Here’s a typical story:Â Frank, a 7-year-old boy, often “blanks out” anywhere from a few seconds to 20 seconds at a time. During a seizure, Frank doesn’t seem to hear his teacher call his name, he usually blinks repetitively, and his eyes may roll up a bit. During shorter seizures, he just stares. Then he continues on as if nothing happened. Some days Frank has more than 50 of these spells. Continue reading
When faced with an unplanned pregnancy, couples often have two immediate choices. They can choose to continue the pregnancy, or not. Not all women have this option for several reasons. For some, abortion isn’t an alternative they are willing to consider for various reasons, including religion, medical, ethical and person beliefs. For others, making the choice to have an abortion isn’t an option because they are unable or unwilling to recognize that they are pregnant. Continue reading
If you have just discovered you are pregnant or you think you may be pregnant, then you are probably thinking about your options. You may be wondering how you will cope with pregnancy or how you will afford to support yourself and your unborn child. You may be encouraged to make a quick and uninformed decision on what choice you will make next. Continue reading
Specific steps to minimize the risk of Achilles tendon injury include:
The Achilles tendon is fibrous tissue that connects the heel to the muscles of the lower leg: the calf muscles. Leg muscles are the most powerful muscle group in the body and the Achilles tendon is the thickest and strongest tendon in the body. Contracting the calf muscles pulls the Achilles tendon, which pushes the foot downward. This contraction enables: standing on the toes, walking, running, and jumping. Each Achilles tendon is subject to a person’s entire body weight with each step. Depending upon speed, stride, terrain and additional weight being carried or pushed, each Achilles tendon may be subject to up to 3-12 times a person’s body weight during a sprint or push off. Continue reading
The doctor will take a medical history and ask for information about the following:
A skin abscess is a localized collection of pus that generally develops in response to infection or to the presence of other foreign materials under the skin. An abscess is typically painful, and it appears as a swollen area that is warm to the touch. The skin surrounding an abscess typically appears pink or red. Continue reading
The Pap test, also called a Pap smear or cervical cytology screening, checks for abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix and allows early treatment so that abnormal cells do not become cancer.
The main cause of abnormal Pap test results is infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). There are many types of HPV. Some types have been linked to cancer of the cervix, vulva, and vagina. Other types have been linked to genital warts. Continue reading
Absent menstruation means no menstrual flow, or period. Absent menstruation may be:
Absent menstruation is called amenorrhea. Continue reading
A common mole is a growth on the skin that develops when pigment cells (melanocytes) grow in clusters. As a baby in your birthday suit you might not have had any moles, but chances are you have a few now. Most everyone develops 10 to 40 moles, according to the National Institutes of Health, or NIH. These growths are usually found above the waist on areas exposed to the sun. They are seldom found on the scalp, breast, or buttocks. While most moles are nothing to worry about, the NIH says, some may develop into skin cancer. That is why you should keep track of moles on your body and take note of any that look unusual. Continue reading