VivekNaga/Medicaldata huggingface dataset:
context: It is generally recommended that a child be seen by a dentist by the age of 1 or within 6 months after his or her first tooth comes in. The first dental visit is usually short and involves very little treatment. This visit gives your child an opportunity to meet the dentist in a non-threatening and friendly way. Some dentists may ask the parent to sit in the dental chair and hold their child during the exam. The parent may also be asked to wait in the reception area during part of the visit so that a relationship can be built between your child and your dentist. During the exam, your dentist will check all of your child's existing teeth for decay, examine your child's bite, and look for any potential problems with the gums, jaw, and oral tissues. If indicated, the dentist or hygienist will clean any teeth and assess the need for fluoride. He or she will also educate parents about oral health care basics for children and discuss dental developmental issues and answer any questions. Topics your dentist may discuss with you might include: Good oral hygiene practices for your child's teeth and gums and cavity prevention Fluoride needs Oral habits (thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, lip sucking) Developmental milestones Teething Proper nutrition Schedule of dental checkups. Many dentists like to see children every 6 months to build up the child's comfort and confidence level in visiting the dentist, to monitor the development of the teeth, and promptly treat any developing problems. You will be asked to complete medical and health information forms concerning the child during the first visit. Come prepared with the necessary information. A pediatric dentist has at least two additional years of training beyond dental school. The additional training focuses on management and treatment of a child's developing teeth, child behavior, physical growth and development, and the special needs of children's dentistry. Although either type of dentist is capable of addressing your child's oral health care needs, a pediatric dentist, his or her staff, and even the office dÃ©cor are all geared to care for children and to put them at ease. If your child has special needs, care from a pediatric dentist should be considered. Ask your dentist or your child's doctor what he or she recommends for your child. There are no rules for when to start dental X-rays. Some children who may be at higher risk for dental problems (for example, those prone to baby bottle tooth decay or those with cleft lip/palate) should have X-rays taken earlier than others. Usually, most children will have had X-rays taken by the age of 5 or 6. As children begin to get their adult teeth around the age of 6, X-rays play an important role in helping your dentist to see if all of the adult teeth are growing in the jaw, to look for bite problems, and to determine if teeth are clean and healthy.
context: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease ( STD). You can get it from having sex with someone who has it. It's easily treated with antibiotics but can lead to serious problems if it's not. Only your doctor can know for sure whether you have syphilis. He'll give you a physical exam, check your genitals, and look for skin rashes or sores called chancres. You'll also have a blood test. Results typically come back within a few days. Blood tests can tell if your body is making the antibodies to fight the infection. The ones that fight syphilis bacteria can stay in your body for years, so your doctor can tell if you were infected, even if it were a long time ago. He can also diagnose syphilis by testing fluid from a sore. That's rarely done. Yes. Even if you've had it and been treated, you can get it again by having sex with someone who has it. And it's important to know even if you don't see sores, you're not in the clear. Sores can hide inside your body. See your doctor right away if you've had sex with someone who has syphilis. Talk to your doctor about syphilis and other STD testing if you're sexually active. Talk to your doctor about testing and prevention of syphilis and other STDs if you're sexually active. Doctors recommend syphilis testing if you're: A man who has sex with men A pregnant woman HIV positive and are sexually active Taking Pr EP ( Pre- Exposure Prophylaxis) for HIV prevention
context: The left ventricular assist device, LVAD or VAD, is a kind of mechanical heart pump. It's placed inside a person's chest, where it helps the heart pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. Unlike an artificial heart, the LVAD doesn't replace the heart. It just helps it do its job. This can mean the difference between life and death for a person whose heart needs a rest after open-heart surgery or is too weak to effectively pump on its own or who is waiting for a heart transplant. A permanent LVAD is currently being used in some terminally ill patients whose condition makes them ineligible for heart transplantation. This is also called destination therapy. In studies, therapy with the permanent LVAD device doubled the one-year survival rate of patients with end-stage heart failure as compared with drug treatment alone. However, there were some risks, including infection, stroke, and bleeding. Like the heart, the LVAD is a pump. One end hooks up to the left ventricle -- that's the chamber of the heart that pumps blood out of the lungs and into the body. The other end hooks up to the aorta, the body's main artery. A tube passes from the device through the skin. The outside of the tube is covered with a special material to aid in healing and allow the skin to regrow. The pump and its connections are implanted during open-heart surgery. A computer controller, a power pack, and a reserve power pack remain outside the body. Some models let a person wear these external units on a belt or harness outside. The power pack has to be recharged at night. An LVAD restores normal blood flow to a person whose heart has been weakened by heart disease. This relieves symptoms such as being constantly tired or short of breath. And sometimes it lets the heart recover normal function by giving it a chance to rest. As with any surgery, there are risks with having an LVAD implanted. They include: Infection Internal bleeding Heart failure Mechanical breakdown of the LVAD Stroke Death Talk to your doctor to find out if LVAD is right for you.
