Archive for the ‘Patients/Specific Diseases’ Category
It is estimated that 10 million people over age 50 in the United States
have osteoporosis, 80 percent of them women. Another 34 million people have osteopenia (low bone mass), which predisposes them to developing osteoporosis as they age. One in two women and about one in four men over age 50 will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture during their lifetime. The term osteoporosis actually means “porous bones” – a condition in which the bones Read more…
Popularity: 8% [?]
One of the most interesting illnesses I encountered as a psychiatric
nurse was obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It is actually a type of anxiety disorder. It is not your typical feeling of fear, worry or anxiety; people with obsessive-compulsive disorder will have these normal emotions but take them to extreme. For example, people with OCD might have thoughts about bad things that could happen. In addition, OCD patients will have upsetting or scary Read more…
Popularity: 4% [?]
Jaundice
The liver is an extraordinary organ in the human body. It is vital to our survival and performs several functions. The liver is located in the upper right hand side of the abdomen and it processes the body’s nutrients. In addition, this powerhouse organ manufactures bile to help digest fats, synthesizing many important proteins. Further, the liver breaks down potentially toxic substances into ones that the body can use or excrete. Finally, it is responsible Read more…
Popularity: 4% [?]
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body. Its diameter is about the size of a human finger. Sciatica actually refers to pain resulting from irritation of the sciatic nerve. Typically the pain is felt from the low back to behind the thigh and radiating down below the knee. Further, sciatica usually affects one side Read more…
Popularity: 4% [?]
FULL OF GLUTEN
A nursing friend and former colleague of mine has had celiac disease (CD) for quite some time. I didn’t know much about the disorder until she went to Italy for a whole month and I learned about her eating habits while she was gone. This is a disease that is more common than one would think. It actually affects 1 in 133 people in the United States, and only 3% of these are diagnosed. I also learned that it is an inherited disease, there is no cure, it can Read more…
Popularity: 3% [?]
A couple of months ago I wrote about hospital-acquired infections – who is susceptible, what causes them, how they are spread, the most common types and steps to prevent the infections. Today, HAI (Hospital-Acquired Infection or Healthcare-Associated Infection) continues to soar in hospitals all over the world! This is a global crisis affecting patients, their visitors and healthcare personnel. I had an email from Barbara Dunn the other day and she has been instrumental in setting up a wonderful website, through Kimberly-Clark Healthcare, entitled “Not on My Watch” at http://www.haiwatch.com/ This site is joining in an effort to educate patients, healthcare professionals and the general public on the dangers of these preventable infections and to protect people from getting sick in Read more…
Popularity: 5% [?]
Toxic shock syndrome is caused by a toxin produced by certain types
of Staphylococcus bacteria. A similar syndrome, called toxic shock-like syndrome (TSLS), can be caused by Streptococcal bacteria. Although the earliest described cases of toxic shock syndrome involved women who were using tampons during menstruation, just slightly over half Read more…
Popularity: 16% [?]
Crohn’s disease is a lifelong inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Parts of the digestive system get swollen and have deep sores called ulcers. The disease usually is found in the last part of the small intestine and the first part of the large intestine, but it can develop anywhere in the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. Doctors don’t know what causes Crohn’s disease. You may get it when the body’s immune system has an abnormal response to normal bacteria Read more…
Popularity: 4% [?]
Tourette syndrome (TS), or Tourette disorder, is more common
Origins of Tourette Syndrome
than doctors once thought. It affects at least 1 in 1,000 to 2,000 people and maybe more. It is believed that about 100,000 Americans have the disorder. Many more may have other tic disorders that are less severe. Tourette syndrome is more common in Read more…
Popularity: 5% [?]
Knee injuries often occur among active teens, especially athletes, and a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) – a ligament that helps give the knee its stability – is a common knee injury. Teens who play contact sports (like football and basketball) or so-called “cutting” sports (like soccer and baseball that feature swift, abrupt Read more…
Popularity: 7% [?]
