April, 2019

Endometriosis: 5 things to know now

Doctors don't yet know exactly what causes endometriosis, a health problem that by some estimates affects more than 6.5 million U.S. women. It happens when the endometrium—tissue that normally lines the womb—grows where it doesn't belong. Here are five key facts to understand about this noncancerous condition: 1. Most often, the displaced tissue affects pelvic organs. These include the ovaries, fallopian tubes and other surfaces of the womb. But endometrial tissue can also spread far...

Stroke: Why the need for speed

Maybe the most important thing you should know about stroke is that it is always an emergency. Always . A stroke can occur when a blood vessel that feeds oxygen and blood to the brain is blocked by a clot. That's called an ischemic stroke, and it's the most common kind. According to the American Stroke Association ASA , ischemic strokes make up about 87 percent of strokes. A stroke also can occur when a blood vessel ruptures, spilling blood into the surrounding brain. This is called a hemorrhagi...

Understanding Parkinson's Disease

Close to a million people are living with Parkinson’s disease in the United States. Many aspects of this degenerative movement disorder remain a mystery, and a cure has not yet been found. Yet there are a series of medications and treatments available that work to minimize its potentially debilitating symptoms. Parkinson’s is characterized by the loss of important nerve cells in the brain. These cells produce dopamine, which is a chemical that helps to control movement and coordinati...