context: If you have type 1 diabetes, you might wonder if your child would get it, too. Or if one of your parents has it, what it means for you. Your genes definitely play a role in type 1, a less common form of diabetes that's often diagnosed in children and young adults. But they're not the whole story. Like much in life, it's a mix of nature and nurture. Your environment, from where you grow up to the foods you eat, also matters. Researchers don't know exactly how -- and how much -- all those things affect your chances of getting the disease. Your genes set the stage, but you can't be certain how it'll all play out. There's no diabetes gene that gets turned on or off to give you type 1. Instead, a bunch of them play a role, including a dozen or so that have the biggest say: the HLA genes. They make proteins your immune system uses to keep you healthy. Since type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease -- your body destroys the cells that make insulin -- it makes sense that HLA genes are front and center. There are thousands of versions of them in the human gene pool. Which ones you get from your parents affect your chances of diabetes in a big way. Some make you more likely to get it, while others can help protect you from it. You have type 1 if your body makes little or no insulin, a hormone that helps your body turn sugar into energy. Certain genes are more common in one group of people than in another. That's why race and ethnicity affect things, too. For example, white people are more likely to have type 1 diabetes than others. But even if you have genes that make you more likely to get type 1, that doesn't mean you definitely will. Even with identical twins -- who have the same exact genes -- sometimes one gets it and the other doesn't. That's where the environment comes into play. If you're a father who has type 1, your child has about a 1 in 17 chance of getting it. For mothers with type 1 diabetes who give birth: Before age 25, the child has a 1 in 25 chance. At 25 or older, the child has 1 in 100 chance, which is about the same as anyone else. A few things can boost those odds: 1. If the parent had diabetes before age 11, the child's chances double. 2. If both parents have it, the odds could be as high as 1 in 4. 3. If the parent also has a condition called type 2 polyglandular autoimmune syndrome, their child's chance of having type 1 diabetes would be 1 in 2. All those numbers can be confusing. Keep in mind that most people with type 1 diabetes don't have relatives who do, so it often seems to come out of nowhere. If your parents don't have it but a brother or sister does, you have about 5% chance of getting type 1. That's about the same as if your father had it. If your identical twin has it, though, your odds may be as high as 50%.
context: The American Medical Association and other reputable medical organizations have determined that repeat bone density testing ( DXA scans) is NOT indicated in monitoring osteoporosis treatment or prevention on a routine basis. It is scientifically premature to measure bone density as a way of monitoring the effectiveness of osteoporosis drugs. Doctors simply do not know how to use these repeat bone density measurements during therapy. A few of the most important reasons are: Bone density changes so slowly with treatment that the changes are smaller than the measurement error of the machine. In other words, repeat DXA scans cannot distinguish between a real increase in bone density due to treatment or a mere variation in measurement from the machine itself. The real goal of osteoporosis treatment is to decrease future bone fractures. There is no good correlation between increases in bone density with decreases in fracture risks with treatment. For example, alendronate has been shown to decrease fracture risk by 50%, but only to increase bone density by a few percent. In fact, most of the fracture reduction with raloxifene is not explained by raloxifene's effects on bone mineral density. One density measurement taken during treatment will not help the doctor plan or modify treatment. For example, even if the DXA scan shows continued deterioration in bone density during treatment, there is not yet research data demonstrating that changing a drug, combining medications, or doubling medication doses will be safe and helpful in decreasing the future risk of fractures. An important note: even if bone density deteriorates during treatment, it is quite likely that the patient would have lost even more bone density without treatment. Recent research has shown that women who lose bone density after the first year of menopausal hormone therapy will gain bone density in the next two years, whereas women who gain in the first year will tend to lose density in the next two years of therapy. Therefore, bone density during treatment naturally fluctuates and this may not be relevant to the fracture protection of the medication. The U. S. Preventive Services Task Force and American College of Physicians now recommend against menopausal hormone therapy with estrogen or estrogen and progesterone For all of these reasons, as surprising as it may sound to many people (and even some doctors), rechecking bone density is not at all like checking blood pressure during treatment of high blood pressure. Routine bone density testing during treatment is unlikely to be helpful. In the future, however, if ongoing research brings new technology or new therapies, testing decisions will clearly change.
