What Does "Blast" Mean In Medical Terminology

Medical terms may initially seem overly complicated and indecipherable. For example, the term "neuroblastoma," while perhaps intimidating to the layperson, describes a very specific condition to medical professionals.

Assorted pharmaceuticals.

Root Words

All medical terms are built around a "root word" or a word that encapsulates the focus of a condition or illness. In "neuroblastoma" the root word is "blast," which refers to a germ or an immature cell. According to CancerIndex.org's "Components of Medical Terminology," medical terms are composed of a prefix, root word, and suffix. If you're having difficulties understanding a medical term, you only need to break down the word into its parts to get a general understanding of the condition or illness it refers to. The prefix "neuro-" may sound familiar. A neurological condition refers to any illness that afflicts the nervous system, so "neuro-" refers to the nerves or nervous system. The suffix "-oma" refers to to a tumor or growth, so a neuroblastoma is a tumor formed of immature nerve cells. Because it involves the growth of abnormal cells, neuroblastoma is a type of cancer.

Etymology

Etymology is the study of word origins. Many words in science and especially medicine have their roots in Greek and Latin. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word "carcinoma" can be understood by looking at its Greek root word, "karkinoma" meaning "a cancer" (its original form, "karkinos," means crab). "Carcinoma," then, means cancerous tumor.

Prefixes

A prefix is a series of letters that come before a root word to change its meaning. Medical terms begin with a prefix, many of which are used in everyday terms. For example, the prefix "dys-" means painful or difficult. "Hyper-" is also a commonly used medical prefix, which means excessive or above. Someone with "hyperglycemia," then, has a high blood sugar level as glycemic is a form of the word "glucose," which means sugar.

Other Meanings

The term "BLAST" is also is used as an acronym for the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool according to MedTerms.com. The BLAST program analyzes genetic material to find similarities between two (or more) species for scientific study.

Significance

Obviously, if you're a medical student or already in the medical field, you most likely know the basic roots, prefixes, and suffixes of medical terminology. If you're not in the medical field, it is still helpful to know medical terms so you can understand the language used to describe an illness that may befall either you or a family member.

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Manage A Gastric Sleeve Leak

Manage a Gastric Sleeve Leak

A gastric sleeve leak may occur after a laparoscopic sleeve gasterectomy, a surgical procedure used to treat obesity, is performed. A gastric sleeve leak occurs when one or more of the staples in the stomach do not hold and stomach acids begin to leak through the stomach, resulting in infections and damage to other organs. According to doctormarvin.com, a gastric sleeve leak is a potentially life threatening condition that occurs in about 1 out of 100 patients.

Instructions

1. See a doctor immediately if there are signs of a gastric sleeve leak. Symptoms of a sleeve leak include pain in the abdomen that gets worse rather than better, swelling in the stomach, pain in the left shoulder or chest, dizziness, fever, infection and the appearance of sickness. Though these symptoms are similar to stomach bleeding symptoms as a result of the surgery, they are also very common with a gastric sleeve leak. Only a doctor can determine whether you are suffering from a gastric sleeve leak or bleeding from the stomach due to surgery.

2. Arrange for draining and parenteral or enteral feeding at a hospital. One possible option for treatment and management of a gastric sleeve leak is to drain away stomach acids, and feed patients through either a catheter or intravenously. This allows the stomach to heal so that the leak stops, while keeping the stomach acids from reaching other organs.

3. Have a second surgery. Though there are two options for dealing with this problem, the most common way to manage and fix a gastric sleeve leak is by open surgery. Doctors go in and fix the leak in the stomach and also remove any acids that have leaked into the body cavity or onto other organs.

4. Stay in the hospital for the time necessary to recover. Since both methods are invasive and major, the patient should stay in the hospital until he is out of potential danger. You can expect to spend up to 30 days in the hospital recuperating from either of these procedures.

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How Does Gastric Bypass Surgery Work

Surgery to Save a Life

Morbid obesity is a relatively new phenomenon as it pertains to the American way of life. Due, perhaps, to the amount of overprocessed, sugary foods that are available to us in mass quantities for not a lot of money (and ready to be eaten with minimal preparation), America's average weight has soared in the last 100 years. And with that soaring average has come a host of health issues. Exercise and dieting are always options, but what happens when these options fail?

