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What are Aromatase Inhibitors?

Aromatase inhibitors are a class of hormonal agents that form part of the therapy for some types of breast cancer. These agents are available as pills and may be started after initial surgery or radiation therapy.

13 Oct 2013

What is Breast Reconstruction?

Breast reconstruction is a form of surgery performed on women who undergo a mastectomy to have part or whole of their breast removed, usually to reduce their risk for breast cancer. Breast reconstruction involves restoring the breast's original shape and size as well as sometimes recreating the nipple and surrounding areola. Breast reconstruction is carried out by a cosmetic or plastic surgeon.

13 Oct 2013

What is Allergic Contact Dermatitis?

Allergic contact dermatitis is one of two forms of contact dermatitis, in which skin contact with a particular substance triggers an allergic skin reaction. The other form is irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), which is more common than ACD and has slightly differing clinical features. ACD presents with symptoms similar to those of eczema with skin typically becoming very dry, scaly and itchy.

13 Oct 2013

Management of Opioid Addiction

The management of opioid addiction or dependence involves both diagnosing as well as treating the condition. Treatment may be ongoing on a long term or even lifelong basis for some individuals.

13 Oct 2013

Opioid Addiction Symptoms

Opioid addiction manifests in a range of symptoms. Some of the features of opioid dependence that clinicians take into consideration include...

13 Oct 2013

How Does Milk Allergy Differ from Lactose Intolerance?

The conditions lactose intolerance and milk allergy, which together affect around 30 to 50 million Americans, are often confused. However, the conditions have very different causes and symptoms.

11 Oct 2013

What is Milk Allergy?

Milk allergy is a food allergy where a person is allergic to the proteins present in milk.

11 Oct 2013

What is Intensive Care?

Intensive care or critical care refers to the care provided to patients whilst they are in hospital with severe illnesses or injuries that may become life threatening. Critical care usually takes place in an intensive care unit or trauma center. Intensive care was first introduced in 1952 in Copenhagen to deal with an epidemic of polio and the respiratory paralysis it causes.

10 Oct 2013

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