Cramps in the Abdomen. | Abdominal Cramps; Menstruation Distension of the Abdomen (Fluid in the Abdomen).This may be caused by the       presence of either gas or fluid. Without realizing it, some people develop the habit of  swallowing air. Quantities of gas are also produced in the stomach and intestine as a result of fermentation or putrefaction of food. Normally the gas...

Swollen belly; Swelling in the abdomen; Abdominal distention; Distended abdomen Definition of Abdomen – swollen: A swollen abdomen is when your belly area is bigger than usual. Abdominal swelling, or distention, is a common condition, which usually results from over-eating, rather than from a serious illness. Simple weight gain, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), pregnancy, or the unconscious swallowing of...

Definition Abdominal wall defects are birth (congenital) defects that allow the stomach or intestines to protrude. Description Many unexpected and fascinating events occur during the development of a fetus inside the womb. The stomach and intestines begin development outside the baby’s abdomen and only later does the abdominal wall enclose them. Occasionally, either the umbilical opening is too large,...

Accessory organ—A lump of tissue adjacent to an organ that is similar to it, but which serves no important purpose, if functional at all. While not necessarily harmful, such organs can cause problems if they grow too large or become cancerous. In any case, their presence points to an underlying abnormality in the parent organ. Benign—In medical usage, benign is the opposite of malignant. It describes...

Definition | Purpose | Precautions | Properly performed, ultrasound imaging is virtually without risk or side effects. Some patients report feeling a slight tingling and/or warmth while being scanned, but most feel nothing at all. Ultrasound waves of appropriate frequency and intensity are not known to cause or aggravate any medical condition, though any woman who thinks she might be pregnant should raise the...

Definition | Precautions |  The potential medical applications of ultrasound were first recognized in the 1940s as an outgrowth of the sonar technology developed to detect submarines during World War II. The first useful medical images were produced in the early 1950s, and, by 1965, ultrasound quality had improved to the point that it came into general medical use. Improvements in the technology, application,...

Definition | Purpose | Precautions | Ultrasound technology allows doctors to ‘‘see’’ inside a patient without resorting to surgery. A transmitter sends high frequency sound waves into the body, where they bounce off the different tissues and organs to produce a distinctive pattern of echoes. A receiver ‘‘hears’’ the returning echo pattern and forwards it to computer,...

Definition An ACL injury is the tearing of the anterior cruciate (KROO-she-ate) ligament in your knee. An ACL injury may make your knee feel unstable or loose, and your knee may "give way" if you return to your sport too quickly. Although an active lifestyle benefits your overall health, exercise isn't always easy on your knees. The anterior cruciate ligament is especially susceptible to the...

Medical treatment is suggested only in cases of chronic or severe acne and should be taken from the dermatologist. To outline the drug treatment, it aims chiefly to:   * Cut down the bacteria in the hair follicles and on the skin surface.   * Open the hair follicles by removal of the blackheads.   * Cut down the acne inflammations. Local Drug Treatments The local drug...

There are many variations of acne, ranging in severity from mild to severely disfiguring. Acne Vulgaris is the most common form of acne. Acne vulgaris lesions include blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts. Mild to Moderate acne vulgaris consists of the following types of acne spots: Whiteheads: Whiteheads result when a pore is completely blocked, trapping sebum (oil), bacteria,...

There is a range of treatment options to help treat acne. As acne can't be cured, treatments aim to control the symptoms by: * preventing new spots forming * improving those already present * preventing scarring Your GP will usually assess your treatment after six weeks and, if beneficial, treatment will continue for four to six months. Self-help. It's important to keep spot-prone...

There are a number of things that can make your acne worse. These include the following. * If you pick and squeeze the spots, it may cause further inflammation and scarring. * Excessive production of male hormones may cause acne. For example, testosterone from conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome. * Some contraceptive pills may make acne worse. This is due to the type of progestogen hormone...

If you noticed the acne you had when you were 15 has returned in your 30s, rest assured, you're in good company. One in five women between the ages of 25 and 40 suffer from adult acne. Here are a few facts about adult acne and how to rid your skin of it: Fact #1: Acne usually begins with blackheads Blackheads are not dirt, they're actually the result of oil and dead cells getting trapped in a pore...

Acid reflux syndrome is also known as GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease). It is a disease that should not be ignored or self-treated. Therefore, getting the right acid reflux information is important. Acid reflux happens when acid and other materials in the stomach back flow or reflux into the esophagus. (The esophagus is the 10 inch long tube linking the throat and the stomach). In most cases, the...

The original acid reflux cause is still unconfirmed by the doctors. However, there are a few possible contributing causes of acid reflux disease. They include: The most common acid reflux cause is an esophageal sphincter that does not function properly. The esophageal sphincter is a tough rim of muscle that surrounds the lower end of the esophagus. When food is eaten, the sphincter contracts strongly to...

 Many people take over-the-counter antacids for a quick ease of acid reflux, but for most people, a proper diet is the best solution for overcoming acid reflux. Acid Reflux Diet Myth * Myth 1: Drink milk A lot of people try drinking milk to ease acid reflux before sleep. But often, milk ends up causing acid reflux during sleep. To understand the whole situation, we have to realize that the problem...

Medications commonly used in the treatment of acid reflux include: Acid suppressants, such as histamine2-receptor antagonists (blockers). Histamine is a chemical released in the body under different conditions, but particularly during inflammation. In the stomach it can release more acid, so blocking it reduces acid production.   Proton pump inhibitors, which reduce the production of acid in...

Acid reflux treatment may vary from person to person, depending on the seriousness of the disease and the individuals' body condition. Unfortunately, there isn't one acid reflux cure for all. Acid reflux disease treatments can be classified into 5 main categories: Lifestyle changes as acid reflux cure In most acid reflux diseases, adopting lifestyle changes as a natural cure for acid reflux...

Most of the acid reflux symptoms are related to the cause of acid reflux, which is the back up of acid and other materials from the stomach into the esophagus. While the signs or symptoms of acid reflux disease may be unpleasant, it should be noted that these acid reflux symptoms may not happen everyday or after every meal. It's possible that the the acid reflux disease symptoms may disappear for a few weeks...

Acid Reflux occurs when the tube that you uses to intake the food from the throat to stomach is not strong enough to handle the acid. The food in taken by you is digested by the stomach with the help of an acid produced and stored by it.  The stomach walls are built strong enough to store that acid without causing damage. For unknown reasons when acid flows back into the oesophagus from stomach it creates...

 Athlete's Foot – Also called: Tinea pedis Athlete's foot is a common infection caused by the tinea fungus. It is not serious. Symptoms include itching, burning and cracked, scaly skin between your toes. Tinea grows best in damp, dark and warm places, which is why it often develops between your toes. It can spread to your toenails, as well, making them thick and crumbly. You can get...