HowToDoThings.com Diseases

How To Recognize Mesothelioma

bronwyn — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:05:45 -0500

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer which is usually caused by exposure to asbestos. The disease takes its name from the mesothelium, which is the lining that covers most of the internal organs in the body. This form of cancer occurs when the mesothelium develops malignant cells, usually in the outer lining of the internal chest wall and the lungs, known as the pleura. Although difficult to diagnose, due to its similarities with other conditions, it is possible to differentiate mesothelioma from other forms of cancer by taking these factors into consideration.

How To Recognize and Treat a Thyroid Storm

JimLow — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 09:29:35 -0500

While the severe hyperthyroid condition called "Thyroid Storm" is not common, both patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism have the potential for experiencing this potentially life-threatening condition. Patients with thyroid disorders should be educated in recognizing the signs and symptoms of this acute condition.

How To Create a File that Tracks Daily Glucose Levels

Deirdre — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:55:53 -0500

Diabetes is fast becoming a national epidemic. In order for individuals to get the disease under control, they should work closely with their doctors and track their own glucose levels. Develop a process that allows you the opportunity to track your levels several times during the day.

Materials:
Logbook and pencil OR
Spreadsheet program (such as Excel)
Glucose monitor
Daily results

How To Treat Thyroid Nodules

JimLow — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:32:11 -0500

According to statistics, approximately ten percent of the population has thyroid nodules, and people with diseases of the thyroid gland are at higher risk for developing them.

How To Understand Facts about Thyroid Cancer

JimLow — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:53:34 -0500

Thyroid cancer is a rare type of thyroid disease but is also rapidly increasing in incidence worldwide. The majority of thyroid disorders are not thyroid cancer but thyroid cancer is a potentially serious disorder and people who suspect they might have it need to see a doctor immediately. The earlier thyroid cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the prognosis.

How To Prevent and Treat Scurvy

Akemati — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:10:22 -0600

Scurvy afflicts mankind at land as well as at sea. Back in the year 1747, scurvy killed more seamen than guns and storms put together.

To fight this dread scourge, the sixty cannons mounted on the oaken decks of the Salisbury were useless. But by a flash of genius, one man in the ship's crew -- Dr. James Lind -- was able to defeat it. The conquest of scurvy ranks as one of the major medical victories of all time. Dr. Lind is today recognized as one of the most important figures in a whole branch of science called Nutrition. Dr. Lind later gained fame as the father of naval medicine.

How To Prevent MRSA in the Workplace

bronwyn — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:35:47 -0600

MRSA is a frightening type of staph bacteria, since it is one of the "superbugs," or bacteria that cause severe infections that are resistant to traditional antibiotics.

Wash your hands! As in any setting, to prevent MRSA in the workplace, it is important to wash your hands thoroughly and effectively. Use warm water and soap, lathering up to your elbows for 30 seconds. It may sound like overkill, but it's a way to stay healthy!
Use hand sanitizer. If you are unable to wash your hands frequently, use an alcohol-based gel hand sanitizer to kill germs. It is generally a better idea to wash your hands, but if you can't get to water and soap, a hand sanitizer will work just fine.

How To Protect Your Baby from Group B Strep (GBS) Infection

lindsaynorris — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:48:49 -0600

What is Group B Streptococcus? Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a very common bacterium. It occurs naturally in many people, from babies to the elderly, and typically causes no harm or symptoms. Carrying GBS (also called GBS colonisation or GBS carriage) is entirely normal - up to one in every three people carries GBS in the gut (bowel), and in women it is often also found in the vagina. Carrying GBS can be intermittent - it can come and go - and simply carrying GBS does not require treatment.

How To Find Out if You Carry Group B Strep (GBS)

lindsaynorris — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:22:20 -0600

What is Group B Strep (GBS)? Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a very common bacterium. It occurs naturally in many people, from babies to the elderly, and typically causes no harm or symptoms. Carrying GBS (also called GBS colonisation or GBS carriage) is entirely normal - up to one in every three people carries GBS in the gut (bowel), and in women it is often also found in the vagina.
Carrying GBS can be intermittent - it can come and go - but simply carrying GBS does not require treatment.

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How To Recognize Inflammatory Bowel Disease

tamershaban — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:40:49 -0600

The name "inflammatory bowel disease" tells us that it is a disease in the bowel (which may be the large or small intestine) due to inflammation, usually without known reason. This term refers to two major diseases: Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

This harmful, chronic disease is the main intestinal inflammatory disease in developed countries. Inflammatory bowel disease used to be an adulthood disease, but now more frequently occurs between the ages of 15 and 25.

Genetic factors also play an important role in this chronic disease and, according to the Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics 17th edition, "The importance of genetic factors in the development of IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) is noted by a higher chance that both twins will be affected if they are monozygotic (twins produced from two sperms and one ovum) rather than dizygotic (twins produced by two sperms and two ovum)".