Health A-Z Medical Reference
- What Is Polychromasia?
Polychromasia is a blood disorder that causes an abnormal blood test. Learn more about what causes it, what to expect, and more.
- What is Phalloplasty?
Phalloplasty is when doctors perform surgery to create a penis from a vagina. Learn more about what causes it, what to expect, and more.
- What You Need to Know About Waist Trainers
Waist trainers are used to create an hourglass figure. Learn more about what they are, the risks, benefits, and how they can impact your health.
- What to Know About Aseptic Technique
Find out what you need to know about aseptic technique and discover the risks, benefits, and how it may affect health.
- What Is Nasal Vestibulitis?
Nasal vestibulitis is an infection in your nostrils. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for this condition today.
- What Is a Hangman's Fracture?
A hangman's fracture is a break in one of the two bones in your neck. Learn more about what causes it, what to expect, and more.
- What Is Strongyloidiasis?
Strongyloidiasis is a disease caused by roundworm. Learn what causes it, what to expect, and more.
- What Is Purulent Drainage?
Learn about the signs of a wound infection, such as pain, redness, and purulent drainage.
- What Is an Anterior Drawer Test?
An anterior drawer test is used to check your knee for an ACL tear. Learn about the causes of ACL tears, treatment options, and what to expect with this test.
- What to Know About the Smallpox Vaccination Scar
If you’re 40 or older, you might have a smallpox vaccine scar on your arm. Learn more about its history, why you have it, and if the vaccine still protects you.
- What to Know About Nasal Splints
Find out what you need to know about nasal splints, and discover the pros and cons, risks and benefits, and how they may affect health.
- What to Know About CAUTIs
Find out what you need to know about CAUTIs and discover the risk, health impacts, and treatments for this condition.
- What to Know About Anisocytosis
Learn about anisocytosis and why the size of red blood cells matters. Find out how anisocytosis can lead to a diagnosis of anemia and what else it could mean.
- What Is a Schilling Test?
A Schilling test determines whether your body absorbs vitamin B12 normally. Learn more about why you might need one, what to expect, and more.
- How Do You Pop Your Ears?
Swallow, yawn, or gently blow with your nose pinched to safely pop your ears and relieve pressure.
- What to Know About Sclerotic Lesions
Find out what you need to know about sclerotic lesions, and discover their risks, treatment options, and how they may affect your health.
- Wolf Spider Bites
Wolf spiders consist of over 100 species and tend to be larger than common house spiders. Learn more about what they are, the risks, and how they can impact your health.
- Trapezius Muscle Strains: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis
What causes a trapezius strain? Find out what you need to know about this problem with your upper back muscle, including how to treat it and how to prevent it.
- Guide to Silverfish Insects: Identification, Risks, and Removal
Find out what you need to know about silverfish, and discover the risks of a silverfish infestation and how it may affect your health.
- What to Know About Absorbable Sutures
How do absorbable sutures work? Dissolvable stitches are used for deep wounds so they can be absorbed into the body. Learn more about how they work.
- What Is Secondary Polycythemia?
Learn what secondary polycythemia is compared to primary polycythemia, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and how to live with and manage the condition.
- Genderqueer: What Does It Mean?
Find out what you need to know about genderqueer people and how being genderqueer may affect health.
- What Is Wound Dehiscence?
Wound dehiscence is when a surgical incision reopens. Learn about the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for this condition.
- What Is Vacuum-Assisted Wound Closure?
Vacuum-assisted wound closure is a treatment that applies gentle suction to a wound to help it heal. Learn about how it works, when it's used, and what to expect.
- What Is a Top Surgery for Transgender People?
Learn top surgery and why some transgender people choose to have it.
- What Is a Pathologic Fracture?
A pathologic fracture happens when your bone breaks without the force of an impact. Learn more about what it is and how it can impact your physical health.
- Lactated Ringers vs. Normal Saline as IV Fluids
Find out the differences between lactated ringers and normal saline, and discover the pros, cons, risks, and benefits, and when each is used.
- What to Know About Scrotoplasty
Find out what you need to know about scrotoplasty, and discover the pros, cons, risks, and benefits, and how it may affect health.
- Monocytes: What High and Low Levels Mean
Find out what you need to know about high monocyte count, and discover what it means for your health.
- What Is Upper Crossed Syndrome?
Learn all about Upper Crossed Syndrome (UCS), including how it develops, which parts of the body it affects, and how physical therapists treat it.
- What Is Fistulotomy?
Fistulotomy is a surgical procedure for treating anal fistula. Find out about the procedure, its benefits, and potential complications.
- DO vs. MD: What's the Difference?
Find out the differences between an MD and DO, and discover the pros, cons, risks, and benefits, and how it may affect health.
- Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
Find out about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome.
- What to Know About Laughing Gas (Nitrous Oxide)
Find out what you need to know about laughing gas, and discover its uses, effects, and the risks it may have on your health.
- What Is Non-Communicable Disease?
Non-communicable diseases are chronic conditions that negatively impact your health. Learn more about what it is and how you can prevent diseases or manage symptoms.
- What Is Red Bone Marrow?
Red bone marrow is the spongy tissue in your bones that makes blood cells. Learn about disorders, symptoms, and treatment options and more.
- What Is Poikilocytosis?
Poikilocytosis is the presence of abnormal shaped red blood cells. Learn more about what causes it, symptoms of poikilocytosis, and more.
- Why Do I Keep Getting Infections?
If you keep getting sick all the time, or notice that you’re getting one infection after another, there could be an underlying cause.
- Lymph Drainage Massage: Benefits and Risks
Learn what lymph drainage massage is and how it can help treat several health conditions.
- What Are Biological Rhythms?
Biological rhythms are a series of routines that your body performs to maintain your health. Learn about their functions, how to maintain them, and more.
- What Is Tracheal Shave?
All the ins and outs you need to know before you have a tracheal shave.
- What Is the Depressor Labii Inferioris?
Learn what the depressor labii inferioris is and what function it plays in your muscular system.
- What Is Chest Binding?
Chest binding is a method of flattening the chest to be more male-presenting. Learn about the different types, the risks involved, and more.
- What Is Azotemia?
Azotemia is when your blood has an abnormally high amount of nitrogen. Learn more about what causes it, the symptoms, and potential treatments.
- What is FOOSH?
Find out all you need to know about FOOSH, orthopedic injuries associated with FOOSH, treatment, and how you can prevent it.
- What Is Melamine?
Melamine is a chemical that is used in a lot of products. Learn what melamine is, what it's used for, and if it's safe.
- What Are Basophils?
Basophils are a kind of white blood cell in the body. Learn more about the role of basophils and their different functions.
- Is It Safe to Hold Your Breath?
Learn about holding your breath, including if it’s safe, pros, cons, and if there are benefits to it.
- What Is Gender Affirmation Surgery?
Learn about what kinds of surgeries are available for transgender people.
- What Is Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria?
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is a disorder that damages red blood cells and may make the urine turn red. Find out other symptoms of PNH, plus its causes and treatments.