindless snacking, and so can watching TV. Create a list of your biggest hurdles and how to deal with each one. At work, for example, vary your path to your desk so you don't see your colleague's tempting chocolate. At home, take on a small project or new hobby that keeps you away from the TV.


Question: How can I lose weight to improve diabetes without making big life changes?

Answer: Anything... Read the Women's Top Diabetes Concerns article > > You can do it by making small changes in what and how much you eat and by getting exercise most days. This can help you lose 1 to 2 pounds a week. In 7 to 10 weeks, you can lose about 10 pounds. You'll improve your health, and you might even be able to cut back on your diabetes drugs if your doctor gives you the OK. You might be thinking, " Well, I've tried this before and never got anywhere." The key is to think in terms of small steps. You're not trying to lose 50 pounds -- just a few pounds will do.


Question: How can I avoid unhealthy snacking during the day?

Answer: Keep on hand healthy snacks that are also tasty and filling for the times when cravings are likely to strike. Keep water handy as well, and don't forget to drink it. Water can make you feel full and has zero calories.


Question: What are some small long-term exercise goals for people with diabetes?

Answer: Diabetes and Your Weight: Healthy Weight Loss Tips Set Fitness Goals You Can Meet Be active every day. It will help you control blood sugar levels and boost your energy and overall mood. Moving your body every day will also help you take off extra weight. Look over these goals: I will walk around the neighborhood after dinner for 30 minutes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I will get off the bus two stops early and walk the rest of the way to work. I will sign up for the weekly low-impact aerobics class at the gym. I will track my exercise every day by writing it on my personal calendar.


Question: Why does my weight keep coming back after losing it?

Answer: Set Eating Goals You Can Meet Crash diets or those that limit you to a few foods are tough to keep up over the long haul, and your lost weight is likely to come back. In the long run, it's better to start with a smaller goal, like losing 10 pounds. Set a doable date for reaching this goal. Then focus on making healthy changes in your eating and exercise habits.


Question: How many calories do I need to burn to lose weight?

Answer: Calories and Weight Loss Keep in mind that you need to burn 3,500 more calories than usual to lose 1 pound. To lose 1 pound a week, you could cut 500 calories a day from what you eat, or bump up your exercise to burn 500 more calories a day. Or you could do some of each. For instance, if you skip the cheese on your lunchtime sandwich, drink seltzer with lime instead of a regular soda, and eat a fun-sized candy bar instead of a large one, you'll cut out 300 calories. ( Food labels and serving sizes can help you know how much you're cutting.) Add a 30-minute brisk walk and you'll burn about 200 more calories. You've met the 500 calorie goal!


Question: What if exercising makes me frustrated or self-critical?

Answer: At home, take on a small project or new hobby that keeps you away from the TV. A lifestyle change is hard, and you deserve to feel proud of your efforts. Over time, you'll see the benefits of these changes in the form of better overall health and well-being. Stick with your new healthy habits, and as time goes by, you're likely to meet, and perhaps pass, your first weight loss goal.


Question: How can I stay motivated to work out as a diabetic?

Answer: No matter how much you want to lose, it helps to plan ahead for weight loss before you start trying to drop those extra pounds. Think about why it's important to you. This will help you keep on track through the tough times of low drive or high temptation. What inspires you to lose weight? Do you want to be able to keep up with your children as they get older and more active? Is there a charity walk or run you've always wanted to join? Are you tired of feeling tired? Do you want to manage your diabetes more easily? Are you planning a big vacation and want to be fit enough to fully enjoy it? Do you want to lower your chances of heart disease and other health problems? Whatever your reasons, write them down, and post them on the refrigerator door or somewhere you can see them. The list will remind you every day why you're tackling the challenge of losing weight.


Question: How can I make long term weight loss goals?

Answer: Think about why it's important to you. Be specific about when, where, and how you can reach each goal. It's fine to start slow and build up to 30 minutes of exercise a day, at least 5 days a week.


Question: What causes colds?

Answer: It's an illness caused by a tiny, infectious thing called a virus. More than 200 types lead to your misery, but the most common one is the rhinovirus, which is thought to be responsible for at least 50% of colds. Other viruses that can cause colds include coronavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza and parainfluenza.


Question: What is "cold season" in the United States?

Answer: The reason may partly have to do with the opening of schools. Cold weather may also play a role because it leads you to spend more time indoors, where you're in closer contact with people who are contagious. Changes in humidity in different seasons may also affect how often people get sick. The most common cold viruses survive better outside the body.


Question: What are symptoms of a cold?

Answer: When a cold strikes, you may have symptoms like: Scratchy or sore throat Sneezing Stuffy nose Watery eyes Mucus draining from your nose into your throat More severe symptoms, such as high fever or muscle aches, may be a sign that you have the flu rather than a cold.


Question: Can being cold or wet cause you to get sick?

Answer: One myth that needs to get busted: Getting chilly or wet doesn't cause you to get sick. But there are things that make you prone to come down with a cold. For example, you're more likely to catch one if you're extremely tired, under emotional distress, or have allergies with nose and throat symptoms.


Question: How can you catch the common cold?

Answer: You can catch it from another person who is infected with the virus. This can happen by direct physical contact with someone who has a cold, or by touching a surface contaminated with their germs -- like a computer keyboard, doorknob or spoon --- and then touching your nose or mouth. You can also catch it from infected droplets in the air released by a sneeze or a cough.


Question: What are the signs of a cold?

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Question: When should I call the doctor about my cold?

Answer: Most colds last about 7 to 10 days, but if your symptoms linger, you may need to call the doctor. Sometimes, colds lead to an infection by bacteria in in your lungs, sinuses, or ears. If that happens, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, which work against bacteria but not against viruses.


Question: Why do children get sick so often?

Answer: Children have about 5-7 colds per year. A big part of the reason: They spend time at school or in day care centers where they're in close contact with other kids most of the day. Also, kids aren't as conscientious about sneezing into the crook of their arm or frequent hand washing â not to mention keeping their hands to themselves.


Question: How common are colds in the United States?

Answer: The CDC says 22 million school days are lost each year in the U. S. because of them. Some estimates say that Americans have 1 billion colds a year.


Question: What are side effects of opioids?

Answer: Although opioids are excellent in controlling pain, they do have side effects. Among the most common are: Constipation .


Question: What causes bone pain and how can it be treated?

Answer: There are many causes for bone pain in life-threatening illness, including cancer metastases to the bone and compression of bones in the spine from degenerative bone disease or damage from long-term use of steroids to treat a condition like lung disease. Using anti-inflammatory adjuvants -- even something as simple as ibuprofen, or something stronger such as a corticosteroid -- can lessen bone pain.


Question: What causes nerve pain and how can it be alleviated during palliative care?

Answer: Nerve pain, or "neuropathic" pain occurs when one or more nerves is injured or damaged. It can develop as a result of long-term chemotherapy or cancer itself, trauma, or other medical disorders. AIDS, diabetes, and shingles are examples of diseases often associated with neuropathic pain. Tricyclic antidepressants and anti-seizure medications can each lessen nerve pain because they change the way pain sensations travel to the brain.


Question: How are opioids taken?

Answer: If the person can no longer swallow, some medications can be given intravenously, and some by subcutaneous injection. With a compounding pharmacist's support, we can mix an opioid with a gel to deliver it topically, through the skin," says Muir. " There are also formulations of fentanyl, for example, that can be delivered by patch or through a cheek film that crosses the mucous membranes in the mouth." In addition to opioids, there are a number of other helper medications that palliative care specialists use to help control pain.


Question: How can vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) help with treating depression?

Answer: Vagus Nerve Stimulation ( VNS) is a surgical procedure in which a pacemaker-like device delivers electrical impulses to the vagus nerve, which connects to areas of the brain believed to be involved in regulating mood. For reasons that doctors don't completely understand, these electrical impulses transmitted via the vagus nerve to the brain can relieve the symptoms of depression. The impulses may affect the way nerve cell circuits transmit signals in areas of the brain that affect mood. However, it usually takes several months before you feel the effects.


