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Birthmarks What are birthmarks? Birthmarks are areas of discolored or raised skin that are seen at birth or within a few weeks of birth. They may be made of malformed pigment cells or blood vessels. Medical experts don’t know what causes birthmarks. But most of them are not

Methods of Surgery What are the different methods of surgery? Surgery doesn't always mean large cuts (incisions) and long healing times, as in the past. Depending on the type of surgery, several methods may be used. People with the same diagnosis won't always be advised to have

Diet to Help Prevent Heart Disease Eating a healthy diet can help prevent a number of problems, such as high cholesterol and heart disease. But knowing exactly what a healthy diet looks like can be a challenge. The USDA and the U.S. Department of Health teamed up to create an

Allergens: Pollen What is pollen? Pollen is the tiny egg-shaped male cells of plants, including trees, grasses, and weeds. Pollen is microscopic in size. It is the most common cause of hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis). Which plants produce pollen that cause allergic

Trinucleotide Repeats: Fragile X Syndrome What are trinucleotide repeats? DNA is the chemical that makes up your genes. It contains a "code" of 3-letter words known as codons or trinucleotides. Many genes normally contain trinucleotide sequences that repeat. These are called

The Cardiologist A cardiologist is a doctor who has had extra training to treat problems of the heart and blood vessels. A cardiologist has at least 10 years of medical training. It includes: 4 years of medical school. 3 years of training in internal medicine. 3 or more years in

Dialysis in Children What is dialysis? Dialysis is a procedure that is done routinely on people who have acute or chronic kidney (renal) failure. It filters waste and extra fluid from the blood. That is something that would normally be done by the kidneys. Dialysis may also be

Amenorrhea in Adolescents and Teens What is amenorrhea? Amenorrhea is a menstrual condition characterized by absent menstrual periods for more than 3 monthly menstrual cycles. Amenorrhea may be classified as primary or secondary: Primary amenorrhea. From the beginning and may be

Wisdom Teeth Extraction What are wisdom teeth? Wisdom teeth are the last 4 permanent teeth to appear in the back of the mouth at the top and bottom. They often first appear in young adults between the ages of 17 to 21. They are also called third molars., If wisdom teeth do not

Ear, Nose, and Throat Facts What is the ear? The ear is the organ of hearing and balance. The ear is made up of: External or outer ear. This includes: Pinna or auricle. This is the outside part of the ear. External auditory canal or tube. This is the tube that connects the outer