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Overview The cricopharyngeus muscle is a circular muscle that sits around the top of the food pipe, the tube that passes food from the mouth into the stomach. The muscle is responsible for opening and closing the food pipe. A Cricopharyngeal spasm occurs when the cricopharyngeus muscle gets overly contracted. The condition is usually harmless, apart from the nuisance and discomfort it causes. The most common symptom of the condition is that the affected individual feels a perpetual ‘lump’ in the throat, which is also known as globus pharyngeus.  Causes Cricopharyngeal spasms can be caused by a number of underlying conditions, such as: In some cases, cricopharyngeal spasms can be caused by neurological conditions or damaging events, such as a stroke, or they can occur because of cricopharyngeal dysfunction. In such cases, a neurologist is better consulted. When associated with cricopharyngeal dysfunction, muscle spasms may cause dysphagia or difficulty swallowing

Overview Virtual colonoscopy is a procedure usually done to look for polyps inside the colon. It is a procedure related to gastroenterology . Polyps that grow on the inside lining of the colon sometimes turn into colon cancer. It is recommended by gastroenterologists that both men and women begin screening for colon cancer at the age of 50, and continue every five years. In case of family history of colon cancer or other colon related problems, it is advised to start screening even earlier.    Why is it done? Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women. The reason for virtual colonoscopy is to find polyps and remove them before they become cancer or to find colon cancer at an early stage when it can be treated successfully. Also read: Colon Cancer – Understand it to Detect it What Are The Advantages Of Virtual Colonoscopy? As compared to conventional colonoscopy, virtual colonoscopy has several advantages, which in

Overview Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders are medical illnesses that result in strange or bizarre thinking, perceptions like sight, sound, behaviours, and emotions. Psychosis is a brain-based condition that is made better or worse by environmental factors like stress. Children and youth who experience psychosis often say "something is not quite right" or can't tell if something is real or not real. It is a rare psychiatric illness in young children, although not uncommon and is hard to recognize in its early phases. Childhood Onset Most children with schizophrenia show delays in language and other functions long before their psychotic symptoms e.g. hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking, appear. In the first years of life, about 30% of these children have transient symptoms of pervasive developmental disorder, such as rocking, posturing, and arm flapping. Childhood-onset of psychosis may present with poor motor development, suc

The most common signs of breast cancer include changes in the feel or appearance of the breast, nipple as well as the nipple discharge. The warning signs of breast cancer vary from woman to woman.  In some cases the symptoms of breast cancer can also be signs of something else which can only be told by a doctor .  If someone has any of the warning signs described below, then it is recommended to visit a health care provider : A lump in the breast or armpit. The lumps that feel harder or different from the rest of the breast are  the warning signs. Thickening of the breast skin or tissue that lasts through the patient’s period A change in the size, shape, or contour of the breast Clear or bloody fluid coming from the nipple Change in the appearance as well as the feel of the skin on the breast or nipple. It may look dimpled, puckered, scaly, or inflamed. Redness of the breast or nipple An area of your breast that clearly looks different from any other A hard, marble-like a

The dementia is basically discussed in “stages,” by the neurologists which basically refers to progress of dementia in a person. The stage helps the physicians determine the best treatment approach with the help of the health providers and caregivers. There are basically seven stages of Dementia :  No Cognitive Decline : - At this stage there are no symptoms shown by the patient. Very Mild Cognitive Decline : - In the second stage, there is normal forgetfulness associated with aging. The symptoms are not evident to loved ones or the physician. Mild Cognitive Decline : - This stage includes increased forgetfulness, slight difficulty concentrating as well as decreased work performance. People may get lost more often or have difficulty finding the right words. Moderate Cognitive Decline: -At this stage the patient faces difficulty in concentrating, decreased memory, and difficulties managing finances or even traveling alone to new locations. The patients also face trouble i

The kidney disease affects a human body’s ability to clean the blood, filter extra water out of the blood, and help to control the blood pressure. The kidney diseases are usually caused by the conditions that put a strain on the kidneys. Sometimes it's the result of a combination of different problems. It can be caused by: High blood pressure -  It can put strain on the small blood vessels in the kidneys and hinder the working of the kidneys. Diabetes - The excess of glucose in the blood damages the tiny filters present in the kidneys High cholesterol - It builds-up the fatty deposits in the blood vessels supplying the kidneys, that make it harder for them to work properly Kidney infections Glomerulonephritis - It is basically the kidney inflammation Polycystic kidney disease – It is an inherited condition that is also called cysts that gets developed in the kidneys Blockages in the flow of urine Long-term, regular use of certain medicines One can prev

The treatment of cancer depends upon the location of the cancer as well as the size of it, or whether it has spread anywhere else in your body and your general health. When a woman is  diagnosed with breast cancer, then the patient’s specialist team discusses about her treatment options as well as their possible side effects. The team of doctors and other professionals discuss about several ways to treat breast cancer, depending on its type, stage as well as the symptoms of breast cancer . Below mentioned are the common treatments offered top breast cancer hospitals in India : Local treatments: There are some treatments that are known as local therapies, because they treat the tumor without affecting the rest of the body. The local therapy that are used for breast cancer include: Surgery Radiation therapy The above mentioned treatments are only suggested for an early stage of cancer, and may be these treatments are not suitable for other situations. Systemic tr