A fat pad can be a normal occurrence on the sac (pericardium) that surrounds the heart. In certain cases in can obstruct the view of the right middle lobe. If there is enough clinical suspicion (by symptoms or ... continue reading  about  I had a chest x-ray because of allergy symptoms. The doctor who read the x-ray said because of a cardiac fat pad in my right lobe, it was hard to tell if I had pneumonia. What is a fat pad, is this something that should concern me, and can I exercise?

Many women after a hysterectomy can still have "cycles" if their ovaries are in place. They will not bleed since the uterus is no longer present, but they can still have the usual bloating and other PMS symptom... continue reading  about  I had a partial hysterectomy in 2005 but still have my ovaries. A year later, I began to have cramps, gas and bloating every 28 days. Recently these symptoms began to appear every week. How much longer can this go on?

Lower back fusion surgery is an option for severe back pain, typically due to advanced arthritis and/or spine instability, that has not responded to non-operative methods. These non-operative methods include th... continue reading  about  What are the risks and benefits of lower back fusion surgery? What would you recommend a person try before surgery?

I am sorry for your losses.Cardiomyopathy can be a serious condition. In addition to chest pain and shortness of breath, patients can have dyspnea on exertion, fatigue, edema, and in some cases hepatic or kidne... continue reading  about  I've been through some bad loses this year (relationship, foreclosure) and have had chest pain and shortness of breath. My doctor said I had stress cardiomyopathy (broken heart syndrome). What are the other symptoms, is it dangerous, will I get it again?

Depending on the filler, they typically last six to 12 months, and most require only a single treatment to create their effect. They vary also in terms of stiffness, so the best one for, say, the lips would be ... continue reading  about  Can you give me some information about dermal fillers? How long do they typically last, and are there side effects? Of all the dermal fillers currently on the market, which one do you think is the best?

The pneumonia vaccine helps protect you from S. pneumoniae, a bacterial germ that causes serious lung infections like pneumonia as well as blood infections and meningitis. It protects you from the most common t... continue reading  about  At what age should I have a pneumonia vaccination? Thank you!

Common causes of muscle cramps include dehydration and deficiencies of minerals such as magnesium, potassium, sodium and calcium. Most cramps can be eliminated by proper hydration (eight glasses a day of water)... continue reading  about  I get bad cramps in my feet, legs, thighs and sometimes fingers, from work. What can I do to prevent them and/or stop them once they start? They become debilitating at times and they keep me from getting the sleep that I need.

A feeling of painless joint "popping" is not terribly worrisome and can be normal for the individual. In major joints like the hip, knee or shoulder, an increase in popping can be a sign of weakness in the surr... continue reading  about  I notice that my hip joint pops a lot more than it used to. Should I be concerned?

Statin drugs (including Crestor) have been credited with the declining incidence of cardiovascular disease. However, they do have recognized side effects, particularly when taken over a long period of time, as ... continue reading  about  I've been taking statins to lower my cholesterol for years. Most leave me extremely fatigued and even foggy in my thinking. Is this a known side effect of statins? Are some statins less likely to cause these side effects? What about Crestor?