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Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is the most commonly used drug in the world. Pharmacologically, alcohol is classified as a central nervous system depressant.
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Alcoholism is defined as alcohol seeking and consumption behavior that is harmful. Long-term and uncontrollable harmful consumption can cause alcohol-related disorders that include: antisocial personality disorder , mood disorders (bipolar and major depression) and anxiety disorders.
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A brain abscess is a mass of immune cells, pus, and other material that can occur when the brain is infected by bacteria or fungus.
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Brain abscess is a bacterial infection within the brain. The brain is usually well insulated from infection by bacteria, protected by the skull, the meninges (tissue layers surrounding the brain), the immune system, and the highly regulated barrier between the bloodstream and the brain.
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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the result of physical trauma to the head causing damage to the brain. This damage can be focal, or restricted to a single area of the brain, or diffuse, affecting more than one region of the brain.
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A tumor is any growth of abnormal cells, or the uncontrolled growth of cells. This article is about primary brain tumors. These start in the brain, rather than spreading to the brain from another part of the body. See also: Brain tumor - metastatic (cancer that has spread to the brain) Brain tumor - children
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A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in the brain. Unlike other tumors, brain tumors spread by local extension and rarely metastasize (spread) outside the brain.
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A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue, either malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous), in the brain. Each year, more than 17,000 brain tumors are diagnosed in the United States.
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Brain Tumors: Emotional IssuesAdjusting to your diagnosis and treatment can be hard for both you and your loved ones. It will take time.
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Brain Tumors: Team Members and Common TermsThe members of your health care team will work with you during the course of your treatment. They help guide you through your treatment choices, address your questions and concerns, and give you support.
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Brain TumorsThe brain controls the body. Each part of the brain has a role.
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Medications for a Brain TumorBrain tumors often cause symptoms. Also, your treatment is likely to produce some side effects.
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A stroke is an interruption of the blood supply to any part of the brain. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack."
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A stroke is the sudden death of brain cells in a localized area due to inadequate blood flow. A stroke occurs when blood flow is interrupted to part of the brain.
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Symptoms of a StrokeDuring a stroke, blood stops flowing to part of the brain. This can damage areas in the brain that control the rest of the body.
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A stroke is the sudden death of brain cells in a localized area due to inadequate blood flow. A stroke occurs when blood flow is interrupted to part of the brain.
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Stroke, or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), is the third leading cause of death (after heart disease and cancer) in the United States and the industrialized countries of the world. The term " stroke, " which comes from subjects being suddenly " struck down " with neurological deficits, is commonly used by both professional and lay groups.
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Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is the medical term for what is commonly termed a stroke. It refers to the injury to the brain that occurs when flow of blood to brain tissue is interrupted by a clogged or ruptured artery, causing brain tissue to die because of lack of nutrients and oxygen.
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A stroke, also called a cerebral infarction, is a life-threatening condition marked by a sudden disruption in the blood supply to the brain. A disruption in the blood supply to the brain starves the brain of oxygen-rich blood and causes the nerve cells in that area to become damaged and die within minutes.
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For Caregivers: Preparing for Home Care After StrokeWhen your loved one returns home, you’ll both need time to adjust. You and the patient will have to transfer the skills learned in rehab to a new location.
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A stroke, also called a cerebral vascular accident (CVA), is the sudden death of cells in a specific area of the brain due to inadequate blood flow. A stroke occurs when blood flow is interrupted to a part of the brain, either when an artery bursts or becomes closed when a blood clot lodges in it.
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Stroke is the common name for the injury to the brain that occurs when the flow of blood to brain tissue is interrupted by a clogged or burst artery. Arterial blood carries oxygen and nutrition to the cells of the body.
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Understanding Traumatic Brain InjuryBreathing, blood flow, and movement are all controlled by the brain. The brain also allows you to think, handle emotions, and make judgments.
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Drug abuse is the use of illicit drugs, or the abuse of prescription or over-the-counter drugs. The abuse of legitimate drugs (prescription or over-the-counter) can be done by using the drugsin a manner or in quantities other than directed, or for purposes other than legitimate purposes. See also drug abuse first aid and drug abuse and dependence .
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Substance abuse is a maladaptive pattern of alcohol or other drug use that causes social, physical, legal, vocational, or educational distress or impairment. In addition to those trained specifically as substance abuse counselors, mental health and rehabilitation counselors work with individuals who abuse alcohol and other drugs.
