Acute and Chronic Diarrhea
Diarrhea means that you have loose, watery stools more than three times
in one day. You may also have cramps, bloating, nausea and an urgent need to
have a bowel movement. Causes of diarrhea include bacteria, viruses or parasites,
certain medicines, food intolerances and diseases that affect the stomach,
small intestine or colon. In many cases, no cause can be found. Although
usually not harmful, diarrhea can become dangerous or signal a more serious
problem. You should talk to your doctor if you have a strong pain in your
abdomen or rectum, a fever, blood in your stools, severe diarrhea for more than
three days or symptoms of dehydration. If your child has diarrhea, do not
hesitate to call the doctor for advice. Diarrhea can be dangerous in children.
Allergic Rhinitis
An allergy is a reaction of your immune system to something that does
not bother most other people. People who have allergies often are sensitive to
more than one thing. Substances that often cause reactions are:
Pollen
Dust mites
Mold spores
Pet dander
Food
Insect stings
Medicines
How do you get allergies?
Scientists think both genes and the environment have something to do
with it. Normally, your immune system fights germs. It is your body’s defense
system. In most allergic reactions, however, it is responding to a false alarm.
Allergies can cause a runny nose, sneezing, itching, rashes, swelling
or asthma. Symptoms vary. Although allergies can make you feel bad, they
usually won’t kill you. However, a severe reaction called anaphylaxis is
life-threatening.
Symptoms can include
Sneezing, often with a runny or clogged nose
Coughing and postnasal drip
Itching eyes, nose and throat
Dark circles under the eyes
Taking medicines, using nasal sprays and rinsing out your nose can
relieve symptoms. Allergy shots can help make you less sensitive to pollen and
provide long-term relief.
Amenorrhea
Amenorrhea is the medical term for the absence of menstrual periods,
either on a permanent or temporary basis. Amenorrhea can be classified as
primary or secondary. In primary amenorrhea, menstrual periods have never begun
(by age 16), whereas secondary amenorrhea is defined as the absence of
menstrual periods for three consecutive cycles or a time period of more than
six months in a woman who was previously menstruating. The menstrual cycle can
be influenced by many internal factors such as transient changes in hormonal
levels, stress, and illness, as well as external or environmental factors.
Missing one menstrual period is rarely a sign of a serious problem or an
underlying medical condition, but amenorrhea of longer duration may signal the
presence of a disease or chronic condition.
What causes amenorrhea?
The normal menstrual cycle occurs because of changing levels of
hormones made and secreted by the ovaries. The ovaries respond to hormonal
signals from the pituitary gland located at the base of the brain, which is, in
turn, controlled by hormones produced in the hypothalamus of the brain.
Disorders that affect any component of this regulatory cycle can lead to
amenorrhea. However, a common cause of amenorrhea in young females sometimes
overlooked or misunderstood by the individual and others, is an undiagnosed
pregnancy. Amenorrhea in pregnancy is a normal physiological function.
Occasionally, the same underlying problem can cause or contribute to either
primary or secondary amenorrhea. For example, hypothalamic problems, anorexia
or extreme exercise can play a major role in causing amenorrhea depending on
the age of the person and if she has experienced menarche.
Anemia
If you have anemia, your blood does not carry enough oxygen to the rest
of your body. The most common cause of anemia is not having enough iron. Your
body needs iron to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that
gives the red color to blood. It carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the
body.
Your iron might be too low because of
·
Heavy periods
·
Pregnancy
·
Ulcers
·
Colon polyps or colon cancer
·
Inherited disorders
·
A diet that does not have enough iron, folic
acid or vitamin B 12
·
Blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia and
thalassemia, or cancer
Aplastic anemia, a condition that can be inherited or acquired
Anemia can make you feel weak, cold, dizzy and irritable. It is
confirmed with a blood test. Treatment depends on the kind of anemia you have.
Atopic Dermatitis Eczema
Eczema is a term for several different types of skin swelling. Eczema
is also calleddermatitis. It is not dangerous, but most types cause red,
swollen and itchy skin. Factors that can cause eczema include other diseases,
irritating substances, allergies and your genetic makeup. Eczema is not
contagious.
The most common type of eczema is atopic dermatitis. It is an allergic
condition that makes your skin dry and itchy. It is most common in babies and
children.
Eczema is a chronic disease. You can prevent some types of eczema by
avoiding irritants, stress, and the things you are allergic to.
Atrophic Vaginitis (Vaginal
dryness )
Vaginal dryness is present when the tissues of the vagina are no longer
well-lubricated and healthy. When these symptoms are caused by a decreased
amount of estrogen in a woman’s body, this problem is called atrophic
vaginitis.
Causes
Atrophic vaginitis is caused by a decrease in estrogen.
Estrogen keeps the tissues of the vagina lubricated and healthy.
Normally, the lining of the vagina makes a clear, lubricating fluid. This fluid
makes sexual intercourse more comfortable. It also helps decrease vaginal
dryness. If estrogen levels drop off, the vaginal tissue shrinks and becomes
thinner. This causes dryness and inflammation. Estrogen levels normally drop
after menopause. The following may also cause estrogen levels to drop:
Medicines or hormones used in the treatment of breast cancer,
endometriosis, fibroids, or infertility.
Surgery to remove the ovaries
Radiation treatment to the pelvic area
Chemotherapy.
Severe stress, depression, or intense exercise.
Some women develop this problem right after childbirth or while
breastfeeding. Estrogen levels are lower at these times.
The vagina can also become further irritated from soaps, laundry
detergents, lotions, perfumes, or douches. Certain medicines, smoking, tampons,
and condoms may also cause or worsen vaginal dryness.
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also called benign enlargement of
the prostate (BEP), adenofibromyomatous hyperplasia and benign prostatic
hypertrophy, is an increase in size of the prostate. BPH involves hyperplasia of prostatic stromal
and epithelial cells, resulting in the formation of large, fairly discrete
nodules in the periurethral region of the prostate. When sufficiently large,
the nodules compress the urethral canal to cause partial, or sometimes
virtually complete, obstruction of the urethra, which interferes with the
normal flow of urine. It leads to symptoms of urinary hesitancy, frequent
urination, dysuria (painful urination), increased risk of urinary tract
infections, and urinary retention. Although prostate specific antigen levels
may be elevated in these patients because of increased organ volume and
inflammation due to urinary tract infections, BPH does not lead to cancer or
increase the risk of cancer.[citation needed]
BPH involves hyperplasia (an increase in the number of cells) rather
than hypertrophy (a growth in the size of individual cells), but the two terms
are often used interchangeably, even amongst urologists.[1]
Adenomatous prostatic growth is believed to begin at approximately age
30 years. An estimated 50% of men have histologic evidence of BPH by age 50
years and 75% by age 80 years; in 40–50% of these men, BPH becomes clinically
significant.[2]
Beri-beri
Beriberi is a disease in which the body does not have enough thiamine
(vitamin B1).
Causes
There are two major types of beriberi:
Wet beriberi affects the cardiovascular system.
Dry beriberi and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome affect the nervous system.
Beriberi is rare in the United States because most foods are now
vitamin enriched. If you eat a normal, healthy diet, you should get enough
thiamine. Today, beriberi occurs mostly in patients who abuse alcohol. Drinking
heavily can lead to poor nutrition, and excess alcohol makes it harder for the
body to absorb and store thiamine.
A rare condition known as genetic beriberi is inherited (passed down
through families). People with genetic beriberi lose the ability to absorb
thiamine from foods. This can happen slowly over time and symptoms occur when
the person is an adult. However, because doctors may not consider beriberi in
nonalcoholics, this diagnosis is often missed.
Beriberi can occur in breast-fed infants when the mother’s body is
lacking in thiamine. The condition can also affect infants who are fed unusual
formulas that don’t have enough thiamine.
Getting dialysis and taking high doses of diuretics raise your risk of
beriberi.
Bronchial Asthma
Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your airways. Your airways are
tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the inside
walls of your airways become sore and swollen. That makes them very sensitive,
and they may react strongly to things that you are allergic to or find
irritating. When your airways react, they get narrower and your lungs get less
air.
Symptoms of asthma include:
Wheezing
Coughing, especially early in the morning or at night
Chest tightness
Shortness of breath
Not all people who have asthma have these symptoms. Having these
symptoms doesn’t always mean that you have asthma. Your doctor will diagnose
asthma based on lung function tests, your medical history, and a physical exam.
You may also have allergy tests.
When your asthma symptoms become worse than usual, it’s called an
asthma attack. Severe asthma attacks may require emergency care, and they can
be fatal.
Asthma is treated with two kinds of medicines: quick-relief medicines
to stop asthma symptoms and long-term control medicines to prevent symptoms.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the airways that
carry air to your lungs. It causes a cough that often brings up mucus, as well
as shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness. There are two main types
of bronchitis: acute and chronic. The same viruses that cause colds and the flu
often cause acute bronchitis. These viruses spread through the air when people
cough, or through physical contact (for example, on unwashed hands). Being
exposed to tobacco smoke, air pollution, dusts, vapors, and fumes can also
cause acute bronchitis. Bacteria can also cause acute bronchitis, but not as
often as viruses.
Most cases of acute bronchitis get better within several days. But your
cough can last for several weeks after the infection is gone. If you think you
have acute bronchitis, see your healthcare provider.
Treatments include rest, fluids, and aspirin (for adults) or
acetaminophen to treat fever. A humidifier or steam can also help. You may need
inhaled medicine to open your airways if you are wheezing. You probably do not
need antibiotics. They don’t work against viruses – the most common cause of
acute bronchitis. If your healthcare provider thinks you have a bacterial
infection, he or she may prescribe antibiotics.
Burns
A burn is damage to your body’s tissues caused by heat, chemicals,
electricity, sunlight or radiation. Scalds from hot liquids and steam, building
fires and flammable liquids and gases are the most common causes of burns.
Another kind is an inhalation injury, caused by breathing smoke.
There are three types of burns:
First-degree burns damage only the outer layer of skin
Second-degree burns damage the outer layer and the layer underneath
Third-degree burns damage or destroy the deepest layer of skin and tissues
underneath
Burns can cause swelling, blistering, scarring and, in serious cases,
shock and even death. They also can lead to infections because they damage your
skin’s protective barrier. Treatment for burns depends on the cause of the
burn, how deep it is, and how much of the body it covers. Antibiotic creams can
prevent or treat infections. For more serious burns, treatment may be needed to
clean the wound, replace the skin, and make sure the patient has enough fluids
and nutrition.
Cancer and Tumor Formation
Cancer begins in your cells, which are the building blocks of your
body. Normally, your body forms new cells as you need them, replacing old cells
that die. Sometimes this process goes wrong. New cells grow even when you don’t
need them, and old cells don’t die when they should. These extra cells can form
a mass called a tumor. Tumors can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors aren’t
cancer while malignant ones are. Cells from malignant tumors can invade nearby
tissues. They can also break away and spread to other parts of the body.
Most cancers are named for where they start. For example, lung cancer
starts in the lung, and breast cancer starts in the breast. The spread of
cancer from one part of the body to another is called metastasis. Symptoms and
treatment depend on the cancer type and how advanced it is. Treatment plans may
include surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy.
