Here’s what a dermatologist says about small moles growing together and the possibility of melanoma. “Sometimes a normal existing mole (round and regular in shape) may seem to morph into a larger, irregular lesion,” says [...]
What does a dermatologist think about a punch biopsy for a mole that’s slightly atypical? An "atypical" mole means it's more likely to morph into melanoma than is a typical mole. “A suspicious mole can [...]
This can mean melanoma, but a mole oozing pus can also have a benign cause. “Pus or even infection in a mole is not in itself a sign of melanoma," says Dr. Rebecca Tung, MD, [...]
Do you have a mole that bled after you scratched it and are now fearing it’s melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer? “If a mole that is scratched bleeds, this may signify skin cancer," says Dr. [...]
Over age 40 and noticing what appear to be new moles growing on your skin? “People in the 40-50 age bracket may begin to get scary looking pigmented growths called seborrheic keratoses — which are [...]
You’re not a hypochondriac if you fear that an itching, bleeding mole might be melanoma rather than benign. “While people are familiar with the ABCD’s of mole evaluation- - Asymmetry (one half of the mole [...]
Positional chest pain can be due to a variety of causes including heart problems, says Pilar Stevens-Cohen, MD, FACC, Department of Cardiology, South Nassau Communities Hospital. Positional chest pain isn’t always caused by acid reflux [...]
What’s going on when heart palpitations persist for hours almost every day? “Some people use the word [palpitations] to describe a fast or rapid heart rate; others to note an irregular heart rate," says Pilar Stevens-Cohen, [...]
An ejection fraction of under 20 percent is frightfully low as far as survival…or is it? “Having a low ejection fraction (absolute number) is not necessarily correlated to symptoms,” begins Pilar Stevens-Cohen, MD, FACC, Department [...]
CoQ10 is one of the best antioxidant supplements, but how does it work against PVCs: premature ventricular contractions? For this article I asked Pilar Stevens-Cohen, MD, FACC, Department of Cardiology, South Nassau Communities Hospital. This is [...]
It is no secret that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can lead to nausea, but what should a sufferer do? In fact, nausea that's caused by irritable bowel syndrome isn't even uncommon, says a doctor. ***** “IBS is [...]
Just what causes that backache from your irritable bowel syndrome? Back pain is perhaps the world's leading nonfatal health problem. It affects millions of people, causing significant discomfort and impacting daily life. The causes can [...]
A GI physician addresses the question of burping being caused by irritable bowel syndrome. Have you been diagnosed with IBS? Do you find that you’ve been burping a lot more lately and it seems to [...]
Find out what may actually be going on if you’re having joint pains and have been diagnosed with IBS. “IBS as a rule does not directly cause joint pains, such as with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative [...]
If IBS causes hot flashes, how on earth does this occur? IBS stands for irritable bowel syndrome. It is common. So are hot flashes. Can hot flashes be caused by irritable bowel syndrome? Yes, says [...]
Is it possible to tell the difference between IBS chest pain and that caused by a heart problem? Having chest pain, especially in the middle of the night, is scary as heck. It makes a lot [...]
A GI doctor discusses the effectiveness of amitriptyline for IBS, how it works and possible drawbacks. Amitriptyline and Irritable Bowel Syndrome “Amitriptyline is a very common drug used to treat IBS, and can be very [...]
Do you have a pacemaker and are wondering if it can also prevent atrial fibrillation? A-fib is a common heart rhythm disorder that puts a person at considerably increased risk of a blood clot -- [...]
Why don’t more doctors take seriously a transient ischemic attack (TIA)? A TIA (transient ischemic attack) is very serious – it’s your body’s way of warning you that a stroke may be imminent. A suspected [...]
Migraine headache sufferers may be fearful that this condition raises Alzheimer’s disease risk, because migraine headaches are associated with a higher incidence of small lesions within the brain that are picked up by MRI. Interestingly, [...]
Since aspirin is a blood thinner, how likely could this drug trigger a chronic subdural hematoma in an older person who'se on a daily aspirin regimen? The issue becomes mighty tricky when an elderly person [...]
Chronic subdural hematoma can occur spontaneously and being elderly is perhaps the No. 1 risk factor for developing this condition. It is not to be confused with acute subdural hematoma from a car accident, skiing [...]
“While it is true that many people with multiple sclerosis have a ‘benign’ course, it is difficult to predict who will be in this lucky group," says Dr. Kantor. “There is a lot of controversy [...]
Are you an overeight or obese teen who suffers with migraine headaches? Ever wonder if your size might be contributing to this painful condition? If you've been struggling to manage your food portions or choices [...]
Once a person develops left side neglect, will this usually be permanent or can it be a temporary condition? Left side neglect is a fascinating neurological problem in which the patient lacks full awareness of [...]
Is it possible for exercise to prevent an elderly person from ever getting a chronic subdural hematoma? “As we get older our brains shrink,” says Dr. David Beatty, MD, a retired general practitioner with 30+ [...]
After a burr hole craniostomy for chronic subdural hematoma, a “drain” tube is left in the patient’s skull. This was the case of my mother. She had a chronic subdural hematoma, and the drain tube [...]
An antidepressant may work wonders initially but then may lose its punch and can't keep up with the depression. You may be on an antidepressant that’s been working wonderfully... But then soon after you go [...]
Can enough atrial fibrillation episodes, over time in someone with heart disease, cause cardiac damage that’s equal to a heart attack? “Generally, A-fib does not result in significant heart damage,” says Dr. Simon Dixon, chairman [...]
There’s a specific reason why an episode of atrial fibrillation can elevate troponin levels if you already have heart disease. Troponin is a protein enzyme that leaks from heart muscle when that muscle sustains damage, such [...]
In someone with coronary artery disease, does every episode of atrial fibrillation mean damage to the heart? Damage to cardiac tissue can result from an episode of atrial fibrillation in a person with coronary artery disease. [...]
An episode of atrial fibrillation can elevate troponin, but what would be the typical range of this elevation? Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is a serious heart rhythm disorder that can have significant consequences if left untreated. [...]
How does Cymbalta help relieve fibromyalgia pain? You can get fibromyalgia relief with Cymbalta, a drug commonly prescribed for depression and also prescribed for panic attacks and anxiety. You’ve probably seen the Cymbalta commercials, which [...]
It's really scary when severe depression prevents a person from wanting to eat; right before your eyes you see your loved-one wasting away from malnourishment. Clinical depression can destroy appetite and cause a life-threatening issue [...]
Cymbalta is prescribed for depression and pain, and here is helpful information for people considering Cymbalta or who have already started taking this drug. Cymbalta belongs to a class of medications called SNRI: serotonin and [...]
Mmmm, a glass of chilled kefir just may relieve your microscopic colitis symptoms! Give this probiotic a try; it will help re-balance the bacteria in your gut. An imbalance may be causing or contributing to [...]
Let’s hear it for kefir as a natural treatment for microscopic colitis: This stuff works! Microscopic colitis has no known cure, and treatments include natural and pharmaceutical. However, treatment for microscopic colitis is hit or [...]
How I convinced my father that my mother’s depression would not go away on its own. Is one of your parents depressed, and the other parent in denial, and thus, a hindrance to treatment? My [...]
Wouldn't it be great if your IBS stomach cramping and pain and bloating could be relieved with a simple antibiotic drug? IBS relief that lasts is here with an FDA approved drug, thanks to Cedars-Sinai [...]
Are you thinking, “I can’t possibly have IBS because I’m too old!”? Then think again. You can be as old as the hills and still develop irritable bowel syndrome. ***** An individual being too old [...]
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MOLES AND MELANOMA
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