Harvard Health Topics
Sourced from Harvard Health Publications, these articles include detailed information about medical conditions, diseases, procedures and devices. Includes definitions, descriptions, symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, prognosis and other resources.
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A
- Abdominal adhesions
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Abdominal CT scan (computed tomography scan)
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Abortion (Termination Of Pregnancy)
- Absence Seizures (Petit Mal Seizures)
- Achalasia
- ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) Injuries
- Acne
- Acoustic Neuroma
- Acupuncture
- Acute bronchitis
- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) in Adults
- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) in Children
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
- Acute pancreatitis
- Acute Prostatitis
- Acute sinusitis
- Adenocarcinoma of the lung
- Adrenocortical Carcinoma
- Age spots (solar lentigo, liver spots)
- Aging
- Alcohol Use Disorder (Alcoholism)
- Alcohol Withdrawal
- Allergy
- Allergy Shots (Allergen Immunotherapy)
- Alopecia areata
- Altitude sickness
- Alzheimer's disease
- Amenorrhea
- Amniocentesis
- Amyloidosis
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Anal Cancer
- Anal disorders
- Anal itch (pruritus ani)
- Anaphylaxis
- Anemia
- Angina
- Angioplasty
- Ankle Fracture
- Ankle sprain
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Anoscopy
- Antibiotic-associated diarrhea
- Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
- Antisocial Personality Disorder
- Aplastic Anemia
- Appendicitis
- Arm Fracture
- Arterial Blood Flow Studies of the Legs (Segmental Doppler Pressures)
- Arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease
- Arthroscopic Surgery
- Asthma
- Astigmatism
- Asymptomatic bacteriuria
- Atherosclerosis
- Athlete's foot (tinea pedis)
- Atrial fibrillation
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Autism (Autism Spectrum Disorder)
B
- Back pain
- Back x-rays (spine x-rays)
- Bacterial vaginosis (Gardnerella vaginitis)
- Balanitis
- Barium enema
- Barium swallow (upper gastrointestinal series or upper GI series)
- Barotrauma
- Bartholin's gland cyst
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Bedsores (decubitus ulcers)
- Bedwetting (Enuresis)
- Behcet's Disease
- Bell's Palsy
- Bile duct diseases
- Biliary colic
- Biofeedback
- Biopsy
- Biopsy of the prostate and transrectal ultrasound
- Bipolar disorder (manic depressive illness or manic depression)
- Black Eye
- Bladder Cancer
- Bladder infection (cystitis)
- Blepharitis
- Blisters
- Blood Testing
- Body lice
- Boils and carbuncles
- Bone Density Test
- Bone Marrow Biopsy
- Bone Marrow Transplant
- Bone Scan
- Borderline personality disorder
- Botulism
- Bowel obstruction
- Bradycardia
- Brain Abscess
- Brain tumor
- Breast Cancer
- Breast Ultrasound
- Broken Jaw
- Broken nose (nasal fracture)
- Bronchoscopy
- Bulimia
- Bunion
- Bursitis
C
- Caesarean Section
- Campylobacteriosis
- Cancer
- Candidiasis
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Carcinoid Tumors of the Lung
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiomyopathy
- Carotid Ultrasound (Carotid Doppler)
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Cataracts
- Celiac disease (non-tropical sprue)
- Cellulitis
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cervical Cancer
- Cervical polyps
- Cervicitis
- Chemical Injury to the Eye
- Chemotherapy
- Chest x-ray
- Chickenpox (varicella)
- Chlamydia
- Cholecystectomy
- Cholecystitis
- Chondromalacia patella
- Chondrosarcoma
- Chorionic Villus Sampling
- Choroidal Melanoma
- Chronic hepatitis
- Chronic laryngitis
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Chronic otitis media, cholesteatoma, and mastoiditis
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Chronic prostatitis
- Chronic sinusitis (in adults)
- Cirrhosis
- Cluster headache
- Cogan's syndrome
- Collarbone (Clavicle) Fracture
- Colon polyps
- Colonoscopy
- Colorectal cancer
- Colposcopy
- Colposcopy and Cervical Biopsy
- Coma and Persistent Vegetative State
- Common cold (viral rhinitis)
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