Question: What are side effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS, or rTMS) for depression?

Answer: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ( TMS, or r TMS) sends bursts of energy -- from electromagnets -- to specific areas of the brain. While more research needs to be done, TMS seems to have few risks and side effects, and it doesn't require hospitalization. Some people feel muscle contractions in the scalp. Rarely, TMS causes headaches or dizziness. But no evidence suggests that it affects the memory, like electroconvulsive therapy ( ECT) sometimes can. TMS could cause a seizure, but experts say that's very unlikely with a risk of about 1 in a thousand people.


Question: What is the TNM system for lung cancer staging?

Answer: Lung cancer staging often uses the letters T, N, and M: T stands for your tumor's size and where it's located in your lungs or body. N stands for node involvement. This means whether or not your cancer has spread to your lymph nodes near your lungs. M stands for metastasis. This means whether or not your cancer has spread. Lung cancer can spread to your other lung or your liver, bones, brain, kidneys, adrenal glands, or other parts of your body. Your doctor can stage your tumor with these letters, and then be more specific with the numbers 0-4. She'll measure the size of your tumor in centimeters to give it a number. The higher the number, the more your tumor has grown or spread. She might also use X as a number. This means the tumor can't be measured or it's unclear how far it has spread.


Question: How is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) described?

Answer: Non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC) is a more common type of lung cancer than small cell. One way to describe NSCLC is by its clinical or pathologic stage. Your doctor might use imaging scans to tale pictures of the inside of your body to see what clinical stage it is in. In order to confirm the diagnosis, she may do a biopsy, in which she takes a small piece of tissue from the tumor and looks at it under a microscope.


Question: How is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) staged using the TNM system?

Answer: The most common way to stage your NSCLC tumor is by using the TNM system with the numbers X, 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 after each letter. Number and letter combinations describe: Your tumor's width measured in centimeters, or if it's too tiny to be measured at all Where your tumor is located in your lung If there's more than one tumor in the same lung If your airways are partly blocked or clogged enough to cause a lung collapse or pneumonia If the tumor has spread to your lymph nodes or other organs Doctors may also use general stages for NSCLC. Yours may use the TNM system and numbers to stage your cancer in each of these: Occult stage: Cancer cells can be picked up in the mucus you cough up. Your tumor can't be seen on imaging scans or a biopsy. It's also called hidden cancer. Stage 0: Your tumor is very small. Cancer cells haven't spread into your deeper lung tissues or outside your lungs. Stage I: Cancer is in your lung tissues but not your lymph nodes. Stage II: The disease may have spread to your lymph nodes near your lungs. Stage III: It has spread further into your lymph nodes and the middle of your chest. Stage IV: Cancer has spread widely around your body. It may have spread to your brain, bones, or liver.


Question: What medicines are used to treat moderate to severe cancer pain?

Answer: Moderate to Severe Pain Narcotic pain relievers: These drugs include codeine, morphine ( Kadian, MS Contin), hydrocodone ( Hysingla, Lortab, Norco, Vicodin, Zohydro ER), hydromorphone ( Dilaudid, Exalgo), fentanyl ( Duragesic), oxycodone ( Oxy Contin), and tramadol. Narcotic pain relievers require a prescription and may be used along with mild pain relievers for moderate to severe pain.


Question: What causes cancer pain, and what do the symptoms depend on?

Answer: There are many causes of cancer pain, but often cancer pain occurs when a tumor presses on nerves or body organs or when cancer cells invade bones or body organs. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery also may cause pain. The symptoms of cancer pain vary from person to person. The amount of pain may depend on the type of cancer, the stage or extent of the disease, and the person's pain threshold (tolerance for pain). Pain can range from mild and occasional to severe and constant.


Question: When can I expect pain from my cancer, and whatâs the best way to control it?

Answer: The majority of people with cancer will experience pain at some time or another. The pain can result from the cancer itself, or from the cancer's treatment. In addition, some people who have been cured of their cancer can continue to suffer from pain. Cancer pain, or the discomfort that stems from cancer and its treatment, can be controlled most of the time. There are many different medicines and methods available to control cancer pain. People who have cancer and are feeling pain need to inform their doctor immediately. The earlier pain treatment is started, the more effective it may be.


Question: How can I make sure my partner is free of hepatitis before we have sex?

Answer: There is no surefire symptom or sign to indicate that someone has hepatitis. Some infected people look perfectly healthy even in advanced stages of illness. Experts recommend talking openly with sex partners about the risk of hepatitis and other sexually transmitted infections. Of course, if you notice that someone has yellowing of the skin or eyes (a condition known as jaundice), consider that a red flag. Other symptoms of hepatitis include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, joint or abdominal pain, and clay-colored bowel movements.


Question: Can you get hepatitis through kissing?

Answer: Catching hepatitis by kissing an infected person is unlikely -- although deep kissing that involves the exchange of large amounts of saliva might result in HBV, especially if there are cuts or abrasions in the mouth of the infected person.


Question: How effective are condoms at stopping hepatitis transmission?

Answer: Latex condoms are believed to be at least 99% effective. Unless you're in a mutually monogamous relationship, it's best to use a condom in every sexual encounter. Some experts recommend sticking with a plain condom. Flavored or scented condoms may be more likely to fail. Don't use an oil-based lubricant, as it can degrade latex.


Question: How many types of hepatitis that lead to liver problems?

Answer: Scientists have identified at least five types of viral hepatitis that lead to liver problems. In the U. S., the main threats are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Can all types be spread by sexual contact?


Question: What are some sex acts that are more likely to transmit hepatitis?

Answer: Any sexual activity that might cause abrasions, cuts, or other trauma is especially risky. Anal sex is thought to be more risky than vaginal sex. And both forms of sex are more risky than oral sex. Oral-anal contact is also risky. To minimize the risk of viral transmission, experts say that any sexually active person not in a mutually monogamous relationship should take precautions, such as placing a barrier, such as a condom, dental dam, female condom, and finger cots between you and another person's body fluids and blood in addition to getting vaccinated against hepatitis A and B. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. Is it possible to catch hepatitis from kissing?


Question: How is hepatitis C (HCV) commonly transmitted?

Answer: But the liver-destroying disease can also sometimes be spread through sexual contact. Hepatitis C ( HCV) is spread through contact with an infected person's blood -- which may be present because of genital sores or cuts or menstruation.


Question: What are lysosomal storage disorders?

Answer: Lysosomal storage disorders are a group of more than 50 rare diseases. They affect the lysosome -- a structure in your cells that breaks down substances such as proteins, carbohydrates, and old cell parts so the body can recycle them. People with these disorders are missing important enzymes (proteins that speed up reactions in the body). Without those enzymes, the lysosome isn't able to break down these substances. When that happens, they build up in cells and become toxic. They can damage cells and organs in the body.


Question: What is metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD)?

Answer: People with these disorders are missing important enzymes (proteins that speed up reactions in the body). Symptoms start in the first few months of life and include: Muscle weakness Stiff limbs Trouble walking Vision and hearing loss Muscle spasms Seizures Metachromatic leukodystrophy ( MLD): You can get MLD if you don't have the enzyme arylsulfatase A. It normally breaks down a group of fats called sulfatides. Without the enzyme, these fats build up in white matter -- the part of the brain that contains nerve fibers. MLD comes in different forms. Symptoms can include: Loss of feeling in the hands and feet Seizures Trouble walking and talking Vision and hearing loss Mucopolysaccharidosis ( MPS): This a group of diseases that affects enzymes that break down certain carbohydrates.


Question: How are lysosomal storage disorders diagnosed?

Answer: People with these disorders are missing important enzymes (proteins that speed up reactions in the body). Other symptoms include: A red spot in the back of the eye Vision and hearing loss Seizures Most lysosomal storage disorders are passed down from parents to their children. Usually, a child has to inherit the faulty gene from both parents. Your doctor can test for these disorders in your baby during pregnancy. If you have a child with symptoms, blood tests can look for the enzyme that's missing.


Question: What is mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS)?