context: When someone you care about has dementia, their memory loss is affecting their daily life. You want to find a medication that can help them. Unfortunately, there aren't any medicines that can cure dementia or slow it down. But there are treatments to help ease some of its symptoms. The two most commonly prescribed medicines for dementia are cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine ( Namenda). Doctors use them mainly to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common kind of dementia. They prescribe them for other kinds of dementia as well. If your loved one has Alzheimer's disease that isn't too severe yet, his doctor might prescribe him a cholinesterase inhibitor. If he has another type of dementia, his doctor may consider it, too. What they do: Scientists think these help prevent a âmessenger chemicalâ in our brains called acetylcholine from breaking down. Acetylcholine is important in learning, memory, and mood. Cholinesterase inhibitors also appear to delay the worsening of Alzheimer's symptoms. These medicines include: Donepezil ( Aricept) Galantamine ( Razadyne, Razadyne ER, Reminyl) Rivastigmine ( Exelon) What to expect: Most people with Alzheimer's who take one of these medications get some benefit from it, including less anxiety, improved motivation, and better concentration and memory. And some are able to continue with their regular activities. But the improvements don't seem to last long -- about 6 to 12 months. They mainly delay the worsening of the disease for a period of time. All three medicines work similarly, but one might work better for your loved one than it does for someone else. Side effects: Most people don't have side effects when they take cholinesterase inhibitors, but some do have: Nausea Vomiting Loss of appetite More frequent bowel movements Bruising Muscle cramps Headaches Fatigue Insomnia If your loved one has moderate to severe Alzheimer's, his doctor may prescribe him memantine ( Namenda) for his symptoms. What it does: Memantine could help improve memory, attention, reasoning, and language. Your doctor may also prescribe it with donepezil ( Aricept). Memantine helps balance glutamate, which is another âmessenger chemicalâ involved in our memory and learning. What to expect: Studies show that memantine can curb delusions (believing things that aren't true), hallucinations (seeing things that aren't there), agitation, aggression, and irritability. It can also help your loved one with disorientation and make his daily activities easier. Memantine comes in immediate-release tablets, extended-release tablets, and oral drops. Side effects: The side effects aren't as bad or as common as the side effects of cholinesterase inhibitors, and include: Constipation Dizziness Headache Confusion Fatigue Increased blood pressure Sleepiness
context: It depends, but adults generally need 7-8 hours per night. Kids and teens need more. The exact amount varies from person to person, based on many things, including your age. If you didn't sleep well last night, you may need more to make up for it. As you get older, your sleep patterns may change, with lighter and shorter periods of shut-eye. The best way to know if you get enough rest is to notice how you feel during the day. If you're drowsy or want to nap -- or even fall asleep while the sun's out -- you probably need more Zzz's at night. Everyone has a rocky night every now and then. That can happen if you're under stress, for instance. But if it happens often, ask your doctor to help you figure out what's going on. You might just need to work on your sleep habits. Aim to go to bed at the same time each night, relax before you try to nod off, and don't drink or eat a heavy meal before bed. Lifestyle changes like that are probably the first thing to try. Your doctor can make sure your shut-eye problems aren't due to a health issue. She may recommend that you have a sleep study, either at home or in a sleep lab, to see what's going on. If your doctor tells you that you have a sleep disorder, the treatment depends on what the disorder is and how severe it is. First, you'll probably make lifestyle changes. You'll want to improve your sleep habits, avoid caffeine and alcohol, manage your stress, and get more exercise. If you have sleep apnea, your doctor may recommend a CPAP machine to help keep your breathing regular while you snooze. Losing extra weight also helps. If you take sleeping pills that don't need a prescription, you should tell your doctor if you use them for more than 2 weeks. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label. They feel good, but don't nap too long or too close to bedtime, or it'll be harder to sleep at night. Anyone can get one, but they're more likely among: Middle-aged women, who are likelier to get insomnia Overweight, middle-aged men, who have a greater chance of getting sleep apnea Kids and teens are more likely to sleepwalk than other people. No. While it may relax you and help you nod off, it also disrupts the normal sleep cycle. You'll spend less time in REM sleep (the deepest slumber), and it might give you nightmares or make you sweat at night.
context: Your doctor has told you that you have irritable bowel syndrome and you're learning how to live with it. You think you've got it under control when along comes a new symptom, or the ones you already have just won't go away. Should you make a doctor's appointment or wait it out? If you're not sure, it's always best to get it checked. Whenever you have a symptom of irritable bowel syndrome that lasts a long time, or if you get a new symptom, see your doctor. If you usually take over-the-counter medications but now they don't ease problems like diarrhea, gas, or cramping, you also need to see a doctor. Irritable bowel syndrome ( IBS) is a chronic -- meaning long-term -- condition with symptoms that come and go. It usually doesn't lead to more serious diseases, but there are âred flagsâ to look for. These are signs that could mean something more serious is going on. The most common symptoms include diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, and cramping. These are problems anyone can have, but whenever your pain is worse than usual, or you have a new pain in a different part of your body, you should see a doctor. A red-flag symptom is one that isn't usually seen with irritable bowel syndrome. If you have one or more, you'll need to have tests to find out why. These include: Rectal bleeding. It could just be a side effect from your irritable bowel syndrome constipation, caused by a tear in your anus. The bleeding also might be caused by a hemorrhoid. But if you have a large amount of blood in your stool, or if the bleeding just won't go away, you should get medical attention as soon as possible. Weight loss. If you find you're losing weight for no reason, it's time to get it checked out. Fever, vomiting, and anemia. If you have one or more, or think you do, you should call your doctor. Any of these problems could point to another, more serious condition. Your doctor can help you figure out what's going on. Even if you don't think the problem is physically part of IBS, but it bothers you, tell your doctor. For example, if you're stressed out or anxious about it, or if you're losing sleep over the problem, let your doctor know.