- Computed tomography (CT scan) for back problems
- Computed tomography (CT)
- Concussion
- Constipation and impaction
- Contact Dermatitis
- Conversion Disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder)
- Corneal abrasion
- Corneal Transplant
- Corns and calluses
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Coronary artery disease
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)
- Crohn's disease
- Crossed Eyes (Strabismus)
- Croup
- Curvature of the Penis (Peyronie's Disease)
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Cystoscopy
- Cystourethrogram
- Cysts
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
D
- Dandruff
- Decompression sickness
- Delusional Disorder
- Dementia
- Depression
- Dermatofibroma
- Detached Retina
- Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
- Deviated septum
- Diabetes mellitus
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Diabetic nephropathy
- Diabetic neuropathies
- Diarrhea
- Digital rectal exam
- Dislocated Lens
- Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis
- Double vision (diplopia)
- Down Syndrome
- Drooping Eyelid (Ptosis)
- Dry eye syndrome
- Dry skin
- Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
- Dyslexia
- Dysuria
E
- Earache
- Echocardiogram
- Eczema
- Edema
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)
- Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Studies (EMG)
- Electrophysiological Testing of the Heart
- Emphysema
- Encephalitis
- Encopresis (Fecal Soiling) in Children
- End-Stage Renal Disease
- Endocarditis
- Endometrial biopsy
- Endometriosis
- Endophthalmitis
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Endoscopy
- Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia)
- Epidemic Pleurodynia
- Epidermoid cyst
- Epididymitis and orchitis
- Epiglottitis
- Epilepsy
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal rings and webs
- Esophageal varices
- Esophagitis
- Essential Tremor
- Ewing's Sarcoma
- Excisional Biopsy of the Breast
- Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumors
- Eye Socket Fracture (Fracture Of The Orbit)
F
- Fallen Arch
- Fallopian Tube Cancer
- Familial Dysautonomia
- Farsightedness (hyperopia)
- Febrile seizures
- Fecal incontinence
- Fecal Occult Blood Test
- Felon
- Female Infertility
- Fetal ultrasound
- Fever
- Fibroids
- Fibromyalgia
- Fifth Disease (Erythema Infectiosum)
- Finger dislocation
- Flu (influenza)
- Fluorescein angiography (test for diabetic retinopathy)
- Food Allergy
- Food poisoning
- Foot sprain
- Foot ulcers
- Foot X-Ray
- Foreign body In eye
- Foreign Objects In The Ear
- Fragile X Syndrome
- Friction blisters
- Friedreich's ataxia
- Frostbite
G
- Gallbladder and bile duct cancer
- Gallstones
- Gas (flatulence)
- Gastritis
- Gastroenteritis in adults
- Gastroenteritis In Children
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Gastrointestinal amebiasis
- Gaucher Disease
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Generalized Seizures (Grand Mal Seizures)
- Genital herpes
- Genital Warts
- Gestational diabetes
- Giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis)
- Giardiasis
- Glaucoma
- Glioblastoma multiforme
- Glomerulonephritis
- Gonorrhea
- Gout
- Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
- Graves' Disease
- Graves' eye disease (Graves' ophthalmopathy)
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
H
- Hair loss
- Hammertoe
- Hay fever (allergic rhinitis)
- Head and Neck Cancer
- Head injury In adults
- Head Injury In Children
- Head lice
- Headache
- Hearing Loss in Adults
- Hearing Loss in Children
- Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
- Heart failure
- Heart Murmur
- Heart Transplant
- Heart valve problems
- Heart valve replacement
- Heart-Lung Transplant
- Heat stroke (hyperthermia)
- Heel pain
- Hematuria
- Hemochromatosis
- Hemophilia
- Hemorrhagic stroke
- Hemorrhoids
- Hepatitis
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Hereditary-patterned baldness
- Hernia
- Hernia repair
- Herniated disc
- Hiatal Hernia
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- High cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)
- Hip Fracture
- Hirsutism
- HIV/AIDS
- Hives (Urticaria)
- Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Holter Monitor and Event Monitor
