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Browse our complete A-Z directory of healthcare terms and entities.
Showing 77 entries starting with "E" of type "Conditions"
A middle ear infection is a problem that happens when germs grow in the space behind your eardrum. This often happens after a cold or a throat infection. It can cause ear pain, fever, and trouble hearing. Nonprescription pain medicine may be all you need. Some children may need to take antibiotics.
Ear pain in children may be a sign of an infection in the space behind the eardrum ( middle ear). Ear infections ( otitis media ) most commonly occur when cold symptoms, such as a runny or stuffy nose and a cough, have been present for a few days. An ear infection may occur when...
Earwax is a naturally produced secretion that protects the ear canal. It is a mixture of skin, sweat, hair, and debris (such as shampoo and dirt) held together with a fluid secreted by glands inside the ear canal (ceruminous glands). The ear canals are self-cleaning. Earwax helps filter dust and keep the ears clean and...
Eating disorders occur most often in industrialized cultures where there is an emphasis on thinness, especially if thinness is linked to success. Magazines, television, and other media have created an unrealistic image of the perfect, successful person. The pressure to be thin can lead to intense dieting, even in very...
Certain needs, fears, family dynamics, and ways of communicating, thinking, and feeling put a person at greater risk of developing an eating disorder such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating. Some of these include: A need for attention. A need to please others, be in control, or be perfect. Low self-esteem. Fear or...
With planning and thoughtful choices, you can follow your meal plan for diabetes when you eat away from home, such as at a party or a restaurant. Here are some tips: Plan ahead At restaurants, check for online menus that include nutrition information before you go, or ask for this information when you arrive. Most...
Protein is made of building blocks called amino acids. Although the human body can make some of these amino acids, nine of them (the essential amino acids) must be obtained from food. Soy foods and animal sources of protein (milk, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, and seafood) contain all the essential amino acids in the...
Eating well when you have cancer means eating enough to prevent weight loss and keep your strength up. Cancer and cancer treatments can make it harder for your body to get what it needs from the food you eat. And your body needs good nutrition to prevent infection and heal quickly. You may feel better...
An echocardiogram (echo) is a type of ultrasound examination that uses high-pitched sound waves sent through a device called a transducer to produce an image of the heart and sometimes the aorta. An echocardiogram measures how well the heart is working by evaluating blood flow, heart valves, and heart size, thickness...
Nearly all ectopic pregnancies develop in a fallopian tube. About 1% of ectopic pregnancies develop in the cervix, an ovary, or the abdomen.
In a small number of pregnancies, the fertilized egg attaches to an area outside of the uterus, rather than in the uterus. This is called an ectopic pregnancy or extrauterine pregnancy. Nearly all ectopic pregnancies develop in a fallopian tube. These are often called tubal pregnancies. If left untreated, a tubal...
Eczema is a group of chronic skin disorders that affect the hands, scalp, face, back of the neck, and skin creases of the elbows and knees. It can run in families, but it may occur for no known reason or be caused by an allergic reaction to certain foods, clothing, lotions, soaps, plants, or topical...
Evidence shows that statins may lower a person's chance of having a heart attack or stroke, especially for people who are at high risk for one. The tables above show the number of people who will have a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years, arranged by risk level. The information shown here...
The ejection fraction is a measurement of the heart's efficiency and can be used to estimate the function of the left ventricle, which pumps blood to the rest of the body. The left ventricle pumps only a fraction of the blood it contains. The ejection fraction is the amount of blood pumped divided by the...
Before starting any exercise program, talk to your health professional. He or she may ask that you do specific exercises and will help you determine how often and how long to do them and your long-term goals. Start the exercise slowly and gradually. Either keep track of how long you can do it or count...
Covers common causes of elbow injuries. Discusses injuries caused by sudden injury and those caused by overuse. Discusses treatment options. Offers interactive tool to help you decide when to see a doctor. Covers home treatment and prevention tips.
Occasionally a problem elsewhere in the body can cause pain in the arm or elbow. These may include: A neck problem, such as a pinched nerve in the neck. A shoulder problem, such as arthritis in the shoulder. A wrist problem, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. A heart problem, such as angina pectoris. A tumor...
Looks at conditions, such as gout, pinched nerve, bursitis, tennis elbow, and golfer's elbow, that may cause elbow problems. Offers interactive tool to help you decide when to see the doctor. Covers home treatment and prevention tips.
Dorothy was in her late 80s and had been losing her balance a lot. Her son thought it was time for her to move into a nursing home. Her daughter wanted her to go into an assisted-living facility. Dorothy just wanted to stay in her own home. The three of them argued for months about...
