Dryness of the mouth is a common symptom and may only be temporary. However if a dry mouth persists to the extent that it causes discomfort or hampers daily functioning, the cause of the mouth dryness should be investigated as it may be a symptom of a medical condition or a side effect of a drug.

continue reading Dry Mouth – Causes, Effects, Symptoms, Treatment

Introduction to Swollen Knees

A swollen knee joint (Picture 1) is a common symptom arising either from knee or other disorders. Knee swelling can originate from almost any structure forming the joint, like ligaments, synovial membrane, bursae, etc., or from fluid accumulating within the knee, such as blood or pus. A swollen knee, for example from knee effusion, is not always painful. Though all knee swellings do not require urgent treatment, there are a few conditions, like septic arthritis, in which lack of prompt treatment can cause lifelong disability. Hence, it is always better to consult a physician or orthopedist, to find the exact cause of knee swelling.

Picture 1: Swollen left knee
(source: Wikimedia)

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What is medical weight loss?

Medical weight loss is defined as a weight management program that is developed and monitored by a medical professional, either a family doctor or specialist physician. In medical weight loss, the therapeutic program is approached as a doctor would for any disease and the management is based on individual factors. Obesity is classified as a disease and is one of the leading causes of heart disease in developed nations. Obesity is curable and in many cases it does not require lifelong medical attention.

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What Are Intestinal Worms (Helminths)?

Human intestinal worms are parasites that live in the human intestine, eat bowel content or suck blood from the intestinal wall.

Intestinal worms may cause severe, life threatening infection, predominantly in children in tropical and subtropical areas where people often defecate on the ground: in rural parts of Africa, Middle East, South Asia, Indonesia and Central and South America. In people from Mediterranean parts of Europe or south parts of North America, they usually cause a relatively mild disease.

Presence of parasites of any kind (including intestinal worms) in or on the body is called infestation.

Helminth is a medical term for intestinal worm.

continue reading Human Intestinal Worms – Symptoms, Pictures, Treatment

What Does “Immune” and “Immunity” Mean?

Immune in medicine means “protected against infection”. Immunity means resistance against certain infections.

What Is Infection and Who Develops Infectious Disease?

Infection is an invasion of harmful microbes in the body. It depends on aggressiveness of microbes and our immunity, if a particular infection will cause a disease or not.

continue reading Human Immune System