As we enter the cold and flu season, many adults will experience fevers associated with viral illnesses. When a child’s fever is high they are also at risk for febrile seizures — the most common type of seizure affecting children aged 6 months to 5 years. Let’s look more closely at this common pediatric health condition.
Rising health care costs remain one of America’s top concerns — so it is with some interest that we follow a new Canadian health campaign, launched this week, that endorses home screening for colorectal cancer that is both cost-effective and preventative.
Colorectal cancer refers to both cancer of the colon and cancer of the rectum. It’s the third most common cancer in the United States and, according to the National Cancer Institute there are about 150,000 new cases of colon and rectal cancer each year resulting in 50,000 deaths. The Canadian province of Ontario has one of the world’s highest rates of colorectal cancer, so their health ministry has taken the lead on promoting early screening for colorectal cancer with a simple home test that assesses the risk of colorectal cancer.
During this Thanksgiving holiday, Former First Lady Barbara Bush underwent emergency surgery for a perforated ulcer. This condition can be life threatening, so let’s take a closer look.
What is a perforated ulcer? An ulcer located in the stomach or other parts of the digestive tract is a breakdown of the organ’s inner lining. As the tissue begins to break down, the digestive acids eat away at the walls of the digestive tract. Eventually, bleeding can occur. A perforated ulcer is a result of this worsening condition. The acids eventually create a hole in the organ resulting in the release of foods and digestive juices outside the stomach or intestine.
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