A spacer is a chamber that can be attached to a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). The spacer may have a one-way valve that holds the medicine in the chamber before it is inhaled. This way you can inhale the medicine in one or many breaths, depending on your ability. A spacer: May help prevent getting a yeast infection in your...
What is spasticity? Spasticity is a condition in which muscles are tight or stiff. For example, your hand may stay clenched in a fist or your knee may be hard to bend. At times the muscles may jerk or spasm uncontrollably. It can interfere with your ability to move, speak, or walk. What causes it? Spasticity usually...
Spasticity is a condition in which muscles are tight or stiff. At times the muscles may jerk or spasm uncontrollably. It can interfere with your ability to move, speak, or walk. Spasticity usually occurs because of damage to the part of the brain or spinal cord that controls voluntary movement. It is often the result of...
What is spasticity? Spasticity is a condition in which muscles are tight or stiff. For example, your hand may stay clenched in a fist or your knee may be hard to bend. At times the muscles may jerk or spasm uncontrollably. It can interfere with your ability to move, speak, or walk. What causes it? Spasticity usually...
Take control of your diet for a natural way to ease symptoms of many health concerns and increase your energy level. Select a diet: Carbohydrate-Loading Diet DASH Diet Dean Ornish Diet Fasting/Detoxification Diet Gluten-Free Diet Glycemic Index High-Fiber Diet Low-Fat Diet Low-Tyramine Diet Low-Salt Diet Macrobiotic...
Describes ketogenic diet and why it is used. Covers what to expect after treatment with diet as well as how well diet works. Lists risk factors and provides consideration points when using this treatment. Describes other special diets.
Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a nuclear medicine imaging test. It is a type of positron emission tomography, also called a PET scan. Doctors use SPECT to: Diagnose a person who has symptoms of heart disease. Assess your risk of heart attack. Find damaged heart tissue after a heart attack. SPECT...
A vaginal speculum is a metal or plastic device used during a pelvic exam. It is placed into the vagina to open up and hold apart the sides, which allows the examiner to see the opening to the uterus (cervix). A speculum is often used to collect samples of cervical cells to screen for cervical cancer. The health...
A speculum exam and a bimanual exam are often done together. These exams are used to check the pelvic organs. They let your doctor see the vagina and cervix and check the size and position of the uterus and ovaries. For these tests, you will lie back on an exam table with your knees bent and your feet supported by...
Significant speech and language delays are directly related to developmental or health issues. But some people blame speech and language delays on things that aren't the cause of true delays, such as: Developmental differences. Mild and temporary speech delays can occur. And some children learn new words faster than...
What is speech and language development? Speech and language are the skills we use to communicate with others. We form these skills during the first years of life. By age 6, most children learn the basics. Try to talk and read to your child often to boost these skills. Speech is making the sounds that become words—the...
These are some things you can do to help your 1- to 2-year-old learn words and say simple sentences. Tell your child what you are doing. Say, "I am changing your diaper" and "I'm washing your face" when interacting with your child. Involve your child in conversations. Talk about the names of favorite toys and other...
If your child doesn't reach speech and language milestones as expected, it might not mean that something is wrong. Each child grows and gains skills at their own pace. But not reaching milestones can be a sign of a problem (delay) with speech and language development. Your child should be checked by a doctor. Language...
Speech and language development milestones relate to two areas: Receptive language. This is the ability to understand words and sounds. Expressive language. This is the ability to use speech and gestures to communicate meaning. Most 1-year-olds start to understand the meanings of words. Their receptive language grows...
Speech and language development milestones relate to two areas: Receptive language. This is the ability to understand words and sounds. Expressive language. This is the ability to use speech and gestures to communicate meaning. A child's speech and language development becomes more advanced starting around age 3 through...
Speech and language development milestones relate to receptive language (the ability to understand words and sounds) and expressive language (the ability to use speech and gestures to communicate meaning). Receptive language skills are the first communication skills learned. In the womb, babies hear and respond to...
Normal disfluency is stuttering that begins during a child's intensive language-learning years and resolves on its own sometime before puberty. It is considered a normal phase of language development. About 75 out of 100 children who stutter get better without treatment. The most common normal disfluency in children...
Speech-language pathologists assess, diagnose, treat, and help prevent speech, language, and communication disorders. Speech-language pathologists work with people who cannot make speech sounds or cannot make them clearly; have speech rhythm and fluency problems, such as stuttering; have voice quality problems, such as...
Sperm penetration tests check to see if sperm can move through cervical mucus or join with (fertilize) an egg. These tests may be done when you're having trouble getting pregnant (infertility). There are different sperm penetration tests. The sperm mucus penetration test checks if sperm can move through the cervical...
A spermatic cord is connected to each testicle to help keep the testicle in position and supply the penis with semen. The cord contains veins, arteries, nerves, lymph vessels, and part of the tube that carries sperm called the vas deferens. The spermatic cord extends upward from the epididymis, a small sac-shaped...
What is a spermatocele? A spermatocele (epididymal cyst) is a fluid-filled cyst in the long, tightly coiled tube that lies above and behind each testicle ( epididymis). It feels like a smooth, firm lump in the scrotum on top of the testicle. Having a spermatocele doesn't affect fertility. What causes it? Although the...
Spermatozoa (sperm) are the male sex cells that carry genetic material. They are so tiny that they can't be seen without a microscope. One ejaculation usually contains between 20 million and 600 million sperm. Sperm have an oval head, a short middle, and a long tail. They move by whipping their tails. A sperm fertilizes...
Spermicide is used to prevent pregnancy. It kills sperm or stops sperm from moving. For it to work well, you must use spermicide each time you have sexual intercourse. Spermicide comes in creams, film, foams, gels, and suppositories. You insert the spermicide into your vagina. Spermicide can be used alone but it is...
Spesolimab is used in adults to treat a certain type of psoriasis called generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP). Spesolimab may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
This is an IV medicine. It is given through a sterile tube directly into the vein by a healthcare provider. This medicine should be given over 90 minutes. This medicine should be given by a trained health care provider. You must be monitored by a health care professional during and after each dose is given. Drug...
A spica cast is a hard covering over the waist, hips, and legs that prevents movement of the hips. A bar between the legs strengthens the cast. An opening in the genital area allows normal urine and bowel elimination. A spica cast may be used to keep the hip joint of a child with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)...
A spica cast is used as treatment to stabilize the hips, legs, or pelvis. It may be needed as treatment for abnormal bone or joint development (such as developmental dysplasia of the hips, or DDH) or for problems resulting from an accident or injury. The cast is made from plaster or fiberglass. It is worn continuously...
Spider veins are small blood vessels that can be seen through the skin. Spider veins do not usually cause symptoms, although some people may feel mild itching or burning. Spider veins are common and generally are not a serious health problem. If you don't like the way they look, you might try cosmetic treatments...
Spina bifida is a birth defect in which the bones of the spine (vertebrae) don't form properly around the spinal cord. If it's severe, part of the spinal cord or spinal nerves may be exposed. This can cause nerve damage and lead to serious problems, so surgery may be needed soon after birth. But in most cases, the...
Learn the basics about spina bifida, a type of birth defect, including how it's treated and how to prevent it.
