Whether you’re having your fifth baby or your first, deciding whether or not you’re in labor can be confusing. There are only two real signs of labor: Regular, strong contractions lasting 40 to 60 seconds and, Cervical dilatation (the cervix opening to let the baby pass through). Dilatation is measured in centimeters, from 1 to…
Chemotherapy Side Effects
Chemotherapy can cause a range of side effects, including: Hair Loss: also called Alopecia, is the thinning or loss of hair during Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy. Such hair loss can occur anywhere on the body, including the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, arms, legs, and pelvis, but it is usually only temporary. A patient’s hair normally grows…
Cancer Radiation Therapy
Radiation Therapy, also called Radiotherapy, uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation is a local therapy, which means it only affects cancer cells in the treated area. Depending on the circumstances, radiation can be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Radiation Therapy may be given in a limited or regional…
Cancer Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy, also shortened and known as Chemo, is treatment with drugs that either kill cancer cells or prevent them from growing. Because of how they work, chemotherapy drugs will also have a similar effect on certain normal cells, causing a range of potentially serious side effects. Most chemotherapy is delivered intravenously, although a number of…
What are Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes are a kind of white blood cell that assists the body in fighting infections and diseases in a very efficient way. Lymphocytes are created in the bone marrow, spleen, and lymph nodes, and travel in both the blood system and the Lymphatic System. Lymphocytes are able to recognize and destroy the vast majority of…
Headaches during Pregnancy
If you are suffering from constant headaches while you are pregnant this can be an issue that requires further investigation. You need to determine a few facts before you can decide what actions are best taken. Are you having headaches because you are commonly a headache sufferer or are the headaches you are suffering a…
Headache Definition
The term headache is used to describe a pain or discomfort in the head or neck. It is one of the most common medical problems and is the cause of untold hours in which work is missed, dates are broken and frustration reigns for those who are regular headache sufferers. Determining what the cause of…
What Is Huntington Disease?
Huntington’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that causes uncontrolled movements, emotional problems, and loss of cognitive ability. Adult-onset Huntington disease, the most common form of this disorder, usually appears in a person’s thirties or forties. Early signs and symptoms can include irritability, depression, small involuntary movements, poor coordination, and trouble learning new information or…
What is Reiter’s Syndrome
There are more than 100 forms of arthritis, so it is no mystery why many people have never heard of Reiter’s Syndrome. Reiter’s Syndrome is a form of arthritis which affects the spine and the sacroiliac joints. This condition causes swelling, redness, warmth, and pain in the affected areas of the joints. Symptoms One typical…