- Hot flashes
- Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
- Huntington's Disease (Chorea)
- Hydrocephalus
- Hyperkeratosis
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypoglycemia
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Hypothyroidism
- Hysterectomy
- Hysterosalpingogram
- Hysteroscopy
I
- Ichthyosis
- Illness Anxiety Disorder
- Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
- Immunotherapy
- Impetigo
- Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)
- Impotence (erectile dysfunction)
- Infectious arthritis
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Ingrown Toenail
- Inguinal Hernia
- Insomnia
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Intracranial aneurysms
- Iron deficiency
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
J
K
- Kaposi's Sarcoma
- Kawasaki Syndrome
- Keloids
- Keratitis
- Kidney Cancer
- Kidney failure
- Kidney stones
- Kidney Transplant
- Knee sprain
L
- Lactose intolerance
- Lacunar stroke
- Langerhans' Cell Histiocytosis (Histiocytosis X)
- Large Core Needle Biopsy of the Breast
- Laryngitis
- LASIK
- Latex Allergy
- Lazy Eye (Amblyopia)
- Lead Poisoning
- Leg Fracture
- Leg strain
- Leukemia
- Liver biopsy
- Liver Cancer
- Long QT syndrome
- Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
- Lung cancer
- Lung Transplant
- Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)
- Lyme Disease
- Lymphedema
- Lymphoma
M
- Macular Degeneration
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Major depression
- Malaria
- Male Infertility
- Malignant hyperthermia
- Mammography
- Marfan syndrome
- Maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY)
- Measles (rubeola)
- Meckel's diverticulum
- Mediastinoscopy
- Medication Allergy
- Melanoma
- Melasma (Chloasma)
- Meniere's disease
- Meningitis
- Menopause and perimenopause
- Mesothelioma
- Metastatic brain tumors
- Mid-menstrual cycle pain (mittelschmerz)
- Middle-ear infection (otitis media)
- Migraine
- Miscarriage
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Molar Pregnancy
- Moles (nevi)
- Molluscum Contagiosum
- Morton's neuroma
- MRSA skin infection
- Multiple Myeloma
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Mumps
- Muscle strain
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Myasthenia gravis
- Myelodysplastic Syndromes
- Myelography (Myelogram)
- Myocarditis
- Myositis
N
- Nabothian cysts
- Nail trauma
- Narcolepsy
- Nasal polyps
- Nausea
- Nearsightedness (myopia)
- Nephrectomy
- Neuroblastoma
- Neurofibromatosis
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Nosebleed (epistaxis)
O
- Obesity
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Onycholysis
- Optic nerve swelling (papilledema)
- Oral Cancer
- Osgood-Schlatter disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Osteosarcoma
- Ovarian Cancer
- Oxygen saturation test
P
- Pacemaker
- Paget's Disease of Bone
- Pain
- Painful sexual intercourse (dyspareunia)
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Pancreatitis
- Panic disorders
- Pap Test (Papanicolaou Smear)
- Parathyroid Cancer
- Parkinson's Disease
- Paronychia
- Partial Seizures (Focal Seizures)
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Pelvic Ultrasound and Transvaginal Ultrasound
- Peptic Ulcer
- Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTCA)
- Perforated eardrum
- Pericarditis
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Peritonsillar Abscess
- Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Phenylketonuria (PKU)
- Phimosis and paraphimosis
- Phobia
- Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis)
- Pituitary tumors
- Pityriasis rosea
- Plague (Yersinia Pestis)
- Plantar fasciitis
- Pleural fluid sampling (or thoracentesis)
- Pleurisy And Pleural Effusion
- Pneumoconiosis
- Pneumonectomy
- Pneumonia
- Pneumothorax
- Polio
- Polyarteritis nodosa
- Polychondritis
- Polycystic Kidney Disease
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Polymyalgia rheumatica
- Positron emission tomography (PET scan)
- Post-polio syndrome
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injuries
- Postpartum Depression
- Pre-Diabetes
- Preeclampsia and eclampsia
- Premature ejaculation
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Presbyopia
