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How do Doctors Test for Pericarditis?

The most common symptom of pericarditis is chest pain, and this is something with which most patients present themselves at a clinic. Diagnosis and confirmation of pericarditis happens in a series of steps: knowing the medical history of the patient, medical examination, recommendation of tests, and confirmation based on the test results.

26 Jul 2017

Astigmatism Types - Regular and Irregular

Astigmatism is a refractive error that creates asymmetric blur in the vision due to the irregular corneal curvature/shape or the lens.

25 Jul 2017

Astigmatism Diagnosis and Treatment

Astigmatism is a type of refractive inaccuracy in which the shape of the normally curved surface of the cornea is curved to different degrees in different areas. As a result of this abnormality, the light rays that enter the eye fails to converge at a focal point and instead comes to a focus at different focal points with a distance between them. This produces out-of-focus vision and the image formed on the retina is blurred. The person with astigmatism may perceive a clear image at one angle while attempting to focus on another point.

25 Jul 2017

Risk for Pericarditis

Pericarditis is the swelling or inflammation that occurs in the pericardium. Pericardium is the lining membrane that is found surrounding the human heart. This inflammation causes mild to severe chest pain and pericardial effusion (fluid accumulation in the heart). The pericardial effusion is the process by which the extension of pericardium occurs to accommodate the excess fluid.

25 Jul 2017

Complications of Pericarditis

If pericarditis persists for more than three months, then it is called chronic pericarditis.

25 Jul 2017

Skin Phototypes

The skin phototype classification system was developed by Thomas B. Fitzpatrick in 1975. It is based on the sensitivity of the skin to sunburn and the ability of the skin to tan. The skin phototype can predict skin cancer risk.

21 Jul 2017

Pericarditis Treatment

Pericarditis is defined as the state of inflammation or infection of the pericardium, the membranous sac that encloses the heart.

20 Jul 2017

Treatment Options for Social Anxiety

Social phobia, or social anxiety disorder, is an often overlooked but very common mental disorder.

20 Jul 2017

Prisoner Depression and Low Mood

Imprisonment can often lead to feelings of isolation, anxiety, low mood and prisoner depression in prisoners.

20 Jul 2017

Dupuytren’s Contracture: Causes and Symptoms

Dupuytren’s contracture is a progressive condition that impacts the fingers and the hands, causing at least one finger, and possibly several, to bend toward the palm of the hand. Essentially, connective tissue in the palm of the hand becomes thicker. Also known as Dupuytren's disease, the condition can affect both hands, including the thumbs. It is not life-threatening, although it can be discomforting.

20 Jul 2017

Sun Tanning Addiction

Sun exposure has some positive and many negative effects for humans. The skin requires exposure to UV-B rays from the sun in order to stimulate vitamin D synthesis, as a lack of vitamin D can cause illnesses like rickets and may increase the risk of cancer. With this said, UV light is also a known carcinogen, and excessive exposure can cause cancer.

18 Jul 2017

Mole Mapping

Mole mapping is a procedure used for surveillance of skin for malignant melanoma.

18 Jul 2017

Evidence for Having a Water Birth

A water birth refers to the delivery of a baby underwater to a laboring woman whose lower body is immersed in a bath or tub of warm water. This has been controversial among the medical establishment in the USA, while in many European countries it has become more accepted. A review of the evidence shows that there is no reason to think that it induces harm to the mother or fetus, and it has many positive aspects.

18 Jul 2017

Social Anxiety Disorder History

Social anxiety is a mental illness in which a person has a fear of or worry concerning social situations that does not go away.

18 Jul 2017

Evidence Supporting the Paleo Diet

The paleo diet encourages the consumption of foods based on the eating habits of our ancestors from the Paleolithic period.

18 Jul 2017

Can You Sunburn Your Eyes?

A sunburn of the cornea is called photokeratosis, which is caused by overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet B (UV-B) or ultraviolet C (UV-C) rays. Photokeratosis is also known as snow-blindness or radiation keratitis. Sunburn of the eyes can be a very painful condition, but it is reversible and resolves within a few days. The condition is very comparable to sunburn of the skin.

18 Jul 2017