Brain Cancer Causes, Symptoms, Signs, Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment

What is brain cancer? Brain cancer is a disease of the brain in which cancer cells (malignant) arise in the brain tissue. Cancer cells grow to form a mass of cancer tissue (tumor) that interferes with brain functions such as muscle control, sensation, memory, and other normal body functions. Tumors composed of cancer cells are called malignant tumors, and those composed of noncancerous

Coma Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment

What is a "coma"? Coma is a state of unconsciousness whereby a patient cannot react with the surrounding environment. The patient cannot be wakened with outside physical or auditory stimulation. The inability to waken differentiates coma from sleep. Patients can have different levels of unconsciousness and unresponsiveness depending upon how much or how little of the brain is functioning.

Brain Aneurysm Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

What is a brain aneurysm and what causes a brain aneurysm? The brain gets its blood supply from arteries known as the Circle of Willis. It is located at the base of the brain and is a loop of arteries that join in a circle then send branches out to all parts of the brain. These arteries deliver nutrition (glucose and oxygen) to the brain cells. The junctions where these arteries come

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH, Enlarged Prostate) Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

What is the prostate gland? The prostate is a small organ about the size of a walnut. It lies below the bladder (where urine is stored) and surrounds the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder). The prostate makes a fluid that helps to nourish sperm as part of the semen (ejaculatory fluid). Prostate problems are common in men 50 and older. Most can be treated

Cauliflower Ear Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

What is cauliflower ear? Cauliflower ear (boxer's ear, wrestler's ear) is an acquired deformity of the outer ear. In this injury, the ear can shrivel up and fold in on itself and appear pale, giving it a cauliflower-like appearance, hence the term cauliflower ear. Wrestlers, boxers and martial artists in particular are susceptible to this type of injury. When the ear is struck and a blood

Fecal incontinence causes and treatment

Introduction to Bowel Incontinence Bowel or fecal incontinence is the loss of voluntary control of stool, or bowel movements. This condition can vary from being partial, in which a person loses only a small amount of liquid waste, to complete, in which the entire solid bowel movement cannot be controlled. Bowel incontinence affects more than 5.5 million Americans. Both men and women suffer

Encephalopathy Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treamtent

What is encephalopathy? Encephalopathy is a term that means brain disease, damage, or malfunction. Encephalopathy can present a very broad spectrum of symptoms that range from mild, such as some memory loss or subtle personality changes, to severe, such as dementia, seizures, coma, or death. In general, encephalopathy is manifested by an altered mental state that is sometimes

Mad Cow Disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or BSE) Facts

What is "Mad Cow Disease" (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy/BSE)? Mad Cow Disease is the commonly used name for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), a slowly progressive, degenerative, fatal disease affecting the central nervous system of adult cattle. Since 1990, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has conducted aggressive surveillance of the highest risk cattle going to slaughter

Botulism Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Facts and Prevention

What is botulism? Botulism is a serious illness that causes flaccid paralysis of muscles. It is caused by a neurotoxin, generically called botulinum toxin, produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum (and rarely by C. butyricum and C. baratii). There are seven distinct neurotoxins (types A-G) that Clostridium botulinum produces, but types A, B, and E (and rarely F) are the most common

Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Treating MS with Botox Information

What Is Botox?Botulinum toxin, called botox for short, is a muscle relaxing medication used to decrease spasticity related to multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions. Botulinum toxin is derived from the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum and is in a class of drugs called neurotoxins. There are two types of botulinum toxin available for therapeutic use: Botulinum toxin type A (

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) Symptoms, Causes, Medication Treatment and Diagnosis

What is borderline personality disorder? Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental disorder that belongs to the group of mental illnesses called personality disorders. Therefore, like other personality disorders, it is characterized by a consistent pattern of thinking, feeling and interacting with others and with the world that tends to cause problems for the sufferer.

Bone Spurs Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

What is a bone spur? A bone spur is a tiny pointed outgrowth of bone. What causes bone spurs? Bone spurs are usually caused by local inflammation, such as from degenerative arthritis or tendinitis. This inflammation stimulates the cells that form bone to deposit bone in this area, eventually leading to a bony prominence or spur. For example, inflammation of the ligament that surrounds a

Breast Cancer: Bone Marrow Transplantation Information

A bone marrow transplant may be used to treat patients with certain forms of cancer, such as leukemia, lymphoma, or breast cancer. The goal of such a transplant in women with breast cancer is to allow them to undergo high-dose chemotherapy -- which aggressively attacks the cancer cells, but also damages normal blood cells - and then replace the damaged cells with healthy ones. What Is Bone

Bone Density Scan (DEXA), Osteoporosis Screening & Interpretation of Test Results

What is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis is a condition that is characterized by bones that are less dense than, and thus not as strong as, normal bone. Osteoporosis increases the risk of breaking bone (fracture) with even minor trauma, such as a fall from standing height, or even from a cough or sneeze. Unfortunately, people often do not realize they have osteoporosis until either they have

Bone Cancer Symptoms, Types, Diagnosis and Treatment Facts

What are bones for? Your body has 206 bones. These bones serve multiple different functions. First, your bones provide structure to your body and help provide its shape. Muscles attach to the bones and allow you to move. Without the bones, your body would become a pile of soft tissues without structure, and you would be unable to stand, walk, or move. Second, the bones help to protect

Fracture Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Introduction to fracture Bones form the skeleton of the body and allow the body to be supported against gravity and to move and function in the world. Bones also protect some body parts, and the bone marrow is the production center for blood products. Bone is not a stagnant organ. It is the body's reservoir of calcium and is always undergoing change under the influence of hormones.

Boils (Skin Abscesses) Information, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

What is a boil? What are the symptoms of a boil? A boil is a localized infection deep in the skin. A boil generally starts as a reddened, tender area. Over time, the area becomes firm and hard and tender. Eventually, the center of the abscess softens and becomes filled with infection-fighting white blood cells that the body sends from the bloodstream to eradicate the infection. This

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) Symptoms, Signs, Treatment and Facts

What is body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)? Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a serious illness when a person is preoccupied with minor or imaginary physical flaws, usually of the skin, hair, and nose. A person with BDD tends to have cosmetic surgery, and even if the surgeries are successful, does not think they are and is unhappy with the outcomes. What are the symptoms of BDD? Being

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) Treatment for Acne, Rosacea, Skin and Lung Cancer

What is photodynamic therapy? Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a medical treatment that uses a photosensitizing drug (a drug that becomes activated by light exposure) and a light source to activate the applied drug. The result is an activated oxygen molecule that can destroy nearby cells. Precancerous cells and certain types of cancer cells can be treated this way. The procedure is easily

Nosebleed Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

Why do people get nosebleeds? The nose is a part of the body rich in blood vessels (vascular) and is situated in a vulnerable position as it protrudes on the face. As a result, trauma to the face can cause nasal injury and bleeding. The bleeding may be profuse, or simply a minor complication. Nosebleeds can occur spontaneously when the nasal membranes dry out and crack. This is common