Answer: People with these disorders are missing important enzymes (proteins that speed up reactions in the body). Symptoms can include: Loss of feeling in the hands and feet Seizures Trouble walking and talking Vision and hearing loss Mucopolysaccharidosis ( MPS): This a group of diseases that affects enzymes that break down certain carbohydrates. The unbroken carbohydrates build up in many different organs. Symptoms of MPS affect many parts of the body and can include: Short height Stiff joints Trouble speaking and hearing Ongoing runny nose Learning problems Heart issues Joint problems Trouble breathing Depression Niemann- Pick disease: This is a group of disorders.


Question: How does Tay-Sachs disease affect the lysosome?

Answer: People with these disorders are missing important enzymes (proteins that speed up reactions in the body). Symptoms include: Severe muscle weakness Poor muscle tone Lack of growth and weight gain in infants An enlarged heart, liver, or tongue Tay- Sachs disease: This is caused by a lack of the enzyme hexosaminidases A ( Hex- A). This enzyme breaks down a fatty substance called GM2 ganglioside in brain cells. Without it, the fat builds up in nerve cells and damages them. Babies with Tay- Sachs grow normally for the first few months of life. Then their development slows. They lose control over their muscles. It becomes harder for them to sit, crawl, and walk. Other symptoms include: A red spot in the back of the eye Vision and hearing loss Seizures Most lysosomal storage disorders are passed down from parents to their children.


Question: How do lysosomal storage disorders happen?

Answer: People with these disorders are missing important enzymes (proteins that speed up reactions in the body). Other symptoms include: A red spot in the back of the eye Vision and hearing loss Seizures Most lysosomal storage disorders are passed down from parents to their children. Usually, a child has to inherit the faulty gene from both parents. If a child gets the gene from only one parent, he will be a carrier and won't show symptoms. Lysosomal storage diseases are rare, but some forms are more common in certain groups of people. For example, Gaucher and Tay- Sachs happen more often in people of European Jewish descent.


Question: How are lysosomal storage disorders treated?

Answer: People with these disorders are missing important enzymes (proteins that speed up reactions in the body). Though there isn't a cure for lysosomal storage disorders, a few treatments can help. Enzyme replacement therapy delivers the missing enzyme through a vein ( IV). Substrate reduction therapy reduces the substance that is building up in the cells. For example, the drug miglustat ( Zavesca) treats one form of Gaucher disease. Stem cell transplant uses donated cells to help the body make the enzyme it's missing. Treatments to manage symptoms of the disease include: Medicine Surgery Physical therapy Dialysis (a treatment that removes toxic substances from the body)


Question: What is Krabbe disease?

Answer: People with these disorders are missing important enzymes (proteins that speed up reactions in the body). In general, symptoms include: Anemia (low red blood cell count) Enlarged spleen and liver Easy bleeding and bruising Tiredness Bone pain and fractures Joint pain Eye problems Seizures Krabbe disease: This affects the nervous system. This enzyme helps make and maintain myelin, the protective coating around nerve cells that helps nerves talk to each other. Symptoms start in the first few months of life and include: Muscle weakness Stiff limbs Trouble walking Vision and hearing loss Muscle spasms Seizures Metachromatic leukodystrophy ( MLD): You can get MLD if you don't have the enzyme arylsulfatase A.


Question: What is Gaucher disease?

Answer: People with these disorders are missing important enzymes (proteins that speed up reactions in the body). This enzyme breaks down a fat called glucocerebroside. Without GBA, the fat builds up in the spleen, liver, and bone marrow. Gaucher disease comes in three types, each with different symptoms. In general, symptoms include: Anemia (low red blood cell count) Enlarged spleen and liver Easy bleeding and bruising Tiredness Bone pain and fractures Joint pain Eye problems Seizures Krabbe disease: This affects the nervous system.


Question: What is Pompe disease?

Answer: People with these disorders are missing important enzymes (proteins that speed up reactions in the body). Symptoms of Niemann- Pick include: An enlarged liver and spleen Trouble moving your eyes up and down Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes) Slow development Breathing problems Heart disease Pompe disease: It affects the enzyme alpha-glucosidase ( GAA). This enzyme breaks down the sugar glycogen into glucose. Without GAA, glycogen builds up in muscle cells and other cells. Symptoms include: Severe muscle weakness Poor muscle tone Lack of growth and weight gain in infants An enlarged heart, liver, or tongue Tay- Sachs disease: This is caused by a lack of the enzyme hexosaminidases A ( Hex- A).


Question: What antihistamine pills can children take for allergies?

Answer: Over-the-counter oral antihistamines include: Cetirizine ( Zyrtec) Diphenhydramine ( Benadryl) Fexofenadine ( Allegra) Loratadine ( Alavert, Claritin) Steroid nose sprays fight inflammation and help your child breathe better.


Question: How effective is singulair in treating my child's allergies?

Answer: It can also make his eyes itchy and watery. They reduce mucus, itching, and congestion. It eases congestion in the nose and also cuts down on sneezing, itching, and eye allergies. Prescription eyedrops can relieve and prevent itchy eyes.


Question: Can antihistamines help my child's allergies?

Answer: That's what makes his nose stuffy or runny. It can also make his eyes itchy and watery. Like their name suggests, they block the effect of histamine. Things to Know: Some are short-acting and are taken every 4 to 6 hours. Longer-acting timed-release ones are taken every 12 to 24 hours. Some medicines combine an antihistamine and a decongestant. Ask your pediatrician whether you should give your child allergy medicine: Before bed. Your doctor may want him to keep taking antihistamines and other allergy drugs until the nose spray kicks in, usually in a week or two.


Question: When is the best time to give children allergy medicine?

Answer: Most experts say you should take these meds before symptoms start in order to keep them at bay. Ask your pediatrician whether you should give your child allergy medicine: Before bed. Allergy symptoms are often worse between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. If your child is allergic to pollen, you may want to start an antihistamine before pollen season, for 3 to 10 days. All the time.


Question: Can children use eyedrops for allergies?

Answer: Examples of prescription-strength ones include: Azelastine ( Astelin, Astepro) nasal sprays Desloratadine ( Clarinex) Hydroxyzine ( Atarax, Vistaril) Most eyedrops are recommended only for children over 3. Common prescription ones include: Azelastine ( Optivar) eyedrops Olopatadine HCL ( Pataday, Patanol) An over-the-counter eyedrop option is ketotifen fumarate ( Zaditor). Over-the-counter oral antihistamines include: Cetirizine ( Zyrtec) Diphenhydramine ( Benadryl) Fexofenadine ( Allegra) Loratadine ( Alavert, Claritin) Steroid nose sprays fight inflammation and help your child breathe better. Prescription eyedrops can relieve and prevent itchy eyes. Your child may need to use them every day.


Question: Can children use steroid nose sprays for allergies?

Answer: Over-the-counter oral antihistamines include: Cetirizine ( Zyrtec) Diphenhydramine ( Benadryl) Fexofenadine ( Allegra) Loratadine ( Alavert, Claritin) Steroid nose sprays fight inflammation and help your child breathe better. They can be liquids or aerosol puffs, and they're used once or more a day. For best results: Make sure your child sprays the medication away from the septum, the thin wall between the nostrils. If his nose has thick mucus, clear it first with a spray saline solution or have him blow his nose. Your doctor may want him to keep taking antihistamines and other allergy drugs until the nose spray kicks in, usually in a week or two.


Question: What are symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome?

Answer: after usual physical or mental activity Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep Along with the three symptoms, you must have one of these for a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome: Problems with thinking and memory Worsening of symptoms while standing or sitting upright ; you might feel lightheaded, dizzy or weak, and you may have blurred vision or see spots.


Question: What are less common symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome?

Answer: after usual physical or mental activity Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep Along with the three symptoms, you must have one of these for a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome: Problems with thinking and memory Worsening of symptoms while standing or sitting upright ; you might feel lightheaded, dizzy or weak, and you may have blurred vision or see spots.


Question: Are ear infections reversible?