Cataract
A cataract is a clouding of the lens in your eye. It affects your
vision. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of
all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.
A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one
eye to the other. Common symptoms are:
Blurry vision
Colors that seem faded
Glare – headlights, lamps or sunlight may seem too bright. You may also
see a halo around lights.
Not being able to see well at night
Double vision
Frequent prescription changes in your eye wear
Cataracts usually develop slowly. New glasses, brighter lighting, anti-glare
sunglasses or magnifying lenses can help at first. Surgery is also an option.
It involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens.
Wearing sunglasses and a hat with a brim to block ultraviolet sunlight may help
to delay cataracts.
Cervical Ulcer
Popularly known as the wound in the cervix known (erezyone cervicitis)
is a common gynecological diseases. Cervicitis.Institution meaning of the word
chronic, inflammatory disease of the cervix continuously. Wound (wound
cervical), erosion i.e. infected tissue around the cervical region.
The wounds of the cervix (the wound in the cervix) (erezyone
cervicitis) is, why?
1-often depending gonorrhea (clap) klamidia, trichomoniasis and HPV
infections, the
Bookmark and traumatic sex with two columns,
3-A of the condom and chemical stored cervix placed
Not for 4-on, cervical tears repaired lost
For these reasons, the cervical squamous epithelium (skin) layers of
endocervical lost causes (cervical internal channel) that the canal. To change
the field This region appears more red blood too. And this is the most affected
tissue infection, cervical cords (cervicitis erezyone injury). Sometimes the
intestine epithelium (skin) cause the infected tissue stroma disappeared. This
is known as cervical ulcers. This causes other problems due to the formation of
cysts in the cervix caused naboti. Because endocervical cysts, inflammation of
the repair process of the gland ducts Naboti (epithelialization) narrow.
Therefore, endocrine glands (mucus) and bosalamaz fluid. Rear Göllenerek naboti
produces cysts.
What are the symptoms of cervical injury?
1-Vaginal Discharge: yellow, white, pasty and sticky. This changes
consistency discharge current during ovulation is different.
Bleeding or spotting after 2-Relationship
3-intermediate pieces no bleeding: excessive swelling and edema of the
cervical epithelium, depending on the internal channel would be increased
fragility and easily traumatized. This leads vaginal bleeding spots on the end
of the shower, or sex.
4-shot lower back pain coccyx
5 burning urination, frequent urination and urinary retention is
difficult. This is due to infection of the cervix, lymph yayilmasindandir (by
neighborhood) of the urinary bladder. Honeymoon appear Honeymoon cystitis is
for these reasons. Frequent intercourse and extremely alert and trauma to the
mouth of the uterus, resulting in the formation of urinary problems.
6 Infertility Infertility causes by 10%, primarily due to the factors
listed in the mouth of the uterus, cervix and wounds. The infection and changes
in the structure of the sperm (male seed) prevents passage of the uterus.
What is the diagnosis of cervical lesions?
It can be easily diagnosed by the appearance of a regular gynecological
exam. Before starting treatment should be taken (malignant) malicious smear to
check for an event that slept. Biopsy suspicious areas can occur. Anecdotal
cases of doubt, colposcopy or positive HPV status should be monitored vascular
and biopsy. Treatment of passing the test, you must wait for the results.
What should I do to prevent cervical injury?
1-suspect and have sex with people you do not know. Particularly
gonorrhea (clap) men
2-At birth, the cervix should not break the waiting period. When
medical personnel (doctor or midwife) is a big responsibility. Even if you need
to repair broken, bleeding occurs in the cervix. Meanwhile, some of our
patients have torn cervix, where it is said that during the rise to the
formation of the head, vagina and perineum during childbirth (in the anus to
the vaginal area) to cut (episiotomy) facilitate really meant “I think the
teachers say built in memory of the birth.” should also be noted that this is
not the place over the mouth of the uterus.
Necessarily the best 3-neglected infections should be treated during
the acute phase.
4 buffer, chemicals should not be used.
5-vaginal washing with water and soap. The normal vaginal pH, because
this process (acid) for opportunistic infections broke make referrals to germs.
6-HPV vaccines: HPV vaccines to do between the ages of 9-26.
Association with recurring injuries and the risk of cancer in women after 26
years olaraktan vaccination is recommended to delete.
Choletithiasis-Gallstones
Your gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ under your liver. It stores
bile, a fluid made by your liver to digest fat. As your stomach and intestines
digest food, your gallbladder releases bile through a tube called the common
bile duct. The duct connects your gallbladder and liver to your small
intestine.
Your gallbladder is most likely to give you trouble if something blocks
the flow of bile through the bile ducts. That is usually a gallstone.
Gallstones form when substances in bile harden. Gallstone attacks usually
happen after you eat. Signs of a gallstone attack may include nausea, vomiting,
or pain in the abdomen, back, or just under the right arm.
Gallstones are most common among older adults, women, overweight
people, Native Americans and Mexican Americans.
Gallstones are often found during imaging tests for other health
conditions. If you do not have symptoms, you usually do not need treatment. The
most common treatment is removal of the gallbladder. Fortunately, you can live
without a gallbladder. Bile has other ways to reach your small intestine.
Colitis
Also called: Ulcerative Colitis, Distal colitis, Pancolitis, Ulcerative
proctitis
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a disease that causes inflammation and
sores, called ulcers, in the lining of the rectum and colon. It is one of a
group of diseases called inflammatory bowel disease.
UC can happen at any age, but it usually starts between the ages of 15
and 30. It tends to run in families. The most common symptoms are pain in the
abdomen and blood or pus in diarrhea. Other symptoms may include:L
Anemia
Severe tiredness
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Bleeding from the rectum
Sores on the skin
Joint pain
Growth failure in children
About half of people with UC have mild symptoms.
Doctors use blood tests, stool tests, colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, and
imaging tests to diagnose UC. Several types of drugs can help control it. Some
people have long periods of remission, when they are free of symptoms. In
severe cases, doctors must remove the colon.
Colon Prolapsed and Bowel
Pockets (Diverticulosis)
Diverticulosis occurs when small defects in the muscle of the wall of
the large intestine or colon allow small pockets or pouches (diverticula) to
form. Diverticulitis is infection or inflammation of these abnormal pouches.
Together, these conditions are called diverticular disease.
Despite having some symptoms in common, diverticular disease isn’t
associated with more serious conditions, such as bowel cancer. However,
diverticulitis is often a medical emergency, requiring immediate medical
attention and, frequently, admission to hospital. Mild attacks can be treated
at home, but should always be assessed promptly.
Causes of diverticular disease
Diverticulosis is extremely common. Old age and diet may be the most
important risk factors. More than half of all adults over the age of 70 have
the condition. Most of these people are unaware that they have diverticulosis.
Diverticulosis is less common in people under 50. Studies appear to
show that diverticulosis became more common in the 20th century. It is also
more common in ‘Western’ nations including North America, Europe and Australia.
It is less common in Asia and very uncommon in Africa.
Discovery of these facts led to the theory that the low-fibre diet
common in Western nations may be important. Animal studies show that this
theory is possible. It has also been shown that vegetarians less commonly
develop diverticulosis. Exactly how a low-fibre diet may cause diverticulosis
is not known.
There may also be genetic causes. It is interesting that Western people
develop diverticulosis in the last third of the colon, while people in Asian
countries – such as Japan, Taiwan and Singapore – generally develop
diverticulosis in the first section of the colon. In the Japanese population
living in Hawaii, the risk of diverticulosis is higher than those living in
Japan. However, when diverticulosis develops in these people, it is still in
the ‘Japanese’ location – the first third of the colon.
Diverticulitis seems to occur when a small puncture develops in the
diverticular wall. This causes a small infection to develop, often forming an
abscess.
Symptoms of diverticulosis
Diverticulosis is usually asymptomatic (has no symptoms). However, when
many diverticula (pouches) are present, the normal smooth working of the bowel
can be affected. This may cause a range of symptoms including:
Abdominal pain and bloating
Constipation and diarrhoea
Flatulence
Blood in the faeces – this is usually minor, but bleeding can sometimes
be heavy if a diverticulum gets inflamed or is near a blood vessel
Anaemia from repeated bleeding may occur.
Many of these symptoms are similar to those of bowel cancer.
Diverticulosis is more common, so these symptoms may be more likely to be due
to diverticulosis than cancer. However, a specialist will usually assess these
symptoms – your doctor will refer you.
Symptoms of diverticulitis
Symptoms of diverticulitis include:
Sharp pain, often located at a specific point – for example, in the
lower left half of the abdomen
Fever
Distension (bloating) of the abdomen
Nausea and vomiting.
Conjunctivitis (Pinkeye)
Conjunctivitis is the medical name for pink eye. It involves inflammation
of the outer layer of the eye and inside of the eyelid. It can cause swelling,
itching, burning, discharge, and redness.
Causes include:
Bacterial or viral infection
Allergies
Substances that cause irritation
Contact lens products, eye drops, or eye ointments
Pinkeye usually does not affect vision. Infectious pink eye can easily
spread from one person to another. The infection will clear in most cases
without medical care, but bacterial pinkeye needs treatment with antibiotic eye
drops or ointment.
Constipation
Constipation means that a person has three or fewer bowel movements in
a week. The stool can be hard and dry. Sometimes it is painful to pass. At one
time or another, almost everyone gets constipated. In most cases, it lasts a
short time and is not serious.
There are many things you can do to prevent constipation. They include:
Eating more fruits, vegetables and grains, which are high in fiber
Drinking plenty of water and other liquids
Getting enough exercise
Taking time to have a bowel movement when you need to
Using laxatives only if your doctor says you should
Asking your doctor if medicines you take may cause constipation
It’s not important that you have a bowel movement every day. If your
bowel habits change, however, check with your doctor.
Cough
Coughing is a reflex that keeps your throat and airways clear. Although
it can be annoying, coughing helps your body heal or protect itself. Coughs can
be either acute or chronic. Acute coughs begin suddenly and usually last no
more than 2 to 3 weeks. Acute coughs are the kind you most often get with a
cold, flu, or acute bronchitis. Chronic coughs last longer than 2 to 3 weeks.
Causes of chronic cough include:
Chronic bronchitis
Asthma
Allergies
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
Smoking
Throat disorders, such as croup in young children
Some medicines
Water can help ease your cough – whether you drink it or add it to the
air with a steamy shower or vaporizer. If you have a cold or the flu,
antihistamines may work better than non-prescription cough medicines. Children
under four should not have cough medicine. For children over four, use caution
and read labels carefully.
Cysts
A cyst is a sac-like pocket of tissue that contains fluid, air, or
other substances. Cysts can grow almost anywhere in your body or on your skin.
Recognizing Cysts
A cyst can appear as a bump on your skin. It may also feel like a small
lump if it is growing just under your skin.
Some cysts grow deep inside your body where you cannot feel them.
However, they may cause other symptoms. For example, ovarian cysts can cause
hormonal problems. Polycystic kidney disease can affect kidney function.
