Generally, it is not a good idea to suddenly stop a medication that has been taken for years to manage atrial fibrillation (AF). AF is typically a progressive and chronic condition that, without an intervention... continue reading  about  I've been on medication for atrial fibrillation for a number of years. Would it ever be okay to discontinue the medication to see if my arrhythmia is no longer there?

It would be most important to distinguish your problem by its full diagnostic name. You refer to "IBS", which stands for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Steroids are rarely used for this condition. If the letters are... continue reading  about  In the past I've take steroids for my irritable bowel syndrome, but since I've stopped, my IBS has returned. What are your thoughts on long-term steroid use for IBS?

There is some evidence showing an increased risk of stroke associated with migraine with aura. Specifically, women who have migraines with auras are at an increased risk for stroke.Smoking, oral contraceptive u... continue reading  about  I'm a frequent sufferer of migraines. Does this mean that I'm at a higher risk of stroke?

"Mini-stroke" is a term that commonly refers to the medical condition transient ischemic attack (TIA). TIA refers to loss of neurologic function that is transient (less than 24 hours). These occur due to blocka... continue reading  about  What is a mini stroke? Are there any warning signs before it happens?

It is important to understand how hospice care provides medical and support services for patients with a terminal illness. The decision to begin hospice care is based on many factors, including the state of you... continue reading  about  My father has cancer and we think it may be time to find out about hospice services. What questions should we ask?

When the level of certain electrolytes in the blood gets low, this can cause more extra heart beats (premature atrial complexes, premature ventricular complexes) and also promote more abnormal heart rhythm, esp... continue reading  about  Does a lack of minerals cause a quivering heart?

Blood sugar levels tend to rise in the morning for some people with diabetes. This is in response to the natural hormonal changes occurring in the early morning hours.In addition, the liver releases glucose dur... continue reading  about  Is there anything that can be done to lower my fasting blood sugar? I can control my postprandial blood sugar by limiting carbs during a meal, but my fasting blood sugar has been rising over the last year and it seems to be beyond my control.

Growing children should be encouraged to follow a healthy diet that includes all the food groups: lean protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats. Low-carb diets are restrictive in many of the nutrients ch... continue reading  about  With all this talk about carbs being the enemy, is a low-carb diet appropriate for children?

The most common cause of sudden cardiac death is ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Ventricular tachyarrhythmia is a very rapid and unstable rhythm that originates from the lower chambers of the heart, or the ventric... continue reading  about  What is sudden cardiac death and who is at most risk? Are there any signs or symptoms?