Answer: If you have one, you may notice mild hearing loss, as if you were wearing earplugs. An infection usually happens when fluid gets stuck in your middle ear. That's because the fluid makes it easier for bacteria to grow. Viruses can also cause hearing loss. Some ear infections get better on their own. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat it. If you or someone you know gets these infections often, ear tubes -- small cylinders that keep the middle ear open -- can treat them, especially in children.


Question: Is sudden sensorineural hearing loss reversible?

Answer: This happens when you lose all or part of your hearing (usually in just one ear) all at once or over a few days. About half of people with the condition regain their hearing on their own, but sometimes it doesn't come back completely. It usually gets better in a week or two. It is critical to see an ear, nose and throat ( ENT) specialist when this happens so treatment can begin right away. This type of hearing loss can be treated with corticosteroid pills or shots.


Question: Can my hearing loss be reversed?

Answer: You may first pick up on it if you have trouble hearing someone on the phone or if you have to ask people to repeat what they say. But there are ways to work around age-related hearing loss, like hearing aids.


Question: Is age-related hearing loss reversible?

Answer: Some forms of hearing loss aren't reversible, but many are. That'll make it hard for you to hear. If you have one, you may notice mild hearing loss, as if you were wearing earplugs. Viruses can also cause hearing loss.


Question: Is earwax buildup reversible?

Answer: If you use cotton swabs to clean them, you may be pushing the wax in deeper. This can make it gather and get stuck. That'll make it hard for you to hear. It's not hard to treat that buildup and get your hearing back. Home treatments work well in most cases. Put a few drops of mineral oil or baby oil in the ear to help wax work its way out. You can also buy drops at the drugstore that soften ear wax. See a doctor if home treatments don't work or if you have diabetes. He can remove the wax safely with medical tools. Some ear infections get better on their own.


Question: What other disorders are tied to bipolar disorder?

Answer: Typically, these are alcohol and drug abuse, an anxiety disorder, an eating disorder, or a personality disorder. An estimated 60% of all people with bipolar disorder have drug or alcohol problems. Drug abuse can mimic the symptoms of depression or mania, making it important to treat substance abuse problems in order to make an accurate diagnosis of bipolar or other mood disorders.


Question: How does sleep help with bipolar disorder?

Answer: A key part of adapting is to understand the types of stressors that might increase the risk for manic or depressive episodes and the lifestyle changes that can reduce them. Maintain a regular sleep pattern. Go to bed and wake up around the same times each day.


Question: Will a support group help treat bipolar disorder?

Answer: You may feel less isolated as a result. Family members and friends may also benefit from a support group. They can gain a better understanding of the illness, share their concerns, and learn how to best support loved ones with bipolar disorder.


Question: How can adapting help me manage my bipolar disorder?

Answer: This can help you avoid embarrassing behavior during manic episodes and set realistic goals for treatment. Your doctor can help you prepare for possible future episodes and manage fear about having more. A key part of adapting is to understand the types of stressors that might increase the risk for manic or depressive episodes and the lifestyle changes that can reduce them.


Question: What are the types of psychotherapy used to treat bipolar disorder?

Answer: Psychotherapy, or "talk" therapy, is an important part of treatment for bipolar disorder. During therapy, you can discuss feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that cause you problems. Interpersonal therapy. This involves relationships and aims to reduce strains that the illness may place upon them. Social rhythm therapy. This helps you develop and maintain a normal sleep schedule and more predictable daily routines.


Question: What is psychotherapy for bipolar disorder?

Answer: During therapy, you can discuss feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that cause you problems. Talk therapy can help you understand and hopefully master any problems that hurt your ability to function well in your life and career. It also helps you stay on your medication. It can help you maintain a positive self-image. Education is another integral part of treatment for you and your family.


Question: What can you do on your own to treat depression?

Answer: No matter what your treatment includes, your doctor may also suggest you do some things your own, such get more exercise, eat better, and lose weight. All of these can help your mood. It's also important that you get enough sleep. If you're having problems sleeping, let your doctor know. It may also help to cut back on caffeine and alcohol. Your doctor may also suggest you join a support group. They can put you in touch with people who are facing the same thing. They may be able to offer you advice and fellowship when you hit a rough patch.


Question: How long does psychotherapy treatment for depression last?

Answer: While your medications take time to work, a mental health professional can: Show you how your thoughts, emotions, and behavior affect your condition Help you manage stress Offer ways to improve your dealings with other people Help you spot early signs of a problem and get help Help you confront and overcome fears that aren't helping you This type of therapy can take months or more than a year, depending on how serious your depression is. But some patients feel better in a matter of weeks. You and your therapist will decide when you've made enough progress to stop. You may need to try a few different therapists to find one you are comfortable sharing your feelings with.


Question: How does electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) help with depression?

Answer: While your medications take time to work, a mental health professional can: Show you how your thoughts, emotions, and behavior affect your condition Help you manage stress Offer ways to improve your dealings with other people Help you spot early signs of a problem and get help Help you confront and overcome fears that aren't helping you This type of therapy can take months or more than a year, depending on how serious your depression is. This involves sending a small, painless electric current through your brain while you're asleep under general anesthesia, which causes a brief seizure that can relieve the symptoms of depression. ECT is also known as electroshock therapy. It has a controversial history but is now considered an effective treatment for depression.


Question: What are the pros and cons of gastric bypass surgery for type 2 diabetes?

Answer: Gastric bypass (also called Roux-en- Y gastric bypass) The surgeon makes a small stomach pouch by dividing the top of the stomach from the rest of it. When you eat, food goes to the small pouch and bypasses the top of the small intestine. The result: You get full faster and absorb fewer calories and nutrients. Pros: Up to 80% of people show no signs of diabetes after surgery. Plus, people usually lose 60% to 80% of their extra weight. Cons: Your body can't absorb as many vitamins and minerals as before, which could lead to health problems, including a condition called dumping syndrome. Also, the surgery is not reversible.


Question: Are there different types of weight loss surgery for type 2 diabetes?

Answer: Some help you lose weight by shrinking the size of your stomach so you feel full after small meals. Others change the way your body absorbs calories, nutrients, and vitamins. Still others do both. Cons: Sometimes there are problems with the band.


Question: What can trigger benign paroxysmal positional vertigo?

Answer: There are any number of ways you could trigger BPPV: Rolling over in bed Getting in and out of bed Bending over Tipping your head back Quick head movements If you move one of these ways and find yourself dizzy or it seems as though the room is spinning, you may have BPPV. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and losing your balance.


Question: When might you need surgery for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo?

Answer: In very rare cases, you might need surgery to cure the problem. It involves plugging part of your inner ear to prevent the small calcium crystals from moving in your ear canal. Surgery carries a small chance of complications, including loss of hearing.


Question: What can you do at home to treat benign paroxysmal positional vertigo?

Answer: Even after successful treatment for your BPPV, it can come back. However, you can come up with a plan at home to help keep future bouts at bay. You should: Be aware of your chances of falling. Sit down at once if you feel dizzy. Use good lighting if you get up at night.


Question: How is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo diagnosed?

Answer: Your doctor will ask questions about your general health and your symptoms. She will also look for the telltale eye movement of nystagmus. She may ask you to lie on your back on a table with your head tilted back off it. This is to show whether you can control your eye movements. Your doctor also will look to see if symptoms of dizziness happen when your eyes or head move in a certain direction, and if doing so makes you dizzy for less than a minute. The doctor might also conduct a test using infrared goggles.


Question: When should you immediately call your doctor about benign paroxysmal positional vertigo?

Answer: Call your doctor at once if you're dizzy or: A new or severe headache sets in.


Question: How is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo treated?

Answer: Your doctor may be able to stop your BPPV with a treatment in the office that moves the loose crystals in your ear into a spot that will cause less trouble. To do this, she most likely will use the Epley maneuver. A less common action -- at least in the U. S. -- is the Semont maneuver. Each one takes about 15 minutes.


Question: When should you call your doctor about benign paroxysmal positional vertigo?

Answer: Other causes include: Having your head in the same position for a long time -- at the dentist's office or the hairdresser, for instance High-intensity aerobics Riding a bike over rough trails An inner-ear disorder such as Meniere's disease Being in the hospital or on bed rest at home for a long time A certain type of migraine If you have dizziness off and on for more than a week, you should make an appointment with your doctor.


