Health Articles

RSS

What is a Positive Pressure Ventilator?

A mechanical ventilator or positive pressure ventilator is an instrument used to help a patient to breathe when they are unable to breathe on their own. Over the past few decades, the technology surrounding ventilators has undergone massive development.

10 Oct 2013

What are Nightmares?

Nightmares are elaborate and frightening dreams that can lead to high levels of anxiety and terror. In most cases, a person dreams about coming to some sort of harm that may involve being chased, injured or threatened in some way. Some psychiatric conditions are associated with recurrent nightmares, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder.

10 Oct 2013

What is Newborn Screening?

Newborn screening refers to the screening of blood samples taken from newborn infants to test for genetic and metabolic disorders that can become life threatening or cause impaired growth and development later in life.

10 Oct 2013

What is Sleepwalking?

Sleepwalking describes when an individual moves and walks about whilst still asleep and is also known of as somnambulism.

10 Oct 2013

Drug Abuse Treatment

More often that not, it is a drug abuser's family members who seek treatment for the abuser's problem. Although abusers are usually aware of the harm caused by their habit as well as their dependence on it, most do not really want to stop and do not seek treatment on their own. Relapses are also a large problem in the treatment of drug abuse.

8 Oct 2013

Symptoms of Drug Abuse

Drug abuse leads to symptoms of drug dependence and addiction. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, drug or substance abuse tends to be recurrent and may cause severe damage and harm to the body in the short or long term. While some of the damage is physical, there may also be a social element, with the individual failing to fulfil their responsibilities in life and having difficulty with family relationships. Drug abuse also leads to risky and dangerous behaviors.

8 Oct 2013

What is Drug Abuse?

Drug abuse or substance abuse refers to the use of certain chemicals for the purpose of creating pleasurable effects on the brain.

8 Oct 2013

When is Root Canal Treatment Used?

Root canal treatment is needed in moderate to severe cases of tooth decay. While mild tooth decay can be managed by preventive measures, when the inner pulp of the tooth becomes infected, root canal treatment is indicated.

8 Oct 2013

What is Root Canal Treatment?

Root canal treatment is a dental procedure that may be required in moderate to severe cases of tooth decay. The procedure is used to treat infections that have affected the centre or pulp of the tooth where the blood vessels and nerves of the tooth are contained. This type of treatment is also called endodontics.

8 Oct 2013

What is Tooth Extraction?

Tooth extraction refers to the complete removal of one or more teeth from the mouth. This is a procedure that is usually performed by a dental surgeon. Milk teeth may be removed from a child's mouth without intervention from the dentist as they loosen as a matter of course to give way to permanent teeth.

8 Oct 2013

What is Eagle Syndrome?

Eagle syndrome refers to a condition characterized by pain in the mouth, throat, head, neck and face. The pain is caused by calcification and hardening of a ligament that connects a pointed piece of bone in the lower part of the skull called the styloid process to the hyoid bone in the neck.

8 Oct 2013

What is Burning Mouth Syndrome?

Burning mouth syndrome is a condition that is typically characterized by a painful burning sensation across the lips, tongue, palate (roof of the mouth) and the inside surfaces of the mouth. It is most commonly seen in middle aged and elderly women. There are several causes of this condition, but the exact pathology that leads to such symptoms is unknown.

8 Oct 2013

What are Dental Fillings?

Dental fillings are artificial substances that are used to fill in the holes or gaps in the enamel of decayed, broken or damaged teeth.

8 Oct 2013

What is Dental Pulp?

The dental pulp is the innermost part of the tooth. It is housed inside the hard chamber of the tooth which is composed of enamel and dentine. This hard casing around the pulp protects it from infection by microbes present in the mouth.

8 Oct 2013

What is Tooth Enamel?

The tooth is one of the hardest structures in the vertebrate body and is used to break down food for the digestion process.

8 Oct 2013

What is Toothache?

Toothache refers to pain in and around the teeth and jaws and is one of the most common symptoms of dental caries or tooth decay. Toothache may also be a symptom of gingivitis, periodontitis, impacted wisdom teeth, ulcers, sinusitis or dental abscesses.

8 Oct 2013

What is Macroglossia?

The term macroglossia refers to an enlarged tongue. The condition has numerous causes and is most commonly seen in children and young adults. Macroglossia is usually diagnosed based on the appearance of the tongue.

8 Oct 2013

What is Malocclusion?

While occlusion refers to the proper alignment of teeth in the upper and lower jaws so that they fit together to create a healthy "bite," malocclusion refers to a disruption of this alignment and incorrect relation between the upper and lower teeth.

8 Oct 2013

What is Dentin / Dentine?

Dentin or dentine is a layer of material that lies immediately underneath the enamel of the tooth.

8 Oct 2013

What are Dentures?

Dentures are the removable false teeth that are used to replace teeth that have been lost due to tooth decay or injury amongst other causes. Dentures are created to fit snugly with the shape and size of the wearer's jaws and sit across the gums to replace the missing teeth.

8 Oct 2013