Now, gastric bypass surgery can be performed on those people whose way of life is threatened by their size. The surgery essentially creates a smaller stomach. This is done by surgically stapling one small pocket of the upper stomach so that the food is retained there, and has no chance to be delivered into the larger stomach as a whole. The GI tract is then fitted to drain the upper stomach pouch, effectively eliminating the rest of the stomach as a functioning organ.

Who Is a Candidate For the Surgery?

Gastric bypass surgery is not for people who just have a little spare tire to lose, or would like to fit into a smaller size dress this summer. There are strict guidelines by which surgeons decide whether a patient is a candidate for this complicated, sometimes risky surgery. These guidelines are based around the Body Mass Index, or the BMI. Typically, a person must possess a BMI of 40 or higher to be a candidate for surgery. Alternatively, they may possess a BMI of 35, if it is accompanied by one or more severe obesity-related conditions (such as diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea or liver disease).

The Aftermath

Gastric bypass surgery works to reduce weight in patients because they feel full after consuming just a tiny portion of food (immediately following surgery, this amount is typically about the equivalent of a handful of grapes). However, while the surgery has a tremendous success rate in lowering excess body mass, it is not a magic cure-all, and the patient must decide to make changes in her lifestyle. This includes an exercise program, and choosing to eat a more healthy diet. Though rare, there have been incidences of patients "eating their way out of" the stomach stapling, which can essentially negate the effect of the surgery, as well as further endanger the person's health.

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How Does Freezingpoint Depression Work

Freezing-point depression helps to keep roads clear of snow.

It takes just one snowstorm for us to be thankful that our knowledge of science can help us deal with the fierce beauty of nature. Being able to lower the freezing point of water enables us to travel safely on winter roads.

What Is the Freezing Point

The freezing point is the temperature at which water freezes. At normal atmospheric pressure, water freezes at 0° Centigrade.

Freezing-Point Depression

Freezing-point depression refers to the lowering of the temperature at which water freezes. Thus, the ambient temperature needs to be colder than 0°C before water will freeze.

How the Freezing Point Works

Water freezes when the movement of the water molecules slows down due to the cold. This slower movement makes the molecules line up in a crystalline pattern to form ice. However, the addition of a solvent, for example salt, interferes with the ordering of the water molecules. So, though the temperature continues to be 0°C, ice does not form until the temperature drops even further. It needs greater cold to affect the movement of the molecules so a crystalline grid of ice forms.

Significance

Knowing how freezing-point depression works allows us to use the principle to make daily life easier. Spraying salt on snowbound roads help to clear the snow and makes for a safer drive. Home ice cream makers also benefit from freezing-point depression by keeping the machine cool for longer periods.

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Burn Calories Without Exercise

To lose weight, a person must burn more calories than he or she consumes, but this isn't done only through exercise. Calories are burned while doing housework, reading and even sleeping, and the amount of calories burned during everyday activities can be increased if you know how.

Instructions

1. Go to bed hungry. Instead of eating a late dinner or having a snack before bed, retire on an empty stomach. Your body has to burn some calories even while you're sleeping, and if there isn't any food in your stomach when you go to sleep, you'll wake up a little less fat than when you went to bed.

2. Drink ice water. You'll have to burn some calories to heat the cold water to body temperature. If you drink 8 glasses of ice water a day, you'll burn about 70 calories.

3. Fidget. Tapping your toes, drumming your fingers, doodling and even chewing gum all burn some calories. Ignore the advice of your parents and teachers, who wanted you to learn to sit still.

4. Laugh. You'll burn 20 percent more calories watching a funny movie than you would if you watched a drama. You can also watch comedies on TV, see comics perform live and read funny stories.

5. Eat spicy foods. Spices like cayenne pepper, cumin and curry have been shown to increase your metabolism for a few minutes after eating them, burning a few more calories than after eating bland foods.

6. Add protein, especially dairy foods, to your diet. This will keep your body from breaking down your muscles for the protein it needs, and the more muscle you have, the more calories you will burn.

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Breast Growth After Reduction

A breast reduction can improve the quality of life for someone who has been living with shoulder and back pain for years. However, for a select few breast-reduction patients, the breasts can grow back after the surgery is completed, bringing back the pain and, often, anger and confusion.

