Welcome to the Patient Education Library of Carrus Health Specialty Hospital
We invite you to explore our comprehensive list of resources and educational materials designed to help educate you about your medical condition or treatment. Choose a topic below to learn more.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your condition or treatment, please feel free to contact Carrus Health Specialty Hospital in Sherman, Texas, at (903) 870-2600.
This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation, examination, or the medical advice of your doctor. This information should not be relied upon to determine a diagnosis or course of treatment.
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Allergies
An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system overreacts to a normally nonthreatening substance. There are many types, causes, and symptoms of allergic reactions. Different areas of the body can be affected depending on the allergic trigger. Some allergic reactions ... Read More
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Anaphylaxis & Anaphylactic Shock
Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction with rapid onset of symptoms. Anaphylaxis usually occurs in people after they are exposed to a substance they are severely allergic to such as foods, medications, and insect stings. It has been estimated that up to 15% ... Read More
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Angina
Angina is chest pain or discomfort that results from a lack of blood and oxygen flow to the heart muscle. A narrowed or blocked artery due to coronary artery disease is the most common cause of angina. When blood cannot ... Read More
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Aortic Aneurysm
An aortic aneurysm is a condition that results from the swelling of a weakened wall in the aorta. The aorta is the largest artery in your body. It branches off your heart and distributes blood throughout your body and organs. ... Read More
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Asthma
Asthma is a lung disease. Asthma causes the breathing tubes in the lungs to temporarily narrow. People with asthma have difficulty breathing air in and out of their lungs. An allergen or irritant in the environment usually triggers an asthma flare-up. ... Read More
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Astrocytoma - Common CNS Tumor
Astrocytoma is a common type of brain tumor. There are different types and severities of astrocytomas. They may or may not be cancerous. Astrocytomas may be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of treatments. ... Read More
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Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial Fibrillation, also known as A Fib or AF, is a common heart condition that causes an abnormal rhythm (arrhythmia). It is sometimes described as a quivering heart or fluttering heartbeat. A change in the electrical charge that travels ... Read More
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Balanced Diet and Nutrition
The food that you eat can directly affect your health. As Americans are facing higher rates of obesity, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, it is more important than ever to make sure that you and your family are eating a ... Read More
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Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer occurs when the cells in the bladder grow abnormally or out of control. The exact cause of bladder cancer is unknown; however cigarette smoking and exposure to certain industrial chemicals appear to be risk factors. The most common ... Read More
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Brain Tumors
Brain tumors are a rare condition that results when cells grow abnormally and form a mass. Brain tumors may originate in the brain or spread from cancer in another part of the body. There are many different types of brain ... Read More
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Bronchitis
Bronchitis is a condition of inflammation of the large air passages in the lungs. It occurs when the mucous lining in the airways becomes irritated and swollen. Cigarette smoking, air pollution, and upper respiratory infections are common causes of bronchitis. ... Read More
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Cardiac Arrhythmia - Irregular Heartbeat
Heart arrhythmias, also called cardiac arrhythmias, are irregular heart rhythms that result when the heart beats too fast, too slow, or unevenly. A heart arrhythmia occurs if there is a disturbance anywhere along the nerve signal pathway in the heart chambers. ... Read More
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Cardiac Catheterization
Introduction and Uses Cardiac catheterization may be used as a diagnostic or treatment procedure. It involves advancing a catheter, a thin flexible tube, into the right or left side of the heart. Cardiac catheterization can provide information about the functioning of ... Read More
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Cardiac Imaging
Cardiac imaging is a specialized branch of radiology. It uses sophisticated technology to create detailed images of the heart and blood vessels that otherwise could not be seen without open surgery. There are several different types of cardiac imaging that ... Read More
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Cardiac Stress Test
A cardiac stress test may also be referred to as an exercise ECG (electrocardiogram), stress test, or treadmill test. A cardiac stress test is used to evaluate how your heart works during exercise. The test is used to assess general ... Read More
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Cardiomyopathy- Weakened Heart Muscle
The prefix "cardio" means heart. The word "myopathy" means damaged muscle. Our heart is actually an organ made of muscle. Cardiomyopathy is actually an abnormality of the muscle of the heart. ... Read More
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Carotid Artery Disease
