Hyperthyroidism also occurs in other situations. In the elderly it may be caused by an enlarged, lumpy thyroid gland called a toxic nodular goiter. Usually such individuals have had a goiter for several years and the increased thyroid activity has developed very slowly. Women who have just had a baby are also prone to hyperthyroidism. This form is called postpartum thyroiditis. read more
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped, small organ located in the lower part of the front of the neck between the voice box (Adam’s apple) and the top of the breastbone. It lies in front and along the sides of the windpipe, or trachea. The normal thyroid gland is thin, difficult to feel and usually not visible.
Some medications can help treat DCM, including DCM that causes heart failure or an arrhythmia. For heart failure, the most commonly prescribed drugs are diuretics, ACE inhibitors, and digoxin. Beta blockers are the newest tool for improving survival in people with heart failure due to DCM. If DCM causes an arrhythmia, doctors may prescribe an anticoagulant or antiarrhythmic drug or insert an implantable defibrillator, which can shock the heart back to a normal rhythm.
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The risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was 22 percent lower in older patients who were taking statin drugs, according to a study appearing in the June 11 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
DVT is a condition in which blood clots (thrombi) form in veins. read more
Q.My father recently has been experiencing severe back problems. His doctor told him that it might be caused by tight hamstring muscles. My father is very fit and has a clean bill of health. Are there any exercises that might help him loosen his hamstring muscles? read more
Ruth Ann Carpenter, a registered dietician at the Cooper Institute in Dallas, Texas, says, “Snacking has received a ‘bum rap’ because it is perceived as a forbidden activity for people in weight loss programs. Snacking doesn’t add calories to your total daily calorie intake; snacking simply spreads your calories over the day. For example, you can save the fruit from your morning meal for a late-morning snack rather than eating pastry or drinking a soft drink.”
This time of year many people find themselves sniffling and sneezing. Can you tell the difference between a cold, flu or something more serious… like allergies or sinusitis? This question can sometimes stump doctors. However, there are little clues that can save you a trip to the doctor’s office.
The most common is a cold. Colds are caused by viruses, which people pass. Allergies have similar symptoms, however, an allergy is hypersensitive to a specific substance. Colds and allergies tend to cause itchy, watery eyes and coughs. With a cold, the cough is wet and usually mucus producing. Allergies have dry coughs. read more