Reasons for Growth

If you have already had a breast reduction, your surgeon should have gone over all the ins and outs of the surgery, from pre- to post-op procedures. The subject of post-reduction breast growth is commonly addresed when planning and waiting for the surgery. Most doctors tell their patients that it is likely their breasts will increase in size over the first several months post-op while their new breasts are adjusting and getting settled in to their new size and shape. After the first year, the average patient will safely be able to say she has a new, smaller cup size.

But for those who experience growth beyond this time, there is always some concern as to why this could be occurring. ThePlasticSurgeryGroup.com says that in very rare instances, a second procedure will have to be performed if breast growth continues after the surgery. Often the reasons for breast re-growth are simple. Pregnancy can increase breast size in women who have had reductions, just as it can for women who have not. Weight gain can also be a factor in increasing breast size after a reduction. Alternatively, weight loss can often result in breast-size reduction as well.

The website for England-based surgeon Andrew Yelland, FCRS, says that women should expect breasts to droop and change shape over time, just as normal breasts would. This is just thanks to being a woman and the effects of time and gravity on our bodies.

Word of Caution

In the event you have had a breast reduction and are seeing significant growth without having gained weight or become pregnant, schedule a visit with your gynecologist right away to ensure there are not more serious issues at hand, such as growths or tumors in the breasts.

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What Are The Causes Of Stress In An Organization

According to the World Health Organization, organizational, or workplace, stress can affect an organization's ability to be competitive within its market. When workers are stressed, they are less likely to be healthy, motivated, and productive.

Organizational Change

Change in an organization can cause stress for employees that are unwilling to accept the changes. Such behavior can then cause stress for their supervisors and coworkers.

Task Design

Tasks that are mundane or unpleasant and a workload that is either too heavy or too light can cause stress in workers. Lack of control over workload and work-pace is also a source of stress.

Management Style

Workplace leaders can cause stress when they classify subordinates' views as unethical, incompetent, or irrelevant. Leaders who do not include workers in decision-making or who communicate poorly also cause stress.

Interpersonal Relationships

Lack of support from coworkers and supervisors, harassment, and a lack of procedures for dealing with workplace issues are sources of organizational stress.

Work/Life Balance

The emergence of new technologies--laptops, smartphones and wifi--has lead to a lack of division between work life and social life for some workers and is a source of organizational stress.

Physical Conditions

Unsafe or unpleasant work environments can cause workplace stress. Examples of unpleasant conditions include work environments that are too noisy, too hot, too cold, or that exhibit poor ergonomic design.

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Make Blended Aromatherapy Oils

Make Blended Aromatherapy Oils

Essential oils can be blended in ways that complement their healing qualities. Blending aromatherapy oils requires knowledge about the properties of essential oils, ways to apply blends and an understanding of carrier oils. Essential oils are categorized according to fragrances that are distinguished according to top, middle and base notes. Blending simply requires a balance among the three notes. Here are the steps for making blended aromatherapy oils.

Instructions

1. Select essential oils that complement one another, providing the necessary balance of notes. For example, if you want a cheering aroma, you can blend thyme (top note) with chamomile (middle note) and jasmine (bottom note). Use the essential oils chart provided in the Resources section below.

2. Pour .39 oz. carrier oil into a glass bowl. Use this as the base for diluting the essential oils. Carrier oils "carry" the essential oils to your skin and prevent irritation caused by undiluted essential oils. Examples of carrier oils are grapeseed and sweet almond oils.

3. Dilute essential oils in carrier base. Use a dropper to control amounts needed.

4. Mix with a small stick (a coffee stirrer works well). Avoid contacting the oil with your skin until fully blended. Do this with each essential oil that you are blending.

5. Using a cup with a lip, pour the blend into the vial or small blue bottle. Store remainder of undiluted oil in brown bottles. Remember that blue bottles are for blended concoctions and brown bottles are for pure essential oils. Store in cool, dark places away from children.

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How Does Diabetes Cause Kidney Failure

With over 20 million people in the United States affected and those numbers on the rise, diabetes remains a major health concern. Although Type 2 diabetes is by far the most common, Type 1 and gestational diabetes also pose health risks to some individuals. All types of diabetes involve problems with insulin and the body's ability to convert sugars into energy. Diabetes is a serious disease, due to the number of related health conditions it can cause. Kidney failure is one of the more devastating health issues caused by diabetes.

