Asbestosis

Breathing in asbestos fibers can cause lung fibrosis. Scarred lung tissue does not expand and contract as it normally should. How severe the disease is depends on how long the person was exposed to asbestos and the amount that was breathed in and the type of fibers breathed in. Often, the symptoms aren’t noticed for…

Heart Attack

Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States suffers a heart attack. A heart attack is caused by a blood clot that blocks a coronary artery. The coronary arteries supply blood and oxygen to the heart. If the blood flow is blocked, the heart is deprived of oxygen and heart muscle dies. The medical term…

Insomnia

Insomnia is the term for trouble falling asleep, staying asleep through the night, or waking up too early in the morning. Insomnia may come and go or can be ongoing. Lifestyle habits that may cause insomnia or make it worse include: Going to bed at a different time each night Daytime napping Poor sleeping environment,…

Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders are conditions that result in changes in the way that you sleep. Common types of sleep disorders include: Insomnia – difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night Sleep apnea – experiencing abnormal patterns in breathing while asleep Restless legs syndrome (RLS) – a sleep movement disorder that affects the legs Narcolepsy…

Cardiac Ablation

Cardiac ablation is a treatment for cardiac arrhythmias. Ablation can also be used to disconnect the electrical pathway between the upper chambers and lower chambers of the heart. The type of ablation performed depends upon the type of arrhythmia.

Cardiac Catheterization

Catheterization is a key diagnostic tool for cardiac health. Traditionally, a line is threaded through the femoral artery in the groin and up into the heart, requiring patients to lie flat for several hours and remain immobile for some time after the procedure. This procedure may be done to: Locate narrowing or blockages in blood…

Carotid Stenting

In carotid stenting, a catheter is threaded through the arteries to the narrowed carotid artery in the neck. A stent is inserted into the vessel to serve as a scaffold that helps prevent the artery from narrowing again.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) Closure

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a condition in which the ductus arteriosus does not close. The word “patent” means open. The ductus arteriosus is a blood vessel that allows blood to go around a baby’s lungs before birth. Soon after the infant is born and the lungs fill with air, the ductus arteriosus is no…

Radiofrequency Ablation

Radiofrequency ablation uses an electric current to heat up a small area of nerve tissue to stop it from sending pain signals. It can provide lasting relief for people with chronic pain, especially in the lower back, neck and arthritic joints.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)