Carotid artery disease results when the carotid arteries become blocked, impairing their ability to transport blood efficiently. The carotid arteries carry blood from your heart to your head and brain. Carotid artery disease can develop over time from plaque buildup. This ... Read More
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an irreversible lung condition. Diseases classified as COPD cause swelling of the large airways in the lungs, which obstructs or blocks the flow of air. Symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, ... Read More
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Common Cold
Colds are a very common medical condition. There are over two hundred viruses that can cause the common cold. The viruses are easily transmitted from person to person. Coughing, sneezing, a sore throat, and a runny nose are typical cold ... Read More
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Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
Congestive heart failure (CHF) develops when the heart cannot pump enough blood for the body. The most common causes of CHF are high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. CHF is usually a progressive long-term condition. Many forms of CHF ... Read More
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Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or CPAP (pronounced “see – pap”) is a treatment used for breathing problems where mild air pressure flows constantly into the patient’s mouth and/or nose to keep airways open. A machine works in conjunction with a ... Read More
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Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) - Clogging of Heart Arteries
Coronary artery disease (CAD), also called coronary heart disease (CHD) and atherosclerotic heart disease (ASHD), is caused by a thickening of the walls of the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. The thickened arteries cause the blood ... Read More
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Da Vinci Robotic Surgery
IntroductionRobotic surgery with the da Vinci® Surgical System allows surgery to be performed with smaller incisions compared to traditional open surgery. By making only a few tiny incisions, patients benefit from having less pain, less scarring, less bleeding, and less ... Read More
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Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) - Blood Clots in Deep Veins
A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that forms in the deep large veins of the pelvis, legs, thighs, or arms. A DVT can reduce or block the flow of blood in a vein. It may dislodge and ... Read More
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Diabetes - Type 1
Diabetes is a disease that affects how the body uses glucose, a sugar that is used as a source of fuel for the body. Normally, the hormone insulin helps glucose enter the cells where it is used for energy. People ... Read More
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Diabetes - Type 2 & Pre-Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes, also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that affects how the body uses glucose, a sugar that is a source of fuel. Normally, the hormone insulin helps ... Read More
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Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram is usually also be referred to as a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE), Doppler ultrasound of the heart, or surface echo. An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart. During the procedure, sound waves create a “live” picture of the ... Read More
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Electrocardiogram - ECG
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is useful for identifying if the heart is beating normally. It may be used for people with chest pain, heart palpitations, or suspected heart disease. An ECG measures the electrical activity of the heart. It ... Read More
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Emphysema
Emphysema is a lung disease. The condition of emphysema makes it difficult to exhale air and empty the lungs when breathing. In turn, the lungs are unable to completely fill up with fresh air when inhaling. This leads to a ... Read More
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Endocarditis - Infection of the Heart Valves
Endocarditis is an inflammation of the endocardium, the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves. It may occur following a bacterial or fungal infection or for unknown reasons. Endocarditis produces a variety of symptoms, and if left untreated, can ... Read More
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Enlarged Prostate (BPH)
An enlarged prostate gland is a very common condition. The prostate is a golf ball sized gland in men. It is located underneath the bladder and in front of the rectum. It is very common for a prostate gland to ... Read More
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Environmental Allergy
Runny noses, itchy watery eyes, and sneezing bother many Americans with environmental allergies, especially during pollen season. While outdoor allergies from grass, weeds, and trees may be seasonal, indoor allergies from dust mites and pet dander can cause problems all ... Read More
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Flu and Flu Shots
The flu is a respiratory disease that affects the nose, throat, and lungs. The influenza virus type A, B, or C causes it. The flu is very contagious. Symptoms include fever, chills, body aches, cough, and a lack of energy. ... Read More
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Heart Attack - Myocardial Infarction (MI)
A heart attack is a life-threatening emergency condition. Heart attack, medically termed myocardial infarction (MI), is the leading cause of death for men and women. A heart attack occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygenated blood and ... Read More
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Heart Disease
