Chinyemba/medical-QA huggingface dataset:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cancer overview

: Symptoms of cancer

Symptoms vary widely depending on the type, location, size, and extent of the cancer. Some cancers can exist for many years without causing any symptoms or decreasing life expectancy. Common examples are small, non-aggressive prostate and breast cancers. Other cancers can be relatively small and localized to one spot but cause significant pain. Widespread cancer can often lead to marked fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Some cancers release substances into the blood that can cause symptoms unrelated to the location or size of the original tumor. For example, one type of lung cancer produces chemicals that trigger unusual neurological symptoms.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cancer overview

: Diagnosing cancer

Your doctor will review your medical history and perform a thorough physical examination. He or she will ask about your family history of cancer. In the initial phase of diagnostic evaluation, blood tests and CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis are performed. Depending on the results, follow-up tests may include MRI and PET scans. Almost always, a biopsy is necessary to confirm the diagnosis and to provide information that will guide prognosis and therapy.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cancer overview

: Expected duration of cancer

How long cancer lasts depends on its type and response to treatment. Some cancers grow so slowly that they persist, but never cause harm. Other cancers can grow and spread quickly despite therapy.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cancer overview

: Preventing cancer

The number one way to prevent the most dangerous types of cancer is to not smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products. Other ways to help prevent cancer include:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cancer overview

: Treating cancer

For some cancers, no treatment may be necessary because they are very slow-growing. Low-grade prostate cancer in men over the age of 70 is a good example of a cancer that often does not require immediate treatment. Most cancers do require active treatment. If the cancer is confined to only one spot in the body, surgery offers an excellent chance of cure. Cancers of the bone marrow and lymph nodes are treated with chemotherapy and sometimes bone marrow transplant. The chances of cure for many of these types of cancer have improved dramatically. Many other types of cancers are also treated with chemotherapy. The goal may be to control the cancer, rather than cure it. Other treatments for cancer may include:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cancer overview

: Prognosis

The outlook for people diagnosed with cancer continues to improve every year.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cancer overview

: Additional info

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

www.cancer.gov
 
American Cancer Society (ACS)

www.cancer.org
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Candidiasis

: What is candidiasis?

Candidiasis is an infection caused by Candida fungi, most of by Candida albicans. These fungi are found almost everywhere in the environment. Some may live harmlessly along with the abundant "native" species of bacteria that normally colonize the mouth, gastrointestinal tract and vagina.   Usually, Candida is kept under control by the native bacteria and by the body's immune defenses. If the mix of native bacteria is changed by antibiotics or the body moisture that surrounds native bacteria undergoes changes in its acidity or chemistry, it can allow yeast to thrive and cause symptoms.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Carbon monoxide poisoning

: What is carbon monoxide poisoning?

Carbon monoxide is a tasteless, colorless, odorless gas found in the fumes of fuels that contain carbon, such as wood, coal and gasoline. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a potentially fatal illness that occurs when people breathe in carbon monoxide. All sorts of sources can release carbon monoxide, including cars, trucks, small gasoline engines (like lawnmowers), stoves, lanterns, furnaces, grills, gas ranges, water heaters and clothes dryers. The risk of poisoning is especially high when equipment is used in an enclosed place and ventilation is poor. Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur in victims of smoke inhalation during a fire. More than one-third of carbon monoxide-related deaths occur when the victim is asleep. Once inhaled, carbon monoxide passes from your lungs into your bloodstream, where it attaches to the hemoglobin molecules that normally carry oxygen. Oxygen can't travel on a hemoglobin molecule that already has carbon monoxide attached to it. As exposure continues, the gas hijacks more and more hemoglobin molecules, and the blood gradually loses its ability to carry enough oxygen to meet your body's needs. Without enough oxygen, individual cells suffocate and die, especially in vital organs such as the brain and heart. Carbon monoxide also can act directly as a poison, interfering with cells' internal chemical reactions.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Carbon monoxide poisoning

: Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

Symptoms vary depending on the concentration of carbon monoxide in the environment, the length of time you are exposed, and your health. If you are exposed to very high levels of carbon monoxide gas in a poorly ventilated room, you can develop:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Carbon monoxide poisoning