context: To check for acute pancreatitis, the doctor will probably press on your abdominal area to see if it is tender and check for low blood pressure, low-grade fever, and rapid pulse. Blood will be tested for abnormal levels of pancreatic enzymes, white blood cells, blood sugar, calcium, and liver function. Ultrasound tests or CT scans may show the extent of inflammation, causes such as bile duct problems and gallstones, or complications like cysts. To diagnose chronic pancreatitis, abdominal X-rays or imaging tests such as a CT scan or MRI may show whether the pancreas is calcified. Your doctor will take blood samples and check the stool for excess fat, a sign that the pancreas is no longer producing enough enzymes to process fat. You may be given a stimulation test called a pancreatic function test to see how well the pancreas releases digestive enzymes. You may also be screened for diabetes. Initial treatment of acute pancreatitis includes pain control, hydration, and nutritional support. If you have an attack of acute pancreatitis, you may receive strong drugs for pain. You may have to have your stomach drained with a tube placed through the nose. If the attack is prolonged, you may be fed and hydrated intravenously. If your pancreatitis is caused by gallstones or an obstructed bile or pancreatic duct, you may need surgery or have an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography ( ERCP) done once your symptoms have subsided. An ERCP is a procedure that involves the insertion of a tube down your throat into the stomach and upper intestines to the place where the bile duct and pancreatic duct drain. A small incision is made to remove stones in the bile duct or a plastic tube called a stent is inserted into the ducts to relieve the obstruction. If you have chronic pancreatitis, the doctor will focus on treating pain -- guarding against possible addiction to prescription painkillers -- and watching for complications that affect digestion. You may be placed on a pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy to restore the digestive tract's ability to digest nutrients; this will also likely reduce the frequency of new attacks. You may have to avoid fatty foods and will have to abstain from drinking alcohol. Injection of anesthetics into the nerves near the spine may give pain relief. If the pain does not respond to medication or nerve blocks, the damaged pancreatic tissue may be surgically removed, but only as a last resort.
context: Antidepressants won't cure your depression, but they can help you manage its symptoms. Still, finding the right medication can take some trial and error. Not all medications work for all people. It's important to know the signs that a medication you're taking may not be right for you. You feel better right away: It might sound strange, but this could be a sign your medication isn't working the way it should. Feeling like you're instantly better may be a placebo effect -- you think it's helping. Real help won't happen that fast. It takes weeks for your medicine to start working. No relief after 12 weeks: While you won't notice changes from these medications overnight, you should start to feel some difference in 4 to 6 weeks, with the best results sometimes coming in 8 to 12 weeks. If you don't feel better by 3 months or your symptoms get worse, let your doctor know. Big mood swings: Any serious changes in your emotions, positive or negative, can be a sign that you need to change your medication. Your depression gets worse: This can happen, especially if you're taking other medications as well. Some can cause your antidepressants to act differently, and that can make your symptoms worse. Make sure your doctor knows about all medications you are taking. The side effects are too much for you: As with any medication, antidepressants can come with side effects. The most common ones are nausea and diarrhea. They usually get better in a week or so. Sometimes simple changes can make a big difference. Your doctor may suggest you take half a pill instead of a whole one and gradually increase the dose. Another option may be to change the time you take your medication, like at night instead of during the day. But make sure to talk with your doctor before making any changes to how you take your medication. In some cases, you might need to change medications. Follow your doctor's instructions on how to do that. You'll need to give your body time to get rid of the old medication and allow the new one to take effect. It's a bit like resetting a clock and starting over. Lifestyle choices can affect how well an antidepressant works for you. It's important to get enough rest and avoid recreational drugs and alcohol. With some medications, you need to stay away from citrus juices like orange or grapefruit juice. A good relationship with your doctor is also key, especially when you're not feeling well or your medication isn't working as you expected. And talk therapy works hand-in-hand with the right medication. It can help you understand your illness and manage stress and your emotions.
