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To understand high blood cholesterol (ko-LES-ter-ol), it helps to learn about cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that’s found in all cells of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. However, cholesterol also is found in some of the foods you eat. Cholesterol travels through your bloodstream in small packages called lipoproteins (lip-o-PRO-teens). These packages are made of fat (lipid) on the inside and proteins on the outside. Two kinds of lipoproteins carry cholesterol throughout your body: low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Having healthy levels of both types of lipoproteins is important. LDL cholesterol sometimes is called “bad” cholesterol. A high LDL level leads to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries. (Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to your body.) HDL cholesterol sometimes is called “good” cholesterol. This is because it carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. Your liver removes the cholesterol from your body.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) affect millions of people each year. The most common STDs are gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis. While even thinking about STDs and whether you may have one is scary, knowing the facts can make a big difference in your long-term health. Here is what you need to know:
People who are sexually active with multiple partners and are not using barrier protection are at most risk. Teenagers are a large part of this group, because they dont always practice safe sex and they are more likely to have multiple partners. It is recommended that women who are sexually active with multiple partners get screened yearly or immediately after they have engaged in unprotected sex. If you discover that you have an STD, both you and your partner would most likely be treated with antibiotics.
Gonorrhea
Approximately 350,000 cases of gonorrhea were reported to the CDC in 2006, but because not everyone is getting tested for STDs, experts believe the actual numbers are twice that.
The symptoms for gonorrhea are burning with urination, abnormal discharge or pelvic pain. Pelvic pain indicates a very severe infection. Untreated gonorrhea can lead to a serious infection as the disease may spread to a womans fallopian tubes and cause infertility.
Chlamydia
There were 1,000,000 cases of chlamydia reported to the CDC in 2006; experts think the actual rate of infection is as high as 2,000,000 cases.
Chlamydia is often called the silent disease because many people with chlamydia have no symptoms. Chlamydia can affect the urethra, the vagina, the cervix and the fallopian tubes. Symptoms include burring with urination, abnormal discharge and pelvic pain. If you are experiencing any of these systems you should see your doctor to determine if you have chlamydia. Women with chlamydia who arent treated are likely to develop pelvic inflammatory disease. Pelvic inflammatory disease occurs when the infection spreads and causes scarring to the uterus and fallopian tubes. Untreated chlamydia can result in infertility.
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is the most common STD. About 7 million women and men have trichomoniasis. Women who have trichomoniasis will often experience a frothy yellow or green discharge coming from their vagina. But some people wont have any symptoms.
Understanding STDs, what causes them, and how to treat them will help you stay in control of your health.
Perineal repair after episiotomy or spontaneous obstetric laceration is one of the most common surgical procedures. Potential sequelae of obstetric perineal lacerations include chronic perineal pain,1 dyspareunia,2 and urinary and fecal incontinence.3–5 Few studies of laceration repair techniques exist to support the development of an evidence-based approach to perineal repair. This article discusses a repair method that emphasizes anatomic detail, with the expectation that an anatomically correct perineal repair may result in a better long-term functional outcome.
A pneumothorax occurs when some of the tiny air sacs (alveoli) in a baby's lung become overinflated and burst. This causes air to leak into the space between the lung and chest wall (pleural space). The most common cause of pneumothorax is respiratory distress syndrome. This is a condition that occurs in babies who are born too early (premature). The baby's lungs lack the slippery substance (surfactant) that helps them stay open. Therefore, the tiny air sacs are not able to expand as easily. If the baby is put on a breathing machine (mechanical ventilator), there is extra pressure on the baby's lungs, which can sometimes burst the air sacs.
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by flukes (trematodes) of the genus Schistosoma. After malaria and intestinal helminthiasis, schistosomiasis is the third most devastating tropical disease in the world, being a major source of morbidity and mortality for developing countries in Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Asia. (See Epidemiology and Prognosis.) [1] More than 207 million people, 85% of who live in Africa, are infected with schistosomiasis, [1] and an estimated 700 million people are at risk of infection in 76 countries where the disease is considered endemic, as their agricultural work, domestic chores, and recreational activities expose them to infested water. [1, 2] Globally, 200,000 deaths are attributed to schistosomiasis annually. [3] Transmission is interrupted in some countries. [2] (See Etiology and Epidemiology.)
Tongue and lip-tie are common causes of nipple pain, uneven breast drainage, slow weight gain and low milk supply. Many physicians do not properly assess for tongue or lip-tie or recognize their impact on the breastfeeding relationship, leaving babies vulnerable to early weaning. Ultrasound studies have shown that the tongue movements used by tongue-tied babies are qualitatively different from those used by by babies who are not tongue-tied. These movements are not as effective at removing milk from the breast and can cause significant pain and nipple damage. In these studies, tongue-tied babies also did not draw the nipple as deeply into the mouth as babies who were not tongue-tied.
Emergency Contraception is a way to prevent pregnancy AFTER unprotected sex. Lots of people have questions about it: What does the morning after pill do? How does emergency contraception work to prevent pregnancy? What are the different types of emergency contraception? This video answers these questions and more.
Your baby measures about 20.7 inches from head to toe and weighs about 6 pounds. The baby may drop lower in your abdomen, usually assuming the head-down position to prepare for birth. The brain has been developing rapidly, and your baby is practicing blinking. Mom-to-be: Your uterus has grown bigger these last few weeks and is probably up under your ribs. But you're in the home stretch! After this week, you'll see your doctor weekly. You may switch between fatigue and extra bursts of energy. You may also have an achier back and feel heaviness and discomfort in your buttocks and pelvis. Tip of the Week: Start stocking your freezer with foods that can be easily popped into the oven or microwave after you bring your baby home. Chili, casseroles, and other simple dishes can be prepared and frozen ahead of time for use later.
A central venous catheter, also called a central line, is a long, thin, flexible tube used to give medicines, fluids, nutrients, or blood products over a long period of time, usually several weeks or more. A catheter is often inserted in the arm or chest through the skin into a large vein.
Croup is a common respiratory camera.gif problem in young children. It tends to occur in the fall and winter. Its main symptom is a harsh, barking cough. Croup causes swelling and narrowing in the voice box, windpipe, and breathing tubes that lead to the lungs. This can make it hard for your child to breathe. An attack of croup can be scary, but it is rarely serious. Children usually get better in several days with rest and care at home.