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 […]

Read more

Prostate Biopsy: Pros and Cons

Prostate biopsy is essentially a test which hopes to detect cancer of the prostate in patients who have specific indications or causes for suspicion. The most commonly performed biopsy is the TRUS biopsy, which is the transrectal ultrasound-directed systematic sampling of the prostate. Main advantages of prostate biopsy The TRUS biopsy is definitely more reliable than the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) […]

Read more

Bowler's Thumb Symptoms

Bowler's thumb is a rare traumatic neuropathy that affects the ulnar digital nerve underneath the soft tissue of thumb. While practicing, the bowling thumbhole of the ball creates a repetitive frictional irritation in the ulnar soft tissues of the bowlers. In the chronic condition, it causes perineural fibrosis. The clinical presentation of Bowler's thumb is typically localized pain and tenderness […]

Read more

Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms and Diagnosis

Plantar fasciitis is a foot condition that involves inflammation of the plantar fascia. It is characterized by intense pain in the heel, which is usually aggravated by movement and holding weight. The plantar fascia is a strong band of tissue that extends from the heel to the middle foot bones and is responsible for supporting the arch of the foot […]

Read more

Foods That Can Irritate COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an umbrella term used to refer to any illness that affects the ability of the lungs to function normally. This article will discuss foods that can irritate COPD. Credit: eakasarn/ Shutterstock.com The lung conditions usually cause irreversible lung damage and are progressive in nature. This indicates that there is no cure for COPD, only […]

Read more

The DEC2 Gene and Sleep

Sleep is essential for physical and mental health. Approximately 8 hours of sleep is adequate to feel good and to function optimally for most people. Inadequate sleep increases the chances of ill-health and affects mental vigilance. However, there are some people who can survive on less than 6 hours of sleep without any obvious adverse health effects. This has been […]

Read more

Types of Blood Cancer

The production and function of blood cells are affected by blood cancer. Blood is produced in the bone marrow, where most of these cancers originate. Three types of blood cells that mature and develop from the stem cells of bone marrow are red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The uncontrolled growth of an abnormal type of blood cell […]

Read more

How is Alport Syndrome Diagnosed?

There are various methods of identifying whether a patient has Alport syndrome. The syndrome presents in significant ways in some patients but with less obvious symptoms in other patients, and there are several ways of determining the condition in most affected people, as outlined below. Genetic testing Genetic testing provides a way of identifying all types of Alport syndrome. Although […]

Read more

Headache Related to Eye Problems

A variety of eye problems are associated with the onset of headaches. Squinting, straining, or pressure and swelling of the eye can all trigger pain in parts of the head. Common eye problems that can cause or contribute to headaches are described in more detail below. Image Copyright: Ronnarong Thanuthattaphong / Shutterstock Eye strain Two main eye structures work together […]

Read more

Flatfoot in Children

In children, flatfoot is referred to as pediatric flatfoot. It is estimated that up to 9 in every 10 children in North America (amongst other parts of the world) are born with this foot shape. There are three different types of flatfoot that may be found in children. Classification is important in order to determine the specific kind of therapy […]

Read more
1 18 19 20 21 22 128