Spinal muscular atrophy definition and facts* Share Your Story *Spinal muscular atrophy facts medically edited by Melissa Conrad Stöppler Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited (hereditary) disease that results in destruction of lower motor neurons, nerve cells in the brain stem and spinal cord that control essential voluntary muscle activity. This genetic disorder is related to defects in a...
Insomnia Treatment: Sleep Aids, Stimulants & Home Remedies
What is insomnia and what causes it? Share Your Story Insomnia is difficulty falling or staying asleep, the absence of restful sleep, or poor quality of sleep. Insomnia is a symptom and not a disease. The most common causes of insomnia are: medications, psychological conditions (for example, depression, anxiety), environmental changes (travel, jet lag, or altitude changes), and stressful events...
Locked-in Syndrome Causes, Statistics & Prognosis
Locked-in syndrome facts Locked-in syndrome occurs when a person is quadriplegic and also has no way to produce speech or facial movements. The affected person cannot communicate but is aware of their surroundings; the patient can hear and see and has normal intelligence and reasoning ability but may only communicate with eye movements. The main causes of locked-in syndrome are...
What Is Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis? Radiology & Treatment
What is hypersensitivity pneumonitis and what are its causes? Readers Comments 8 Share Your Story Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an inflammation of the lung (usually of the very small airways) caused by the body’s immune reaction to small air-borne particles. These particles can be bacteria, mold, fungi, or even inorganic matter. What is acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis? Acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis tends...
What Is the Treatment for a Heart Attack?
What is a heart attack? Readers Comments 2 Share Your Story A heart attack (also known as a myocardial infarction or MI) is the death of heart muscle from the sudden blockage by a blood clot in a coronary artery that supplies blood to the heart. Blockage of a coronary artery deprives the heart muscle of blood and oxygen, causing...
5 Symptoms of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Types, Treatment & Lifespan
Spinal muscular atrophy definition and facts* Share Your Story *Spinal muscular atrophy facts medically edited by Melissa Conrad Stöppler Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited (hereditary) disease that results in destruction of lower motor neurons, nerve cells in the brain stem and spinal cord that control essential voluntary muscle activity. This genetic disorder is related to defects in a...
Brief Psychotic Disorder Treatment, Prognosis & Symptoms
Brief psychotic disorder facts Brief psychotic disorder is one of the conditions in the group of mental illnesses called the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders. Symptoms of brief psychotic disorder can include hallucinations and/or delusions, and they last no longer than a month. The specific causes for brief psychotic disorder are usually not known, but it is thought to...
Vaginal Cancer Symptoms, Treatment, Staging & Causes
Vaginal cancer facts* *Vaginal cancer facts by John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP Vaginal cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the vagina. Vaginal cancer is not common. When found in early stages, it can often be cured. There are two main types of vaginal cancer: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Risk factors for vaginal cancer include...
Vaccination FAQ: Questions and Answers
Why do people need vaccines? What is immunization? What is immunity? Share Your Story Vaccines are medications that boost our ability to fight off certain diseases. Many of the vaccine-preventable diseases are highly contagious and even fatal in non-immunized individuals (Table 1). Prior to the development of vaccines, these diseases disabled or killed millions of people. Many people living in...
Vaccinations for Adults and Adolescents: Types and List
What are vaccine-preventable diseases? Each year, a new vaccine must be prepared that will be effective against the types of influenza viruses that are expected to circulate in the upcoming flu season. These are known as seasonal flu vaccines. Vaccine-preventable diseases are those diseases for which there is a shot that helps the immune system prepare for an infection. A...