Good communication between patients, family caregivers, and the health care team is very important in cancer care. Good communication between patients with cancer, family caregivers, and the health care team helps improve patients' well-being and quality of life. Communicating about concerns and decision making is...
Comorbidity (say "koh-mor-BID-uh-tee") means that a person has two or more diseases at the same time. These are usually long-term (chronic) diseases that need treatment for a lifetime. Examples of comorbidities include having both high blood pressure and diabetes, or having high cholesterol, heart failure, and diabetes...
What are artificial sweeteners? Artificial sweeteners can be used instead of sugar to sweeten foods and drinks. They are also found in many foods sold in grocery stores. These sweeteners, also called sugar substitutes, are made from chemicals and natural substances. The most common sugar substitutes are: Aspartame...
Nicotine replacement therapies are helpful for people who quit smoking. They are available in several forms, such as patches, gum, lozenges, nasal sprays, and inhalers. All forms of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) work equally well. But talk with your doctor about what products might be best for you and what...
Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are different types of arthritis. They share some similar characteristics, but each has different symptoms and requires different treatment. So an accurate diagnosis is important. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis affects about one-tenth as...
Several medicines can help you stop smoking. You can take medicine to reduce your craving for nicotine. You also can use nicotine replacement products to reduce cravings and give you smaller and smaller amounts of nicotine. Your doctor can help you decide which medicine—or combination of medicines—will work best for...
It is normal for your child to be moody or somewhat grouchy as they get older. But if your child is sad or grouchy for a long time or seems to take less pleasure in activities they used to enjoy, it could point to depression. Depression is not a normal part of growing up. Deciding whether your child's behavior is normal...
Compartment syndrome is a painful condition that develops when swelling takes place within an enclosed area (compartment), in which muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and bones in the compartment have no room to expand. Pressure on arteries, veins, and nerves causes extreme pain, slows circulation to the muscles and...
Compensation is a process in which the brain learns how to ignore false signals sent from the part of the inner ear that detects motion. The false signals, sent when the inner ear is injured or diseased, conflict with the signals from the other balance centers in the body. This results in the symptom called vertigo (a...
Complement C1 esterase inhibitor is a man-made form of a protein in blood that helps control swelling in the body. People with a condition called hereditary angioedema do not have enough of this protein. Hereditary angioedema can cause attacks of swelling and symptoms such as stomach problems or trouble breathing...
A complement test uses a blood sample to detect a group of proteins that help the body attack foreign substances. When there are a lot of foreign substances in the body, such as bacteria or viruses, a low level of complement means the body is trying to get rid of the foreign substances. If the body is attacking its own...
Complementary medicine is treatment and medicine that you use in addition to your doctor's standard care. (The word "complementary" means "in addition to.") It includes mind and body practices like acupuncture, natural health products like dietary supplements, and alternative health approaches like traditional Chinese...
Provides links on yoga, massage therapy, and dietary supplements. Also links to information on naturopathic medicine. Interactive links include stress management, muscle relaxation, and deciding whether to use complementary medicine.
Describes complementary and alternative medicine, including how well it works and how to use it safely. Provides links to various therapies, including homeopathy, yoga, acupuncture, and chiropractic.
A lot of people use some form of complementary medicine to treat osteoarthritis. These treatments are often used along with standard care to help relieve their arthritis symptoms. Some of these treatments may help you move more easily and deal with the stress and pain of arthritis. But in some cases, not much is known...
A complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test that gives important information about the kinds and numbers of cells in the blood, especially red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. A CBC helps your doctor evaluate symptoms (such as weakness, fatigue, or bruising) and diagnose conditions (such as anemia...
A complete blood count (CBC) gives important information about the kinds and numbers of cells in the blood, especially red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. A CBC helps your doctor check any symptoms that you may have, such as weakness, fatigue, or bruising. A CBC also helps him or her diagnose conditions...
Learn what happens during a complete blood count test and why you would need one.
What is complex regional pain syndrome? Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a term used to describe a group of painful conditions. Examples of earlier names for these conditions include reflex sympathetic dystrophy, causalgia, and Sudeck's atrophy. Pain is the main symptom of CRPS. Most people have severe pain in...
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a condition that can occur after an injury or surgery. Ongoing pain in the area of the injury or surgery is the main symptom of CRPS. The pain is much worse and lasts longer than a person would expect for the type of injury they had. Some people don't have an injury or surgery...
Several factors determine whether you have a complicated urinary tract infection. You have symptoms, such as: A high temperature, greater than 101°F (38.3°C). Ongoing nausea, vomiting, and chills. Your condition getting worse in spite of doctor-directed home treatment. You have other risks, such as: Diabetes. Pregnancy...
Complications from ear infections are rare. But some problems that can occur include: Trouble hearing. Hearing problems are usually temporary and mild to moderate. Long-lasting hearing loss is rare. But some children may have problems learning to talk and understand speech if they have repeat ear infections. Rupture of...
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) rarely has complications. When it does, they are often due to severe obstruction of the urine flow. These complications include: Complete blockage of the urethra (acute urinary retention, or AUR). This results in a complete inability to urinate. It can cause kidney damage, which may be...
Health problems that can develop from grieving include depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and physical illness. If you or someone you know experiences any of the following problems, contact a doctor or mental health professional for counseling, medicine, or both. Depression Depression is the most common condition...
People who have lupus may develop problems with different organs and systems of the body. These include problems with: The blood. There may be changes in the blood cells, anemia, and changes to organs related to circulation, such as the spleen or lymph nodes. Some people with lupus produce antibodies that attack certain...
Most people find osteoarthritis to be a nuisance that eventually becomes significant enough to affect their daily activities. And sometimes there are more serious complications. Possible complications of osteoarthritis include: Rapid, complete breakdown of cartilage resulting in loose tissue material in the joint...
Paget's disease can cause complications such as: Osteoarthritis. Paget's disease can damage the bone around a joint. This can cause the cartilage in the joint to weaken and break down, which leads to arthritis. Many people feel bone or joint pain before they are diagnosed with Paget's disease and osteoarthritis. Broken...
A peptic ulcer may cause problems such as: Bleeding. Peptic ulcers sometimes bleed. Sometimes an ulcer may involve just the surface lining of the digestive tract. The person may then have a slow but constant loss of blood into the digestive tract. Over time, this may cause anemia. If ulcers become larger and go deeper...
Because of the intensity of therapy associated with the transplant process, the pretransplant clinical status of recipients (e.g., age, presence of infections or organ dysfunction, and functional status) is associated with a risk of transplant-related mortality. The best tool to assess the impact of pretransplant...
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel—Topic Overview A comprehensive metabolic panel is a blood test that measures your sugar (glucose) level, electrolyte and fluid balance, kidney function, and liver function. Glucose is a type of sugar your body uses for energy. Electrolytes keep your body's fluids in balance. They also help...