Cysts usually grow slowly and have a smooth surface. They can be tiny
or very large. Most cysts are not painful. They usually do not cause problems
unless they are:
infected
very large
growing in a sensitive area
affecting the function of an organ
Why Do Cysts Form?
Cysts form for a number of different reasons. They can be caused by:
infections
inherited diseases
chronic inflammation
blockages in ducts
The exact cause depends on the type of cyst.
Types of Cysts
There are hundreds of different types of cysts.
Cysts can grow almost anywhere in your body.
Some cysts occur as part of another condition, such as polycystic
kidney disease (PKD) or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Some of the more
common types of cysts include:
Sebaceous Cyst
These are small, benign bumps filled with an oily substance called
sebum. They are also known as epidermoid cysts.
Sebaceous cysts often form within hair follicles. They can also be
caused by ruptured sebaceous glands. These are the glands that make oil for
your skin and hair.
In rare cases, sebaceous cysts can be caused by an inherited condition
called Gardner’s syndrome.
Ganglion Cyst
These benign cysts usually form on your wrist or hand. However, they
can also develop on your feet. The reason why they form is not known.
Ganglion cysts tend to occur along a tendon sheath. They are more
common in women than in men.
Ovarian Cyst
Ovarian cysts form when the follicle that normally releases an egg does
not open. This causes fluid to build up and form a cyst. These cysts occur most
often between the onset of puberty and menopause. They are usually found during
pelvic exams.
Ovarian cysts are associated with an increased risk of cancer when they
occur after menopause.
Breast Cyst
Benign cysts can develop in your breasts when your milk ducts are
blocked. They commonly occur in women in their thirties and forties. They can
cause pain or tenderness in the affected area.
Chalazia
Chalazia are benign cysts that occur on your eyelids when the oil gland
duct is blocked. These cysts can cause tenderness, light sensitivity, and
painful swelling. If they get too big, they can cause vision problems.
Pilonidal Cyst
These cysts form near the top of the buttocks. They are usually filled
with skin debris, hair, and other matter.
Pilonidal cysts occur more often in men than in women. They can develop
when loose hairs become embedded in your skin. Chronic infections in these
cysts might increase your risk of a type of skin cancer called squamous cell
carcinoma. (MayoClinic)
When to See Your Doctor
Schedule an appointment with your doctor if your cyst becomes very
painful or red. This could be the sign of a rupture or infection.
A doctor should check your cyst even if it is not causing any pain or
other problems. Abnormal growths can be a sign of cancer. Therefore, your
doctor might want to remove a tissue sample for testing.
Treating Cysts
Home Care
In some cases, cysts go away on their own. Putting a warm compress on a
cyst can speed up the healing process by helping it drain.
You should never try to squeeze or pop a cyst on your own. This can
lead to infection.
Medical Care
Common methods of medical treatment for cysts include:
draining the cyst using a needle: This is done if a cyst becomes
infected or ruptures. The fluids or other matter in the cyst will be removed.
using anti-inflammatory medications: Cortisone injections can reduce
inflammation in a cyst.
surgical removal of the cyst: This may be used when draining does not
work. Hard-to-reach internal cysts can be surgically removed instead of drained
if treatment is needed.
Deafness of Old Age
It’s frustrating to be unable to hear well enough to enjoy talking with
friends or family. Hearing disorders make it hard, but not impossible, to hear.
They can often be helped. Deafness can keep you from hearing sound at all.
What causes hearing loss? Some possibilities are:
Heredity
Diseases such as ear infections and meningitis
Trauma
Certain medicines
Long-term exposure to loud noise
Aging
There are two main types of hearing loss. One happens when your inner
ear or auditory nerve is damaged. This type is usually permanent. The other
kind happens when sound waves cannot reach your inner ear. Earwax build-up,
fluid, or a punctured eardrum can cause it. Treatment or surgery can often
reverse this kind of hearing loss.
Untreated, hearing problems can get worse. If you have trouble hearing,
you can get help. Possible treatments include hearing aids, cochlear implants,
special training, certain medicines, and surgery.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose, or sugar, levels are
too high. Glucose comes from the foods you eat. Insulin is a hormone that helps
the glucose get into your cells to give them energy. With type 1 diabetes, your
body does not make insulin. With type 2 diabetes, the more common type, your
body does not make or use insulin well. Without enough insulin, the glucose
stays in your blood.
Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause serious
problems. It can damage your eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Diabetes can also cause
heart disease, stroke and even the need to remove a limb. Pregnant women can
also get diabetes, called gestational diabetes.
A blood test can show if you have diabetes. Exercise, weight control
and sticking to your meal plan can help control your diabetes. You should also
monitor your glucose level and take medicine if prescribed.
Diabetes-Insulin Dependent Type I
Diabetes means your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high.
With type 1 diabetes, your pancreas does not make insulin. Insulin is a hormone
that helps glucose get into your cells to give them energy. Without insulin,
too much glucose stays in your blood. Over time, high blood glucose can lead to
serious problems with your heart, eyes, kidneys, nerves, and gums and teeth.
Type 1 diabetes happens most often in children and young adults but can
appear at any age. Symptoms may include:
Being very thirsty
Urinating often
Feeling very hungry or tired
Losing weight without trying
Having sores that heal slowly
Having dry, itchy skin
Losing the feeling in your feet or having tingling in your feet
Having blurry eyesight
A blood test can show if you have diabetes. If you do, you will need to
take insulin for the rest of your life.
Diabetes Mellitus Type II
Diabetes means your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high.
With type 2 diabetes, the more common type, your body does not make or use
insulin well. Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose get into your cells to
give them energy. Without insulin, too much glucose stays in your blood. Over
time, high blood glucose can lead to serious problems with your heart, eyes,
kidneys, nerves, and gums and teeth.
You have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes if you are older, obese, have
a family history of diabetes, or do not exercise. Having prediabetes also
increases your risk. Prediabetes means that your blood sugar is higher than
normal but not high enough to be called diabetes.
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes appear slowly. Some people do not
notice symptoms at all. The symptoms can include:
Being very thirsty
Urinating often
Feeling very hungry or tired
Losing weight without trying
Having sores that heal slowly
Having blurry eyesight
A blood test can show if you have diabetes. Many people can manage
their diabetes through healthy eating, physical activity, and blood glucose
testing. Some people also need to take diabetes medicines.
Dysmenorrhea
Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for the painful cramps that may occur
immediately before or during the menstrual period. There are two types of
dysmenorrhea: primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea.
Primary dysmenorrhea is another name for common menstrual cramps.
Cramps usually begin one to two years after a woman starts getting her period.
Pain usually is felt in the lower abdomen or back. They can be mild to severe.
Common menstrual cramps often start shortly before or at the onset of the
period and continue one to three days. They usually become less painful as a
woman ages and may stop entirely after the woman has her first baby.
Secondary dysmenorrhea is pain caused by a disorder in the woman’s
reproductive organs. These cramps usually begin earlier in the menstrual cycle
and last longer than common menstrual cramps.
What Are the Symptoms of Menstrual Cramps?
The symptoms of menstrual cramps include:
Aching pain in the abdomen (Pain can be severe at times.)
Feeling of pressure in the abdomen
Pain in the hips, lower back, and inner thighs
When cramps are severe, symptoms may include:
Upset stomach, sometimes with vomiting
Loose stools
What Causes Common Menstrual Cramps?
Menstrual cramps are caused by contractions in the uterus, which is a
muscle. The uterus, the hollow, pear-shaped organ where a baby grows, contracts
throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle. If the uterus contracts too strongly, it
can press against nearby blood vessels, cutting off the supply of oxygen to the
muscle tissue of the uterus. Pain results when part of a muscle briefly loses
its supply of oxygen.
Dyspepsia (Indigestion)
Nearly everyone has had indigestion at one time. It’s a feeling of
discomfort or a burning feeling in your upper abdomen. You may have heartburn
or belch and feel bloated. You may also feel nauseated, or even throw up.
You might get indigestion from eating too much or too fast, eating
high-fat foods, or eating when you’re stressed. Smoking, drinking too much
alcohol, using some medicines, being tired, and having ongoing stress can also
cause indigestion or make it worse. Sometimes the cause is a problem with the
digestive tract, like an ulcer or GERD.
Avoiding foods and situations that seem to cause it may help. Because
indigestion can be a sign of a more serious problem, see your health care
provider if it lasts for more than two weeks or if you have severe pain or
other symptoms. Your health care provider may use x-rays, lab tests, and an
upper endoscopy to diagnose the cause. You may need medicines to treat the
symptoms.
Ecopora
Edema
Edema means swelling caused by fluid in your body’s tissues. It usually
occurs in the feet, ankles and legs, but it can involve your entire body.
Causes of edema include:
Eating too much salt
Sunburn
Heart failure
Kidney disease
Liver problems from cirrhosis
Pregnancy
Problems with lymph nodes, especially after mastectomy
Some medicines
Standing or walking a lot when the weather is warm
To keep swelling down, your health care provider may recommend keeping
your legs raised when sitting, wearing support stockings, limiting how much
salt you eat, or taking a medicine called a diuretic – also called a water
pill.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a problem affecting a woman’s uterus – the place where
a baby grows when she’s pregnant. Endometriosis is when the kind of tissue that
normally lines the uterus grows somewhere else. It can grow on the ovaries,
behind the uterus or on the bowels or bladder. Rarely, it grows in other parts
of the body.
This “misplaced” tissue can cause pain, infertility, and very heavy
periods. The pain is usually in the abdomen, lower back or pelvic areas. Some
women have no symptoms at all. Having trouble getting pregnant may be the first
sign.
The cause of endometriosis is not known. Pain medicines and hormones
often help. Severe cases may need surgery. There are also treatments to improve
fertility in women with endometriosis.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes people to have recurring
seizures. The seizures happen when clusters of nerve cells, or neurons, in the
brain send out the wrong signals. People may have strange sensations and
emotions or behave strangely. They may have violent muscle spasms or lose
consciousness.
Epilepsy has many possible causes, including illness, brain injury, and
abnormal brain development. In many cases, the cause is unknown.
Doctors use brain scans and other tests to diagnose epilepsy. It is
important to start treatment right away. There is no cure for epilepsy, but
medicines can control seizures for most people. When medicines are not working
well, surgery or implanted devices such as vagus nerve stimulators may help.
Special diets can help some children with epilepsy.
Gastro-Esophageal Reflux
Disease (GERD)
Your esophagus is the tube that carries food from your mouth to your
stomach. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) happens when a muscle at the
end of your esophagus does not close properly. This allows stomach contents to
leak back, or reflux, into the esophagus and irritate it.
You may feel a burning in the chest or throat called heartburn.
Sometimes, you can taste stomach fluid in the back of the mouth. If you have
these symptoms more than twice a week, you may have GERD. You can also have
GERD without having heartburn. Your symptoms could include a dry cough, asthma
symptoms, or trouble swallowing.
Anyone, including infants and children, can have GERD. If not treated,
it can lead to more serious health problems. In some cases, you might need
medicines or surgery. However, many people can improve their symptoms by:
Avoiding alcohol and spicy, fatty or acidic foods that trigger
heartburn
Eating smaller meals
Not eating close to bedtime
Losing weight if needed
Wearing loose-fitting clothes
Gingivitis
Gingivitis, also generally called gum disease or periodontal disease,
begins with bacterial growth in your mouth and may end — if not properly
treated — with tooth loss due to destruction of the tissue that surrounds your
teeth.