context: Neurologists are doctors who diagnose and treat problems with the brain and nervous system. They don't do surgery. Your doctor might recommend that you see one if he thinks you have an illness that needs expert care. A neurologist has at least a college degree and 4 years of medical school plus a 1 year internship and 3 years of special training in neurology. Many also spend extra time learning about a specific field, like movement disorders or pain management. Some of the conditions a neurologist treats are: Alzheimer's disease Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ( ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease) Back pain Brain and spinal cord injury or infection Brain tumor Epilepsy Headaches Multiple sclerosis Parkinson's disease Peripheral neuropathy (a disease that affects your nerves) Pinched nerves Seizures Stroke Tremors (uncontrollable movements) When you see the neurologist, he'll talk with you about your medical history and your symptoms. You'll also have a physical exam that focuses on your brain and nerves. He may check your: Mental status Speech Vision Strength Coordination Reflexes Sensation (ability to feel things) The neurologist may have a good idea of your diagnosis from the exam, but you'll probably need other tests to confirm it. Depending on your symptoms, these might include: Blood and urine tests to look for infection, toxins, or protein disorders. Imaging tests of the brain or spine to look for tumors, brain damage, or problems with your blood vessels, bones, nerves, or discs. A study of your brain function called an electroencephalograph, or EEG. This is done if you're having seizures. Small patches, called electrodes, are put on your scalp, and they're connected to a machine by wires. The machine records the electrical activity in your brain. A test of the communication between a nerve and the muscle it works with called an electromyogram, or EMG. This is done with electrodes on your skin or a needle put into a muscle. A series of tests called evoked potentials to measure your brain's response to stimulation of your hearing, vision, and certain nerves. These are similar to an EEG except your doctor will make sounds or flash lights to see how your brain responds. A small amount of fluid is taken from your spine to look for blood or infection. This is called a spinal tap or lumbar puncture. A muscle or nerve biopsy to look for signs of certain neuromuscular disorders. A small amount of tissue is taken and looked at under a microscope. It helps to prepare for your consultation: Write down your symptoms and other health information, including medications, allergies, previous illnesses, and your family's history of disease. Make a list of your questions. Have your previous test results sent to the neurologist, or take them with you. Bring a friend or family member to make sure you don't miss anything. The neurologist will probably give you a lot of information, so you may want to take notes. Don't be afraid to ask questions if you're confused about something. Make sure you understand your diagnosis and treatment and any further steps you need to take.
context: When someone around you has a sore, scratchy throat, try to keep your distance. It might be strep throat. The bacteria that cause strep pass easily from person to person through close contact. Learn how to spot someone who may have strep so you can stay away. And practice good hygiene so you -- and children in your care -- can stay well. It's caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria. They also can create infections of the: Ear Sinuses Skin Tonsils Strep A bacteria normally live in your nose and mouth, and on your skin. Many people carry these microbes but don't get sick. Strep throat usually isn't serious. But when it is left untreated, it can cause complications such as: Rheumatic fever, a disease that can damage the joints and heart Kidney problems Strep throat makes the rounds when someone who has the infection coughs or sneezes. Droplets filled with bacteria spray into the air. You can also catch strep when: You touch something these droplets land on -- such as a doorknob or table -- and then rub your eyes, nose, or mouth. You share personal items such as a fork or spoon, glass, or toothbrush with someone who is sick. You kiss a person who has it. When you get infected, you typically start to show symptoms about 2 to 5 days after you were exposed to the bacteria. You can stay contagious for up to a month if you don't get treated. Antibiotics can prevent the infection from spreading. People who take antibiotics stop being contagious after about 24 hours. Strep throat often spreads in late fall and early spring, when children are in school. People 5 to 15 years old are most likely to get strep. But adults can get it, too. People who have a weakened immune system have a higher chance of coming down with strep. This includes anyone who: Was born with an immune system problem Has HIV, AIDS, or cancer Had an organ transplant Takes medicine that suppresses the ability to fight off germs The best way to avoid strep is to stay away from anyone who looks or sounds sick. Signs can include: A sore throat Swollen glands Fever Nausea, vomiting Rash Try not to share any personal items with someone who is sick. This includes: Cups and plates Knives, forks, spoons Toothbrushes Food and drinks Wash your hands and your children's hands often. Or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Always clean your hands before you eat and after you use the bathroom. If you have strep, here are some things you or your child can do to avoid getting sick again: Take all the medicine your doctor prescribed, even if you start to feel better. Some bacteria may live and rebound if you stop the medication too soon. Once you've been on antibiotics for 2 to 3 days, throw out your old toothbrush and get a new one. Stay out of work or school for at least 24 hours after you start taking an antibiotic.
