Categories
Cardiovascular
Diagnostics
Endocrinology
Health Insurance
Medical Devices
Mental Health
Nutrition
Oncology
Public Health
Sexual Health
Popular Articles
Teeth Whitening Products

Neural Substrates Of Controlled And Automatic Processes Involved In Empathy For Pain
Seeing others in pain can automatically engage the brain"s empathy systems even if we are not paying attention, according to new research from Mount Sinai School of Medicine presented at the Annual Meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping. The investigators showed people images of hands and feet in painful or non-painful situations while scanning the brain using magnetic resonance imaging. Under some conditions the subjects paid attention to whether the situation was painful, while in other conditions they paid attention to other aspects of the images. The results showed that a brain area called the insula responded to pain even if the subject was not paying attention to pain, while another area called the anterior cingulate cortex was important for the voluntary control of empathy for pain. The research provides a better understanding of how the social brain responds to others" pain.
generic viagra online
Washington D.C., Makes Improvements On HIV/AIDS Efforts, But More Work To Be Done, Report Finds; District Expands STD Testing Program For Students
The fifth annual report card from the Washington, D.C.,-based Appleseed Center for Law and Justice examining the district"s response to HIV gives the city "high marks for rapid testing, interagency coordination, surveillance and fighting the disease in the D.C. Jail," but finds that the city falls short in other areas, the Washington Examiner reports (Neibauer, 8/5). "The government also received above-average grades for leadership, managing grants to groups that help people with the illness, and monitoring the effectiveness of those programs," the Washington Post reports. However, "While Mayor Fenty and his administration deserve recognition for the continued support of ò€¦ numerous [HIV/AIDS Administration] initiatives, his public appearances and statements about the epidemic have fallen short of his enthusiasm for action inside the government," the report said. The report added that the district could do more to address HIV and recommended that HAA assess whether the improvements they have made are reducing the spread of the virus, according to the Post (Fears, 8/5).
News of the day
Drummers Will 'Stick It To MS'
Over 600 drummers will gather in Birmingham"s National Indoor Arena on Monday 13 July to beat a world record in aid of the MS Society.
Public Health

What Is Bursitis? What Causes Bursitis?