For electrical cardioversion, your doctor first gives you a medicine that relaxes you and controls pain. Then your doctor places patches either on your chest or on your chest and back, depending on your doctor's preference. The patches send an electric current to your heart. This resets your heart rhythm.
An electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG) is a test that measures the electrical signals that control heart rhythm. The test measures how electrical impulses move through the heart muscle as it contracts and relaxes. During an electrocardiogram, small pads (electrodes) are attached to the skin on the chest, arms, and legs. The...
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure during which brief electrical stimulation to the brain produces a reaction that is like a seizure. ECT is used to treat severe depression or other psychiatric and neurological conditions, such as schizophrenia. It is not known exactly how ECT helps depression. But it...
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test that measures and records the electrical activity of your brain. Special sensors called electrodes are attached to your head. They're hooked by wires to a computer. The computer records your brain's electrical activity on the screen. Or it may record the activity on paper as wavy...
An electrolyte panel is a blood test that measures the levels of electrolytes and carbon dioxide in your blood. Electrolytes are minerals, such as sodium and potassium, that are found in the body. They keep your body's fluids in balance and help keep your body working normally, including your heart rhythm, muscle...
An electronystagmogram (ENG) measures normal eye movement and involuntary rapid eye movements called nystagmus. It also checks the muscles that control eye movements. ENG checks how well the eyes, inner ears , and brain help you keep your balance and position (such as when you change from lying down to standing). ENG is...
The home remains a child's most important sphere of influence during the early school years. It also becomes the base from which children explore relationships outside of the home. A child's increasing independence is tested, for example, by the first night spent away from home. The child returns home with a sense of...
Emphysema is a long-term (chronic) lung disease. In emphysema, the tiny air sacs (alveoli) at the end of the airways in the lungs are damaged. When the air sacs are damaged or destroyed, their walls break down and the sacs become larger. These larger air sacs move less oxygen into the blood. This causes difficulty...
Cancer of the endometrium is the most common gynecologic malignancy in the United States and accounts for 6% of all cancers in women. The majority of cases are diagnosed at an early stage and are amenable to treatment with surgery alone. However, patients with pathologic features predictive of a high rate of relapse and...
Endometrial cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the endometrium. The endometrium is the lining of the uterus, a hollow, muscular organ in a woman's pelvis. The uterus is where a fetus grows. In most nonpregnant women, the uterus is about 3 inches long. The lower, narrow end...
Endometrial hyperplasia is an abnormal thickening of the uterine lining (endometrium) that causes heavy vaginal bleeding. If endometrial hyperplasia is not treated, it may progress to endometrial cancer. Treatment for endometrial hyperplasia includes taking hormones, having a dilation and curettage (D&C), having a...
An endoscope is a thin, flexible, lighted viewing instrument. It is used during procedures to examine the inside of organs, canals, and cavities in the body. An endoscope may be inserted into a person's mouth and guided down the throat to examine the esophagus, stomach, and upper end of the small intestine. Different...
An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram (ERCP) test checks the tubes (ducts) that drain the liver , gallbladder , and pancreas . A flexible, lighted scope ( endoscope ) and X-ray pictures are used. The scope is put through the mouth and gently moved down the throat. It goes into your esophagus , stomach, and...
An endoscopic sinus exam allows the doctor to see all the structures inside the nose and the sinuses. Before inserting the endoscope, the passages inside the nose are opened up with a decongestant medicine and numbed with an anesthetic. The endoscope is guided up through a nostril and into the sinus opening, but it is...
In people who have cirrhosis, high pressure in the veins that carry blood from the intestines to the liver ( portal hypertension ) causes many problems. Variceal bleeding —bleeding from enlarged veins (varices) in the digestive tract—is an extremely serious complication of portal hypertension. For people who have...
Endoscopic ultrasound is a test that allows your doctor to look at the walls of your esophagus, stomach, and upper gastrointestinal tract. This test may also be used to look at the airways and lungs. The test does not use X-rays or other radiation. The doctor uses a thin, lighted tube that bends. It's called...
Endovascular repair is a procedure to fix an aortic aneurysm in the abdomen. It's called endovascular because a doctor repairs the aneurysm from the inside of the damaged blood vessel (the aorta). This is not a surgery. This is a minimally invasive procedure. Local or general anesthesia might be used. The doctor will...
What is an environmental illness? An environmental illness can occur when you are exposed to toxins or substances in the environment that make you sick. These health hazards may be found where you live, work, or play. Maybe you have headaches that only occur on weekends. Or maybe you began to feel sick and got...