Question: What should you expect to have when you get benign paroxysmal positional vertigo?

Answer: Usually, you can expect to have rhythmic eye movements when you get BPPV. Your doctor might call this ânystagmus,â and it's what she'll likely look for if she thinks you have vertigo.


Question: What are specific instructions after treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo?

Answer: You will need someone to drive you. These may include: Sleeping with your head at a 45-degree angle -- either in a recliner or propped up on a sofa -- for 2 nights. Keeping your head vertical for 2 days. You may have to avoid certain exercises and modify your movements during shaving and washing your hair. For a week, you will need to avoid head movements that might bring on BPPV. You may need to sleep with two pillows and avoid sleeping on the affected side.


Question: Can mitral valve regurgitation cause fatigue and shortness of breath?

Answer: That's mitral valve regurgitation. These can vary from person to person, but you may find yourself feeling some of the following: Fatigue and shortness of breath: The blood coming through the left side of your heart fuels your body, bringing oxygen from your lungs to your cells. If some of that blood is flowing back into the heart instead, you might end up feeling tired or lightheaded, particularly if you've been active. In severe cases, you can find yourself feeling tired or short of breath even when you're at rest.


Question: What are the symptoms of mitral valve regurgitation?

Answer: Some people with this condition may not feel any symptoms while others may have chest pain, shortness of breath, an irregular heartbeat, or dizziness, among other things. Some cases are mild and just need to be watched. Others are more severe and may require medications or surgery. You need to make sure your doctor knows your symptoms so he can decide what to do.


Question: What is the goal of glioblastoma treatment?

Answer: The goal of glioblastoma treatment is to slow and control tumor growth and help you live as comfortably and as well as possible.


Question: How is surgery used to treat glioblastoma?

Answer: There are four treatments, and many people get more than one type: Surgery is the first treatment. The surgeon tries to remove as much of the tumor as possible. In high-risk areas of the brain, it may not be possible to remove all of it.


Question: How is electric field therapy used to treat glioblastoma?

Answer: Electric field therapy uses electrical fields to target cells in the tumor while not hurting normal cells. To do this, doctors put electrodes directly on the scalp. The device is called Optune. You get it with chemotherapy after surgery and radiation. The FDA has approved it for both newly diagnosed people and people whose glioblastoma has come back.


Question: How is radiation used to treat glioblastoma?

Answer: Radiation is used to kill as many leftover tumor cells as possible after surgery. It can also slow the growth of tumors that can't be removed by surgery.


Question: What is palliative care like for glioblastoma?

Answer: It includes taking care of your pain and the emotions you may be dealing with, as well as other symptoms from your cancer. The goal is to improve the quality of your life. You may also want to ask your doctor if there's a clinical trial that would be a good fit for you.


Question: How common is glioblastoma?

Answer: And when they do happen, about 4 out of 5 aren't glioblastomas. Men are more likely to get them than women. And chances go up with age. Doctors diagnose about 14,000 glioblastoma cases in the U. S. each year.


Question: How is a glioblastoma diagnosed?

Answer: Depending on where the tumor is, it can cause: Constant headaches Seizures Vomiting Trouble thinking Changes in mood or personality Double or blurred vision Trouble speaking A neurologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating brain disorders) will give you a complete exam. You may get an MRI or CT scan and other tests, depending on your symptoms.


Question: What are the symptoms of glioblastoma?

Answer: And it is usually very aggressive, which means it can grow fast and spread quickly. Depending on where the tumor is, it can cause: Constant headaches Seizures Vomiting Trouble thinking Changes in mood or personality Double or blurred vision Trouble speaking A neurologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating brain disorders) will give you a complete exam.


Question: Where does glioblastoma form in the brain?

Answer: Glioblastoma is a type of brain cancer. It's the most common type of malignant brain tumor among adults. And it is usually very aggressive, which means it can grow fast and spread quickly. In high-risk areas of the brain, it may not be possible to remove all of it.


Question: How are glioblastoma regrowths often treated?

Answer: You get it with chemotherapy after surgery and radiation. Doctors often can't predict what someone's life expectancy will be if they have a glioblastoma.


Question: Should I tell my doctor if I am taking tribulus?

Answer: Be sure to tell your doctor about any you're taking, even if they're natural. That way, your doctor can check on any potential side effects or interactions with medications, foods, or other herbs and supplements. He or she can let you know if the supplement may be risky for you. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA) does regulate dietary supplements; however, it treats them like foods rather than medications. Unlike drug manufacturers, the makers of supplements don't have to show their products are safe or effective before selling them on the market.


Question: What medicines should you not take with tribulus?

Answer: But tribulus has been known to interact with certain medications. Do not take if you are taking heart and blood pressure medicines. such as: Beta-blockers Digoxin Calcium channel blockers Diuretics ACE inhibitors Nitrates If you are taking diabetes medications, tribulus might decrease your blood sugars to dangerously low levels. It may also increase the effect that steroids have on your body.


Question: What is tribulus terrestris?

Answer: It is also called puncture vine. The spine-covered fruit should be eaten with caution.


Question: How effective is garcinia cambogia for weight loss?

Answer: A review published in the Journal of Obesityfound that people who took garcinia cambogia in studies lost about 2 pounds more than people who didn't take it. The reviewers couldn't say for sure that the weight loss was because of the supplement. It could have been from the lower-calorie diet and exercise programs the people in the studies typically followed. Better studies are needed to find out if HCA really helps people lose a lot of weight and keep it off.


Question: What has bad interactions with the use of garcinia cambogia?

Answer: Garcinia cambogia may interact badly with: Asthma and allergy medicines such as Accolate and Singulair Diabetes medicines, including pills and insulin Iron, for anemia Pain medicines Prescriptions for psychiatric conditions Statins, drugs that lower cholesterol Warfarin, a blood thinner You definitely don't want to use it when you're pregnant or nursing, or if you have kidney or liver problems.


Question: Who should avoid garcinia cambogia?

Answer: Garcinia cambogia may interact badly with: Asthma and allergy medicines such as Accolate and Singulair Diabetes medicines, including pills and insulin Iron, for anemia Pain medicines Prescriptions for psychiatric conditions Statins, drugs that lower cholesterol Warfarin, a blood thinner You definitely don't want to use it when you're pregnant or nursing, or if you have kidney or liver problems. It is possible that manic symptoms may emerge as a side effect.


Question: How can garcinia cambogia help people with high cholesterol?

Answer: While some research suggests the supplement is safe for your liver, other research says no. Garcinia cambogia may interact badly with: Asthma and allergy medicines such as Accolate and Singulair Diabetes medicines, including pills and insulin Iron, for anemia Pain medicines Prescriptions for psychiatric conditions Statins, drugs that lower cholesterol Warfarin, a blood thinner You definitely don't want to use it when you're pregnant or nursing, or if you have kidney or liver problems.


Question: Should you buy garcinia cambogia?

Answer: Since study results are mixed, you should talk with your doctor to help you decide if taking garcinia cambogia is a good idea. Even if it's safe, it may not help you lose much weight. It's probably wiser to spend your money on healthy food or an exercise DVD.


Question: What is garcinia cambogia?

Answer: People say it blocks your body's ability to make fat and it puts the brakes on your appetite. Loss of excess weight could help could help keep blood sugar and cholesterol levels in check, too. You'll find it in bottles on the shelf at the store as well as mixed with other ingredients in diet products. The reviewers couldn't say for sure that the weight loss was because of the supplement.


Question: What might you see if the fracture of a broken finger is severe?

Answer: If the fracture is severe, you may see bruising. And if the swelling gets too massive, the finger may become numb as nerves in the fingers are compressed.


Question: When should I see a doctor about my pelvic inflammatory disease?

Answer: They include: Pain or tenderness in the lower or upper right abdomen A foul-smelling discharge from your vagina Pain when you pee Pain during sex Fever Throwing up, or feeling like you're going to throw up More bleeding than usual during your period You should see a doctor if you're experiencing these symptoms. But some of these things can also be signs of other serious conditions, so your doctor will most likely run some tests to figure out whether you have PID or something else.


