Diseases & conditions A-Z List
Diseases & Conditions A-Z List - «B»:
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Binge eating
Binge eating is when a person eats a much larger amount of food in a shorter period of time than he or she normally would. During binge eating, the person also feels a loss of control.
Considerations
Binge eating may occur on its own or in the context of an eating disorder, such as bulimia. Bulimia...
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Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a technique that measures bodily functions and gives you information about them in order to help train you to control them.
Information
Biofeedback is most often based on measurements of:
Blood pressure
Brain waves (EEG)
Breathing
Heart rate
Muscle tension
Skin conductivity of e...
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Biopsy - biliary tract
A biliary tract biopsy is a procedure that involves taking a sample of tissue or material from the duodenum, bile ducts, pancreas, or pancreatic duct. The sample is then tested for cancer or other diseases.
How the Test is Performed
Tissue or material samples can be obtained in several ways, depend...
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Biopsy - polyps
A polyp biopsy is a diagnostic procedure that takes a sample of or removes polyps (abnormal growths) for examination.
How the Test is Performed
Polyps are outgrowths of tissue that may be attached by a stalk-like structure (a pedicle). They are commonly found in organs with many blood vessels, such...
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Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder involves periods of elevated or irritable mood (mania), alternating with periods of depression. The "mood swings" between mania and depression can be very abrupt.
Causes
Bipolar disorder affects men and women equally. It usually appears between ages 15 - 25. The exact cause is unkn...
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Birth control - hormonal methods
Birth control methods that use hormones contain man-made (synthetic) forms of estrogen and progesterone (progestin), hormones that are made in a woman's ovaries.
Information
Birth control methods that use hormones will have both an estrogen and a progestin, or just a progestin.
Both hormones preve...
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Birth control and family planning
Which form of birth control you choose depends on a number of different factors, including your health, how often you have sex, and whether or not you want children.
Information
Here are some factors to consider when selecting a birth control method:
Effectiveness -- How well does the me...
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Birth-acquired herpes
Birth-acquired herpes is a herpes virus infection that an infant gets (acquires) at the time of birth.
Causes
Newborn infants can become infected with herpes virus:
In the uterus (intrauterine herpes -- this is very rare)
Passing through the birth canal (birth-acquired herpes, the most common meth...
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Birthmarks - pigmented
A birthmark is a skin marking that is present at birth. Birthmarks include cafe-au-lait spots, moles, and mongolian spots.
See also: Birthmarks - red
Causes
Cafe-au-lait spots may occur in people with the genetic disorder, neurofibromatosis.
Nearly everyone has moles, which usually appear after bi...
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Birthmarks - red
Red birthmarks are colored, blood vessel (vascular) skin markings that develop before or shortly after birth.
Causes
There are two main categories of birthmarks.
Red birthmarks are made up of blood vessels close to the skin surface, and are called vascular birthmarks.
Pigmented birthmarks are are...
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Black nightshade poisoning
Black nightshade poisoning occurs when someone eats pieces of the black nightshade plant.
This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or the National Poiso...
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Black widow spider
The black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans) has a shiny black body with a red hourglass-shape on the belly area. The bite of a black widow spider is poisonous.
This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you shou...
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Blackheads
Blackheads are tiny, dark spots caused by a small plug in the opening of a follicle (pore) on the skin. Blackheads are also called open comedomes.
See also:
Acne
Whiteheads
...
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Bladder biopsy
Bladder biopsy is a procedure that involves removing a small piece of tissue from the bladder for examination.
How the Test is Performed
A bladder biopsy is usually performed as a part of a cystoscopy. A small portion of tissue or the entire area of concern is removed and sent to the laboratory for...
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Bladder cancer
Bladder cancer is a cancerous tumor in the bladder. The bladder is the organ in the center of the lower abdomen that holds urine.
Causes
In the United States, bladder cancers usually start from the cells lining the bladder (transitional cells).
These tumors are classified based on the way they grow...