Diabetes occurs when the body begins to have a problem with insulin, either by not being able to produce enough or by becoming resistant to utilizing the insulin produced. Either way, both types can lead to kidney damage, if not properly treated. Since insulin is the hormone responsible for prompting the cells to uptake sugar from the blood, diabetic patients typically have high blood sugar levels. Over time, these elevated levels force the kidneys to filter excessive amounts of blood, which damages the kidneys and causes them to leak. If not caught early, the kidneys will continue to break down and lose their ability to filter, and protein will escape into the urine, while waste products will back-up in the blood. This eventually leads to kidney failure.

Although diabetes can lead to kidney failure in some cases, you can reduce your risk if you treat the disease properly. Sticking to dietary restrictions and taking medications, including insulin injections if necessary, will help prevent chronic kidney disease in many cases. Weight loss can also be helpful, and regular monitoring of blood pressure is a must. And even if diabetes progresses to chronic renal disease, it doesn't always lead to kidney failure. When caught early, kidney disease is treatable, so if you're diabetic, make sure to discuss regular screenings for kidney issues.

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How Does Crystal Healing Work

Variety of Crystals

What Are Healing Crystals?

Crystals are used in healing to enhance and amplify the healing energies being used. Crystals and stones can be used on their own, in conjunction with Reiki healing or other types of therapy. These crystals are found throughout the world and range from different types of quartz crystal to jade and rubies. Clear quartz crystal is the most commonly used stone for overall healing and balancing, but many types are used for different reasons.

How Crystals Work

Crystals used in crystal healing cleanse, balance and amplify all healing energies to their highest capacity. Each crystal has its own unique properties and energies. Clear quartz, for example, balances and harmonizes your body and dispels negativity, activating positive energy within your body. Hematite is a grounding stone, which can deflect negativity as well as balance the body. These energies naturally occur in crystals and will react and then work with the energy in your body.

Healing With Crystals

Healing your body with crystals can be done in many ways. You can benefit from the healing properties of crystals just by carrying them in your pocket or holding them when you feel ill. Getting a Reiki crystal healing can heal and balance your entire body. The Reiki practitioner will place specific crystals on the chakras of the body to draw out unwanted energy and infuse the body with healing universal and Earth energy. Some massage therapists and spiritual counselors work with crystals and may be able to teach you work with crystals on your own.

Alternative Medicine

Crystal healing is considered a form of alternative healthcare. It is important to follow your doctor's or healthcare practitioner's advice. However, you can explore and learn about alternative types of medicine, including crystal healing, and infuse these into your life. Healing your body and mind are about balance, so take your time to learn and incorporate crystals into your life.

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Ways To Improve Your Child'S Visual Perception

Inexpensive and homemade games can be used to help children improve visual perception.

A child who has weak visual perception may struggle to identify numbers, words or letters. He may also have a difficult time differentiating between objects and symbols. You can use games to help him improve visual acuity. It is important to understand that vision and visual perception are two different things. Vision is visual clarity and the eye's ability to focus on objects that are near and far. Visual perception is the ability to organize and integrate visual patterns.

Board Games

Board games help develop visual perception by incorporating a variety of perceptual skills. Classic games such as Chutes and Ladders and Candy Land are good examples. These games have colorful boards and play pieces. By playing games such as these, children are required to focus on several objects at once. These games can help improve visual spatial relations, or the ability to identify distance between objects. Children have to place a small play pieces or cards into a specific box.

Sports

Sports activities that involve throwing to a target in the distance, running, kicking and catching will help your child practice using his eyes and the rest of his body simultaneously. Sports help to improve visual tracking which is the ability to follow visually follow an object. If your child has a difficult time catching a ball, that could be an indication of weak visual perception or undeveloped motor skills.

Cube Play

Playing with cubes will help your child improve visual perception, as well as spatial awareness and attention to detail. You can work with her to improve simple or complex designs using the blocks. You can also encourage in-hand manipulation skills by challenging her rotate blocks held in one hand or switching blocks from one hand to the other.

The Memory Game

The card game Memory has been on the market for over 20 years. Children can improve visual perception, as well as memory, by playing. The object of the game is to remember where matching cards are placed, face down. Some cards that at first glance may appear to be the same actually have entirely different images. By playing the game, children get an opportunity to build object differentiation skills, which will ultimately improve visual perception.