context: A woman is in menopause if she has had no menstrual periods (menses) for 12 months and has no other medical reason for her menses to stop. If a woman knows she is not in menopause but is missing periods, she should consult her health care provider. Because hormone levels may fluctuate greatly in an individual woman, even from one day to the next, they are not a reliable indicator for diagnosing menopause. Even if levels are low one day, they may be high the next day in the same woman. There is no single blood test that reliably predicts when a woman is going through menopause, or menopausal transition. Therefore, there is currently no proven role for blood testing regarding menopause except for tests to exclude medical causes of erratic menstrual periods other than menopause. Menopause is diagnosed based on the lack of menstrual periods for 12 months. The average age a woman in the U. S. stops having her periods is 51.
context: Uveitis is inflammation in your eye. If your eye doctor says you have it, you may wonder how you got it. Sometimes, it's because of another disease. When you see your eye doctor, they'll probably ask about your medical history and other symptoms you have. They'll do this to try and find out if another condition is causing your eye issue. If so, they can refer you to a specialist to see if one of the conditions below may be causing your uveitis. These happen when your immune system attacks your organs and tissues. It can affect your eyes, too. Most cases of uveitis are caused by an immune system problem. Ones that can lead to it include: Ankylosing spondylitis Behcet's disease Crohn's disease Multiple sclerosis Psoriasis Reactive arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis Sarcoidosis Ulcerative colitis Some common ones can lead to uveitis. You may not even notice you have them. In some cases, uveitis can come long after you get the infection. Some that can trigger uveitis include: Herpes simplex virus, which causes cold sores Varicella zoster virus, which causes chickenpox and shingles Tuberculosis ( TB), caused by bacteria you can breathe in Cytomegalovirus ( CMV), a common virus that often has no symptoms. It can cause uveitis in people with weak immune systems. Mumps West Nile virus Lyme disease Cat-scratch disease AIDS Syphilis It's rare, but you can also get uveitis after fungal or parasite infections like histoplasmosis or toxoplasmosis. You may get uveitis because you've hurt your eye. A trauma or bruise there can cause it. Eye surgery can also lead to uveitis. Lymphoma, a blood cancer, is one rare but possible cause.
context: You finally did it. You got the tattoo you always wanted. It's bright and it's colorful. But now you have to take care of it to make sure you don't get a skin infection. So how do you even know what the right steps are? Should you trust the tattoo artist? Ask your dermatologist? It depends on where you live, really. In the United States there are few guidelines for tattooing, and even fewer for aftercare. Currently, in the U. S.: Seven states have no regulations at all on tattoos. Six states license tattooists but don't have any aftercare rules. Thirty states license tattoo artists and require written or verbal instructions on aftercare. Only seven states -- Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, and North Dakota -- require tattoo artists to provide their customers with aftercare instructions mandated by the public health department. Dermatologists think this needs to change so that everyone who gets a tattoo also gets instructions on how to take care of it to prevent infections and serious complications. So, how can you make sure that new tattoo is something you don't end up regretting? Follow these steps while your new tattoo heals. Be sure your artist covers your new tattoo in a thin layer of petroleum jelly and a bandage. Remove the bandage after 24 hours. Gently wash the tattoo with antimicrobial soap and water and pat dry. Apply a layer of antibacterial ointment twice a day, but don't put on another bandage. Gently wash your tattoo area several times a day with soap and water and gently pat dry. Keep applying a moisturizer or ointment after you clean it to keep it moist. You should repeat this process for 2 to 4 weeks. Also try not to wear clothes that will stick to your tattoo, and avoid swimming and the sun for about 2 weeks. And take cool showers. Scalding hot water will not only hurt, but it can also fade the ink. If your tattoo scabs a bit or develops hard layers, don't worry. It's normal. But never pick, scratch, or peel it. You could get an infection or remove the color. If you think your tattoo is infected, or isn't healing properly, go see your doctor. When you leave the tattoo shop, your ink will look like a million bucks. It will be bright and shiny. That's not going to last. The tattoo will fade over time. Always put sunscreen on it, especially in the summer, to keep the colors bright -- SPF 45 or higher is best. And moisturize it daily, especially if it's on an area of your body, such as your hands, where it can fade quickly.
context: Clinical trials are a way to try new medications and treatments that researchers are testing. The goal is to find out how well these treatments work and what side effects they could have. People with lung cancer who participate in lung cancer clinical trials get the most effective therapy that's already available, or they may receive new lung cancer treatments that are being tested for future use. You can ask your doctor to help you find a clinical trial, what's involved, and what to consider -- for instance, if you'd need to travel to take part. You can also check these websites for information. Trial Check This website, developed by the nonprofit Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups, is the leading cancer clinical trial search engine. You can search for cancer trials based on disease and location. National Cancer Institute This website lists more than 6,000 cancer clinical trials and explains what to do when you find one that you think is right for you. Clinical Trials.gov This website, a service of the National Institutes of Health, is a database of clinical studies worldwide. Center Watch This web site lists industry-sponsored clinical trials that are recruiting patients.