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Substance abuse is a pattern of drug, alcohol or other substance use that creates many adverse results from its continual use. The characteristics of abuse are a failure to carry out obligations at home or work, continual use under circumstances that present a hazard (such as driving a car), and legal problems such as arrests.
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Substance abuse and dependence refer to any continued pathological use of a medication, non-medically indicated drug (called drugs of abuse), or toxin. Although there are on-going debates on the exact distinctions between substance abuse and substance dependence, the current practice standard- distinguishes between the two by defining substance dependence in terms of physiological and behavioral symptoms of substance use, and substance abuse in terms of the social consequences of substance use.
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Substance abuse is a pattern of behavior that displays many adverse results from continual use of a substance. Substance dependence is a group of behavioral and physiological symptoms that indicate the continual, compulsive use of a substance in self-administered doses despite the problems related to the use of the substance.
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Substance abuse is the continued compulsive use of mind-altering substances despite personal, social, and/or physical problems caused by the substance use. Abuse may lead to dependence, in which increased amounts are needed to achieve the desired effect or level of intoxication and the patient ' s tolerance for the drug increases.
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Public health has an opportunity to address the issues of substance use, abuse, and dependency across all age groups in the community since it occurs in all age groups. Substance abuse prevention and treatment professionals are acutely aware that alcohol and other drugs have a destructive impact on a person ' s physical, mental, and social development.
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The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) is the U.S.
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An electrolyte disorder is an imbalance of certain ionized salts (i.e.
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Encephalitis is an inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the brain, usually caused by infections. See also meningitis .
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Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain, usually caused by a direct viral infection or a hypersensitivity reaction to a virus or foreign protein. Brain inflammation caused by a bacterial infection is sometimes called cerebritis.
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Encephalitis is an acute inflammatory process that affects brain tissue and is almost always accompanied by inflammation of the adjacent meninges (tissues lining the brain). There are many types of encephalitis, most of which are caused by viral infections.
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An inflammatory disease of the brain caused by a virus that either has invaded the brain, or a virus appearing elsewhere in the body that has caused a sensitivity reaction in the brain. Encephalitis infects the brain tissue itself and has serious consequences.
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Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain, usually caused by a direct viral infection or a hypersensitivity reaction to a virus or foreign protein. Brain inflammation caused by a bacterial infection is sometimes called cerebritis.
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A fluid imbalance is an abnormality of body fluids that may occur for many reasons. For example, after heart surgery that involves cardiopulmonary bypass, it is common for the individual to retain large quantities of fluid for several days (causing marked swelling of the body). Children may show symptoms of fluid imbalance from diarrhea. Replacing the fluid is important, but may require medical supervision. It is important to replace fluids adequately, but not overhydrate the child. There are many illnesses that may involve symptoms of fluid imbalance. The key is to seek medical attention when signs of dehydration or swelling take place, in order to prevent more serious complications.
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Immunodeficiency disorders occur when the immune response is reduced or absent.
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Inborn errors of metabolism are rare genetic disorders in which the body cannot turn food into energy (metabolize food) normally. The disorders are usually caused by defects in the enzymes involved in the biochemical pathways that break down food components.
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Inborn errors of metabolism are inherited disorders in which the body cannot metabolize the components of food ( carbohydrates , proteins , and The Guthrie test, given to newborns, helps doctors diagnose some inborn errors of metabolism before they cause permanent damage. The test requires a small sample of blood, usually taken from the heel.
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Acute renal failure is sudden loss of the ability of the kidneys to excrete wastes, concentrate urine, and conserve electrolytes . ("Acute" means sudden, "renal" refers to the kidneys.)
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HemodialysisHemodialysis is one kind of dialysis. It uses a machine that holds a filter called a dialyzer.
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Meningitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Non-bacterial meningitis is often referred to as "aseptic meningitis." Bacterial meningitis may be referred to as "purulent meningitis."
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Meningitis is a serious inflammation of the meninges, the membranes (lining) that surround the brain and spinal cord. It can be of bacterial, viral, or fungal origin.
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An inflammation of the meninges, most often caused by infection. Meningitis is a potentially fatal inflammation of the meninges, membranes which encase the brain and spinal cord.
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Meningitis is a potentially fatal inflammation of the meninges, the thin, membranous covering of the brain and the spinal cord. Meningitis is most commonly caused by infection (by bacteria, viruses, or fungi), although it can also be caused by bleeding into the meninges, cancer , diseases of the immune system, and an inflammatory response to certain types of chemotherapy or other chemical agents.