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How Does Cholesterol Contribute To A Heart Attack

What Is a Heart Attack?

A heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction (MI), happens when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked. When this happens, that part of the heart is damaged. This can lead to the death of those affected cells from not having enough oxygen if the blood flow is not restored fast enough.

Heart attack is the number one cause of death in the United States, followed by cancer. Chances of surviving a heart attack are directly related to the amount of time it takes to get treatment after the heart attack starts. For this reason, it is imperative that people know the signs of a heart attack, know first aid and CPR, and get medical attention early.

Most heart attacks are brought on by CAD, or coronary artery disease. CAD is a build-up of plaque in the arteries that carry blood to the heart. This plaque builds up over a long period of time and can burst. When it does, it can cause a blood clot that can block the artery totally or partially. This cuts off the supply of blood to the heart and causes a heart attack.

How Cholesterol Contributes to a Heart Attack

The plaque that builds up in the coronary arteries is made up of a fatty material called cholesterol that floats around in the blood. Although cholesterol can contribute to heart attacks, our bodies need it. There is good and bad cholesterol. The bad cholesterol, LDL, is the kind that builds up in the coronary arteries. The good cholesterol, HDL, helps to clear the arteries. Total cholesterol level is an indicator of risk for heart disease. However, more important than total cholesterol is the amount of HDL. Having healthy amounts of HDL lowers risk for heart disease because it carries away the fatty deposits from the arteries back to the liver.

Where Does Cholesterol Come From?

Our bodies naturally make all the cholesterol we need. However, we also get it from the food we eat. Foods from animal sources contain cholesterol. Some examples are shrimp, butter, beef, eggs and cheese. One egg yolk contains almost as much cholesterol as should be eaten in a day. The American Heart Association recommends that we eat no more than 300 mg of cholesterol each day. That limit is 200 mg per day if you already have heart disease.

Lower Cholesterol

There are several ways to lower cholesterol. Talk to your doctor about whether your cholesterol levels are high and what course of action to take to reduce them. Some ways to lower cholesterol are: cardiovascular exercise; reduce cholesterol in the diet; take cholesterol-lowering medication; eat soy protein; avoid smoking.

According to the FDA, eating at least 25 g of soy protein per day combined with a diet low in cholesterol will reduce the risk of heart disease by up to 10 percent. For every 1 percent reduction in cholesterol, there is a 2 percent reduction in the risk for heart disease.

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What Are The Causes Of Abdominal Enlargement In Non Hodgkins Lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a form of cancer that originates in lymph node cells, fluids and tissues. The lymph nodes are responsible for creating the autoimmune cells in your body used to fight off diseases and infections. Some organs that contain lymph nodes and tissues are the spleen, adenoids, thymus gland, bone marrow and digestive tract. Although cancers that originate elsewhere can spread to the lymphatic system, cancers that originate in the system are considered lymphoma.

Since there are more than 30 types of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, it can be difficult to specifically diagnose. No matter the type, cancerous lymphoma cells severely impact the immune system. These infected cells can mimic certain genetic traits that would suppress the immune system's natural response to fight off invaders. Yet cancerous cells can destroy the immune system by robbing it of the nutrients necessary to produce antibodies. Another problem with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma is the location and size of tumor masses. These tumors can form in areas that obstruct the body's organs and paths. Particular types of Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas will originate in the abdomen.

Burkitt Lymphoma

Burkitt Lymphoma, a form of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, occurs when large tumor masses originate in the abdomen, starting in the bowels. Some research suggests that this form of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma originates with the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes glandular fever or mononucleosis. Symptoms include swelling, loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss.

Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma is a more common type of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, affecting 20 percent of those diagnosed. The median age of the patients is 57. The infection is usually pretty localized in an organ or area, particularly the abdomen. Genetics are a major factor. Between 20 and 40 percent of those diagnosed have rearranged sequences in the BCL6 gene. Mutations in the non-coded region are also present in 70 percent of patients.