- Priapism
- Prostate Cancer
- Prostate-Specific Antigen Blood Test (PSA Test)
- Pseudogout (CPPD)
- Psoriasis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Pubic lice or crab lice
- Pulmonary function testing
- Pyelonephritis
R
- Radiation therapy
- Radionuclide Scanning
- Rapid Strep Test
- Rash
- Raynaud's phenomenon
- Reactive arthritis
- Rectocele
- Respiratory syncytial virus
- Restless legs syndrome
- Retinal vessel occlusion
- Retinitis Pigmentosa
- Retinoblastoma
- Retinopathy
- Retrobulbar Neuritis
- Retrograde Ejaculation
- Reye syndrome
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Ringworm (tinea)
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
- Rosacea
- Rotator cuff injury
S
- Salivary gland disorders
- Sarcoidosis
- Scabies
- Scarlet fever
- Schizophrenia
- Schizotypal Personality Disorder
- Sciatica
- Scleritis
- Scleroderma
- Scoliosis
- Scratch Test for Allergies
- Screening for Birth Defects in Early Pregnancy (Combined Test, Integrated Test, and Quadruple Test)
- Sebaceous cysts
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Seborrheic keratoses
- Secondary hypertension
- Sedative, Hypnotic or Anxiolytic Drug Use Disorder
- Seizure
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Shigellosis
- Shin splints
- Shingles (herpes zoster)
- Shoulder Dislocation
- Shoulder Sprain
- Sick sinus syndrome
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Sigmoidoscopy
- Sjogren's Syndrome
- Skin Biopsy
- Skin tags (acrochordon)
- Sleep apnea
- Sleepwalking and Sleep Terrors
- Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Smallpox
- Snellen Test for Visual Acuity
- Soft Tissue Sarcoma
- Somatic Symptom Disorder
- Sore throat (pharyngitis)
- Spider veins
- Spina Bifida
- Spinal Cord Trauma
- Spinal cord tumors
- Sprain
- Sputum evaluation (and sputum induction)
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin
- Stereotactic Biopsy of the Breast
- Stomach Cancer
- Stroke
- Stuttering
- Styes and chalazions
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Subdural hematoma
- Sun allergy (photosensitivity)
- Sun-damaged skin
- Superficial thrombophlebitis
- Sutures
- Swallowed object
- Swimmer's Ear (Otitis Externa)
- Syphilis
T
- Tachycardia
- Takayasu's arteritis
- Tay-Sachs Disease
- TB (tuberculosis) skin test
- Tear duct infection (dacryocystitis)
- Telogen Effluvium
- Tendonitis
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
- Tension headache
- Testicular Cancer
- Testicular Torsion
- Testing for Vaginitis (Yeast Infections, Trichomonas, and Gardnerella)
- Tetanus
- Throat Cancer (Larynx and Pharynx)
- Throat Culture
- Thrombocytopenia
- Thromboembolism (Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism)
- Thrombotic Stroke
- Thyroid Cancer
- Thyroid Nuclear Medicine Tests (Thyroid Scan and Uptake)
- Thyroidectomy
- Tick bites
- Tics
- Tinea Versicolor
- Tinnitus
- Toenail fungus (onychomycosis)
- Tonometry
- Torn Meniscus
- Torsional Deformity
- Tourette Syndrome
- Toxic Shock Syndrome
- Toxoplasmosis
- Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
- Traumatic Dislocation of the Hip
- Traveler's diarrhea
- Trichomoniasis
- Trigeminal Neuralgia (Tic Douloureux)
- Tropical Sprue
- Tuberculosis
- Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
U
- Ulcerative colitis
- Ultrasound
- Undescended Testicle
- Undescended Testicle (Cryptorchidism)
- Upper endoscopy (eophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD)
- Urethritis
- Urinalysis
- Urinary Catheterization
- Urinary health
- Urinary Incontinence
- Urinary tract infection in men
- Urinary tract infection in women
- Uterine And Bladder Prolapse
- Uterine Cancer
- Uveitis
V
- Vaginal atrophy (atrophic vaginitis)
- Vaginal Cancer
- Vaginal discharge
- Vaginal yeast infection
- Vaginitis
- Varicose veins
- Vascular birthmarks
- Vasculitis
- Vasectomy
- Ventilation-perfusion scan or VQ scan
- Vertigo
- Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Vitiligo
- Vocal Cord Disorders
- Vulvar Cancer
W
- Waldenström Macroglobulinemia
- Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia
- Warts
- Wax blockage of the ear canal
- Wilms' Tumor
- Wire Localization Biopsy of the Breast
- Wrist Sprain
X
Y
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