context: If you smoke, you've probably had friends and family ask you to quit. And you probably would like to kick the habit, too. You already know you'd be healthier as a nonsmoker. It would cut your chances of having many cancers, heart disease, and other serious problems. But it's hard to make that change. There are many reasons, from the addiction of nicotine to the daily routines that you always do with a cigarette. So if you need extra motivation, add these smaller, but still important, reasons to your list. 1. For Your Wallet All the money that you spend on cigarettes goes up in smoke. Just think what you could do with it if it were back in your bank account. The total? That depends on your habits. By some estimates, if you smoke a pack a day, you could spend $100,000 or more on cigarettes and lighters. Plus, over the years, you're likely to have higher health costs due to conditions caused by smoking. When you quit, your budget gets a break. 2. To Smell Better If you quit, you (and your home, clothes, and car) would no longer have that ashtray smell. Your own sense of smell would get a boost, too. Smoking dulls your senses, especially smell and taste. Some smokers realize that foods don't taste the way they used to. But because it doesn't happen all at once, it can be hard to notice. Quitting fixes that. 3. Smoother Skin Skin changes, like a leathery texture and deep wrinkling, are more likely in people who are regular smokers. Smoking leads to biochemical changes in the body that speed the aging process. Another classic smoker giveaway is tar staining of the hands and skin from holding cigarettes. Plus, the muscle actions you use to inhale lead to the classic smoker's wrinkles around the mouth. 4. A Better Social Life If you feel embarrassed that you smoke, you may hold yourself back socially. Plus, if you're dating, you've probably noticed that smoking is a turnoff for a lot of people, which limits your romantic options. For men, it also makes a big difference in the bedroom. Smoking makes erection problems a lot more likely because it affects blood vessels, including those that must widen in order for an erection to happen. 5. Fewer Infections Smoking also makes you more vulnerable to seasonal flus and colds. Tiny hairs called cilia that line the respiratory tract, including the trachea and bronchial tubes, help protect you. But one of the toxic effects of cigarette smoke is that it paralyzes the cilia, which erases that protection. That's why smokers have so many more infections. Within a month of quitting, your cilia start doing their protective role once again. 6. Your Fittest Self After you quit, it should get easier to do simple things like climbing a set of stairs. You could get back to sports or activities you once loved or always wanted to try, such as volleyball or jogging. Even if you're a young athlete who is in top physical condition, smoking will cost you when you compete. Over time, it makes your lungs and heart work harder. When you kick the habit, you can get back into the game and get after a new personal best, in every area of your life.
context: First step: Apply something cold to the area. It helps ease swelling and narrows your blood vessels. That will stop bleeding below your skin. Make a crushed ice pack, grab a bag of frozen veggies, or use a cold gel pack. Wrap it in a cloth so it doesn't have direct contact with your skin. Hold it to your eye for 10 minutes intervals every 1 to 2 hours. Limit icing to 10 minutes so the ice doesn't damage your skin. Besides icy treatment, there isn't much you can do except to avoid anything that could cause further injury. Don't put pressure on your eye or try to force it open. Talk to your doctor about the right medicine to take to help with pain. All doctors will suggest a cold compress to ease swelling and stop the bleeding. But you won't be able to spot problems by simply looking in the mirror. You should see a doctor right away if you have fever, blurred or double vision, severe eye pain, bleeding from the eye, or trouble breathing through your nose. These signs may suggest a broken bone around the eye, increased orbital (eye) pressure or eyeball damage.
context: Questions to ask your doctor after your diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: What kind of multiple sclerosis do I have? Could anything else be causing my symptoms? Will I have new symptoms? Will they get worse over time? What can I do at home to manage my symptoms? What drugs and other treatments do you recommend for me? How will I know if the drugs are working? What side effects should I expect, and how should I handle them? Can exercise or physical therapy help me feel better? Will MS affect my sex life? Can I have children? Are there any local support groups?
context: You're going to have some stress in your life -- we all do, and it's normal. One of the best things you can do for your health is manage that stress, even when you can't control the source of it. Some stress can be good. It can be a challenge that keeps us alert, motivated, and ready to avoid danger. But too much stress can make us sick. And it can bring on or worsen certain symptoms or diseases, research shows. If you're constantly under stress, you can have physical symptoms, such as headaches, an upset stomach, high blood pressure, chest pain, and problems with sex and sleep. Stress can also lead to emotional problems, depression, panic attacks, or other forms of anxiety and worry. It's not just the stress itself that's the problem. It's how you respond to it. For instance, if you smoke, use drugs, overeat, gamble, spend too much, or have risky sex, that's going to cause more problems. If you think that the way you're handling life's stress is taking a toll on your physical health, talk to your doctor so you can start making changes that will be good for your body and your mind.