What’s the Difference Between Gingivitis and Periodontitis?
Gingivitis (gum inflammation) usually precedes periodontitis (gum
disease). However, it is important to know that not all gingivitis progresses
to periodontitis.
In the early stage of gingivitis, bacteria in plaque build up, causing
the gums to become inflamed and to easily bleed during tooth brushing. Although
the gums may be irritated, the teeth are still firmly planted in their sockets.
No irreversible bone or other tissue damage has occurred at this stage.
When gingivitis is left untreated, it can advance to periodontitis. In
a person with periodontitis, the inner layer of the gum and bone pull away from
the teeth and form pockets. These small spaces between teeth and gums collect
debris and can become infected. The body’s immune system fights the bacteria as
the plaque spreads and grows below the gum line.
What Causes Gum Disease?
Plaque is the primary cause of gum disease. However, other factors can
contribute to periodontal disease. These include:
Hormonal changes, such as those occurring during pregnancy, puberty,
menopause, and monthly menstruation, make gums more sensitive, which makes it
easier for gingivitis to develop.
Illnesses may affect the condition of your gums. This includes diseases
such as cancer or HIV that interfere with the immune system. Because diabetes
affects the body’s ability to use blood sugar, patients with this disease are
at higher risk of developing infections, including periodontal disease and
cavities.
Medications can affect oral health, because some lessen the flow of
saliva, which has a protective effect on teeth and gums. Some drugs, such as
the anticonvulsant medication Dilantin and the anti-angina drug Procardia and
Adalat, can cause abnormal growth of gum tissue.
Bad habits such as smoking make it harder for gum tissue to repair
itself.
Poor oral hygiene habits such as not brushing and flossing on a daily
basis, make it easier for gingivitis to develop.
Family history of dental disease can be a contributing factor for the
development of gingivitis.
What Are the Symptoms of Gum Disease?
Gum disease may progress painlessly, producing few obvious signs, even
in the late stages of the disease. Although the symptoms of periodontal disease
often are subtle, the condition is not entirely without warning signs. Certain
symptoms may point to some form of the disease. The symptoms of gum disease
include:
Gums that bleed during and after tooth brushing
Red, swollen, or tender gums
Persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth
Receding gums
Formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums
Loose or shifting teeth
Changes in the way teeth fit together upon biting down, or in the fit
of partial dentures.
Even if you don’t notice any symptoms, you may still have some degree
of gum disease. In some people, gum disease may affect only certain teeth, such
as the molars. Only a dentist or a periodontist can recognize and determine the
progression of gum disease.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye’s optic nerve.
It is a leading cause of blindness in the United States. It usually happens
when the fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises, damaging the optic nerve.
Often there are no symptoms at first. Without treatment, people with glaucoma
will slowly lose their peripheral, or side vision. They seem to be looking
through a tunnel. Over time, straight-ahead vision may decrease until no vision
remains.
A comprehensive eye exam can tell if you have glaucoma. People at risk
should get eye exams at least every two years. They include:
African Americans over age 40
People over age 60, especially Mexican Americans
People with a family history of glaucoma
There is no cure, but glaucoma can usually be controlled. Early
treatment can help protect your eyes against vision loss. Treatments usually
include prescription eyedrops and/or surgery.
Goiter
A simple goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland. It is usually
not cancer.
Causes
There are different kinds of goiters:
A simple goiter can occur without a known reason. It can occur when the
thyroid gland is not able to make enough thyroid hormone to meet the body’s
needs. This can be due to a lack of iodine in a person’s diet. To make up for
the shortage of thyroid hormone, the thyroid gland grows larger.
Toxic nodular goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland that has a small,
rounded growth or many growths called nodules. One or more of these nodules
produce too much thyroid hormone.
The body needs iodine to produce thyroid hormone:
Simple goiters may occur in people who live in areas where the soil and
water do not have enough iodine. People in these areas might not get enough
iodine in their diet.
The use of iodized salt in many food products in the United States
prevents a lack of iodine in the diet.
In many cases of simple goiter, the cause is unknown. Other than a lack
of iodine, other factors that may lead to the condition include:
Certain medicines (lithium, amiodarone)
Infections
Cigarette smoking
Certain foods (soy, peanuts, vegetables in the broccoli and cabbage
family)
Simple goiters are also more common in:
Persons over age 40
People with a family history of goiter
Women
Symptoms
The main symptom is an enlarged thyroid gland. The size may range from
a single small nodule to a large neck lump.
Some people with a simple goiter may have symptoms of an underactive
thyroid gland.
In rare cases, an enlarged thyroid can put pressure on the windpipe
(trachea) and food tube (esophagus). This can lead to:
Breathing difficulties (with very large goiters), especially when lying
on the back
Cough
Hoarseness
Swallowing difficulties, especially with solid food
Gout
Gout is a common, painful form of arthritis. It causes swollen, red,
hot and stiff joints.
Gout happens when uric acid builds up in your body. Uric acid comes
from the breakdown of substances called purines. Purines are in your body’s
tissues and in foods, such as liver, dried beans and peas, and anchovies.
Normally, uric acid dissolves in the blood. It passes through the kidneys and
out of the body in urine. But sometimes uric acid can build up and form
needle-like crystals. When they form in your joints, it is very painful. The crystals
can also cause kidney stones.
Often, gout first attacks your big toe. It can also attack ankles,
heels, knees, wrists, fingers, and elbows. At first, gout attacks usually get
better in days. Eventually, attacks last longer and happen more often.
You are more likely to get gout if you:
Are a man
Have family member with gout
Are overweight
Drink alcohol
Eat too many foods rich in purines
Gout can be hard to diagnose. Your doctor may take a sample of fluid
from an inflamed joint to look for crystals. You can treat gout with medicines.
Pseudogout has similar symptoms and is sometimes confused with gout.
However, it is caused by calcium phosphate, not uric acid.
Halitosis
There are many reasons why you might have bad breath. You can get it if
you don’t brush and floss regularly. Bacteria that build up in your mouth and
between your teeth produce the bad odor. Other problems in your mouth, such as
gum disease, dry mouth or cavities, may also cause it. Sinusitis or problems
with your nose may be to blame. You can also have bad breath if you eat some
foods, like raw onions, garlic or cabbage. And of course smoking causes its own
bad aroma. Some diseases and medicines are associated with a specific breath
odor.
Having good dental habits, like brushing and flossing regularly, help
fight bad breath. Mouthwashes, mints or chewing gum may make your breath
fresher. If you have an underlying disorder, treating it may help eliminate the
breath odor.
Heart Disease and
Complication
If you’re like most people, you think that heart disease is a problem
for others. But heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. It is also a
major cause of disability. There are many different forms of heart disease. The
most common cause of heart disease is narrowing or blockage of the coronary
arteries, the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart itself. This is
called coronary artery disease and happens slowly over time. It’s the major
reason people have heart attacks.
Other kinds of heart problems may happen to the valves in the heart, or
the heart may not pump well and cause heart failure. Some people are born with
heart disease.
You can help reduce your risk of heart disease by taking steps to
control factors that put you at greater risk:
Control your blood pressure
Lower your cholesterol
Don’t smoke
Get enough exercise
Hepatitis
Also called: Viral hepatitis
Your liver is the largest organ inside your body. It helps your body
digest food, store energy, and remove poisons. Hepatitis is an inflammation of
the liver.
Viruses cause most cases of hepatitis. The type of hepatitis is named
for the virus that causes it; for example, hepatitis A, hepatitis B or
hepatitis C. Drug or alcohol use can also cause hepatitis. In other cases, your
body mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the liver.
Some people who have hepatitis have no symptoms. Others may have:
Loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Dark-colored urine and pale bowel movements
Stomach pain
Jaundice, yellowing of skin and eyes
Some forms of hepatitis are mild, and others can be serious. Some can
lead to scarring, called cirrhosis, or to liver cancer.
Sometimes hepatitis goes away by itself. If it does not, it can be
treated with drugs. Sometimes hepatitis lasts a lifetime. Vaccines can help
prevent some viral forms.
Hypercholesteolemia
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in all
parts of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if
you have too much in your blood, it can combine with other substances in the
blood and stick to the walls of your arteries. This is called plaque. Plaque
can narrow your arteries or even block them.
High levels of cholesterol in the blood can increase your risk of heart
disease. Your cholesterol levels tend to rise as you get older. There are
usually no signs or symptoms that you have high blood cholesterol, but it can
be detected with a blood test. You are likely to have high cholesterol if
members of your family have it, if you are overweight or if you eat a lot of
fatty foods.
You can lower your cholesterol by exercising more and eating more
fruits and vegetables. You also may need to take medicine to lower your
cholesterol.
Hyperlipidemia
Lipid is the scientific term for fats in the blood. At proper levels,
lipids perform important functions in your body, but can cause health problems
if they are present in excess. The term hyperlipidemia means high lipid levels.
Hyperlipidemia includes several conditions, but it usually means that you have
high cholesterol and high triglyceride levels.
High lipid levels can speed up a process called atherosclerosis, or
hardening of the arteries. Your arteries are normally smooth and unobstructed
on the inside, but as you age, a sticky substance called plaque forms in the
walls of your arteries. Plaque is made of lipids and other materials
circulating in your blood. As more plaque builds up, your arteries can narrow
and stiffen. Eventually, enough plaque may build up to reduce blood flow
through your arteries.
Atherosclerosis increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, and other
vascular diseases. Fortunately, you may be able to reduce high lipid levels
and, therefore, prevent or slow the progression of atherosclerosis. Lifestyle
changes like exercising and eating a healthy diet can also lower your lipid
levels and are often the first step in treatment.
What are the symptoms?
Hyperlipidemia by itself does not cause any symptoms.
What causes hyperlipidemia?
Most hyperlipidemia is caused by lifestyle habits or treatable medical
conditions. Lifestyle contributors include obesity, not exercising, and
smoking. Conditions that cause hyperlipidemia include diabetes, kidney disease,
pregnancy, and an underactive thyroid gland.
You can also inherit hyperlipidemia. The cause may be genetic if you
have a normal body weight and other members of your family have hyperlipidemia.
You have a greater chance of developing hyperlipidemia if you are a man
older than age 45 or a woman older than age 55. If a close relative had early
heart disease (father or brother affected before age 55, mother or sister
affected before age 65), you also have an increased risk.
Hypertension
Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of
your arteries. Each time your heart beats, it pumps out blood into the
arteries. Your blood pressure is highest when your heart beats, pumping the
blood. This is called systolic pressure. When your heart is at rest, between
beats, your blood pressure falls. This is the diastolic pressure.
Your blood pressure reading uses these two numbers, the systolic and
diastolic pressures. Usually they are written one above or before the other. A
reading of
120/80 or lower is normal blood pressure
140/90 or higher is high blood pressure
Between 120 and 139 for the top number, or between 80 and 89 for the
bottom number is prehypertension
High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, but it can cause serious
problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure. You
can control high blood pressure through healthy lifestyle habits and taking
medicines, if needed.
