General Surgery

When something disrupts the air from moving in and out of the airways in the lungs, it’s referred to as an airway obstruction. Obstructed airways generally cause coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. An example is asthma. With asthma, the airways may become obstructed, or blocked, because they are swollen, narrow, and clogged with thick mucus.

The appearance of normal breast tissue during breast cancer screening varies from person to person. Every person’s breast tissue is unique to that individual. Breast tissue also changes over time, and it is not uncommon for benign lumps, cysts or calcifications to form with age. When abnormal tissue is discovered, most commonly it’s masses or lumps, which may be cysts and are generally benign. Malignant tumors require further courses of action. Another common type of abnormal tissue, is calcification, which are small calcium deposits. This is typical during aging and they are generally benign, but they can also be found in cancer cells during nascent development.

The appendix is a small finger-shaped organ that extends from the colon on the lower right side of the abdomen. Appendicitis is a painful inflammation of the appendix. Typically, the pain initiates near the navel and then travels to the lower right side. Although anyone can develop appendicitis, but it is most common between the ages of 10 and 30. Standard treatment is surgical removal of the appendix.

A bowel obstruction is a blockage that keeps food or liquid from passing through the small or large intestine. Causes may include an inflamed intestine (known as Chron’s Disease), infected pouches in the intestine (known as diverticulitis), hernias, and colon cancer. Bowel blockages are serious health problems that require treatment. Common symptoms are cramps, vomiting, constipation, and loss of appetite.

Breast cancer, the most common cancer in American women, is present when cancer develops in the cells of the breasts. Men also can develop breast cancer but it is much rarer. There are many types of breast cancer. Symptoms can include, changes in the nipple including a newly inverted nipple, a lump, change in size or shape of the breast, and change in the appearance of breast skin.

Colon cancer initiates in the large intestine, commonly referred to as the colon, the colon is the final part of the human digestive tract. It can develop at any age, but it more prevalent in older adults. It begins with cells called polyps that are noncancerous; overtime they can become cancers. Symptoms can include weakness and fatigue, a feeling the bowels won’t empty entirely, weight loss that’s unexplained, bloody stools, and changes in the consistency of stools.

A type of inflammatory bowel disease, hundreds of thousands of Americans suffer with Crohn’s Disease. There is no cure but there are treatment options. Crohn’s occurs in the intestines but can affect any location in the gastrointestinal tract which runs from the mouth to anus. Symptoms range from mild to severe. With severe symptoms, the sufferer my be unable to participate in normal daily activities during inflammatory flare ups.

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins occurring in and around the anus and lower rectum. They are similar to varicose veins and can be internal or external. There are treatment options available and a doctor might also suggest lifestyle changes.

A hernia is the occurrence of an internal organ protrudes through a weak spot in the muscle or tissue that normally contains the organ. There are a number of different types of hernias but all require quick treatment. Generally, hernias erupt within the abdomine between the chest and hips. Symptoms can include a bulge in the groin or scrotum, pain when lifting, and a dull aching.

The liver is essential for digesting food and ridding your body of toxic substances. Liver disease can be genetic or caused by a variety of factors that damage the liver, such as viruses, alcohol use and obesity.

Obesity occurs with an excessive amount of body fat. More than a cosmetic issue, it increases the risk of other diseases and health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers. Obesity may stem from heredity or be combined with personal diet and other lifestyle choices. Obesity is diagnosed when body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher. Body mass index is established by dividing weight in pounds by height in inches squared and multiplied by 703.

Wounds, burns and infections of such, are damage to the body’s largest organ and first line of defense: the skin. An infected wound or burn is localized trauma to the skin and underlying soft tissue in which organisms have invaded. Infection triggers the body's immune response, causing inflammation and tissue damage, as well compromising the healing process.