holistic health tips

* Definition of Kidney Transplantation * Description of Kidney Transplantation * Treatment of Kidney Transplantation * Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Kidney Transplantation Definition of Kidney Transplantation Article updated and reviewed by Nader Najafian, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Associate Physician, Renal Division--Brigham & Women's Hospital on May 17, 2005. Kidney Transplantation is the surgical procedure of placing a fully functioning kidney into a person with severe kidney failure. This procedure is usually an elective one, performed in patients who have undergone careful preoperative assessment and preparation, since dialysis enables these patients to be maintained in relatively good condition until the time of surgery. The transplanted kidney may originate from a deceased donor (cadaver transplantation) or from a related or unrelated person (living transplantation). Description of Kidney Transplantation The function

* Definition of Juvenile Diabetes * Description of Juvenile Diabetes * Causes and Risk Factors of Juvenile Diabetes * Symptoms of Juvenile Diabetes * Diagnosis of Juvenile Diabetes * Treatment of Juvenile Diabetes * Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Juvenile Diabetes Definition of Juvenile Diabetes Juvenile diabetes mellitus is now more commonly called Type 1 diabetes. It is a syndrome with disordered metabolism and inappropriately high blood glucose levels due to a deficiency of insulin secretion in the pancreas. Description of Juvenile Diabetes After a meal, a portion of the food a person eats is broken down into sugar (glucose). The sugar then passes into the bloodstream and into the body's cells via a hormone called insulin. Insulin is produced by the pancreas. Normally, the pancreas produces the right amount of insulin to accommodate the quantity of sugar. However, if the person has diabetes either the pancreas produces little or no insulin, or the cel

* Definition of Amniocentesis * Description of Amniocentesis * Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Amniocentesis Definition of Amniocentesis Amniocentesis is a simple medical procedure used to obtain small samples of the amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus. Description of Amniocentesis In the first half of the pregnancy (between the 14th and 18th week) the doctor may perform an amniocentesis when: * The age of the mother is 35 years of age or older. The risk of bearing children with chromosomal birth defects increases as a woman ages, thus if a woman will be 35 or older at the time of delivery, most physicians offer the option of prenatal testing for chromosomal disorders. Among the most common of these disorders is Down syndrome, a combination of mental and physical abnormalities caused by the presence of an extra chromosome. * A previous child or pregnancy resulted in a birth defect. If a couple already has a child (or pregnancy) diagnosed with a chromosomal abnormali

* Definition of Cesarean Section * Description of Cesarean Section * Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Cesarean Section Definition of Cesarean Section Cesarean childbirth consists of an operation to deliver a baby through an incision in the abdomen. Description of Cesarean Section Until recently the operation was usually used as a last resort because of a high rate of maternal complications and death. With the availability of antibiotics to fight infection and the development of modern surgical techniques, the once high maternal mortality rate has dropped dramatically. As a result, the cesarean childbirth rate has increased dramatically. There are three main types of cesarean operations, each named according the location and direction of the uterine incision: Low Transverse, a transverse (horizontal) incision in the lower uterus Low Vertical, a vertical incision in the lower uterus Classical, a vertical incision in the main body of the uterus Today, the low t

* Description of CD4 Lymphocyte Monitoring * Questions To Ask Your Doctor About CD4 Lymphocyte Monitoring Description of CD4 Lymphocyte Monitoring Monitoring lymphocyte counts in a patient with HIV infection is one way to assess the degree of immunosuppression and the risk of developing opportunistic infections. For several years after exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), an infected person will typically have either no symptoms or only minor ones such as chronically swollen lymph nodes. However, despite the absence of noticeable symptoms, HIV may be silently causing damage. HIV infects and kills certain white blood cells called CD4 lymphocytes, reducing their number. The number of CD4 cells usually declines over time in an HIV-infected person. CD4 lymphocytes act as the 'on switch' for part of the immune system, so as the number of CD4 cells drops, damage to the immune system may progress. Over time, individuals become increasingly susceptible to infections caus

* Definition of Congestive Heart Failure * Description of Congestive Heart Failure * Causes and Risk Factors of Congestive Heart Failure * Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure * Diagnosis of Congestive Heart Failure * Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure * Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Congestive Heart Failure Definition of Congestive Heart Failure Article updated and reviewed by Neil Siecke, MD, Clinical Insturctor, UCSD Division of Cardiology on July 28, 2005. Congestive heart failure (or heart failure) occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood (which provides oxygen) to the muscles, tissues, and other organs of the body. Statistics on Heart Failure * A person aged 40 years or older has a one in five chance of developing heart failure. * About five million Americans have been diagnosed with heart failure. * About 550,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. * Heart failure is the most common hospital discharge diagnosis with more

* Definition of Baldness * Description of Baldness * Causes and Risk Factors of Baldness * Treatment of Baldness * Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Baldness Definition of Baldness Common baldness, sometimes called male- or female-pattern baldness, accounts for 99 percent of hair loss in men and women. Although its exact causes are unknown, heredity, hormones and age are contributing factors. Unlike hair loss resulting from disease or other non-hereditary factors, hair loss due to common baldness is permanent. Male baldness usually begins with thinning at the hairline, followed by the appearance of a thinned or bald spot on the crown of the head. Women with common baldness rarely develop bald patches. Instead, they experience a diffuse thinning of their hair. Description of Baldness Hair is a conspicuous element in many cultural definitions of fashion, youth and sexuality. So, it is not surprising that many cringe at the first sign of thinning hair. Most people lose be