Heart disease, also called cardiovascular disease, is a common problem in the United States. It occurs when the heart and blood vessels do not function properly. The most common cause is narrowing or blockage of the arteries that supply blood ... Read More
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High Blood Pressure - Hypertension (HTN)
High blood pressure, or hypertension (HTN), is a common condition in the United States. High blood pressure is termed a “silent killer” because it usually does not have symptoms but can cause significant cardiovascular and organ damage. The only way to know ... Read More
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High Cholesterol - Dyslipidemia
High cholesterol occurs when there is too much or an unhealthy balance of cholesterol in the blood. Your body needs some cholesterol for healthy functioning but too much is dangerous to your health. High cholesterol has no symptoms. The only ... Read More
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HIV and AIDS
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a viral infection that gradually destroys the immune system and progresses to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV is primarily spread from an infected person to another during sexual activity, needle sharing, or ... Read More
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Hoarseness
Hoarseness can make it sound like you have a “frog in your throat.” Your voice may sound rough and change throughout the day. In most cases, hoarseness is not the sign of a serious problem and is easily treated by ... Read More
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Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a condition that occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. Your thyroid gland is located at the front of your neck. Thyroid hormones regulate your body metabolism. Metabolism refers to all of the chemical processes ... Read More
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Incontinence - Urine
Urinary incontinence is as concerning as it can be inconvenient and embarrassing. Urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine. It is not a disease, but rather a symptom. There are many causes of incontinence; some are more serious than ... Read More
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Insect Sting Allergy
Itching and swelling from insect stings annoy millions of Americans each year. For some people, stings from certain insects can cause allergic reactions. While most stinging insects do not cause an allergic reaction, honeybees, yellow jackets, hornets, wasps, and fire ... Read More
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Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Laser Vein Removal
With increasing age, the majority of women and large numbers of men experience unsightly varicose and spider veins in their legs. These vascular lesions may appear for many reasons including increasing age, heredity, hormone changes, and obesity. In the past, ... Read More
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Lung Cancer
Lung cancer occurs when cells in the lung grow abnormally out of control and form tumors. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Smoking causes the majority of lung cancer cases. Early stages of ... Read More
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Medication Allergy
Many people have experienced unwanted side effects of medications, but an allergic reaction to a medication is not the same thing as a side effect or adverse effect. An allergic reaction is an immune system response that can be mild ... Read More
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Metastatic Brain Tumor
A metastatic brain tumor is cancer that has spread to the brain from a primary cancer site located somewhere else in the body. Cancer of the lungs, breast, or kidney, can spread through the bloodstream and to the brain. The focus ... Read More
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Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP)
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) occurs when the valve between the heart's upper and lower chambers do not open and close properly. MVP is also referred to as Barlow’s syndrome, floppy mitral valve, billowing mitral valve, and systolic click-murmur syndrome. MVP can ... Read More
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Obesity & Sleep: Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS)
People with significant obesity are at risk for developing obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS). OHS results when the body does not receive enough oxygen and does not eliminate enough carbon dioxide while breathing during sleep. OHS can cause extreme daytime sleepiness ... Read More
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Older Adults and Sleep Problems
Sleep problems are common among older adults. Medical conditions, sleep disorders, and lifestyle factors can contribute to a reduction in sleep quality. Older adults may have problems falling asleep and remaining asleep or awakening too early in the morning. Lifestyle ... Read More
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Overactive Bladder - Severe Overactive Bladder
Overactive bladder can be very inconvenient and uncomfortable. Overactive bladder causes an extreme sudden urgency to urinate, frequent urination, and the need to urinate at night (nocturia). Some people experience unexpected urine loss as well. The problem occurs when muscles ... Read More
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Pediatrics - Asthma
Asthma is a lung disease. Asthma causes the breathing tubes in the lungs to temporarily narrow. People with asthma have difficulty breathing air in and out of their lungs. An allergen or irritant in the environment usually triggers an asthma ... Read More
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Pericarditis - Inflammation of the Heart Sac