Immunodeficiency Disorders
Immunodeficiency disorders occur when the body’s immune response is
reduced or absent.
Causes
The immune system is made up of lymphoid tissue in the body, which
includes:
Bone marrow
Lymph nodes
Parts of the spleen and gastrointestinal tract
Thymus
Tonsils
Proteins and cells in the blood are also part of the immune system.
The immune system helps protect the body from harmful substances called
antigens. Examples of antigens include bacteria, viruses, toxins, cancer cells,
and foreign blood or tissues from another person or species.
People are said to be immunosuppressed when they have an
immunodeficiency disorder due to medicines that weaken the immune system (such
as corticosteroids). Immunosuppression is also a common side effect of
chemotherapy given to treat cancer.
Acquired immunodeficiency may be a complication of diseases such as HIV
infection and malnutrition (especially if the person does not eat enough
protein). Many cancers may also cause immunodeficiency.
People who have had their spleen removed have an acquired
immunodeficiency, and are at higher risk for infection by certain bacteria that
the spleen would normally help fight. Patients with diabetes are also at higher
risk for certain infections.
As you get older, the immune system becomes less effective. Immune
system tissues (especially lymphoid tissue such as the thymus) shrink, and the
number and activity of white blood cells drop.
The following conditions and diseases can lead to an immunodeficiency
disorder:
Ataxia-telangiectasia
Complement deficiencies
DiGeorge syndrome
Hypogammaglobulinemia
Job syndrome
Leukocyte adhesion defects
Bruton disease
Wiscott-Aldrich syndrome
Insomnia
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder. If you have it, you may have
trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. As a result, you may get too
little sleep or have poor-quality sleep. You may not feel refreshed when you
wake up.
Symptoms of insomnia include:
Lying awake for a long time before you fall asleep
Sleeping for only short periods
Being awake for much of the night
Feeling as if you haven’t slept at all
Waking up too early
Your doctor will diagnose insomnia based on your medical and sleep
histories and a physical exam. He or she also may recommend a sleep study. A
sleep study measures how well you sleep and how your body responds to sleep
problems. Treatments include lifestyle changes, counseling, and medicines.
Kidney Disease
Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your
fists. They are located near the middle of your back, just below the rib cage.
Inside each kidney about a million tiny structures called nephrons filter
blood. They remove waste products and extra water, which become urine. The
urine flows through tubes called ureters to your bladder, which stores the
urine until you go to the bathroom.
Most kidney diseases attack the nephrons. This damage may leave kidneys
unable to remove wastes. Causes can include genetic problems, injuries, or
medicines. You are at greater risk for kidney disease if you have diabetes,
high blood pressure, or a close family member with kidney disease. Chronic
kidney disease damages the nephrons slowly over several years. Other kidney
problems include:
Cancer
Cysts
Stones
Infections
Your doctor can run tests to find out if you have kidney disease. If
your kidneys fail completely, a kidney transplant or dialysis can replace the
work your kidneys normally do.
Laryngitis
Laryngitis is an inflammation of your voice box (larynx) from overuse,
irritation or infection.
Inside the larynx are your vocal cords — two folds of mucous membrane
covering muscle and cartilage. Normally, your vocal cords open and close
smoothly, forming sounds through their movement and vibration.
But in laryngitis, your vocal cords become inflamed or irritated. This
swelling causes distortion of the sounds produced by air passing over them. As
a result, your voice sounds hoarse. In some cases of laryngitis, your voice can
become almost undetectable.
Laryngitis may be short-lived (acute) or long lasting (chronic). Most
cases of laryngitis are triggered by temporary viral infection or vocal strain
and aren’t serious. Persistent hoarseness can sometimes signal a more serious
underlying medical condition.
Leucorrhea
Leukorrhea, also spelled leucorrhoea, flow of a whitish, yellowish, or
greenish discharge from the vagina of the female that may be normal or that may
be a sign of infection. Such discharges may originate from the vagina, ovaries,
fallopian tubes, or, most commonly, the cervix. Leukorrhea may occur during
pregnancy and is considered normal when the discharge is thin, white, and
relatively odourless.
Physiologic leukorrhea is a normal condition occurring within several
months to a year of the onset of menses in adolescent girls and is sometimes
present in newborn girls, usually lasting one to two months. However, in many
cases, leukorrhea is a sign of infection, especially when the discharge is
yellow or green, has an offensive odour, and is accompanied by irritation,
itching, pain, or tissue inflammation.
Abnormal leukorrhea may be caused by infections with bacteria, yeast,
or other microorganisms. For example, many sexually transmitted diseases, which
involve the transmission of viruses or bacteria and include diseases such as
gonorrhea and chlamydia, are major causes of leukorrhea. These diseases lead to
infection of the cervix, which is indeed one of the most common gynecological
disorders. The infection has a tendency to irritate the mucus glands of the cervix,
causing them to secrete an excess of mucous mixed with pus.
Leukorrhea is also a sign of vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina),
which is often caused by infection with the fungus Candida albicans or by
infection with the protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. Infection with
these organisms may give rise to an irritating discharge that is often quite
resistant to treatment. A tampon, diaphragm, or other foreign object left too
long in the vagina can also cause leukorrhea. Douching is not recommended,
since this practice often disturbs the balance of normal vaginal flora, thereby
exacerbating infection. A clinical examination to determine the cause of the
discharge is necessary.
Treatment is aimed at eliminating the underlying cause and typically involves
administration of an antimicrobial agent. See also cervicitis; vulvitis.
Liver Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver. Scar tissue forms because of injury
or long-term disease. Scar tissue cannot do what healthy liver tissue does –
make protein, help fight infections, clean the blood, help digest food and
store energy. Cirrhosis can lead to:
Easy bruising or bleeding, or nosebleeds
Swelling of the abdomen or legs
Extra sensitivity to medicines
High blood pressure in the vein entering the liver
Enlarged veins called varices in the esophagus and stomach. Varices can
bleed suddenly.
Kidney failure
Jaundice
Severe itching
Gallstones
A small number of people with cirrhosis get liver cancer.
Your doctor will diagnose cirrhosis with blood tests, imaging tests, or
a biopsy.
Cirrhosis has many causes. In the United States, the most common causes
are chronic alcoholism and hepatitis. Nothing will make the scar tissue
disappear, but treating the cause can keep it from getting worse. If too much
scar tissue forms, you may need to consider a liver transplant.
Low Sperm Count
Low sperm count means that the fluid (semen) you ejaculate during an
orgasm contains fewer sperm than normal. A low sperm count is also called
oligospermia (ol-ih-go-SPUR-me-uh). A complete absence of sperm is called
azoospermia. Your sperm count is considered lower than normal if you have fewer
than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen.
Having a low sperm count decreases the odds that one of your sperm will
fertilize your partner’s egg, resulting in pregnancy. Nonetheless, many men who
have a low sperm count are still able to father a child.
Mascular Degeneration
Macular degeneration, or age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is a
leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 and older. It is a disease that
destroys your sharp, central vision. You need central vision to see objects
clearly and to do tasks such as reading and driving.
AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine
detail. It does not hurt, but it causes cells in the macula to die. There are
two types: wet and dry. Wet AMD happens when abnormal blood vessels grow under
the macula. These new blood vessels often leak blood and fluid. Wet AMD damages
the macula quickly. Blurred vision is a common early symptom. Dry AMD happens
when the light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down. Your gradually
lose your central vision. A common early symptom is that straight lines appear
crooked.
Regular comprehensive eye exams can detect macular degeneration before
the disease causes vision loss. Treatment can slow vision loss. It does not
restore vision.
Mental tiredness
Migraine
If you suffer from migraine headaches, you’re not alone. About 12
percent of the U.S. population gets them. Migraines are recurring attacks of
moderate to severe pain. The pain is throbbing or pulsing, and is often on one
side of the head. During migraines, people are very sensitive to light and
sound. They may also become nauseated and vomit.
Migraine is three times more common in women than in men. Some people
can tell when they are about to have a migraine because they see flashing
lights or zigzag lines or they temporarily lose their vision.
Many things can trigger a migraine. These include
Anxiety
Stress
Lack of food or sleep
Exposure to light
Hormonal changes (in women)
Doctors used to believe migraines were linked to the opening and
narrowing of blood vessels in the head. Now they believe the cause is related
to genes that control the activity of some brain cells. Medicines can help
prevent migraine attacks or help relieve symptoms of attacks when they happen.
For many people, treatments to relieve stress can also help.
Muscle and nerve pain
(musculoskeletal pain)
Musculoskeletal pain affects the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons,
and nerves. It can be acute (having a rapid onset with severe symptoms) or
chronic (long-lasting). Musculoskeletal pain can be localized in one area, or
widespread.
Lower back pain is the most common type of musculoskeletal pain. Other
common types include tendonitis, myalgia (muscle pain), and stress fractures.
What are the causes of musculoskeletal pain?
Anyone can experience musculoskeletal pain. It is most often caused by
an injury to the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, or nerves. This
can be caused by jerking movements, car accidents, falls, fractures, sprains,
dislocations, and direct blows to the muscle.
Musculoskeletal pain can also be caused by overuse. Pain from overuse
affects 33% of adults. Lower back pain from overuse is the most common
work-related diagnosis in Western society.
Poor posture or prolonged immobilization can also cause musculoskeletal
pain.
What are the symptoms of musculoskeletal pain?
Symptoms of musculoskeletal pain depend on whether the pain is caused
by an injury or overuse and whether it is chronic or acute. The symptoms can
also differ from person to person.
Common symptoms include:
Localized or widespread pain that can worsen with movement.
Aching or stiffness of the entire body.
The feeling that your muscles have been pulled or overworked
Fatigue
Sleep disturbances
Twitching muscles
The sensation of “burning” in your muscles
If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor for a
thorough examination.
What are the different types of musculoskeletal pain?
Musculoskeletal pain has varying symptoms and causes. Some of the more
common types of pain include:
Bone pain: This is usually deep, penetrating, or dull. It most commonly
results from injury. It is important to be sure that the pain is not related to
a fracture or tumor.
Muscle pain: This is often less intense than bone pain, but it can
still be debilitating. Muscle pain can be caused by an injury, an autoimmune
reaction, loss of blood flow to the muscle, infection, or a tumor. The pain can
also include muscle spasms and cramps.
Tendon and ligament pain: Pains in the tendons or ligaments are often
caused by injuries, including include sprains. This type of musculoskeletal
pain often becomes worse when the affected area is stretched or moved.
Fibromyalgia: This is a condition that may cause pain in the muscles,
tendons, or ligaments. The pain is usually in multiple locations and can be
difficult to describe. Fibromyalgia is usually accompanied by other symptoms.
Joint pain: Joint injuries and diseases usually produce a stiff,
aching, “arthritic” pain. The pain may range from mild to severe and worsens
when moving the joint. The joints may also swell. Joint inflammation
(arthritis) is a common cause of pain.
