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Contraindications for an Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

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Cardiac ablation, or catheter ablation, is a nonsurgical procedure to cure heart rhythm disorders caused by abnormal electrical signals. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, or NHLBI, cardiac ablation involves sending high-energy pulses through an electrode in a catheter to kill selected heart muscle cells that are causing the abnormal electrical signals. Contraindications are factors that exclude patients from a treatment. Patients may not be suitable candidates for cardiac ablation due to the type of heart condition they have, age or other diseases they have or if other less risky treatments are available. 

Clustered Calcifications in the Breast

Last Updated: Jun 07, 2010 | By Michael O'Leary

Calcium formations within the breast are common in all women but more common in postmenopausal women. According to the Mayo Clinic, most calcifications turn out to be harmless, but they can indicate harmful cysts, infection (mastitis) or cancer. Small white dots on a mammogram are called microcalcifications. Larger white spots or lines are called macrocaclifications. Radiologists evaluate clusters of calcium deposits for both their distribution patterns and the shapes of the calcifications.
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Multiple Myeloma Symptoms in the Elderly

Multiple myeloma, cancer of the bone marrow, is the second most common blood cancer after non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, according to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. Approximately 75 percent of those diagnosed are over age 70. Although some patients have no symptoms, the most common symptoms affect bone, blood and the nervous system.

Myeloma develops from abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow. When cells become cancerous, they grow out of control, crowding out other cell types and invading bone, which can be painful. They can also spread into open spaces in the large bones to form tumors. At the same time, the myeloma cells give off substances that disrupt normal bone repair, resulting in painful soft spots in the bone, that easily fracture. Any bone may be affected, but pain in the bones in the back, the hips, and skull is particularly common.
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What Are the Side Effects of Taking Niacin for Cholesterol Control?

What Are the Side Effects of
Taking Niacin for Cholesterol
Control
Niacin, or vitamin B3, is beneficial in lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides while raising HDL (good) cholesterol. According to the American Heart Association, it is the most potent medicine for raising HDL cholesterol. It is available as a dietary supplement and usually sold as a gel capsule. Prescription-strength niacin is available in long-acting or extended-release formulations.

Flushing
Hot flashes, or a sudden sensation of heat "flushing" over the neck and face, are a common side effect of niacin therapy. The American Heart Association says it is not a serious side effect and taking an aspirin before taking the niacin can reduce it. Taking niacin at meal times or bedtime can also help.


Chronic Eosinophilic Leukemia Symptoms

Chronic eosinophilic leukemia is a rare cancer belonging to a family of diseases called myeloproliferative disorders. According to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, these disorders develop when bone marrow produces too many of one type of blood cell. People with myeloproliferative disorders may have no symptoms at diagnosis, except for abnormal blood counts. Others may produce generalized symptoms of fever, fatigue or diarrhea, depending on the type of blood cell that is over-produced.
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What Are the Treatments for Lymphatic Cancer?

Lymphatic cancer, also called non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, forms a large group of cancers of the lymphatic system, which makes up part of the body's immune system that defends the body from illnesses. According to the National Cancer Institute, these cancers can start in immune cells, such as T cells or B cells, lymph vessels, lymph nodes, spleen or thymus, and are divided into aggressive, or fast-growing cancers and indolent, or slow-growing cancers. Treatments include, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and stem cell transplantation. (See Reference 1)
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Types of Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

According to the National Cancer Institute, lymphoblasts are precursor lymphocytes, which are immature white blood cells that form part of the immune system. Lymphoblasts mature into three types of lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes that make antibodies, T-lymphocytes that work with B-cells to kill tumor cells and other mutated cells, and natural killer cells, which directly kill mutated cells. Read more

Clustered Calcifications in the Breast

Calcium formations within the breast are common in all women but more common in postmenopausal women. According to the Mayo Clinic, most calcifications turn out to be harmless, but they can indicate harmful cysts, infection (mastitis) or cancer. Small white dots on a mammogram are called microcalcifications. Larger white spots or lines are called macrocaclifications. Radiologists evaluate clusters of calcium deposits for both their distribution patterns and the shapes of the calcifications.
Read more

Causes of Pain in the Front Left Shoulder 

Shoulder pain is one of the most common reasons people see a doctor, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Most pains located in and around the shoulder involve the tendons, ligaments or muscles. Orthopedic surgeons group these types of shoulder problems into two broad categories, instability and impingement injuries. Less frequently, pain can arise from broken bones or underlying disease.
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Cholesterol Levels in Hardening of the Arteries
Cholesterol is one lipid, or fat, made and used by the body. Cholesterol is produced by the liver and other cells and is used to make hormones, skin oils, digestive fluids and vitamin D. The body makes some of the cholesterol it needs for these functions, and uses dietary cholesterol for the rest.

How It Works
There are two types of cholesterol in the body. "Bad" cholesterol is a low-density lipoprotein, called LDL cholesterol. "Good" cholesterol is a high-density lipoprotein, called HDL cholesterol. When too much LDL circulates in the blood, it can build up in artery walls. HDL cholesterol removes LDL cholesterol from the blood and prevents it from sticking to blood vessel walls. Read more

HDL Level in the Blood
Overview
HDL cholesterol is one of the fats, called lipids, that circulate in your blood. Your body uses lipids to make hormones, skin oils, digestive fluids and vitamin D. To maintain your body's health, lipid levels must be balanced within a certain range. Keeping the optimal HDL level plays a key role in preventing heart disease and stroke.
Function
There are two kinds of cholesterol in your body: low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein. Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol, is often referred to as "bad" cholesterol. Read more

Causes of Prostate Pain When Sitting
Prostate pain when sitting is most often associated with inflammation of the prostate, or prostatitis. According to the Prostatitis Foundation, pain or discomfort, between the penis and rectum (perineum) that feels like you are sitting on a golf ball or something sharp are hallmark symptoms of prostatitis.
Bacterial Infection
According to the American Urological Association Foundation, prostatitis can have both bacterial and non-bacterial causes. Acute (temporary) and chronic (ongoing) bacterial infection occurs as a result of back flow of urine leaking into the prostate ducts. Read more

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