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Meningitis is a potentially fatal inflammation of the meninges, the thin, membranous covering of the brain and the spinal cord. Meningitis is most commonly caused by infection by bacteria, viruses, or fungi, although it can also be caused by bleeding into the meninges, cancer , diseases of the immune system, and an inflammatory response to certain types of chemotherapy or other chemical agents.
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Most cases of viral meningitis occur in children under 5 years of age. Viral meningitis is usually mild and often goes away without treatment. It is much less serious than bacterial meningitis.
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Meningitis is a potentially fatal inflammation of the meninges, the thin, membranous covering of the brain and the spinal cord . Meningitis is most commonly caused by infection ( bacteria , viruses , or fungi ), although it can also be caused by bleeding into the meninges, cancer , diseases of the immune system , and an inflammatory response to certain types of chemotherapy or other chemical agents.
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A transient ischemic attack is a "mini-stroke" caused by temporary disturbance of blood supply to an area of the brain, resulting in a sudden, brief decrease in brain function. (It lasts less than 24 hours, usually less than one hour) .
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What Is a TIA?ATIA (Transient Ischemic Attack)is an early warning that astroke(also called a brain attack) is coming.
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Carotid Artery Problems: StrokeThe carotid arteries are large blood vessels that carry blood to the brain. When these arteries are healthy, the brain gets all the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function well.
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Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs) are transient neurological deficits, such as temporary blindness of one eye (amaurosis fugax), hemiparesis, or aphasia. Most typically, these symptoms last for periods of minutes or even hours, and they may persist for up to twenty-four hours.
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A transient ischemic attack, or TIA, is often described as a mini-stroke. Unlike a stroke , however, the symptoms can disappear within a few minutes.
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A transient ischemic attack (TIA), or " mini-stroke, " is a neurologic episode resembling a stroke but resolving completely within a short period of time. By definition, symptoms of TIA resolve within 24 hours, and symptoms lasting longer than that are termed a stroke.
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Neurosyphilis is a slowly progressive and destructive infection of the brain or spinal cord. It occurs in untreated syphilis many years after the primary infection.
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People don’t talk as much about syphilis today as they did in the past. But people still become infected with syphilis, and it can cause very serious problems.
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Malnutrition is the condition that occurs when a person's body is not getting enough nutrients. The condition may result from an inadequate or unbalanced diet, digestive difficulties, absorption problems, or other medical conditions.
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Malnutrition is the condition that develops when the body does not get the right amount of the vitamins , minerals , and other nutrients it needs to maintain healthy tissues and organ function. Undernutrition Malnutrition occurs in people who are either under-nourished or over-nourished.
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The nutritional requirements of the human body reflect the nutritional intake necessary to maintain optimal body function and to meet the body ' s daily energy needs. Malnutrition (literally, " bad nutrition " ) is defined as " inadequate nutrition, " and while most people interpret this as undernutrition , falling short of daily nutritional requirements, it can also mean overnutrition, meaning intake in excess of what the body uses.
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Malnutrition is a condition that develops when the body does not get the proper amount of protein, energy (calories), vitamins , and other nutrients it needs to maintain healthy tissues and organ function. Poor eating habits or lack of available food may lead to malnutrition.
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Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare hereditary condition in which the amino acid phenylalanine is not properly metabolized. PKU can cause severe mental retardation if not treated.
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Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency in the production of the hepatic (liver) enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). PKU is the most serious form of a class of diseases referred to as hyperphenylalaninemia, all of which involve above normal (elevated) levels of phenylalanine in the blood.
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Phenylketonuria (PKU) can be defined as a rare metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency in the production of the hepatic (liver) enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). PKU is the most serious form of a class of diseases referred to as " hyperphenylalaninemia, " all of which involve above normal (elevated) levels of phenylalanine in the blood.
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An inherited metabolic disease caused by a defect in the liver enzyme that prevents the conversion of the protein called phenylalanine into a useful form. In phenylketonuria (PKU), a defect in the liver enzyme prevents the conversion of the protein called phenylalanine into a useful form.
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Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive disorder that results from phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency. If uncontrolled, PKU leads to mental retardation.
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Withdrawal syndrome occurs in drug and alcohol addicted individuals who discontinue or reduce the use of their drug of choice. This process of eliminating drugs and alcohol from the body is known as detoxification .
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