“Tunnel” syndromes: This refers to musculoskeletal disorders that cause
pain due to nerve compression. The disorders include carpal tunnel syndrome,
cubital tunnel syndrome, and tarsal tunnel syndrome. The pain tends to spread
along the path supplied by the nerve and may feel like burning. These disorders
are often caused by overuse.
Muscular Dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of more than 30 inherited diseases.
They all cause muscle weakness and muscle loss. Some forms of MD appear in
infancy or childhood. Others may not appear until middle age or later. The
different types can vary in whom they affect, which muscles they affect, and
what the symptoms are. All forms of MD grow worse as the person’s muscles get
weaker. Most people with MD eventually lose the ability to walk.
There is no cure for muscular dystrophy. Treatments can help with the
symptoms and prevent complications. They include physical and speech therapy,
orthopedic devices, surgery, and medications. Some people with MD have mild
cases that worsen slowly. Others cases are disabling and severe.
Myoma
A uterine myoma is a benign growth of smooth muscle in the wall of the
uterus.
Description of Uterine Myomas
A uterine myoma (myoma uteri) is a solid tumor made of fibrous tissue,
hence it is often called a ‘fibroid’ tumor. Myomas vary in size and number, are
most often slow-growing and usually cause no symptoms. Myomas that do not
produce symptoms do not need to be treated. Approximately 25% of myomas will
cause symptoms and need medical treatment.
Myomas may grow as a single nodule or in clusters and may range in size
from 1 mm to more than 20 cm in diameter. Myomas are the most frequently
diagnosed tumor of the female pelvis and the most common reason for a woman to
have a hysterectomy. Although they are often referred to as tumors, they are
not cancerous.
Myoma Symptoms:
Heavy and prolonged bleeding
Pelvic pain or pressure
Weight gain or an abnormally enlarged abdomen
Pressure on the bladder or bowel
Pain in the back of the legs
Pain during sexual intercourse
What Causes Myoma?
The cause of myomas has not actually been determined, but most uterine
myomas develop in women during their reproductive years. Myomas do not develop
before the body begins producing estrogen. Myomas tend to grow very quickly
during pregnancy when the body is producing extra estrogen. Once menopause has
begun, myomas generally stop growing and can begin to shrink due to the loss of
estrogen.
Myoma Treatment
Until recently, hysterectomy was the preferred option for treating
symptomatic fibroids. Now, however, there are a number of uterine fibroid
treatments including the noninvasive, outpatient MR guided Focused Ultrasound
myoma treatment.
Nephrolithasis ( Kidney
Stones)
A kidney stone is a solid piece of material that forms in the kidney
from substances in the urine. It may be as small as a grain of sand or as large
as a pearl. Most kidney stones pass out of the body without help from a doctor.
But sometimes a stone will not go away. It may get stuck in the urinary tract,
block the flow of urine and cause great pain.
The following may be signs of kidney stones that need a doctor’s help:
Extreme pain in your back or side that will not go away
Blood in your urine
Fever and chills
Vomiting
Urine that smells bad or looks cloudy
A burning feeling when you urinate
Your doctor will diagnose a kidney stone with urine, blood, and imaging
tests.
If you have a stone that won’t pass on its own, you may need treatment.
It can be done with shock waves; with a scope inserted through the tube that
carries urine out of the body, called the urethra; or with surgery.
Neuralgia
Neuralgia is a sharp, shocking pain that follows the path of a nerve
and is due to irritation or damage to the nerve.
Common neuralgias include:
Shingles
Trigeminal neuralgia
Causes
Causes of neuralgia include:
Chemical irritation
Chronic renal insufficiency
Diabetes
Infections, such as herpes zoster ( shingles), HIV, Lyme disease, and
syphilis
Medications such as cisplatin, paclitaxel, or vincristine
Porphyria
Pressure on nerves by nearby bones, ligaments, blood vessels, or tumors
Trauma (including surgery)
In many cases, the cause is unknown.
Postherpetic neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia are the two most common
forms of neuralgia. A related but less common neuralgia affects the
glossopharyngeal nerve, which provides feeling to the throat.
Neuralgia is more common in elderly people, but it may occur at any
age.
Symptoms
Increased sensitivity of the skin along the path of the damaged nerve,
so that any touch or pressure is felt as pain
Numbness along the path of the nerve
In the same location each episode
Sharp, stabbing
May come and go (intermittent), or be constant, burning pain
May get worse when the area is moved
Weakness or complete paralysis of muscles supplied by the same nerve
Neuro Muscular Disorder
Neuromuscular disorders affect the nerves that control your voluntary
muscles. Voluntary muscles are the ones you can control, like in your arms and
legs. Your nerve cells, also called neurons, send the messages that control
these muscles. When the neurons become unhealthy or die, communication between
your nervous system and muscles breaks down. As a result, your muscles weaken
and waste away. The weakness can lead to twitching, cramps, aches and pains,
and joint and movement problems. Sometimes it also affects heart function and
your ability to breathe.
Examples of neuromuscular disorders include:
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Myasthenia gravis
Spinal muscular atrophy
Many neuromuscular diseases are genetic, which means they run in
families or there is a mutation in your genes. Sometimes, an immune system
disorder can cause them. Most of them have no cure. The goal of treatment is to
improve symptoms, increase mobility and lengthen life.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It causes pain,
swelling, and reduced motion in your joints. It can occur in any joint, but
usually it affects your hands, knees, hips or spine.
Osteoarthritis breaks down the cartilage in your joints. Cartilage is
the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint. Healthy cartilage
absorbs the shock of movement. When you lose cartilage, your bones rub
together. Over time, this rubbing can permanently damage the joint.
Risk factors for osteoarthritis include:
Being overweight
Getting older
Injuring a joint
No single test can diagnose osteoarthritis. Most doctors use several
methods, including medical history, a physical exam, x-rays, or lab tests.
Treatments include exercise, medicines, and sometimes surgery.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis makes your bones weak and more likely to break. Anyone can
develop osteoporosis, but it is common in older women. As many as half of all
women and a quarter of men older than 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.
Risk factors include:
Getting older
Being small and thin
Having a family history of osteoporosis
Taking certain medicines
Being a white or Asian woman
Having osteopenia, which is low bone density
Osteoporosis is a silent disease. You might not know you have it until
you break a bone. A bone mineral density test is the best way to check your
bone health. To keep bones strong, eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D,
exercise and do not smoke. If needed, medicines can also help.
Pancreatitis
The pancreas is a large gland behind the stomach and close to the first
part of the small intestine. It secretes digestive juices into the small
intestine through a tube called the pancreatic duct. The pancreas also releases
the hormones insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream.
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. It happens when digestive
enzymes start digesting the pancreas itself. Pancreatitis can be acute or
chronic. Either form is serious and can lead to complications.
Acute pancreatitis occurs suddenly and usually goes away in a few days
with treatment. It is often caused by gallstones. Common symptoms are severe
pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, and vomiting. Treatment is usually a few
days in the hospital for intravenous (IV) fluids, antibiotics, and medicines to
relieve pain.
Chronic pancreatitis does not heal or improve. It gets worse over time
and leads to permanent damage. The most common cause is heavy alcohol use.
Other causes include cystic fibrosis and other inherited disorders, high levels
of calcium or fats in the blood, some medicines, and autoimmune conditions.
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and oily stools. Treatment may
also be a few days in the hospital for intravenous (IV) fluids, medicines to
relieve pain, and nutritional support. After that, you may need to start taking
enzymes and eat a special diet. It is also important to not smoke or drink
alcohol.
Paralysis
Paralysis is the loss of muscle function in part of your body. It
happens when something goes wrong with the way messages pass between your brain
and muscles. Paralysis can be complete or partial. It can occur on one or both
sides of your body. It can also occur in just one area, or it can be
widespread. Paralysis of the lower half of your body, including both legs, is
called paraplegia. Paralysis of the arms and legs is quadriplegia.
Most paralysis is due to strokes or injuries such as spinal cord injury
or a broken neck. Other causes of paralysis include:
Nerve diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Autoimmune diseases such as Guillain-Barre syndrome
Bell’s palsy, which affects muscles in the face
Polio used to be a cause of paralysis, but polio no longer occurs in
the U.S.
Parasistism- Parasitic
infections
Parasites are microorganisms that live off of other organisms, or
hosts, to survive. Some parasites don’t affect the host. Others grow,
reproduce, or give off toxins that make the host sick resulting in a parasitic
infection.
Parasitic infections are a large problem in tropical and subtropical
regions. Malaria is one of the deadliest diseases caused by a parasite. There
are also a number of parasitic infections that can occur in the U.S.
Trichomoniasis, giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, and toxoplamosis are the most
common such infections that occur in the U.S.
Types of Parasitic Infections
Parasitic infections can be caused by three types of organisms:
protozoa, helminths, and ectoparasites. Protozoa are single-celled organisms
that can live and multiply inside of humans. Some infections caused by protozoa
include giardiasis. This is a serious infection that can happen from drinking
water infected with the protozoa. Helminths are multi-celled organisms that can
live alone or in humans. These are commonly known as worms and include flatworms,
tapeworms, ringworms, and roundworms. Ectoparasites are multi-celled organisms
that live in or feed off of the skin of humans, such as mosquitos, fleas,
ticks, and mites.
Causes
Parasitic infections can be spread in a number of ways. They can be spread
through contaminated water, waste, fecal matter, blood, and through food that
has been mishandled or undercooked. It can also be passed through sexual
contact. Some infections are spread because an insect acts as a vector, or
carrier, of the disease and transmits it while feeding on the host. Malaria,
which is spread by mosquitos, is one such example.
Patients with Debilitating
Disease
Debilitating diseases come in many shapes and forms – from those that
attack the muscles in our body and affect our physical abilities to those that
affect our brain function and impair our thought processes.
People with debilitating diseases face a number of challenges that take
an extensive toll on their health and finances. A person’s life can be
completely changed in just a few short months as the disease progresses.
Here’s a list of debilitating diseases that significantly change the
lives of millions of people:
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
RA is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation in joints
and organs throughout the body
Schizophrenia
This brain disease is a complex mental disorder that makes it difficult
for those diagnosed with it to differentiate between reality and imagined
experiences, behave normally in social situations, and have normal emotional
responses to everyday situations
Poliomyelitis
This disease, caused by the spread of the poliovirus, affects the
central nervous system and can lead to partial or full paralysis.
Muscular Dystrophy (MD)
Muscular dystrophies are actually a group of related and inherited
disorders that contribute to muscle loss and weakness over time.
Cerebral Palsy
There are several different types of cerebral palsy which affect the
functions of the brain and nervous system. The cause for this disease is
abnormalities or injuries to the brain during fetal development and also can
occur up to the age of two years, when brains are still developing.
Chronic Obstructive Pulminary Disease (COPD)
COPDCOPD is a condition which makes it increasingly difficult to
breathe due to permanent damage of the lungs and constricting airways, and is
often a result of smoking
Cystic Fibrosis
The cause of this disease stems from a defective gene that causes the
creation of thick mucus in the lungs and pancreas, leading to life-threatening
breathing problems, lung infections and digestive problems.
Scleroderma
This connective tissue disorder and autoimmune disease causes changes in
the skin, blood vessels, internal organs and muscles, and can occur solely on
the skin level or internally throughout the entire body.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
MS is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system,
and is more common in women than in men.