: Diagnosing carbon monoxide poisoning

If you are unconscious, your doctor's first priority is to stabilize your condition, providing emergency treatment such as oxygen, fluid and treatment for seizures. Information about the exposure will be collected from the emergency personnel, your relatives, or both. This is especially important if you are a victim of smoke inhalation during a fire, because you could have inhaled other toxic gases besides carbon monoxide. After a poisoning that occurs indoors, your doctor will ask about the condition of fuel-burning appliances and equipment in your home and at work and about the quality of ventilation in these areas. Your doctor will want to know how long you were exposed, whether your symptoms improve when you leave the area, and whether any of your family members or co-workers complain of symptoms similar to yours. If you are pregnant, tell your doctor immediately. Carbon monoxide attaches to fetal hemoglobin at a level 10% to 15% higher than in the mother, placing the fetus at special risk. When your doctor examines you, he or she will pay particular attention to your nervous (neurological) system. To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor will draw blood to determine your levels of oxygen and carboxyhemoglobin (carbon monoxide attached to hemoglobin). Additional tests may be needed depending on your specific symptoms. You may need an electrocardiogram (EKG) to evaluate symptoms of chest pain or an irregular heartbeat. In people with neurological symptoms, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain may be needed. In a pregnant woman, the fetus may have to be monitored. An external monitor will be placed on the woman's belly to measure the fetus' heart rate over time to look for signs of distress suggesting low oxygen levels.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Carbon monoxide poisoning

: Expected duration of carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide gas leaves the body the same way it got in, through the lungs. In fresh air, it takes four to six hours for a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning to exhale about half of the inhaled carbon monoxide in their blood. This "clearing" time can be increased if the person is given 100% oxygen or is placed in a hyperbaric oxygen (high-pressure oxygen) chamber, which creates a higher oxygen pressure than the normal outside pressure. Because carbon monoxide poisoning can kill body cells, especially in the brain, there is a risk of long-term neurological problems in people who have had severe poisoning.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Carbon monoxide poisoning

: Preventing carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide can kill without warning because it has no color, odor or taste. Here are some suggestions to reduce your risk:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Carbon monoxide poisoning

: Treating carbon monoxide poisoning

You should immediately get out of the environment with high carbon monoxide level. You should receive oxygen as quickly as possible, preferably high flow oxygen through a non-rebreather mask. This prevents you from inhaling the gas that you just exhaled. You will be taken to an emergency department. If your symptoms disappear after oxygen treatment for several hours and your physical exam and blood tests are normal, you may be able to go home. You may need to schedule a follow-up visit with your doctor to check for complications to your nerves and brain. If you have severe carbon monoxide poisoning and are unconscious, you will be connected to a respirator (a machine that breathes for you) and you will get 100% oxygen. Patients with very severe poisoning may be treated in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Carbon monoxide poisoning

: When to call a professional

You are at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning whenever you are near a fuel-burning appliance or tool. At the first hint of symptoms, move quickly to fresh air. Don't wait for more severe symptoms to start. If you are concerned about the condition of a fuel-burning appliance in your home and you notice headaches, flu-like symptoms or sleep problems, call your doctor. If you suspect that someone else is suffering from severe carbon monoxide poisoning, call for emergency help immediately. If possible, move an unconscious victim to an area with fresh air. Be cautious. Remember that high levels of carbon monoxide can make you sick, too, even before you can bring the victim to safety.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Carbon monoxide poisoning

: Prognosis

The prognosis depends on the severity of carbon monoxide poisoning. Among people with severe symptoms, as many as two out of three people may have long-term complications, especially neurological problems. In people with mild to moderate symptoms, as many as one in five can develop lasting neurological problems. Neurological problems range from mild personality changes to severe intellectual impairment, blindness and deafness. In pregnant women, poisoning can cause fetal death or cerebral palsy in the child.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Carbon monoxide poisoning

: Additional info

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

https://www.epa.gov/
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cardiac arrhythmias

: What is a cardiac arrhythmia?

A cardiac arrhythmia is any abnormal heart rate or rhythm. In normal adults, the heart beats regularly at a rate of 60 to 100 times per minute. And the pulse (felt at the wrist, neck or elsewhere) matches the contractions of the heart's two powerful lower chambers, called the ventricles. The heart's two upper chambers, called the atria, also contract to help fill the ventricles. But this milder contraction occurs just before the ventricles contract, and it is not felt in the pulse. Under normal circumstances, the signal for a heartbeat comes from the heart's sinus node. It's the natural pacemaker located in the upper portion of the right atrium. From the sinus node, the heartbeat signal travels to the atrioventricular node or "A-V node," which is located between the atria. Next the signal travels through the bundle of His (pronounced HISS). It's made up of a series of modified heart muscle fibers located between the ventricles. The signal enters the muscles of the ventricles. This causes the ventricles to contract and produces a heartbeat. Cardiac arrhythmias sometimes are classified according to their origin as either ventricular arrhythmias (originating in the ventricles) or supraventricular arrhythmias (originating in heart areas above the ventricles, typically the atria). They also can be classified according to their effect on the heart rate, with bradycardia indicating a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute and tachycardia indicating a heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute. Some common types of cardiac arrhythmias include:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cardiac arrhythmias

