This article illustrates how a negative feedback loop works. It offers examples to help you understand what’s involved in achieving and maintaining biological homeostasis. It does this through a negative feedback loop. Illustration by Sydney Saporito for Verywell Health What that means is that the speed of production is sensitive to the amount of Product X. When it starts to build up, production slows. Too much product building up can cause damage....
A Specialist Trained in Diseases of the Kidneys A nephrologist is a doctor who specializes inkidney healthand kidney disease. Nephrology is a subspecialty of internal medicine. A nephrologist needs to complete internal medicine training before pursuing an additional fellowship in nephrology. endopack / Getty Images The termnephrologyis derived from the Greeknephrosmeaning “kidneys” and the suffix -ologymeaning “the study of.” Diagnosis Nephrologists are typically called in when there are signs of kidney injury or disease....
Neurologists are not surgeons. Those who perform surgery are calledneurosurgeonsand they undergo a surgical, rather than internal medicine, residency. All told, there are around 16,000 practicing neurologists in the United States. Verywell / Kelly Miller Diagnosis and treatment of these disorders often require consultation with a neurologist. Headaches The two commonest types of headache in neurological practice aremigrainesand tension headaches. Dementia Dementiais an umbrella term for different types of cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer’s disease....
Thomas Barwick/Getty Images No-Scalpel vs. No-scalpel vasectomy is as effective as a traditional vasectomy but is considered the better surgical approach for several reasons. However, during a no-scalpel vasectomy, only one small puncture is made. This approach has become far more common than traditional vasectomy. Thomas Barwick/Getty Images Each vas is lifted out of the single puncture site, one at a time. Then the occlusion is performed. This creates a tissue barrier between the vasal ends....
Testing for platelet disorders A normalplatelet countis between 150,000 to 450,000 per microliter (mcL) of blood. This range is generally applicable to all adults. However, research has suggested that normal platelet counts might be a little different in men and women. Getty Images Age might also affect what is considered a normal platelet count because these cells tend to decrease over time. This article covers normal platelet count ranges, as well as abnormal ones....
Healthcare providers usually consider a normal ratio to be below 5:1. A very good ratio would be 3.5:1 or lower. When your overall cholesterol is over 200 mg/dL, you may be at higher risk of heart disease. Illustration by Paige McLaughlin for Verywell Health This article looks at how a cholesterol ratio is calculated and what it means for your health. It also discusses ways to improve cholesterol levels. Illustration by Paige McLaughlin for Verywell Health...
A Pap smear (or Pap test) is quick and does not usually hurt. A Pap test is used to screen forcervical cancer. If any are found, more testing can be done todiagnose cancer. Illustration by Emily Roberts, Verywell Why Is a Pap Smear Done? Pap smears usually are done as part of regularpelvic exams. There are more than 100 strains of the virus, but not all of them cause the disease....
A colectomy can be effective in stopping or slowing diseases likecolon cancerorinflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The article looks at the different types of total and partial colectomies, including the conditions they help treat. It also describes the possible risks of a colectomy and what to expect during recovery. Motortion / Getty Images What Conditions Require a Colectomy? The colon is the longest part of thelarge intestine(bowel). Typically, the healthy sections of the colon are connected, eliminating the need for an ostomy....
However, there are very few risks associated with a PET scan. It also explains the possible risks and what the PET test results mean. The patterns of these changes can help diagnose different diseases. Illustration by Emily Roberts, Verywell PET scans use various radioactive drugs called radiotracers that are injected into your bloodstream. With that being said, not all cancers can be detected by PET. The test is performed by a nuclear medicine technologist....
The most common pituitary tumor is thepituitary adenoma. More than 10,000 people are diagnosed with pituitary tumors every year in the United States. The pituitary gland is an essential hormone-secreting gland. Moyo Studio / Getty Images It’s a small piece of tissue located at the base of the brain. Therefore, pituitary tumors are a bang out ofbrain tumor. The pituitary gland is part of the body’sendocrine system, which produces hormones....
This cavity is called the pleural cavity. Typically, the pleural cavity contains a small amount of fluid that functions as a lubricant. Large amounts of fluid or more distressing symptoms may require more aggressive treatment. Riska / Getty Images Medications Pleural effusion due to congestive heart failure is often treated with medication, includingdiuretics. Pleural effusions due to infections such as pneumonia are often treated using antibiotics. The healthcare provider inserts a needle between the ribs and drains the excess fluid....
The position of your pelvis matters a great deal to your spinal alignment and yourlow-backhealth. Posterior pelvic tilt is because of an imbalance between the core muscles and the leg muscles. It can cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, such as tight hamstrings andback pain. Illustration by Jessica Olah for Verywell Health This article discusses the causes and symptoms of a posterior pelvic tilt. It also covers treatment, including specific exercises to try, as well as sleep and sitting modification options....
People displaying psychopathy are callous, manipulative, and deceitful. They often commit acts of violence, theft, or fraud to get others to do what they want. Psychopathy is not an official mental health diagnosis. Halfpoint Images / Getty Images Is Psychopath a Clinical Diagnosis? However, researchers often study psychopathic traits, such as callousness, aggression, and manipulativeness. What Is a Psychopath? Researchers use the term “psychopath” to describe a person who exhibits consistently callous and unemotional behavior....