Parkinson’s Disease
This brain disorder leads to bodily tremors and difficulties with
movement or controlling functions.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) – Lou Gherig’s Disease
ALS affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control
voluntary muscle movement, though the core cause is unknown and no cure exists
Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Alzheimer’s Disease is one form of dementia that affects the way people
think, behave and remember events in life.
Pharyngitis (Sore Throat)
Your throat is a tube that carries food to your esophagus and air to
your windpipe and larynx (also called the voice box). The technical name for
the throat is pharynx.
You can have a sore throat for many reasons. Often, colds and flu cause
sore throats. Other causes can include:
Allergies
Mononucleosis
Smoking
Strep throat
Tonsillitis – an infection in the tonsils
Treatment depends on the cause. Sucking on lozenges, drinking lots of
liquids, and gargling may ease the pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers can
also help, but children should not take aspirin.
Piles- Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are swollen, inflamed veins around the anus or lower
rectum. They are either inside the anus or under the skin around the anus. They
often result from straining to have a bowel movement. Other factors include
pregnancy, aging and chronic constipation or diarrhea.
Hemorrhoids are very common in both men and women. About half of all
people have hemorrhoids by age 50. The most common symptom of hemorrhoids
inside the anus is bright red blood covering the stool, on toilet paper or in
the toilet bowl. Symptoms usually go away within a few days.
If you have rectal bleeding you should see a doctor. You need to make
sure bleeding is not from a more serious condition such as colorectal or anal
cancer. Treatment may include warm baths and a cream or other medicine. If you
have large hemorrhoids, you may need surgery and other treatments.
External Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids occur when the veins of the rectum or anus become inflamed
because of too much straining in the area. Depending on where your hemorrhoids
are located, they are considered “internal” or “external.” External hemorrhoids
are usually found beneath the skin that surrounds the anus.
Recognizing the Symptoms of External Hemorrhoids
There are a range of symptoms that can affect a person with
hemorrhoids. Symptoms tend to vary depending on the severity of your
hemorrhoids. Some of the symptoms that you may have include the following:
itching around the anus or rectal area
pain around the anus
lumps near or around the anus
blood in the stool
You may notice bleeding when using the bathroom, such as seeing blood
on toilet paper or in the toilet. Lumps around the anus may feel as if they are
swollen. These symptoms may also occur because of other conditions. If you
think that you may have hemorrhoids, you should schedule an exam with your
doctor.
What Are the Causes of External Hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids may be caused by a few different factors. The most common
cause of hemorrhoids is repeated straining while having a bowel movement.
Straining gets in the way of blood flow into and out of the area, which results
in pooling of blood and enlargement of the vessels in that area. For the same
reason, a severe case of constipation or diarrhea can also cause hemorrhoids.
Additionally, pregnant women may be at increased risk of hemorrhoids because of
the pressure that the uterus places on these veins.
Pre Menopausal Syndrome
Premenopause symptoms often appear during the menstrual cycles
Premenopause symptoms are, in general, the ones that accompany women
during their menstrual cycles. With different degrees and frequency, most women
experience those symptoms, which can also be known as pre-menstrual syndrome
(PMS).
Pre Menopause
Pre Menopause Symptoms
For most women, premenopause symptoms are an every month matter, since
such bodily discomforts appear with women’s menstrual periods. Their frequency
and intensity, however, might vary. That is why, it is important for women to
be in-tune with their body’s typical functions, since any change within them could
indicate a serious underlying health issue.
During premenopause, most women present the following symptoms:
Cramps
Anxiety
Mood swings
Irritability
Nausea
Overeating
Bloating
The premenopause symptoms mentioned above are the ones most women
report to experience; however, the following symptoms have also been described
by fewer women:
Muscle spasm.
Decreased self-image
Panic attacks
Dizziness
Clumsiness
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes itchy or sore patches of thick,
red skin with silvery scales. You usually get the patches on your elbows,
knees, scalp, back, face, palms and feet, but they can show up on other parts
of your body. Some people who have psoriasis also get a form of arthritis
called psoriatic arthritis.
A problem with your immune system causes psoriasis. In a process called
cell turnover, skin cells that grow deep in your skin rise to the surface.
Normally, this takes a month. In psoriasis, it happens in just days because
your cells rise too fast.
Psoriasis can be hard to diagnose because it can look like other skin
diseases. Your doctor might need to look at a small skin sample under a
microscope.
Psoriasis can last a long time, even a lifetime. Symptoms come and go.
Things that make them worse include:
Infections
Stress
Dry skin
Certain medicines
Psoriasis usually occurs in adults. It sometimes runs in families.
Treatments include creams, medicines, and light therapy.
Rectal Tumor
The rectum is the last six inches of the large intestine, also called
the colon. The rectum and connects to the anal canal, which leads to the anus
which opens to the outside of the body. Because the rectum and colon are both
part of the large intestine, many conditions of either are often referred to as
colorectal.
Most rectal tumors form inside the lining of the rectum. Tumors can be
either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Tumors that are
malignant begin when cells grow in an abnormal fashion.
Types of benign rectal tumors include:
Neoplastic epithelial polyps (premalignant)
Adenomas, most common type – three varieties: tubular (usually found in
rectosigmoid), villious (usually found in the rectum and sigmoid), and
tubulovillous
Non-neoplastic epithelial polyps
Hyperplastic polyps
Hamartomas
Juvenile polyps (generally found in children under the age of 10)
Peutz-Jeghers’ polyps (result from rare disease called Peutz-Jegher’s
syndrome)
Inflammatory polyps, usually occur in patients with inflammatory bowel
disease
Lymphoid polyps
Types of malignant rectal tumors include:
Adenocarcinoma
Aggressive neuroendocrine tumor
Leiomyosarcoma
Lymphoma
Mucinous Adenocarcinoma
Signet Ring Cell Adenocarinoma
Respiratory Infection
When you breathe, your lungs take in oxygen from the air and deliver it
to the bloodstream. The cells in your body need oxygen to work and grow. During
a normal day, you breathe nearly 25,000 times. People with lung disease have
difficulty breathing. Millions of people in the U.S. have lung disease. If all
types of lung disease are lumped together, it is the number three killer in the
United States.
The term lung disease refers to many disorders affecting the lungs,
such as asthma, COPD, infections like influenza, pneumonia and tuberculosis,
lung cancer, and many other breathing problems. Some lung diseases can lead to
respiratory failure.
Rheumatic Heart Disease
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the most common
acquired heart disease in children in many countries of the world, especially
in developing countries. The global burden of disease caused by rheumatic fever
currently falls disproportionately on children living in the developing world,
especially where poverty is widespread.
RHD is a chronic heart condition caused by rheumatic fever that can be
prevented and controlled. Rheumatic fever is caused by a preceding group A
streptococcal (strep) infection. Treating strep throat with antibiotics can
prevent rheumatic fever. Moreover, regular antibiotics (usually monthly
injections) can prevent patients with rheumatic fever from contracting further
strep infections and causing progression of valve damage.
Consequences of rheumatic heart disease
Acute rheumatic fever primarily affects the heart, joints and central
nervous system. The major importance of acute rheumatic fever is its ability to
cause fibrosis of heart valves, leading to crippling valvular heart disease,
heart failure and death.
The decline of rheumatic fever in developed countries is believed to be
the result of improved living conditions and availability of antibiotics for
treatment of group A streptococcal infection. Overcrowding, poor housing
conditions, undernutrition and lack of access to healthcare play a role in the
persistence of this disease in developing countries.
Treatment
Primary prevention of acute rheumatic fever (the prevention of initial
attack) is achieved by treatment of acute throat infections caused by group A
streptococcus. This is achieved by up to 10 days of an oral antibiotic (usually
penicillin) or a single intramuscular penicillin injection.
People who have had a previous attack of rheumatic fever are at high
risk for a recurrent attack, which worsens the damage to the heart. Prevention
of recurrent attacks of acute rheumatic fever is known as secondary prevention.
This involves regular administration of antibiotics, and has to be continued
for many years. Secondary prevention programmes are currently thought to be
more cost effective for prevention of RHD than primary prevention and may be
the only feasible option for low- to middle-income countries in addition to
poverty alleviation efforts.
Surgery is often required to repair or replace heart valves in patients
with severely damaged valves, the cost of which is very high and a drain on the
limited health resources of poor countries.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis that causes pain,
swelling, stiffness and loss of function in your joints. It can affect any
joint but is common in the wrist and fingers.
More women than men get rheumatoid arthritis. It often starts in middle
age and is most common in older people. But children and young adults can also
get it. You might have the disease for only a short time, or symptoms might
come and go. The severe form can last a lifetime.
Rheumatoid arthritis is different from osteoarthritis, the common
arthritis that often comes with older age. RA can affect body parts besides
joints, such as your eyes, mouth and lungs. RA is an autoimmune disease, which
means the arthritis results from your immune system attacking your body’s own
tissues.
No one knows what causes rheumatoid arthritis. Genes, environment and
hormones might contribute. Treatments include medicine, lifestyle changes and
surgery. These can slow or stop joint damage and reduce pain and swelling.
Scurvy
Scurvy is a disease that occurs when you have a severe lack of vitamin
C (ascorbic acid) in your diet. Scurvy causes general weakness, anemia, gum
disease, and skin hemorrhages.
Alternative Names
Vitamin C deficiency; Deficiency – vitamin C; Scorbutus
Shortness of Breath (on Children)
When you’re short of breath, it’s hard or uncomfortable for you to take
in the oxygen your body needs. You may feel as if you’re not getting enough
air. Sometimes mild breathing problems are from a stuffy nose or hard exercise.
But shortness of breath can also be a sign of a serious disease.
Many conditions can make you feel short of breath. Lung conditions such
as asthma, emphysema or pneumonia cause breathing difficulties. So can problems
with your trachea or bronchi, which are part of your airway system. Heart
disease can make you feel breathless if your heart cannot pump enough blood to
supply oxygen to your body. Stress caused by anxiety can also make it hard for
you to breathe. If you often have trouble breathing, it is important to find
out the cause.
Sinusitis
Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses. It occurs as the result of an
infection from a virus, bacteria, or fungus.
Causes
The sinuses are air-filled spaces in the skull. They are located behind
the forehead, nasal bones, cheeks, and eyes. Healthy sinuses contain no
bacteria or other germs. Most of the time, mucus is able to drain out and air
is able to flow through the sinuses.
When the sinus openings become blocked or too much mucus builds up,
bacteria and other germs can grow more easily.
Sinusitis can occur from one of these conditions:
Small hairs (cilia) in the sinuses fail to properly to move mucus out.
This may be due to some medical conditions.
Colds and allergies may cause too much mucus to be made or block the
opening of the sinuses.
A deviated nasal septum, nasal bone spur, or nasal polyps may block the
opening of the sinuses.
There are two types of sinusitis:
Acute sinusitis is when symptoms are present for 4 weeks or less. It is
caused by bacteria growing in the sinuses.
Chronic sinusitis is when swelling and inflammation of the sinuses are
present for longer than 3 months. It may be caused by bacteria or a fungus.
