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Elephantiasis Treatments

Elephantiasis is caused by infection with the filarial worm, which is transmitted to humans by the mosquito and lives in the human lymphatic system.

17 Aug 2010

What is Elephantiasis?

Elephantiasis is a disease that is characterized by the thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, especially in the legs, male genitals.

17 Aug 2010

Electroconvulsive Therapy History

Methods of inducing seizure or convulsions as a way of treating psychiatric conditions were introduced as early on as the 16th Century. At that time, the conditions were largely untreatable due to medications not being as developed or advanced as they are today. The use convulsive therapy was first documented in the London Medical Journal in 1785.

17 Aug 2010

Electroconvulsive Therapy Patient Experience

According to the American Psychiatry Association (APA) task force guidelines report, the majority of patients who undergo electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) rate the experience as no more unpleasant than visiting the dentist.

17 Aug 2010

Electroconvulsive Therapy Legal Status

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most controversial therapies used in medicine today. While some psychiatrists believe that ECT is an effective, life-saving psychiatric treatment, others have grave concerns about its use and the associated side effects.

17 Aug 2010

Electroconvulsive Therapy Mechanism

The main mechanism of action in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the induction of a generalized clonic seizure. This seizure is triggered by the delivery of an electric current to the patient’s brain using electrodes placed on the patient’s head.

17 Aug 2010

Electroconvulsive Therapy Administration

The patient is informed about the benefits and risks of the therapy before they provide their consent that the procedure goes ahead. The doctor treating the patient is under a legal obligation to ensure that the patient is informed of the following points prior to treatment with ECT.

17 Aug 2010

Electroconvulsive Therapy Side Effects

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment involving the delivery of a small electrical current to a person’s brain using electrodes. The therapy induces a seizure or a convulsion that lasts for around 15 seconds and is thought to alleviate symptoms in cases of severe depression. Results have also shown that ECT may be beneficial in treating some states of psychosis and mania.

17 Aug 2010

Electroconvulsive Therapy Effectiveness

Opinion is divided over the effectiveness of using electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to treat severe depression that has not responded to other forms of therapy.

17 Aug 2010

What is Electroconvulsive Therapy?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most controversial treatments used in medical practice. While some psychiatrists believe that ECT is an effective life-saving psychiatric treatment, others have grave concerns about its effectiveness and the associated side effects.

17 Aug 2010

Cardiac Pharmaceutical Agents

There is a wide range of medications that are currently used to treat cardiac disease. Some of these medications are described below.

17 Aug 2010

Cardiology Procedures

There are several diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that are performed in cardiology. Some of the main procedures include:

17 Aug 2010

What is Cardiology?

The term cardiology is derived from the Greek words “cardia,” which refers to the heart and “logy” meaning “study of.” Cardiology is a branch of medicine that concerns diseases and disorders of the heart, which may range from congenital defects through to acquired heart diseases such as coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure.

17 Aug 2010

Ending Health Disparities

Disparities in the quality and availability of healthcare across different population groups is a major problem in many developing and developed nations, including the United States. Several measures have been taken to try and eliminate these disparities, which impact on various minority groups including ethnic minorities, the elderly, immigrants, and people with disability, amongst others.

16 Aug 2010

Health Inequalities

Health inequality refers to the differences in healthcare provision between two or more demographic groups despite them having comparative access to healthcare services.

16 Aug 2010

Disparities in Quality of Health Care

Wide-scale disparity exists in the quality of healthcare across different ethnic and racial groups. These disparities occur in the incidence, prevalence and burden of disease as well as in the incidence of adverse health outcomes and mortality.

16 Aug 2010

Disparities in Access to Health Care

Differences in access to healthcare across different populations is the main reason for existing disparities in healthcare provision. These differences occur for several reasons and some of the main factors that contribute to the problem in the United States are described below.

16 Aug 2010