Question: Is there a link between diabetes and depression?

Answer: Depression is a complex disease. Its root causes can be tied to genes, your environment, and emotions. Managing diabetes can be stressful and time-consuming. The lifestyle and diet-related limits can make life seem less fun.


Question: How do norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors treat depression?

Answer: Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors ( NDRIs) are another class of reuptake inhibitors, but they're represented by only one drug: Buproprion ( Wellbutrin). Many patients with diabetes and depression benefit from this drug.


Question: What are the warning signs of depression?

Answer: There are several warning signs, including: Sadness Anxiety Irritability Lack of interest in things you once enjoyed Pulling away from your social life Can't concentrate Insomnia (trouble falling and staying asleep) Lots of guilt or feeling worthless Loss of energy, or fatigue Changes in appetite Observable mental and physical sluggishness Thoughts of death or suicide If you (or someone you love) has diabetes and show signs of depression, tell your doctor right away.


Question: What are serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors for depression?

Answer: Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors ( SNRIs) block the reabsorption of both serotonin and norepinephrine. Like SSRIs, they improve the way your brain sends and receives messages. Examples of this type of antidepressant are desvenlafaxine ( Khedezla, Pristiq), duloxetine ( Cymbalta), levomilnacipran ( Fetzima), venlafaxine ( Effexor) Tricyclic antidepressants boost the levels of certain chemicals in your brain that help nerve cells communicate with each other.


Question: What are signs of depression in someone with diabetes?

Answer: There are several warning signs, including: Sadness Anxiety Irritability Lack of interest in things you once enjoyed Pulling away from your social life Can't concentrate Insomnia (trouble falling and staying asleep) Lots of guilt or feeling worthless Loss of energy, or fatigue Changes in appetite Observable mental and physical sluggishness Thoughts of death or suicide If you (or someone you love) has diabetes and show signs of depression, tell your doctor right away.


Question: What are tricyclic antidepressants for depression?

Answer: Examples of this type of antidepressant are desvenlafaxine ( Khedezla, Pristiq), duloxetine ( Cymbalta), levomilnacipran ( Fetzima), venlafaxine ( Effexor) Tricyclic antidepressants boost the levels of certain chemicals in your brain that help nerve cells communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or don't work like they should, messages might not make it through your brain correctly, and that can lead to depression. Common tricyclics include amitriptyline ( Elavil), desipramine ( Norpramin), doxepin ( Sinequan), imipramine ( Tofranil), and nortriptyline ( Pamelor).


Question: Who should I talk to about diabetes and depression?

Answer: Counseling, or psychotherapy, especially in combination with medication, can also help manage depression. Meeting with a support group can be good for you, too. Talk to your doctor about where you can turn for more help.


Question: What are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for depression?

Answer: If he suggests you try medication, he can prescribe one or more of these antidepressants: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs) affect the way your brain uses a chemical called serotonin. Changing the balance of this chemical may help your brain cells receive messages better and boost your mood. Examples of this type of antidepressant include citalopram ( Celexa), escitalopram ( Lexapro), fluoxetine ( Prozac), paroxetine ( Paxil), and sertraline ( Zoloft).


Question: Is it normal to be depressed if I have diabetes?

Answer: It can take a toll on your emotions. People with the disease are twice as likely to get depressed as people who don't have it. Depression is a problem on its own, and it can also keep you from taking good care of yourself. That can lead to high blood sugar levels and diabetes complications. So if you think you might be depressed, tell your doctor. You can take some steps to feel better.


Question: How do selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors treat depression?

Answer: If he suggests you try medication, he can prescribe one or more of these antidepressants: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs) affect the way your brain uses a chemical called serotonin. Changing the balance of this chemical may help your brain cells receive messages better and boost your mood. Examples of this type of antidepressant include citalopram ( Celexa), escitalopram ( Lexapro), fluoxetine ( Prozac), paroxetine ( Paxil), and sertraline ( Zoloft).


Question: What causes the stomach flu?

Answer: Causes range from bacteria, viruses, and parasites to food reactions and unclean water.


Question: What bacteria cause the stomach flu?

Answer: Bacteria that cause gastroenteritis include: E. coli Campylobacter Shigella Salmonella Viruses cause close to half of all gastroenteritis cases in adults and even more in children.


Question: How do stomach viruses spread?

Answer: Some of them may include: Norovirus or Norwalk-like virus Adenovirus Rotavirus Cytomegalovirus Herpes simplex virus Viral hepatitis Stomach viruses spread fast because people don't wash their hands well after using the bathroom or changing a baby's diaper. Wash long enough to sing " Happy Birthday" twice. Many doctors call stomach flu "a family affair" because it's so highly contagious it can affect every member of a family.


Question: What are signs that you need medical attention for the stomach flu?

Answer: In severe cases, days of throwing up and having diarrhea (or both) can cause your body to lose a lot of moisture. If you lose too much, you may need medical attention. Sometimes it can be life threatening. Signs to watch for include: Sunken eyes Lightheadedness Being more thirsty Dry or sticky mouth Lack of normal elasticity of the skin Peeing less Fewer tears You can avoid it by drinking plenty of liquids.


Question: How can you avoid medical complications of the stomach flu?

Answer: Signs to watch for include: Sunken eyes Lightheadedness Being more thirsty Dry or sticky mouth Lack of normal elasticity of the skin Peeing less Fewer tears You can avoid it by drinking plenty of liquids. When you can keep food down again, try bland things like toast, rice, bananas, and applesauce first. Go back to a normal diet within 24 hours if you can.


Question: What are symptoms of the stomach flu?

Answer: They can include: Cramps in your belly or sides Stomach pain Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea You may also have a fever, headache, and swollen lymph glands, depending on the type of germ that causes it.


Question: Can food cause gastroenteritis?

Answer: Some foods may irritate your stomach and also cause gastroenteritis. The way someone who can't digest dairy (or is lactose intolerant) reacts to dairy products is a good example. Severe reactions to seafood are another example.


Question: Can parasites cause gastroenteritis?

Answer: While they're not as common, parasites like giardia, cryptosporidium, and E. hystolica (the cause of dysentery) can cause severe diarrhea and dehydration. They're often found in parts of the world where the water isn't clean. Travelers should drink bottled water to avoid them.


Question: What symptoms of stomach flu should cause you to call your doctor?

Answer: If you have symptoms of stomach flu and are weak and dizzy, you may be dehydrated. Call your doctor if you have these symptoms. Blood in your vomit or poop Dehydration -- you can't pee, or there's very little when you do go, you're very thirsty, can't make tears, and your mouth is always dry Fever of 100.4 degrees F or higher in an infant or 102.2 degrees F or higher in an older child or adult Swollen tummy or pain in the right lower part of the belly Vomiting that lasts more than 48 hours If you can't keep fluids down and you're losing them from fever, vomiting, and diarrhea, get emergency medical help. Tell friends and family that if you pass out, someone should call 911.


Question: What viruses cause the stomach flu?

Answer: Bacteria that cause gastroenteritis include: E. coli Campylobacter Shigella Salmonella Viruses cause close to half of all gastroenteritis cases in adults and even more in children. Some of them may include: Norovirus or Norwalk-like virus Adenovirus Rotavirus Cytomegalovirus Herpes simplex virus Viral hepatitis Stomach viruses spread fast because people don't wash their hands well after using the bathroom or changing a baby's diaper.


Question: Who is most likely to get stomach flus?

Answer: Those high on the list are pregnant women, infants, people who aren't eating well, people whose immune systems are weakened, and older adults. How severe your case is depends on how well your body can resist the infection.


Question: How is the flu different from the stomach flu?

Answer: Sometimes people mistake symptoms of stomach flu, or gastroenteritis, for the viral infection we commonly call "flu." More severe cases can lead to life-threatening illnesses like pneumonia. Antibiotics are sometimes used to treat bacterial gastroenteritis, but they don't work against flu viruses. The way someone who can't digest dairy (or is lactose intolerant) reacts to dairy products is a good example.