Treatment

Aggressive Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma types can be difficult to treat, especially through surgery. These lymphomas often spread to other organs quickly. Surgical methods can be used to remove large portions of tumors that are obstructing the abdominal area (particularly the intestines). Most traditional treatment involves chemotherapy. Large B-Cell Lymphoma can be easily treated if caught early because of its localizing characteristics.

Tags: B-Cell Lymphoma, immune system, Large B-Cell, Large B-Cell Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, area particularly

How Does Cervical Cancer Kill A Person

Identification

Cervical cancer is cancer that forms in the cervix, located at the bottom of the uterus. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 11,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2007; nearly one-third of them died. Cervical cancer differs from many other cancers because the primary cause or risk factor is not genetic or hereditary. It originates from a virus called the human papillomavirus, or HPV. HPV is a virus that many immune systems can handle. But if a certain strain of the virus does not completely leave the body over a certain period of time, it can cause abnormal, cancerous changes to cervical cells.

Symptoms

Early cervical cancer symptoms are often confused with symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome or menstruation. Vaginal discharge, bleeding and abdominal pain could occur. With late-stage cervical cancer, symptoms are more intense and in other body parts. Fatigue, weight loss, pain in the back and legs, or bone fractures can indicate Stage 3 cervical cancer, which has a 30 percent to 40 percent five-year survival rate.

Metastasis

Cervical cancer kills mostly through metastasis, or the spreading of cancer cells. It can take 10 to 15 years for cervical cancer to develop in the body. Precancerous cells are detected in this time via Pap smears or an HPV test. If precancerous cells begin to become cancerous, treatment options are limited because the cells and abnormal growths are too small to see. If cervical cancer is caught in the late stages, the cells may have already spread to other body parts. Women would then have to battle the different related cancer stages associated with those vital organs.

Stage 4 Cancer

The five-year survival rate for Stage 4 cervical cancer is less than 15 percent. With Stage 4 cervical cancer, symptoms are often associated with where the cancer cells have spread. They can quickly spread to other critical body parts, such as the liver, lungs, rectum, bladder or vagina. If cervical cancer cells are in the lungs, shortness of breath and constant chest pain can occur if those cells are in Stage 2. Cervical cancer cells in the rectum can cause massive bacterial infections because rectal issue can become damaged from large tumor growths. Cells in the bladder could turn into tumors that block the body's digestive waste path, causing a backup in the kidneys, which are responsible for filtering out waste from blood.

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Purpose Of A Defibrillator

Defibrillators are devices that are used to regulate the heart rhythm. They are designed to deliver a very brief electric current across the heart muscle. This is accomplished with the either the well-known paddles (metal plates attached to plastic handles) and a conductive gel on the skin or with solid-gel adhesive pads.

Types

There are fully automatic defibrillators, semi-automatic defibrillators (those that can overridden by hand) and full manual defibrillators. There are specialized internal defibrillators that surgeons can employ to apply current directly to the heart muscle. There are also defibrillators that can implanted in some patients.

Settings

Defibrillators are usually found in medical setting such as hospitals and doctor's offices. They are also common on emergency service vehicles, such as ambulances. Fully automatic defibrillators are sometimes found in office buildings and other high traffic areas, such as subway stations.

Causes for Emergency Use

Defibrillators are used in cases of heart attack and life-threatening arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythms).

Non-Emergency Uses

Defibrillators can be used in non-emergency situations to serve a pacemaker-like function though a process called cardioversion to control arrhythmias that are not life-threatening. Implanted defibrillators can be used in this way.

Risks

There is some possibility of burns and, in a small number of cases, damage to the heart when a defibrillator is used. Generally, though, defibrillators are considered to be a very safe medical device.

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Define An Apothecary

Define an Apothecary

Most people only know the word "apothecary" as an outdated term for "pharmacist" (or "chemist" in the United Kingdom). However, apothecaries in history had a much more active role in medical treatment. They kept stocks of herbal remedies in their shops. They prescribed and mixed the remedies through a process called "compounding." Their wares were used to treat everything from infections to digestive troubles. Follow these steps to learn more.

Instructions

Define the Historical Apothecary

1. Study the history of herbal medicines dating back as far as the oldest civilization. Thus, it can be hard to define "apothecary." The word has been used for different things at different times, from a simple store of goods to a person who dispenses medical treatments.

