What is esophageal pH monitoring? Esophageal pH (pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution) monitoring is a procedure for measuring the reflux (regurgitation or backwash) of acid from the stomach into the esophagus that occurs in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). When is esophageal pH monitoring used? Readers Comments 1 Share Your Story Esophageal pH monitoring...
Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT): False Positives, Procedure
What is a fecal occult blood test? Fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) is testing that is performed on samples of stool in order to detect occult blood (blood that is not visible to the naked eye) in otherwise normal-colored stool. Fecal occult blood usually is a result of slow (often intermittent) bleeding from inside the upper or lower gastrointestinal tract....
Is Gingivitis Contagious?
What is gingivitis (gum disease or periodontal disease)? Readers Comments 1 Share Your Story Gingivitis (gum disease or periodontal disease) is inflammation of the gingiva (structures in the mouth including the gums, mucous membranes, and fibrous tissue that covers the tooth-containing edge of the jaw). Gingivitis is commonly termed gum disease and medically termed periodontal disease. Gingivitis is considered to...
Is Gingivitis Contagious?
What is gingivitis (gum disease or periodontal disease)? Readers Comments 1 Share Your Story Gingivitis (gum disease or periodontal disease) is inflammation of the gingiva (structures in the mouth including the gums, mucous membranes, and fibrous tissue that covers the tooth-containing edge of the jaw). Gingivitis is commonly termed gum disease and medically termed periodontal disease. Gingivitis is considered to...
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Causes and Symptoms
What is Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease? Readers Comments 2 Share Your Story Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare, degenerative, invariably fatal brain disorder. It affects about one person in every one million people per year worldwide; in the United States there are about 300 cases per year. CJD usually appears in later life and runs a rapid course. Typically, onset of symptoms...
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Causes and Symptoms
What is Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease? Readers Comments 2 Share Your Story Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare, degenerative, invariably fatal brain disorder. It affects about one person in every one million people per year worldwide; in the United States there are about 300 cases per year. CJD usually appears in later life and runs a rapid course. Typically, onset of symptoms...
Occupational Asthma Treatments and Causes
Occupational asthma facts Asthma is a lung disease characterized by and reversible narrowing of the airways, leading to shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, and cough. Occupational asthma is caused by a specific agent in the workplace. Many different agents can cause occupational asthma. Symptoms can begin immediately with exposure or years later. Occupational asthma is diagnosed by a thorough...
Endoscopic Ultrasound for the Pancreas & Other Organs
What is Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)? Share Your Story Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) combines endoscopy and ultrasound in order to obtain images and information about the digestive tract and the surrounding tissue and organs. Endoscopy refers to the procedure of inserting a long flexible tube via the mouth or the rectum to visualize the digestive tract (for further information, please visit the...
Esophageal Manometry: Test Results, Equipment
What is esophageal manometry? Esophageal manometry is a procedure for determining how the muscles of the esophagus and the sphincter (valve) works by measuring pressures (manometry) generated by the esophageal muscles and the sphincter. When is esophageal manometry used? Readers Comments 44 Share Your Story Esophageal manometry is used primarily in three situations: To evaluate the function of the sphincter...
Esophageal Manometry: Test Results, Equipment
What is esophageal manometry? Esophageal manometry is a procedure for determining how the muscles of the esophagus and the sphincter (valve) works by measuring pressures (manometry) generated by the esophageal muscles and the sphincter. When is esophageal manometry used? Readers Comments 35 Share Your Story Esophageal manometry is used primarily in three situations: To evaluate the function of the sphincter...