* Definition of Vitiligo * Description of Vitiligo * Causes and Risk Factors of Vitiligo * Symptoms of Vitiligo * Diagnosis of Vitiligo * Treatment of Vitiligo * Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Vitiligo Definition of Vitiligo Vitiligo, also called white spot disease or leukoderma, is a disease in which the skin loses its pigment due to the destruction of melanocytes. Description of Vitiligo Melanocytes are pigment cells located in the surface layer of the skin called the epidermis and are responsible for producing melanin. Melanin is a dark pigment that gives skin its color and protects against ultraviolet radiation. When melanocytes stop producing melanin, the skin becomes pale, leaving areas of white patches - this is called vitiligo. Vitiligo can start at any age, but it often occurs between the ages of 20 and 30. Vitiligo may begin on the face above the eyes, or on the neck, armpits, groin, hands or knees. Vitiligo may appear as a few small pigmented patc

* Definition of Vertigo * Description of Vertigo * Causes and Risk Factors of Vertigo * Symptoms of Vertigo * Treatment of Vertigo * Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Vertigo Definition of Vertigo Vertigo is a type of dizziness felt as a shift in a person's relationship to the normal environment (a feeling that the room is spinning is common) or a sense of movement in space. Although dizziness and vertigo are often used interchangeably, they are not the same thing. While all vertigo is dizziness, not all dizziness is vertigo. True vertigo, from the Latin "vertere," to turn, is a distinct, often severe form of dizziness that is a movement hallucination. Description of Vertigo There are four major types of dizziness - vertigo, presyncope, disequilibrium, and lightheadedness. Most patients with true vertigo have a peripheral vestibular disorder, such as benign positional vertigo. This is usually associated with tinnitus and hearing loss. Central disorder

* Definition of Varicella (Chicken Pox) * Description of Varicella (Chicken Pox) * Symptoms of Varicella (Chicken Pox) * Treatment of Varicella (Chicken Pox) * Prevention of Varicella (Chicken Pox) * Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Varicella (Chicken Pox) Definition of Varicella (Chicken Pox) Varicella, otherwise known as chicken pox, is a generalized infection caused by the varicella zoster virus. It is an extremely contagious disease that is characterized by a blistery rash. It occurs most frequently in children, between the ages of five and eight. Less than 20 percent of all cases in the U.S. affect people over the age of 15. Chicken pox is transmitted so easily that almost everyone gets the disease. Description of Varicella (Chicken Pox) Chicken pox is contracted by touching an infected person's blisters or anything that has been contaminated by contact with them. The virus is also thought to be airborne since it may be caught from an infected person by c

* Definition of Birth Control * Description of Birth Control * Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Birth Control Definition of Birth Control Birth control is a term used to describe an artificial or natural means to prevent pregnancy. Description of Birth Control There are various methods of birth control available today. The most common artificial methods are male/female condoms, spermicides, sponge, diaphragm, cervical cap, oral contraceptives (birth control pills), injectable contraceptions (Depo-Provera, Lunelle), IUDs and surgical sterilization. The natural methods include complete abstinence (no sexual intercourse), periodic abstinence and withdrawal. Male/Female Condom The male condom (also known as a prophylactic or rubber) is a thin sheath, usually made of latex rubber, that covers the erect penis. When used correctly, a latex condom is about 85 percent effective, both for preventing pregnancy and decreasing the chance of contracting most STDs, including AIDS. Condoms c

* Description of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder * Causes and Risk Factors of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder * Symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder * Diagnosis of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder * Treatment of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder * AlternativeAttention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder * Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Description of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a genetically determined hereditary disorder. It is a syndrome characterized by chronic behavior patterns of inattentiveness, lack of impulse control and excess energy (hyperactivity). The symptoms may be mild or severe and are associated with functional deviations of the central nervous system without signs of major neurologic or psychiatric disturbance. Inattentiveness is when the child is easily distracted and has difficulty focusing o

* Definition of Angina Pectoris * Description of Angina Pectoris * Causes and Risk Factors of Angina Pectoris * Symptoms of Angina Pectoris * Diagnosis of Angina Pectoris * Treatment of Angina Pectoris * Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Angina Pectoris Definition of Angina Pectoris Angina pectoris is a term that describes chest pain caused by myocardial ischemia - a condition in which the amount of oxygen getting to the heart muscle is insufficient. It usually occurs on exertion and is relieved by rest. Angina generally is a symptom of coronary artery disease. In most severe cases, it may occur with minimal effort or at rest. Description of Angina Pectoris Angina pectoris is a common manifestation of coronary artery disease. The pain is caused by reduced blood flow to a segment of heart muscle (myocardial ischemia). It usually lasts for only a few minutes, and an attack is usually quickly relieved by rest or drugs (such as nitroglycerin). Also, it is possible