Bursitis happens when the bursa is inflamed. The burse acts as a cushion between bones, tendons, joints and muscles - bursae are fluid-filled sacs (the plural of bursa is bursae). People with bursitis will feel pain at the site of inflammation. The medical word "bursa" comes from the Latin bursa, meaning a purse, which is what a bursa resembles. According to Medilexicon"s medical dictionary, bursitis is "inflammation of the bursa". About the bursae There are about 160 bursae in the human body. These little, fluid-filled sacs cushion pressure and lubricate points between our bones, tendons, and muscles near our joints. The bursae are lined with synovial cells. Synovial cells produce a lubricant that reduces friction. This cushioning and lubrication allows our joints to move easily. When a person has bursitis - inflammation of the bursa - movement or pressure is painful. Overuse, injury and sometimes an infection from gout or rheumatoid arthritis may cause bursitis. What parts of the body may become affected by bursitis? Any bursa can become affected; however, the following are the most common places: *Shoulder *Elbow *Ankle *Knee *Buttocks *Hip *Thigh How prevalent is bursitis? As many cases of bursitis are mild, lots of people with bursitis will sit it out or self treat and never see a doctor about it. It is therefore hard to know how common it is. GPs (general practitioners, primary care physicians) in the UK say that about 1 in every 200 patient visits are because of bursitis. What are the symptoms of bursitis? A person with bursitis can have one or more of the symptoms below: *Pain - the pain increases with movement or pressure *Tenderness is felt even without movement *Swelling *Loss of movement If the bursitis is caused by an infection it is called Septic Bursitis. The patient with septic bursitis may have the following additional symptoms: *Fever *The affected area is red *The affected area feels hot when touched What causes bursitis? Bursitis can be caused by an injury, an infection, or a pre-existing condition in which crystals can form in the bursa. Injury An injury can irritate the tissue inside the bursa and cause inflammation. Doctors say that bursitis caused by an injury usually takes time to develop. The joints, tendons, or muscles that are near the bursae may have been overused. Most commonly, injury is caused by repetitive movements. Below are some examples of causes of bursitis: *Tennis elbow - bursitis of the elbow is often termed tennis elbow. It is a common problem among tennis players and golfers. Repetitive bending of the elbow can eventually lead to injury and inflammation. *Clergyman"s knee - repeated kneeling can cause injury and eventual swelling to the bursae in the knee area. *Shoulder - caused by repeated overhead lifting or reaching upwards. *Ankle - injury to the ankle can be caused by walking too much and with the wrong shoes. Bursitis of the ankle is also common among ice skaters and athletes. *Buttocks - the bursae in that area can become inflamed after sitting on a hard surface for a long time, such as on a bicycle. *Hips - some long-distance runners, and also middle distance runners and sprinters if they train a lot can develop hip bursitis. *Thigh - this can be caused by stretching. Bursitis can also be caused by a hard blow to the area. Infection Infection that causes bursitis tends to be in bursae that are nearer the surface of the skin, such as those near the elbow. A cut on the skin is an opportunity for the bacteria to get in. Most healthy people would not be affected by opportunistic bacteria trying to get in through the skin. However, people with weakened immune systems, such as those with diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Cancer (receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy), as well as people taking steroids, and heavy consumers of alcohol. Health conditions People with certain health conditions are more prone to the formation of crystals inside the bursa. The crystals irritate the bursa and make it swell. The conditions that may cause this include gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma. How is bursitis diagnosed? Carrying out a diagnosis for bursitis is fairly straightforward. The doctor will examine the affected area and ask the patient some questions about his/her recent activities. If the patient has a high temperature the physician may take a small sample of fluid from a bursa near the affected body part. The sample will be tested for bacteria, and perhaps also crystals. If the patient does not get better after treatment the doctor may carry out further tests so that he/she can eliminate the possibility that the symptoms might not be due to something else. These may include: *An x-ray, to make sure no bones are broken or fractured *Blood tests, to check for rheumatoid arthritis *A CT scan or MRI scan to see if there is a torn tendon The latest Pain News & Anesthetics News articles published daily. Includes news on painkillers, alternative treatments, nerve pain, pain relief and local and general anesthetics. What is the treatment for bursitis? Self-treatment Most bursitis cases can be treated by the patient without having to see a doctor. A trip to a pharmacy, a conversation with the pharmacist, and some self-care techniques are usually enough. The NHS (National Health Service, UK) recommends PRICEM - a self-care management approach. PRICEM stands for: Protection Rest Ice Compression Elevation Medication *Protect the affected area - Some people place padding to protect the affected bursae from any blow. *Rest - Do not exercise or use the joints in the affected area unless you really have to. Let it rest. Bursitis is a condition that responds well to rest. *Ice packs - Ice packs can help reduce pain and inflammation. Make sure you do not place the ice directly on the skin, use a pack or towel. A small pack of frozen vegetables are ideal. *Raise the affected area - If you can, lift the affected area, raise it; less blood will gather there. This may help reduce the inflammation. *Painkillers - Ibuprofen is an effective painkiller for treating pain, it also reduces inflammation. *Steroids - For more severe symptoms the doctor may inject steroids into the affected area. Steroids block a body chemical called prostaglandin. Prostaglandin causes inflammation. Steroids may raise the patient"s blood pressure if used for too long, as well as increasing his/her risk of getting an infection. UK doctors are advised not to give more than three steroid injections in one year. *Antibiotics - If the fluid test confirms that there is a bacterial infection, the doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics. These will be administered orally (via mouth). *Surgery - Very rarely, the bursa may have to be surgically drained. Prevention *Protect that part of the body that may be most vulnerable - If you have to kneel a lot, get some knee pads. Elbow braces can protect tennis and golf players. If you are an athlete or avid walker, invest in some good walking or running shoes. *When doing repetitive tasks have breaks - Apart from taking regular breaks, try varying your movements so that you are using different parts of your body. *Warm up before exercise - Before any type of vigorous exercise you should warm up for at least 5 to 10 minutes. The warm up could include walking at a good speed, slow jogging, or a cycling machine. *Strong muscles add extra protection to the area - If you strengthen the muscles in the area where you had bursitis (after you are better), especially the area around the joint, you will have extra protection from injury. Make sure you do this well after your bursitis has gone completely. Written by Christian Nordqvist Copyright: Medical News Today Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today


Add your comment:
Name:
Site address: http://
Your message:
Enter today\\\\'s date, 2 digits
(spam protection):

© Copyright 2009