An epidermal cyst is a small, round lump in the top layer of skin called the epidermis. It may be filled with a soft, yellow substance called keratin. Epidermal cysts most often appear on the face, ears, back, or chest. But they can appear on almost any part of the body. When you have an...
Epidural anesthesia involves putting a sterile guide needle and a small tube (epidural catheter) into the space around the spinal cord (epidural space). The epidural catheter is placed at or below the waist. The guide needle is inserted and removed, while the catheter remains in place. The catheter is taped in place up...
Epidural and spinal blocks are types of anesthesia in which a local anesthetic is injected near the spinal cord and nerve roots. It blocks pain from an entire region of the body, such as the belly, the hips, the legs, or the pelvis. Epidural and spinal anesthesia are used mainly for surgery of the lower...
Epilepsy is a disorder that causes repeated seizures. Seizures may cause problems with muscle control, movement, speech, vision, or awareness. They usually don't last very long, but they can be scary. Most people are able to control their seizures with medicines. Some people outgrow epilepsy and no longer have seizures.
Medicine therapy for epilepsy can fail for several reasons: You do not follow the treatment plan. You have to follow your therapy routine exactly as your doctor orders, to have the best chance of keeping seizures under control. Missing a dose here or there or taking doses too close together can upset the levels of...
Simple partial seizures occur in children and adults with some forms of epilepsy. They are about half as common as complex partial seizures. The person stays awake and aware during the seizure. The seizure may be only a strange smell or taste, sound or visual disturbance, or feeling of confusion, anxiety, or fear—some...
You may be taking one or more medicines to prevent seizures. To get the most benefit from them, you need to consistently take the right dose of the right medicine at the right time. This can be difficult. But by following a few key tips, you can do it. Become informed about the medicines you...
Learn how to keep your child with epilepsy safer at home, outdoors, and at school.
Tonic seizures are fairly uncommon. They occur mostly in people with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. This is a severe form of generalized epilepsy that begins in early childhood. (Children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome may also have atonic seizures.) When a tonic seizure occurs, the muscles in the body contract and the entire...
The Epley and Semont maneuvers are exercises used to treat benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). They are done with the assistance of a doctor or physical therapist. A single 10- to 15-minute session usually is all that is needed. When your head is firmly moved into different positions, the calcium crystal...
Learn how your work area affects your health and safety and how to set it up.
Get tips on how to set up and use your computer in a way that prevents aches and pains.
Cancer prevention is action taken to lower the chance of getting cancer. By preventing cancer, the number of new cases of cancer in a group or population is lowered. Hopefully, this will lower the number of deaths caused by cancer. To prevent new cancers from starting, scientists look at risk factors and protective...
Esophageal cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the esophagus. The esophagus is the hollow, muscular tube that moves food and liquid from the throat to the stomach. The wall of the esophagus is made up of several layers of tissue, including mucous membrane, muscle, and connective...
What is esophageal spasm? Normally, contractions of the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth and the stomach) move food from the mouth to the stomach with a regular, coordinated rhythm. Esophageal spasm means that contractions of the esophagus are irregular, uncoordinated, and sometimes powerful. This condition...
The esophagus is the muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach. The muscles in the esophagus contract to move food and liquid from the mouth through the throat and down to the stomach.
NOTE: The information in this summary is no longer being updated and is provided for reference purposes only. This cancer information summary provides an overview of the use of Essiac and Flor Essence, which are proprietary herbal tea mixtures, as treatments for people with cancer. The summary includes a brief history...
NOTE: The information in this summary is no longer being updated and is provided for reference purposes only. Essiac and Flor Essence are herbal tea mixtures that are sold worldwide as health tonics or herbal dietary supplements (see Question 1). Essiac was first promoted as a cancer treatment in the 1920s. Flor Essence...
You can quickly estimate the size of a burn by using the "rule of nines." This method divides the body's surface area into percentages. Estimating burn size in adults See a picture of the "rule of nines" for adults . The front and back of the head and neck equal 9% of the body's surface...
Estrogen is a hormone that produces female physical traits and helps regulate a woman's menstrual cycle. In women, estrogen is produced in varying amounts throughout the menstrual cycle, mainly by the ovaries. When a woman's estrogen levels reach a low enough point, she stops having monthly menstrual periods...
The eustachian tubes run between the inside of the ears and the back of the throat. When a person swallows, the eustachian tubes open briefly to match the air pressure in the middle ear with the air pressure outside the ear. If the eustachian tubes become blocked, pressure changes cause pain in the ear. Fluid...