: Symptoms of a cardiac arrhythmia

Symptoms of specific arrhythmias include:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cardiac arrhythmias

: Diagnosing a cardiac arrhythmia

Your doctor will ask about your family history of coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmias, fainting spells or sudden death from heart problems. Your doctor also will review your personal medical history, including any possible risk factors for cardiac arrhythmias (such as coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, thyroid disorders, and medications). You will be asked to describe your specific cardiac symptoms, including any possible triggers for those symptoms. During the physical examination, your doctor will check your heart rate and rhythm, together with your pulses. This is because certain cardiac arrhythmias cause a mismatch of the pulse and the heart sounds. Your doctor also will check for physical signs of an enlarged heart and for heart murmurs, one sign of a heart valve problem. A test called an electrocardiogram (EKG) often can confirm the diagnosis of a cardiac arrhythmia. However, because cardiac arrhythmias may come and go, a one-time office EKG may be normal. If this is the case, an ambulatory EKG may be required. During an ambulatory EKG, the patient wears a portable device that monitors your heart rate and electrical pattern. You will be instructed to press a button to record the EKG reading whenever you experience symptoms. This approach is especially useful if your symptoms are infrequent.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cardiac arrhythmias

: Expected duration of a cardiac arrhythmia

When a patient has ventricular fibrillation, it is an emergency. The patient is unconscious, not breathing, and doesn't have a pulse. If available, electrical cardioversion must be administered as soon as possible. If not available, then cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be started. How long a cardiac arrhythmia lasts depends on its cause. For example, atrial fibrillation that is caused by an overactive thyroid may go away when the thyroid problem is treated. However, cardiac arrhythmias that result from progressive or permanent damage to the heart tend to be long-term problems. When a heart attack causes ventricular fibrillation, death can occur within minutes.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cardiac arrhythmias

: Preventing a cardiac arrhythmia

Cardiac arrhythmias that result from coronary artery disease can be prevented by taking the following actions to modify your risk factors:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cardiac arrhythmias

: Treating a cardiac arrhythmia

The treatment of a cardiac arrhythmia depends on its cause:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cardiac arrhythmias

: When to call a professional

Call your doctor if you have any symptoms of a cardiac arrhythmia, including palpitations, dizziness, fainting spells, fatigue, shortness of breath and chest pain. Call for emergency help immediately whenever someone in your family develops a severely irregular pulse. If you cannot feel a pulse at all, and the person is not breathing, perform CPR until emergency professionals arrive.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cardiac arrhythmias

: Prognosis

The outlook for cardiac arrhythmias depends on the type of rhythm disturbance and whether the person has coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, or some other heart muscle disorder. The prognosis for ventricular fibrillation is grave, and death follows quickly without emergency treatment. Most atrial arrhythmias have an excellent prognosis. The outlook is good for heart block, even third-degree A-V block, the most serious type. The availability of permanent pacemakers, implanted cardioversion/defibrillation devices and effective medications has improved the prognosis for many people with serious cardiac arrhythmias.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cardiac arrhythmias

: Additional info

American Heart Association (AHA)

https://www.heart.org/
 
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
 
American College of Cardiology

https://www.acc.org/
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cardiomyopathy

: What is cardiomyopathy?

Cardiomyopathy refers to changes in the heart muscle. These changes prevent part or all of the heart from contracting normally. There are three types of cardiomyopathy. The types are based on the physical changes that occur in the heart:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cardiomyopathy

: Symptoms of cardiomyopathy

The symptoms of cardiomyopathy vary by type.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cardiomyopathy

: Diagnosing cardiomyopathy

Your doctor will review your medical history. He or she will ask about
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cardiomyopathy

: Expected duration of cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy sometimes can be reversed if it is caused by a treatable condition. Most cases of hypertrophic and restrictive cardiomyopathy are persistent. They can get worse over time.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cardiomyopathy

: Preventing cardiomyopathy

The best way to prevent cardiomyopathy is to prevent the diseases that cause it. Know your risk factors for coronary artery disease. Modify those risks early in life. You can reduce your risk for coronary artery disease by
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cardiomyopathy

: Treating cardiomyopathy

The treatment of cardiomyopathy depends on its cause. Here are some of the more common treatments:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cardiomyopathy

: When to call a professional

Call your doctor whenever you have any of the following symptoms:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cardiomyopathy

: Prognosis

The outlook varies. It depends on the specific cause and severity of the cardiomyopathy. The survival rate of people with most types has improved dramatically in the past decade. This is due to the increased number of treatments available.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Cardiomyopathy

: Additional info

American Heart Association (AHA)

https://www.heart.org/
 
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
 
American College of Cardiology

https://www.acc.org/
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Carpal tunnel syndrome

: What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

In the wrist, nerves and tendons pass through a narrow space called the carpal tunnel. A major nerve (the median nerve) that passes through this tight space, can become irritated or compressed. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a combination of numbness, tingling, pain and weakness in the hand caused by compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel. 

