Chronic venous insufficiency
INTRODUCTION - Chronic venous insufficiency is a common disorder that affects the veins of the legs. Normally, these veins carry blood from the legs to the heart (show figure 1A-1B). In people with chronic venous insufficiency, the veins do not ... [... more]
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Shift work sleep disorder
Insomnia is the most common sleep complaint in the United States. While almost everyone has an occasional night of poor sleep, approximately 10 percent of adults have long-term or chronic insomnia. This topic will review the symptoms, causes, and ... [... more]
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Sunburn
INTRODUCTION - Sunburn results when skin is burned by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, most often after excessive sun exposure. It is common, with nearly 32 percent of adults and between 72 and 83 percent of children and adolescents reporting at least ... [... more]
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Supplemental oxygen on commercial airlines
Preflight patient assessment High altitude and heart disease INTRODUCTION - As air travel has become more common, travel opportunities have increased for people with serious medical conditions. This includes passengers with lung disease who ... [... more]
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Weight loss surgery
Vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) This figure depicts the stomach's appearance after vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), which uses surgical staples to partition off a small pouch in the upper part of the stomach. The outlet from this pouch to ... [... more]
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Immunizations for travel
INTRODUCTION - Travel immunizations can help prevent many of the more serious travel-related health problems. It is important to plan ahead for these immunizations because most of them require four to six weeks to become effective. The ... [... more]
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Headache causes and diagnosis in adults
INTRODUCTION - Headache is one of the most common medical complaints. Headaches can be quite debilitating, although the vast majority are not due to life threatening disorders. Approximately 90 percent of headaches are caused by one of three ... [... more]
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Sleep apnea in adults
HOW SLEEP APNEA OCCURS - The throat is surrounded by muscles that control the airway for speaking, swallowing, and breathing. During sleep, these muscles are less active, and this causes the throat to narrow (show figure 1). In most people, this ... [... more]
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Headache treatment in adults
INTRODUCTION - In many people, headaches can be well controlled with a combination of medication and complementary therapies. Treatment is most successful when it is tailored to the person's individual needs and the person actively participates ... [... more]
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Head lice (Pediculosis capitis)
This topic discusses the diagnosis and treatment of head lice. Pubic lice are discussed separately. (See "Patient information: Pubic lice (Phthirus pubis)"). DESCRIPTION - The head louse is a grayish-white insect between that is 3 to 4 ... [... more]
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Bedbugs
INTRODUCTION - Bedbugs are small insects that can infest homes and other structures. There are several species of bedbugs, one of which (Cimex lectularius) is responsible for the majority of infestations in temperate (moderate) climates; another ... [... more]
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Psoriasis
INTRODUCTION - Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder that causes areas of thickened, inflamed, red skin, often covered with silvery scales. Children and adolescents can develop psoriasis, but it occurs primarily in adults. Women and men are ... [... more]
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