After you have had a seizure, it can be difficult to predict whether you will have more seizures. This makes it hard to decide whether to begin treatment for epilepsy. The first seizure you report may not actually be the first seizure you've had. You may have had seizures in the past, such as brief...
The quality of evidence tells us how much we can trust it and how much we can rely on it to help us make decisions. Evidence quality can be rated using four levels: high, moderate, borderline, and inconclusive. High. When the quality is high, scientists are very confident that the evidence shows the real effects...
When your beliefs conflict with the way you are living your life, stress may result. It may be helpful to examine your belief systems so you can better manage your stress. World view Your world view is your basic beliefs about human nature, how the world works, and what life is about. Your views about...
Normally when you walk, your foot lands on the outer side of the heel first. Your weight then passes along the inner edge of the sole (normal pronation) and then back to the outside of the foot. In excessive pronation, the body weight stays on the inner edge of the sole.
Aerobic activity raises your heart rate and keeps it up for a while. This increases the amount of oxygen delivered to your heart and muscles. Over time, this kind of activity benefits your heart, your muscles, your mood and self-esteem, and your amount of energy. It can lower your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood...
Exercise can reduce pain and improve function in people who have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Also, exercise may help prevent the buildup of scar tissue, which can lead to weakness and stiffness. Exercise for arthritis takes three forms: stretching, strengthening, and conditioning. Stretching involves moving joint and...
Exercise helps lower high blood pressure, which is an important risk factor for stroke. Exercise can help you control other things that put you at risk, such as obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes. Exercise to lower your risk of stroke It is important to exercise regularly. Do activities that raise your heart rate...
What is low back pain all about? Dr. Robert Keller, an orthopedic surgeon, shares his thoughts about the basics. Dr. Keller, many people have low back pain. When someone sees you about low back pain, what do you tell that person? Dr. Keller: This really depends on the cause. If it appears the pain is...
The genitals are the sex organs on the outside of the body.
Begin by tying a piece of elastic exercise material, such as surgical tubing or Thera-Band, to a doorknob. (You may also hold one end of the band in each hand.) Stand or sit with your shoulder relaxed and your elbow bent 90 degrees. Your upper arm should rest comfortably against your side. You can squeeze...
Incidence and Mortality Extragonadal germ cell tumors are rare and account for only a small percentage of all germ cell tumors. However, the true incidence of these tumors may conceivably be higher than originally thought because of failure to diagnose them properly. Related Summaries Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors Treatment...
Immediately flush the eye with cool water. Fill a sink or dishpan with water. Put your face in the water, then open and close your eyelids to force water to all parts of your eye. You can also flush your eye under a running faucet or shower. You may need to open and close your...
Use a sterile bandage if you have one. If you don't have one, use a clean bandage or cloth. Don't use fluffy cotton bandages around the eye. They could come apart and stick to the eye. Apply light pressure to a very minor skin cut near the eye to stop the bleeding. Do not apply...
A black eye is a type of bruise. Simple bruises are treated with ice and by elevating the head. The bruise should be gone in 2 to 3 weeks. Apply ice or cold packs for 15 minutes 3 or 4 times a day during the first 48 hours to help reduce swelling. Place a cloth...
Sometimes small blood vessels in the whites of the eyes break and cause a red spot or speck. This is called a subconjunctival hemorrhage. The blood vessels may break because of sneezing, coughing, vomiting, straining, or bending over, but sometimes there is no clear cause. The blood may look alarming, especially if the...
With an injury to the eye, the muscles that control the pupil size and shape can be damaged. These muscles control the ability of the pupil to change in size and keep its round shape. An injury that punctures the eyeball may tear the colored part (iris) of the eye, causing it to lose its...
Prescriptions for glasses have two main components: shape and power. The shape of a lens determines the type of correction. Concave, or minus, spherical lenses are thicker at the sides than in the middle to correct nearsightedness (myopia). Convex, or plus, lenses are thicker in the middle than at the sides to correct...
Eyelid surgery, also called blepharoplasty, is done to improve how the upper and lower eyelids look. It also may be done to remove sagging skin that affects a person's vision. This surgery is done to remove puffiness on the eyelids or bags under the eyes. It can also be done to fix drooping eyelids or...
If the eyelid has a cut that is more than a scratch (laceration), the eyeball may be damaged. Something may be puncturing the eyeball. A cut to the eye or eyelid can lead to blindness or other problems with the eye and must be looked at by a doctor. If you are wearing contact lenses...