 Symptoms tend to show up most in the thumb, index finger, middle finger and half of the ring finger because the median nerve provides sensation to those areas. Because the carpal tunnel already is narrow, the nerve can become irritated if it narrows even a little more. Injury to the nerve also can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. There are several common causes, including:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Carpal tunnel syndrome

: Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can include:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Carpal tunnel syndrome

: Diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome

The diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome can be strongly suspected based on the description of symptoms. Your doctor will look for decreased feeling in your fingers and for muscle weakness in your hand. Your doctor will check your thumb muscles for signs of wasting and your wrists for signs of arthritis. Your doctor may check whether fluid is accumulating in several different parts of your body, including your hands, feet and legs, since extra fluid can add pressure in the carpal tunnel. The examination will probably include tests to check whether the nerves in your wrist are working well. The Tinel's test is done by tapping over the median nerve at the wrist. In Phalen's maneuver, the wrist is flexed for 30 to 60 seconds. If you develop pain, numbness or tingling during these tests, the median nerve in the carpal tunnel may be compressed. Doctors usually diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome based on a combination of your history of hand symptoms and the physical examination. X-rays are rarely helpful. Your doctor can confirm the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome by ordering nerve tests (called nerve-conduction studies) of the median nerve in your affected hand. These tests are not perfect, however. In some people, symptoms or an examination suggest carpal tunnel syndrome, but the nerve tests are normal. Your doctor may order blood tests to look for evidence of diabetes or thyroid disease since these are common triggers of carpal tunnel syndrome. Ultrasound or MRI imaging may be helpful when the diagnosis remains uncertain.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Carpal tunnel syndrome

: Expected duration of carpal tunnel syndrome

How long carpal tunnel syndrome lasts depends on the cause. Sometimes symptoms come and go and don't require immediate treatment. A person who has carpal tunnel syndrome caused by overuse during sports may recover quickly with treatment, rest and modified activity. In someone whose carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by arthritis, symptoms may be more stubborn and require longer therapy.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Carpal tunnel syndrome

: Preventing carpal tunnel syndrome

If you type or use a computer keyboard, you can decrease your risk of carpal tunnel syndrome by making sure that you work in a "wrist neutral" position, with the wrist joint straight, not bent up or down. To help you do this, several types of office aids are available, including a cushioned wrist rest and a keyboard tray that adjusts to a position below the work surface. Newer keyboards are being developed, including ones that split the keys into left-hand and right-hand groups, and others that bend the keyboard into a tent shape. You also may need to check the position of your hand when you use a computer mouse or trackball because some experts suspect that people who use these computer accessories consistently are more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome. If you continue to have symptoms, you may want to have a professional check your workstation. 



Image: Thinkstock/Getty Images

 To prevent sports-related carpal tunnel syndrome, ask your trainer or a sports medicine physician about effective ways to support your wrist during high-risk activities.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Carpal tunnel syndrome

: Treating carpal tunnel syndrome

In most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, treatment begins with a wrist splint to be worn mainly at night. You may also receive anti-inflammatory medication to decrease pain and numbness. Injections of cortisone may help reduce swelling, but they tend to provide only temporary relief. For people who don't improve with nonsurgical treatments, surgery can relieve pressure on the median nerve by cutting a ligament at the bottom of the wrist, which creates more room for the nerve in the carpal tunnel. 



Image: Daisy-Daisy/Getty Images
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Carpal tunnel syndrome

: When to call a professional

Call your doctor if you feel pain, tingling or numbness in your fingers that does not go away. If you have trouble grasping objects, making a fist or have weakness in your hand or arm, you should see your doctor.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Carpal tunnel syndrome

: Prognosis

The prognosis of carpal tunnel syndrome depends on the cause. For example, when it occurs in the setting of longstanding, poorly controlled diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, the nerve injury may be permanent. However, most people with carpal tunnel syndrome recover completely with treatment.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Carpal tunnel syndrome

: Additional info

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

https://www.niams.nih.gov/