2. Discover that apothecaries did the work of doctors, performing surgeries and acting as male midwives. Every ailment known was treated by apothecaries, though poor people often couldn't afford them and had to rely on a relative or friend with some knowledge of herbs.

3. Remember that herbal medicine has been used everywhere in the world. In some cultures, these medicines and the role of the apothecary aren't considered outdated. You'll find apothecaries in many Asian countries and in Asian communities in Western countries.

Define the Modern Apothecary

4. Discover that the traditional apothecary is making a comeback now that herbal and natural medicines are becoming more popular. There are many pharmacies who also act as apothecaries, creating dosages of medicines that are tailor-made with fresh or dried natural ingredients.

5. Define the modern apothecary as someone who believes that nature provides the resources people need to heal their bodies and spirits. Apothecaries assist their customers with their knowledge of herbs and other natural remedies, and give them the power to keep themselves healthy.

6. Learn herbal and natural medicine from apothecaries who hold training classes or from one of the few schools that offer courses in this area of study. Contact the "Old World Apothecary" Web site for a class schedule (see Resources below).

7. Read more about modern apothecaries by visiting "The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London" Web site (see Resources below).

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Cope With Life After A Hysterectomy

A woman can have a hysterectomy for a variety of reasons, whether it's because of fibroids, cancer, chronic pain, endometriosis, bleeding or other factors. It is a life-changing surgery, but it is possible to cope with life after a hysterectomy.

Instructions

Adverse Side Effects Of Plavix

Plavix is a prescription medication that should be taken on a daily basis to help lessen the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. In general, individuals who have recently suffered either a heart attack or stroke are the people who are recommended to take Plavix. It is also diagnosed for people who have had peripheral artery disease (PAD). As with any medication, there are some potentially negative side effects associated with taking Plavix.

Common Side Effects

The two most common side effects of using Plavix are relatively minor and also very rare. The two most prevalent Plavix side effects are minor bleeding and bruising very easily. These side effects are generally considered harmless, but if they cease to stop or become particularly bothersome, you should seek medical attention.

Severe Side Effects

There are also severally potentially dangerous side effects associated with taking Plavix. These more harmful side effects include vision changes, changes in the amount of urine, bloody or dark urine, yellowing of eyes or skin (like jaundice), speech issues, increased menstrual flow, vaginal bleeding, appetite loss, gum bleeding during tooth brushing, chest tightness, chest pain, fever, sore throat, headache, seizures, pale skin, weakness, unexplained bruises, weight loss and more. If you experience any of these, you should cease using Plavix and seek immediate medical attention.

Allergic Reactions

Those who use Plavix might experience some allergic reactions as well. If you notice signs of severe allergic reaction, including having a hard time breathing, itching, breaking out into hives or unexplained rashes on the skin, you should discontinue use of the medication and consult a doctor.

Excessive Bleeding

Plavix can increase your chances of experiencing the negative and potentially fatal side effect of excessive bleeding. If you notice that it takes a long time for bleeding to stop, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Some symptoms that you should pay attention to are bloody nose, blood in the urine or stools, vomiting blood, or red or purple spots appearing on the skin.

Uncommon Side Effects

There are also some side effects of Plavix that are very rare and occur in less than 2 percent of people who take the medication. Some of these side effects include platelet decrease, hypertension (high blood pressure), depression, anemia, decrease of certain cells within the immune system, urinary tract infection and ulcer or stomach bleeding. If you experience any of these more rare side effects, you should notify your physician as well.

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Use Green Tea To Get Rid Of Migraines

Green tea helps ease migraines because of its caffeine content, which helps open up the constricted blood vessels that are causing the pain. However, consuming caffeine is a balancing act, since everyone has a different tolerance, and too much of it can actually cause a headache. Consume the tea as soon as you notice you are experiencing symptoms, because a migraine can often be staved off if it is caught early.

Instructions

1. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever with an 8 oz. glass of water.

2. Boil a kettle of water.

3. Steep 1 or 2 tsp. of loose green tea leaves in a diffuser for two to three minutes. (Bagged tea has more caffeine and is of a lesser quality than loose tea.)

4. Remove the diffuser from the cup.

5. Dump out the tea. You do this because the younger the tea leaves, the more caffeine they contain, and the first steeping contains the strongest dose of it. Good-quality tea leaves will produce three cups of tea, so you have two left that you can drink.