Category: E

An injection of a small amount of cortisone and an anesthetic into the bony spinal canal to reduce the inflammation of the nerves in the spine and ease the discomfort of lower back pain. Although cortisone is a strong anti-inflammatory medication, the procedure is not always successful, and that is especially true for people with…

The use of enzyme supplements to cure disease. Enzymes are catalysts for virtually all the chemical processes of the body, and digestive enzymes are essential for the breakdown of food into nutrients that can be absorbed and converted to energy. Enzyme therapy is based on the idea that since cooking and processing food destroys the…

A drug that prevents blood clots during or after surgery. An anticoagulant, enoxaparin sodium (Lovenox) is used to prevent blood clots from traveling through the bloodstream to lodge in a small blood vessel. The drug is given as an injection.  

Therapies intended to restore balance and harmony to the body by harnessing vital energy. Some energy therapies derive from ancient Asian medicine, such as Chinese medicine, based on the idea that a person can be physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy only when his or her life force is in correct balance. The aim of all…

The branch of dentistry concerned with the treatment of diseases or injuries that affect the nerves and pulp in teeth and the tissues in the gum. Endodontics primarily deals with the removal of dental pulp (root canal treatment). Root canal treatment is necessary when the dental pulp is injured because of deep decay or trauma.…

Behavior that helps or allows an individual who is dependent on alcohol or drugs to maintain that dependency. Enabling is also known as codependence. Helping an addict avoid the negative consequences of his or her behavior.  

Feelings such as anger, fear, sadness, excitement, love, or hate that are an abnormal response to a situation, cause the person significant distress, and interfere with day-to-day functioning. The term “emotional problems” encompasses a wide range of psychological difficulties, frequently associated with conditions like anxiety or depression. These challenges may have diverse underlying causes, making…

A doctor with special training in the diagnosis and treatment of medical emergencies. Emergency physicians typically work in hospitals with people who have been injured in accidents or who have become sick very suddenly with such conditions as a heart attack or unexplained fever. Emergency physicians practice emergency medicine, a specialty developed out of the…

A drug used to treat HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. Efavirenz (Sustiva) is used with other drugs to treat HIV infection by suppressing RNA, the genetic material within the cell.  

A disorder in which acetylcholine cannot be released from the nerve endings in the brain to cross the synapse and stimulate muscles to contract; also known as Lambert-Eaton syndrome, myasthenic-myopathic syndrome, and Eaton-Lambert myasthenic syndrome. This disorder differs from myasthenia gravis, in which acetylcholine is released but cannot bind with muscles to allow them to…