Kidney failure, or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), occurs when the kidneys can no longer filter waste effectively. At this stage, kidney function drops below 10% of normal, leading to dangerous toxin ...

A cardiac ablation is a procedure performed by an interventional cardiologist to treat irregular heartbeats. Using long, flexible wires called catheters, the doctor threads the instruments through a ...

Dementia is a group of conditions that affect memory, thinking, and social skills to the point that they interfere with daily life. To receive a dementia diagnosis, a person must show a significant ...

Gout is a form of arthritis that causes sudden, severe joint pain—often in the big toe. These flare-ups happen when uric acid builds up in the blood and forms sharp crystals in the joints. Normally, ...

Vulvar cancer is a rare but serious condition, accounting for less than 1% of all cancers in women. The American Cancer Society estimates that around 6,000 women are diagnosed with vulvar cancer each ...

Spinal stenosis occurs when the spaces in the spine narrow, putting pressure on the spinal cord and surrounding nerve roots. These changes often develop gradually and can affect multiple areas of the ...

Cholesterol is a waxy substance in the body that helps produce cell membranes, hormones, and vitamin D. There are two types: LDL (“bad” cholesterol) and HDL (“good” cholesterol). The liver makes all ...

An electrocardiogram, called an EKG or ECG, measures the electrical activity of the heart and collects data about heart's health. Typically, a doctor or technician places electrodes connected to a ...

Peripheral neuropathy is a broad term for any condition that damages the peripheral nerves that transfer sensory information and carry signals from the central nervous system in the brain and spinal ...

The perineum is the area between the thighs and below the pelvis, between the coccyx and symphysis pubis. The pelvic diaphragm forms the top of the perineum, and the floor is skin and muscle fascia.

Freckles are small areas of skin with extra pigment. These tiny spots are usually tan or light brown and lie flat. They often develop during childhood, though people can continue to get them ...

Presbycusis is the medical term for age-related hearing loss. It is a common condition that affects roughly one-third of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74. This number jumps to approximately 50 ...