Question: Is influenza or the "flu" the same as the stomach flu?

Answer: But they're not the same. Stomach flu happens when your stomach and intestines (also called the gastrointestinal or GI tract) are inflamed and irritated. Causes range from bacteria, viruses, and parasites to food reactions and unclean water. If you have symptoms of stomach flu and are weak and dizzy, you may be dehydrated.


Question: What are additional risk factors for internal bleeding because of trauma?

Answer: Some people have additional risk factors for internal bleeding due to trauma. These include: Use of "blood thinner" medications, such as clopidogrel ( Plavix), warfarin ( Coumadin), rivaroxaban ( Xarelto), apixaban ( Eliquis), and dabigatran ( Pradaxa) Severe liver disease or cirrhosis Inherited conditions that interfere with blood clotting ability, such as von Willebrand's disease or hemophilia People with internal bleeding due to trauma who have these risk factors may receive additional treatments to help their blood clot properly.


Question: How serious is internal bleeding?

Answer: The most serious sources of internal bleeding due to trauma are: Head trauma with internal bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) Bleeding around the lungs (hemothorax) Bleeding around the heart (hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade) Tears in the large blood vessels near the center of the body (aorta, superior and inferior vena cava, and their major branches) Damage caused by trauma to the abdomen such as liver or spleen lacerations or perforation of other organs In the large majority of cases of internal bleeding that results from trauma, the injury is obvious and serious. People naturally seek immediate medical help because of pain. Or witnesses call 911.


Question: What are the most serious sources of internal bleeding?

Answer: Almost any organ or blood vessel can be damaged by trauma and cause internal bleeding. The most serious sources of internal bleeding due to trauma are: Head trauma with internal bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) Bleeding around the lungs (hemothorax) Bleeding around the heart (hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade) Tears in the large blood vessels near the center of the body (aorta, superior and inferior vena cava, and their major branches) Damage caused by trauma to the abdomen such as liver or spleen lacerations or perforation of other organs In the large majority of cases of internal bleeding that results from trauma, the injury is obvious and serious.


Question: What causes internal bleeding?

Answer: Internal bleeding may occur after any significant physical injury. There are two main types of trauma, and either may cause internal bleeding: Blunt trauma. This kind of trauma happens when a body part collides with something else, usually at high speed. Blood vessels inside the body are torn or crushed either by shear forces or a blunt object. Examples are car accidents, physical assaults, and falls. Penetrating trauma. This happens when a foreign object penetrates the body, tearing a hole in one or more blood vessels. Examples are gunshot wounds, stabbings, or falling onto a sharp object.


Question: What types of surgery are used to treat internal bleeding?

Answer: The type of surgery used will depend on the location of the injury and bleeding: Exploratory laparotomy: A surgeon makes a large incision in the skin of the abdomen and carefully explores the abdomen. The surgeon will seal the ends of any leaking blood vessels with a heat probe or suture material. Thoracotomy: For bleeding around the heart or lungs, a surgeon makes an incision along the rib cage or the breastbone. Gaining access to the chest, the surgeon can identify and stop the bleeding and protect the heart and lungs from pressure caused by excess blood. Craniotomy: For bleeding due to traumatic brain injuries, a surgeon may create a hole in the skull. This can relieve pressure and reduce further injury to the brain. Fasciotomy: Internal bleeding into an area such as the thigh can create high pressure and prevent blood flow to the rest of the leg. A surgeon can cut deeply into the thigh to relieve pressure and gain access to stop the bleeding.


Question: How is internal bleeding treated?

Answer: The most serious sources of internal bleeding due to trauma are: Head trauma with internal bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) Bleeding around the lungs (hemothorax) Bleeding around the heart (hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade) Tears in the large blood vessels near the center of the body (aorta, superior and inferior vena cava, and their major branches) Damage caused by trauma to the abdomen such as liver or spleen lacerations or perforation of other organs In the large majority of cases of internal bleeding that results from trauma, the injury is obvious and serious. Imaging tests (usually an ultrasound, CT scan, or both) can identify whether internal bleeding is present. Doctors consider the amount of internal bleeding along with the injured person's blood pressure and severity of injuries to decide on the best initial treatment -- surgery or observation. When internal bleeding is slower or delayed, observation may be appropriate at first. Sometimes, internal bleeding from trauma stops on its own. Ongoing or severe internal bleeding due to trauma requires surgery to correct the problem. When internal bleeding is severe, emergency surgery may take place within minutes after arrival at the hospital. Fasciotomy: Internal bleeding into an area such as the thigh can create high pressure and prevent blood flow to the rest of the leg.


Question: What are the symptoms of internal bleeding because of trauma?

Answer: Internal bleeding may also occur after a less severe trauma or be delayed by hours or days. As the bleeding continues, symptoms appear and steadily get worse. Symptoms depend on the type of trauma and what body part was involved. For example: Abdominal pain and/or swelling can be caused by Internal bleeding from trauma in the liver or spleen. These symptoms get worse as the bleeding continues. Light-headedness, dizziness, or fainting can result from any source of internal bleeding once enough blood is lost. A large area of deeply purple skin (called ecchymosis) can result from bleeding into the skin and soft tissues. Swelling, tightness, and pain in the leg can result from internal bleeding in the thigh. Most often, this is caused by a fracture of the thighbone. Headache, seizures, and loss of consciousness could be the result of internal bleeding in the brain.


Question: When is immunotherapy used as a second treatment for lung cancer?

Answer: Immunotherapy as Second Treatment If you have late-stage lung cancer that hasn't responded to platinum-based chemotherapy or that has started to come back after chemo or other drug treatments, your doctor may suggest you try a checkpoint inhibitor.


Question: When is immunotherapy used as a first treatment?

Answer: Immunotherapy as First Treatment Scientists know that lung tumors with high levels of the protein PD- L1 are more likely to respond to a pembrolizumab than to the other approved treatments. You won't have to try chemotherapy or other drugs first.


Question: Who shouldn't get immunotherapy?

Answer: But immunotherapy doesn't work for all types of metastatic NSCLC, and it's not for all people with the disease. Your doctor will also want to make sure any active or chronic infections are under control before starting this type of treatment.


Question: What lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of atherosclerosis?

Answer: Reducing the risk factors that lead to atherosclerosis will slow or stop the process. Ways to reduce the amount of cholesterol in your body involves taking cholesterol and blood pressure medication, eating a healthy diet, getting frequent exercise, and not smoking. These treatments won't unclog arteries. They do, though, lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes.


Question: How do cholesterol plaques cause peripheral arterial disease?

Answer: Peripheral arterial disease -- Blocked arteries in the legs can cause pain on walking and poor wound healing due to poor circulation. Severe disease may lead to amputations.


Question: How do cholesterol plaques cause cerebrovascular disease?

Answer: Cerebrovascular disease -- Cholesterol plaque can rupture in one of the brain's arteries. This causes a stroke, leading to permanent brain damage. Blockages can also cause transient ischemic attacks, or TIAs. A TIA has symptoms like those of stroke. But they are temporary and there is no permanent brain damage. However, patients who experience a TIA are at a much higher risk of a subsequent stroke, so medical attention and care is essential.


Question: How do cholesterol plaques behave?

Answer: Once established, cholesterol plaques can behave in different ways. They can stay within the artery wall. The cholesterol plaque may stop growing, or may grow into the wall, out of the path of blood. Plaques can grow in a slow, controlled way into the path of blood flow. Slow-growing cholesterol plaques may or may not ever cause any symptoms -- even with severely blocked arteries. Cholesterol plaques can suddenly rupture -- the worst case scenario. This will allow blood to clot inside an artery. In the heart, this causes a heart attack. In the brain, it causes a stroke.


Question: How do cholesterol plaques cause coronary artery disease?

Answer: Cholesterol plaques from atherosclerosis cause the three main kinds of cardiovascular disease: Coronary artery disease -- Stable cholesterol plaques in the heart's arteries can cause no symptoms or can cause chest pain called angina. Sudden cholesterol plaque rupture and clotting causes blocked arteries. When that happens, heart muscle dies. This is a heart attack, also called myocardial infarction.


