It’s 10 a.m., just a few days before Christmas. Several people have braved the December cold. Their destination — the Norton Sports Health Performance & Wellness Center. Some are older adults preparing for their weekly fitness classes. Others are college athletes, in the building to begin a pre-holiday workout. But among the few dozen people…
The widely used anti-seizure medication Keppra can cause rare but serious behavioral side effects, including what users of the drug have called “Keppra rage.” “It’s important to let your health care provider know right away if you have any mood changes on Keppra,” said Rebekah J. Woods, D.O., neurologist, Norton Neuroscience Institute. Some epilepsy patients taking…
PCSK9 inhibitors are an injectable, cholesterol-lowering medication for people who have tried other treatments and still have high cholesterol. This medication may be especially helpful if you’ve had high cholesterol throughout your life or if you have a genetic condition called hypercholesterolemia that is causing high cholesterol. PCSK9 inhibitors reduce your low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, also…
Heart attack symptoms are often different for women. Women may not experience the stereotypical crushing chest pain. Instead, they could have symptoms that could be confused with the flu, heartburn or an ulcer. “It’s critical women understand what a heart attack can feel like for them, so they get immediate medical care. Any delay in…
Dementia is characterized by a progressive loss of mental functioning, whether from Alzheimer’s disease or another condition. The result is an ongoing loss of memory and thinking ability. Dementia also can cause personality changes, such as agitation or aggressive behavior, and changes in sleep patterns like insomnia that make caring for people with dementia difficult….
Much like heart attack symptoms, there are some common stroke symptoms that men and women share, but there are some subtle differences for women. In women, stroke warning signs can be more subtle and may not appear serious enough to seek medical attention, putting the person experiencing them in grave danger. Emergency stroke treatment can…
If someone in your family has had a stroke, your risk of a stroke is higher. Stroke sometimes can be the result of genetics, passed from one generation to the next, but family habits also can be carried on. You can improve your odds significantly by knowing the risk factors and making healthy lifestyle choices….
Heart palpitation, or a rapid heartbeat, can bring on dizziness and even fainting and can be a symptom of a potentially serious heart condition. When the fast heart rate begins in the upper heart chambers, it is called supraventricular tachycardia (soop-rah-ven-TRICK’-yoo-lar TAK-ih-KAR-dee-ah), also known as SVT. When it starts in the lower chambers, it’s called…
Occasionally misplacing keys or forgetting the time of an appointment are examples of the normal forgetfulness that comes with age. When the memory loss involves repeatedly asking the same question, having trouble naming objects, or changes in personality, these may be signs of dementia. Dementia is persistent and progressive, meaning it will get worse with…
When your heart is beating too fast, the heart doesn’t have time to fill up with the normal amount of blood between beats. As a result, you might feel lightheaded or dizzy. The medical term for an abnormally fast heart rate is tachycardia. Two types of tachycardia are supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and ventricular tachycardia (V-tach)….
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious condition that can occur in people with diabetes, both undiagnosed and known diabetes. It can be brought on by a variety of contributors including lack of insulin, infection, alcohol or substance abuse, pancreatitis, acute coronary syndrome, a cerebrovascular accident or a pulmonary embolism. Some of the first warning signs…
A doula is a trained, nonmedical professional who helps you before, during and shortly after giving birth. Doulas are not the same as a nurse midwife. They do not deliver babies. Instead, they offer emotional, physical and educational support to you and your family. The goal of a doula is to help you have a…
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