A pregnancy can be an exhilarating and exhausting experience. There are so many changes taking place rapidly within the woman’s body, internally as well as externally. The expecting mother may often be overwhelmed with issues that she had no way to expect. Credit: Romaset/ Shutterstock.com One such issue could be the presence of an echogenic intracardiac focus in the fetus, […]
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It has long been theorized that an association exists between long-term stress and obesity. Chronic stress can lead to “comfort eating,” which often involves the overeating of foods that are high in fat, sugar and calories, which, in turn, can lead to weight gain. While short-term stress can cause a person to lose their appetite, chronic stress can have the […]
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Angioedema is basically swelling of the deeper layers of the skin. This is due to accumulation of fluids caused by an allergic reaction. Pathogenesis of the types of angioedema has been studied extensively. Allergic or Immunoglobin-E–Mediated Angioedema In this type of angioedema the immunoglobulin E or IgE is the main mediator. The identified allergen or trigger (foods like peanuts, nuts, […]
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A bunionette, also known as a tailor’s bunion, is a bony deformity at the base of the fifth metatarsal in the little toe. It bears some similarities to a bunion, a bone deformity that develops at the base of the big toe. The deformity can be painful for the patient, especially if it becomes inflamed. The bunionette protrudes from the […]
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Niacin is a water-soluble vitamin that partakes in a variety of biochemical reactions in the human body. It is present in foods derived from plants and animals and synthesized naturally from the amino acid tryptophan. Niacin deficiency disorders can arise as the result of an inadequate diet, excessive alcohol intake and among people with certain types of cancer and kidney […]
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Obesity is the new epidemic worldwide especially in the developed nations. Obesity develops due to an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure such that the excess energy is stored in fat cells. These fat cells increase in number leading to several health consequences. Excess body fat frequently results in increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, gallbladder and liver disease, arthritis […]
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Scleroderma is a health condition that involves the hardening of the skin and some organs in the body. Although the term we use to described the condition today was not first used until the nineteenth century, there have been some records of the condition and its characteristic symptoms throughout history, as early as 400 BC. Term Derivation The word scleroderma […]
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Miliaria is the term used to describe conditions associated with sweat retention in the skin. The flow of sweat is obstructed, meaning it stays trapped within the skin, rather than moving from the sweat glands to the skin’s surface. This gives rise to various symptoms and signs including skin lesions. The condition most commonly arises as a result of exposure […]
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Ever since selenium was found to possess photoconductive properties, it has been used for many diverse applications in industry. Photoconductivity was discovered by William Adams and Richard Day in 1876. They found that selenium produced an electric current when light was allowed to fall on it. The importance of this phenomenon was recognized by electrical scientists, in that it proved […]
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Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection in which the aveolar sacs of the lungs become inflamed, often filling with fluid or pus. The infection causes coughing (sometimes producing bloody or green-yellow mucous), chest pain, fever, chills, nausea, and headaches. Coughing, sneezing, and close personal contact can spread the disease from person to person. Pneumonia is caused by a variety of […]
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