Question: What is bypass surgery and how can it unclog arteries?

Answer: Bypass surgery: Surgeons harvest a healthy blood vessel from the leg or chest. They use the healthy vessel to bypass blocked arteries.


Question: What is cholesterol and artery plaque buildup?

Answer: The sudden blood clot that forms over the rupture then causes a heart attack or stroke. Atherosclerosis develops over years. Plaques can grow in a slow, controlled way into the path of blood flow. Cholesterol plaques can suddenly rupture -- the worst case scenario. Cholesterol plaques from atherosclerosis cause the three main kinds of cardiovascular disease: Coronary artery disease -- Stable cholesterol plaques in the heart's arteries can cause no symptoms or can cause chest pain called angina.


Question: What is the best way to treat cholesterol plaques?

Answer: Long before they can be called plaques, hints of atherosclerosis can be found in the arteries. Aspirin helps prevent clots from forming.


Question: Can you shrink cholesterol plaques?

Answer: But they are temporary and there is no permanent brain damage. With effective treatment, though, plaque buildup may slow down or stop. Some evidence shows that, with aggressive treatment, cholesterol plaques can even shrink slightly. In one major study, cholesterol plaques shrank 10% in size after a 50% reduction in blood cholesterol levels.


Question: What is angiography, angioplasty, and stenting and how can it be used to unclog arteries?

Answer: Long before they can be called plaques, hints of atherosclerosis can be found in the arteries. This is a heart attack, also called myocardial infarction. These treatments won't unclog arteries. Using invasive procedures, doctors can see and unclog arteries, or provide a path for blood to go around blocked arteries. A tiny balloon on the catheter can be inflated to compress cholesterol plaque in the blocked arteries. The stent is usually made of metal and is permanent. It can also be made of a material that the body absorbs over time. Some stents have medicine that helps keep the artery from getting blocked again.


Question: How can you tell you have cholesterol plaque?

Answer: The growth of cholesterol plaques slowly blocks blood flow in the arteries. Long before they can be called plaques, hints of atherosclerosis can be found in the arteries. Even some adolescents have these "fatty streaks" of cholesterol in their artery walls. These streaks are early precursors of cholesterol plaques. They can't be easily detected by tests. But researchers have found them during autopsies of young victims of accidents and violence.


Question: What are risk factors that are to blame for most heart attacks?

Answer: Progressive and painless, atherosclerosis grows cholesterol plaques silently and slowly. They are also preventable. Nine risk factors are to blame for up to 90% of all heart attacks including: smoking high cholesterol high blood pressure diabetes abdominal obesity ("spare tire") stress not eating many fruits and vegetables excessive consumption of alcohol -- more than one drink per day for women, or more than one or two drinks per day for men not getting regular physical activity You may notice almost all of these have something in common: you can do something about them.


Question: Can you prevent risk factors of heart disease?

Answer: Blocked arteries caused by plaque buildup and blood clots are the leading cause of death in the U. S. Reducing cholesterol and other risk factors can help prevent cholesterol plaques from forming. Ask your doctor before starting aspirin, as it can have side effects. They are usually saved for people with significant symptoms or limitations caused by the cholesterol plaques of atherosclerosis.


Question: What do blocked arteries lead to?

Answer: Aspirin helps prevent clots from forming. Some evidence shows that, with aggressive treatment, cholesterol plaques can even shrink slightly.


Question: What do the cholesterol plaques of atherosclerosis cause?

Answer: Cholesterol plaques can be the cause of heart disease. Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer in America, causing more than 900,000 deaths each year. Cholesterol plaques from atherosclerosis cause the three main kinds of cardiovascular disease: Coronary artery disease -- Stable cholesterol plaques in the heart's arteries can cause no symptoms or can cause chest pain called angina.


Question: Could your eyes be red because of dry eyes?

Answer: And sometimes the eye can't make tears at all. This condition is called dry eye. It can cause pain, ulcers on your cornea or even, in rare instances, some vision loss. Besides eye redness, you may have some other symptoms of dry eye: A gritty feeling A burning sensation in the eye Occasional blurred vision Heavy eyelids Inability to cry Eye fatigue When your eyes aren't dry, you get a lot of tears A stringy discharge Discomfort with contact lenses Also known as conjunctivitis, pinkeye is when the lining inside your eyelid and the white of your eye become inflamed.


Question: Could your eyes be red because of a broken vessel?

Answer: Other symptoms include: More tears than usual Your eyes burn, itch, or feel gritty White, yellow, or green discharge from your eyes Your eyes are more sensitive to light You get a crust on your eyelid or eyelashes This happens when tiny blood vessels break beneath the surface of your eye. The blood is trapped and makes the white of your eye look bright red. It can be caused by an intense sneeze, heavy lifting, hard vomiting, or even rubbing your eye a little too hard. Usually, the eye does not hurt. Broken blood vessels cause other symptoms like: A bright red area on your eye along with the general redness A scratchy sensation Sometimes fluid builds up in the front part of the eye.


Question: Could your eyes be red because of glaucoma?

Answer: Broken blood vessels cause other symptoms like: A bright red area on your eye along with the general redness A scratchy sensation Sometimes fluid builds up in the front part of the eye. This causes pressure on the eye and can damage the optic nerve. This is called glaucoma, and is the leading cause of blindness for people 60 and over. The usual form of glaucoma is generally painless. An unusual form of acute glaucoma can cause symptoms such as: Severe pain in the eye Headache Decreased or blurred vision Rainbows or halos in your vision Nausea and vomiting It's usually nothing to worry about, as long as it only happens every now and then and doesn't last long.


Question: When should you call a doctor about red eyes?

Answer: You should call a doctor if, along with red eyes, you also have: A sudden change in vision Sensitivity to light Sudden halos around lights Severe headache, pain in the eye, or fever Nausea or vomiting A foreign object or substance in your eye Swelling in the eye Inability to keep the eye open


Question: What should I do about my red eyes?

Answer: An unusual form of acute glaucoma can cause symptoms such as: Severe pain in the eye Headache Decreased or blurred vision Rainbows or halos in your vision Nausea and vomiting It's usually nothing to worry about, as long as it only happens every now and then and doesn't last long. You might find temporary relief in over-the-counter eye drops, such as tear substitutes that wash and moisten the eye. But remember, routine and repeated use of these âget the red outâ drops will make the problem worse with your eyes becoming dependent on the drops and becoming even more red when the drops wear off. In that case, you could try a different brand or stop using them completely. Decongestants can help the itchiness along with the redness of allergies.


Question: Will pinkeye make my eyes red?

Answer: Besides eye redness, you may have some other symptoms of dry eye: A gritty feeling A burning sensation in the eye Occasional blurred vision Heavy eyelids Inability to cry Eye fatigue When your eyes aren't dry, you get a lot of tears A stringy discharge Discomfort with contact lenses Also known as conjunctivitis, pinkeye is when the lining inside your eyelid and the white of your eye become inflamed. Causes can include a virus, bacteria, an allergy, or irritants like swimming pool chlorine. It's very common, especially among children, and is very contagious. Other symptoms include: More tears than usual Your eyes burn, itch, or feel gritty White, yellow, or green discharge from your eyes Your eyes are more sensitive to light You get a crust on your eyelid or eyelashes This happens when tiny blood vessels break beneath the surface of your eye.


Question: Could glaucoma make my eyes red?

Answer: Broken blood vessels cause other symptoms like: A bright red area on your eye along with the general redness A scratchy sensation Sometimes fluid builds up in the front part of the eye. This causes pressure on the eye and can damage the optic nerve. This is called glaucoma, and is the leading cause of blindness for people 60 and over. The usual form of glaucoma is generally painless. An unusual form of acute glaucoma can cause symptoms such as: Severe pain in the eye Headache Decreased or blurred vision Rainbows or halos in your vision Nausea and vomiting It's usually nothing to worry about, as long as it only happens every now and then and doesn't last long.