context: If you have warts, your doctor will probably start with a couple of standard treatments. She'll give you medicine that makes your warts peel away. Or she may use a super-cold liquid to freeze them off. If these treatments don't do the job, she might try laser surgery. A laser is a precise, focused beam of light. DVD and CD players use them to âreadâ discs. Some lasers send out light powerful enough to cut metal. On the skin, lasers can help with fine lines, wrinkles, freckles, and age spots. This is the main type of laser used to remove warts. The light heats up the blood in the tiny vessels inside the wart and destroys the vessels. Without blood, the wart dies and falls off. The laser's heat may also attack the virus that causes the wart. The laser may feel like a rubber band snapping against your skin. You won't feel much pain after the procedure is done. You should heal fully in 2-4 weeks. Laser treatment can be good for hard-to-reach spots, like genital warts in your urethra, the tube that carries pee from your bladder out of your body. Depending on how many warts you have and where they are, your doctor might give you medicine that numbs the area she'll treat. Or she might put you to sleep. Laser surgery can have a couple of downsides: It may leave scars When the laser zaps your skin, it sends up tiny puffs of debris that might spread bacteria, viruses, or fungi Some doctors think there isn't enough proof that laser surgery works better than other treatments, like removing it with regular surgery. But laser may do a better job of keeping the warts from coming back. Carbon dioxide laser. This light is as effective as a sharp knife. It might be a good choice if your warts are around your fingernails or toenails and other treatments haven't worked. First, your doctor will use the laser to cut away the top of the wart. Then she'll make the light less focused, and it will burn away the rest. The debris it stirs may include the virus that caused your warts. You might have more scarring with this treatment than you'd get from pulsed dye laser. Erbium: Yttrium/ Aluminum/ Garnet laser. The name is a mouthful, but this kind of laser can heat a smaller area with precision, so it doesn't cause as much scarring. Researchers don't think the puffs of debris from this kind of laser spread the wart virus. Neodymium: Yttrium/ Aluminum/ Garnet laser. This laser goes deeper to target the blood vessels in the wart. Doctors who treat children beam this light through a fiber optic cable to zap papillomas, which are wart-like tumors in the mouth or throat. They're caused by the same virus as warts. Doctors don't know how to kill the virus that causes warts. So they may come back or show up in new places. Genital warts are most likely to return, in part because they appear in moist locations.
context: At first glance, the words "contacts" and "children" may not seem like they belong in the same sentence. In reality, they're often a perfect match. That being said, the kid in question is usually a teenager. And whether contacts are a good idea depends on how mature and responsible she is. They can help your kid: See better: Rigid gas permeable lenses may offer better vision than her glasses. And contacts let you see what's to the side of you (the eye doctor will call this peripheral vision). Feel better: Glasses go in and out of style, but some kids just don't want to wear them school. Especially if they have super-thick lenses. They do stand out and they could make your kid a target for teasing. The self-esteem boost that comes with a pair of contacts could lead to better school performance and more friendships. You need to make sure she: Understands the benefits of not wearing eyeglasses. Can follow the doctor's instructions exactly, day after day. Ask yourself this: Does she always do chores without reminders? Or do you have to nag her to clean her room or make her bed? If you think she's ready, it's time to visit your eye doctor. If not, you can always get them later. Contacts come with risks, like eye irritation and infections. At the worst, they can cause vision loss. Make sure she knows the rules: How to properly disinfect and handle them When to replace a worn-out pair Not to share or swap contacts with another person Never to use spit, tap water, distilled water, or homemade non-sterile saline solution To apply makeupafter she puts in the lenses, not before To use hypoallergenic skin products and cosmetics or those marked "for contact lens wearers" or "for sensitive eyes" To always remove the contact lens at the first sign of irritation Ask your doctor. If he prescribes disposable soft lenses, consider daily disposable soft lenses rather than the cheaper disposables that are worn for 2 weeks and then thrown out. Care is simpler: She won't have to disinfect and clean dailies. She'll learn how to put them in and take them out much faster if she has to change them every day. This question comes up every year around Halloween. If an eye doctor prescribes them, they can be safe as well as fun. ( Keep in mind, though, that they don't correct vision.) But problems come up when you don't get them fitted by a professional. The lenses you find at places like beauty stores, flea markets, and costume stores are far lower quality than fitted ones. The FDA strongly warns that anyone who uses them is at high risk for eye infection, injury, vision loss, even blindness. Don't let your child take this kind of chance.