From the category archives:

Medicine

What Are Bunions?

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The most common type of bunion is an area of localized enlargement in the joint at the base of the big toe.  This enlargement is actually caused by added bone formation at the joint, and is frequently accompanied by the misalignment of the big toe.  When this happens, the big toe, which should normally face [...]

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What Is Tennis Elbow?

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Tennis elbow is characterized by pain on the outside (also known as the lateral) of the elbow with tenderness on or under the bony prominence of the joint.  The pain usually comes on gradually, and causes discomfort in motions associated with lifting, gripping, and carrying.  Pain is frequent with tennis elbow and may radiate down [...]

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What is Bacterial Meningitis?

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Bacterial meningitis is an infection of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.  It is a form of meningococcal disease, which is an illness caused by the bacteria meningococci, also called Nisseria meningitidis.  Although meningicoccal disease is quite rare, it is extremely serious.  The infection can progress very rapidly and is fatal in [...]

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What Is Bursitis?

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Bursitis is the inflammation of a bursa.  A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that works a a gliding surface to limit friction between different tissues in the body.  There are approximately 160 bursae in the human body.  The most prominent bursae are positioned adjacent to the tendons in the major joints of the body, like [...]

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What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

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Carpal tunnel syndrome, also known as CTS, occurs when the median nerve (the nerve that runs from the forearm into the hand) becomes compressed at the wrist.  The median nerve controls the sensation to the palm side of the hand, the thumb and the fingers (except the little finger).  The median nerve also controls the [...]

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What Are The Risks Of Weight Loss Surgery?

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Weight loss surgery is one of those issues that can leave people very divided on what to do or think about the procedures. Weight loss surgery, often called bariatric surgery or gastric bypass surgery, is a surgical way of making the stomach area smaller, thus helping the patient eat much less. By eating less, the [...]

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What Does High Blood Pressure Mean for Your Health?

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High blood pressure has often been called the “silent killer” because you can have it for many years without a single symptom. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is determined by how hard your blood is pumping through your veins. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your [...]

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What Is Anthrax?

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Anthrax is a bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis.  This type of bacteria produce spores, a form of the microorganism that is covered with a protective shell.  These spores can live for years in soil.  It is not until they are taken in to the body that they cause anthrax.  This illness is [...]

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What To Do If You Are Bitten By A Rattlesnake

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Rattlesnakes are one of four poisonous snakes that inhabit the United States.  There are several different varieties of rattle snake that can be found across all of the contiguous 48 states of the United States:  the Prairie Rattlesnake, the Eastern Diamondback, the Timber Rattlesnake, and the Western Diamondback.  Some of the rattlesnake species are comparably [...]

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What Are The Symptoms Of A Dislocated Elbow?

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An elbow dislocation occurs when the bones in the elbow are pulled apart, causing the ligaments that keep the bones together to either stretch or tear. It may take up to 8 weeks for the joint to heal after it has been reduced (put back in place).  Elbow dislocations are typically the result of a [...]

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