Pericarditis is an inflammation of the sac that surrounds the heart. When a cause can be found an infection, systemic disease, or autoimmune disorder most commonly causes it. Pericarditis can cause sharp stabbing chest pain and difficulty breathing. You should ... Read More
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Peripheral Artery Disease - Poor Circulation
Peripheral artery disease (PAD), also referred to as arteriosclerosis of the extremities and peripheral vascular disease, is a condition that causes poor blood circulation to the kidneys, intestines, arms, legs, and feet. Blood flow may be reduced or blocked by ... Read More
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Pneumonia
Pneumonia can be a serious life-threatening illness that needs medical attention. Pneumonia results from germs that cause an infection in the lungs. Many people with pneumonia are treated with prescription medication at home, but others require more intensive treatment and a ... Read More
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Sclerotherapy for Varicose Veins & Spider Veins
Sclerotherapy is a treatment for small varicose or spider veins. Sclerotherapy involves the tiny injections of a medication into affected veins. The solution used causes the veins to shrink and eventually dissolve. Sclerotherapy may improve the appearance of veins and ... Read More
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Sinusitis
Sinusitis is a fairly common condition. It can develop following a cold, upper respiratory infection, or allergic reaction. Environmental irritants, certain medical conditions, and structural abnormalities can contribute to sinusitis. Sinusitis causes pressure and pain in the head and face. It can ... Read More
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Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a common and under-diagnosed sleep disorder. It causes repeated episodes of stopped breathing (apneic episodes) and startling or gasping for air during sleep. People with sleep apnea frequently do not realize that they have it. The consequences ... Read More
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Sleep Deprivation
Everyone may experience sleep deprivation at one time or another but ongoing sleep deprivation can lead to serious problems. Sleep deprivation causes excessive daytime sleepiness and decreases your ability to perform your regular activities. Ongoing sleep deprivation can lead to ... Read More
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Snoring
Snoring is very common among adults. During sleep, the airway muscles in the throat relax. As you breathe in, the airway vibrates, making noise. Snoring frequently results from turbulent airflow and narrowing in the nose or throat that creates noise ... Read More
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Spinal Cord Tumors
Spinal cord tumors may originate in the spinal cord or result from the spread of cancer from another location in the body. Your spinal cord transmits sensory, movement, and reflex information between your brain and body. Spinal cord tumors need ... Read More
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Stroke - CVA
A stroke or a “brain attack” is an emergency medical condition. It occurs when the blood supply to the brain is stopped or reduced for a period of time. Your brain controls the life sustaining functions of your body. It ... Read More
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Symptoms of Heart Disease, Heart Attack, and Stroke
Heart Disease Heart disease is termed “a silent threat” because many people do not experience symptoms until a heart attack or stroke occurs. Cardiovascular symptoms that require immediate emergency medical attention include chest pain, shortness of breath, pain or numbness in ... Read More
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Syncope - Fainting
Syncope is the medical term for fainting. Syncope results from a drop in blood pressure or heart rate. It may occur because of certain triggers, such as dehydration, stress, or exhaustion. Recurrent syncope may be the sign of a heart ... Read More
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The Heart: How it Works
The Heart: How it Works The heart is the core of the cardiovascular system. Your cardiovascular system consists of your heart and the blood vessels that carry blood throughout your body. Your heart is located to the left of the middle ... Read More
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Valvular Heart Disease - Heart Valve Disease
Heart valve disease occurs when the valves that control the direction of the blood flow through the heart do not open and close, as they should. This can cause the heart to work harder and enlarge. Eventually, heart valve disease ... Read More
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Weight Management
Weighing too much or too little can be a problem. In the United States, weighing too much is the more common situation. It can be unhealthy to be underweight or overweight. Of growing concern, many Americans are becoming obese, which ... Read More
Copyright © - iHealthSpot Interactive - www.iHealthSpot.com
This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation or examination or replace the advice of your health care professional and should not be relied upon to determine diagnosis or course of treatment.
The iHealthSpot patient education library was written collaboratively by the iHealthSpot editorial team which includes Senior Medical Authors Dr. Mary Car-Blanchard, OTD/OTR/L and Valerie K. Clark, and the following editorial advisors: Steve Meadows, MD, Ernie F. Soto, DDS, Ronald J. Glatzer, MD, Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, Christopher M. Nolte, MD, David Applebaum, MD, Jonathan M. Tarrash, MD, and Paula Soto, RN/BSN. This content complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. The library commenced development on September 1, 2005 with the latest update/addition on February 16, 2022. For information on iHealthSpot’s other services including medical website design, visit www.iHealthSpot.com.