The following may increase the risk that an adult or child will develop
sinusitis:
Allergic rhinitis or hay fever
Cystic fibrosis
Going to day care
Diseases that prevent the cilia from working properly
Changes in altitude (flying or scuba diving)
Large adenoids
Smoking
Weakened immune system from HIV or chemotherapy
Skin Rash
A rash is an area of irritated or swollen skin. Many rashes are itchy,
red, painful, and irritated. Some rashes can also lead to blisters or patches
of raw skin. Rashes are a symptom of many different medical problems. Other
causes include irritating substances and allergies. Certain genes can make
people more likely to get rashes.
Contact dermatitis is a common type of rash. It causes redness,
itching, and sometimes small bumps. You get the rash where you have touched an
irritant, such as a chemical, or something you are allergic to, like poison
ivy.
Some rashes develop right away. Others form over several days. Although
most rashes clear up fairly quickly, others are long-lasting and need long-term
treatment.
Because rashes can be caused by many different things, it’s important
to figure out what kind you have before you treat it. If it is a bad rash, if
it does not go away, or if you have other symptoms, you should see your health
care provider. Treatments may include moisturizers, lotions, baths, cortisone
creams that relieve swelling, and antihistamines, which relieve itching.
Skin Ulcer
A skin ulcer is an open wound on the skin. It could be caused by a
health problem such as infection, by a pressure sore, or by vein problems
(venous skin ulcers). Treatments will depend on the cause of the ulcer. Follow
the links below to find WebMD’s comprehensive coverage about how skin ulcers
are caused, signs of a skin ulcer, skin ulcer treatments, and much more.
Sore Eyes
see Conjuntivitis
Spinal Disease
Your spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that runs down the middle of
your back. It carries signals back and forth between your body and your brain.
It is protected by your vertebrae, which are the bone disks that make up your
spine. If you have an accident that damages the vertebrae or other parts of the
spine, this can also injure the spinal cord. Other spinal cord problems include
Tumors
Infections such as meningitis
and polio
Inflammatory diseases
Autoimmune diseases
Degenerative diseases such as
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal muscular atrophy
Symptoms vary but might include pain, numbness, loss of sensation and
muscle weakness. These symptoms can occur around the spinal cord, and also in
other areas such as your arms and legs. Treatments often include medicines and
surgery.
Stroke
A stroke is a medical emergency. Strokes happen when blood flow to your
brain stops. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die. There are two kinds of
stroke. The more common kind, called ischemic stroke, is caused by a blood clot
that blocks or plugs a blood vessel in the brain. The other kind, called
hemorrhagic stroke, is caused by a blood vessel that breaks and bleeds into the
brain. “Mini-strokes” or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), occur when the
blood supply to the brain is briefly interrupted.
Symptoms of stroke are:
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg (especially on one
side of the body)
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden severe headache with no known cause
If you have any of these symptoms, you must get to a hospital quickly
to begin treatment. Acute stroke therapies try to stop a stroke while it is
happening by quickly dissolving the blood clot or by stopping the bleeding.
Post-stroke rehabilitation helps individuals overcome disabilities that result
from stroke damage. Drug therapy with blood thinners is the most common
treatment for stroke.
Systemic Lupus Erthromatosis
(Lupus)
If you have lupus, your immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues
by mistake. This can damage your joints, skin, blood vessels and organs. There
are many kinds of lupus. The most common type, systemic lupus erythematosus,
affects many parts of the body. Discoid lupus causes a rash that doesn’t go
away. Subacute cutaneous lupus causes sores after being out in the sun. Another
type can be caused by medication. Neonatal lupus, which is rare, affects
newborns.
Anyone can get lupus, but women are most at risk. Lupus is also more
common in African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American women. The
cause of lupus is not known.
Lupus has many symptoms. Some common ones are
Joint pain or swelling
Muscle pain
Fever with no known cause
Fatigue
Red rashes, often on the face (also called the “butterfly rash”)
There is no one test to diagnose lupus, and it may take months or years
to make the diagnosis. There is no cure for lupus, but medicines and lifestyle
changes can help control it.
Tendonitis
Tendons are flexible bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones.
They help your muscles move your bones. Tendinitis is the severe swelling of a
tendon.
Tendinitis usually happens after repeated injury to an area such as the
wrist or ankle. It causes pain and soreness around a joint. Some common forms
of tendinitis are named after the sports that increase their risk. They include
tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, pitcher’s shoulder, swimmer’s shoulder, and
jumper’s knee.
Doctors diagnose tendinitis with your medical history, a physical exam,
and imaging tests. The first step in treatment is to reduce pain and swelling.
Rest, wrapping or elevating the affected area, and medicines can help. Ice is
helpful for recent, severe injuries. Other treatments include ultrasound,
physical therapy, steroid injections, and surgery.
Thrombosis
Thrombosis: The formation or presence of a blood clot in a blood
vessel. The vessel may be any vein or artery as, for example, in a deep vein
thrombosis or a coronary (artery) thrombosis. The clot itself is termed a
thrombus. If the clot breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream, it is a
thromboembolism. Thrombosis, thrombus, and the prefix thrombo- all come from
the Greek thrombos meaning a lump or clump, or a curd or clot of milk.
Thyroid Problem
Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, just above your
collarbone. It is one of your endocrine glands, which make hormones. The
thyroid helps set your metabolism – how your body gets energy from the foods
you eat.
Millions of people in the U.S. have thyroid diseases. Most of them are
women. If you have a thyroid disease, your body uses energy more slowly or
quickly than it should. A thyroid gland that is not active enough, called
hypothyroidism, is far more common. It can make you gain weight, feel fatigued
and have difficulty dealing with cold temperatures. If your thyroid is too
active, it makes more thyroid hormones than your body needs. That condition is
hyperthyroidism. Too much thyroid hormone can make you lose weight, speed up
your heart rate and make you very sensitive to heat.
There are many causes for both conditions. Treatment involves trying to
reset your body’s metabolism to a normal rate.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is often described as a ringing in the ears. It also can sound
like roaring, clicking, hissing, or buzzing. It may be soft or loud, high
pitched or low pitched. You might hear it in either one or both ears.
Millions of Americans have tinnitus. People with severe tinnitus may
have trouble hearing, working or even sleeping.
Causes of tinnitus include:
Hearing loss in older people
Exposure to loud noises
Ear and sinus infections
Heart or blood vessel problems
Meniere’s disease
Brain tumors
Hormonal changes in women
Thyroid problems
Certain medicines
Treatment depends on the cause. Treatments may include hearing aids,
sound-masking devices, medicines, and ways to learn how to cope with the noise.
Tonsilitis: Tonsils and
Adenoids
Your tonsils and adenoids are part of your lymphatic system. Your
tonsils are in the back of your throat. Your adenoids are higher up, behind
your nose. Both help protect you from infection by trapping germs coming in
through your mouth and nose.
Sometimes your tonsils and adenoids become infected. Tonsillitis makes
your tonsils sore and swollen and causes a sore throat. Enlarged adenoids can
be sore, make it hard to breathe and cause ear problems.
The first treatment for infected tonsils and adenoids is antibiotics.
If you have frequent infections or trouble breathing, you may need surgery.
Surgery to remove the tonsils is tonsillectomy. Surgery to remove adenoids is
adenoidectomy.
Toxic Blood and Acidosis
Acidosis is excessive blood acidity caused by an overabundance of acid
in the blood or a loss of bicarbonate from the blood (metabolic acidosis), or
by a buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood that results from poor lung
function or slow breathing (respiratory acidosis).
Blood acidity increases when people ingest substances that contain or
produce acid or when the lungs do not expel enough carbon dioxide.
People with metabolic acidosis have nausea, vomiting, and fatigue and
may breathe faster and deeper than normal.
People with respiratory acidosis have headache and confusion, and
breathing may appear shallow, slow, or both.
Tests on blood samples show there is too much acid.
Doctors treat the cause of the acidosis.
If an increase in acid overwhelms the body’s pH buffering systems, the
blood will become acidic. As blood pH drops, the parts of the brain that
regulate breathing are stimulated to produce faster and deeper breathing.
Breathing faster and deeper increases the amount of carbon dioxide exhaled.
The kidneys also try to compensate by excreting more acid in the urine.
However, both mechanisms can be overwhelmed if the body continues to produce
too much acid, leading to severe acidosis and eventually coma.
Toxins in the Body
Toxins are substances created by plants and animals that are poisonous
to humans. Toxins also include medications that are helpful in small doses, but
poisonous when used in large amounts.
Most toxins that cause problems in humans are released by germs such as
bacteria. For example, cholera is due to a bacterial toxin.
Other toxins that cause problems include metals, such as lead, and
organic chemicals in the environment.
Trichomonas Vaginilis –
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a small
organism called Trichomonas vaginalis. Women are most often affected by this
disease, although men can become infected and pass the infection to their
partners through sexual contact.
Trichomoniasis is the most common curable STD in young, sexually active
women. An estimated 7.4 million new cases occur each year in women and men.
Men often do not have symptoms of trichomoniasis and usually do not
know they are infected until their partners need treatment. But when symptoms
do occur, they include:
Irritation inside the penis
Mild discharge
Slight burning after urination or ejaculation
Many women do have signs or symptoms of infection. Symptoms in women
can include:
Greenish-yellow, frothy vaginal discharge with a strong odor
Painful urination
Vaginal itching and irritation
Discomfort during intercourse
Lower abdominal pain (rare)
Symptoms usually appear within five to 28 days of exposure in women.
How Is Trichomoniasis Treated?
Usually an oral antibiotic called metronidazole (Flagyl) is given to
treat trichomoniasis. Before taking this drug, it is very important to let your
doctor know if there is any chance that you could be pregnant, because the drug
could harm the baby.
Your partner should also be treated at the same time to prevent
reinfection and further spread of the disease. In addition, persons being
treated for trichomoniasis should avoid sex until they and their sex partners
complete treatment and have no symptoms. It is important to take all of your
antibiotics, even if you feel better.
Ulcer Colitis
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a disease that causes inflammation and
sores, called ulcers, in the lining of the rectum and colon. It is one of a
group of diseases called inflammatory bowel disease.
UC can happen at any age, but it usually starts between the ages of 15
and 30. It tends to run in families. The most common symptoms are pain in the
abdomen and blood or pus in diarrhea. Other symptoms may include
Anemia
Severe tiredness
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Bleeding from the rectum
Sores on the skin
Joint pain
Growth failure in children
About half of people with UC have mild symptoms.
Doctors use blood tests, stool tests, colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, and
imaging tests to diagnose UC. Several types of drugs can help control it. Some
people have long periods of remission, when they are free of symptoms. In
severe cases, doctors must remove the colon.
Underweight and Malnutrition
Do you know if your current weight is healthy? “Underweight”, “normal”,
“overweight”, and “obese” are all labels for ranges of weight. Obese and
overweight mean that your weight is greater than it should be for your health.
Underweight means that it is lower than it should be for your health. Your healthy
body weight depends on your sex and height. For children, it also depends on
your age.
A sudden, unexpected change in weight can be a sign of a medical
problem. Causes for sudden weight loss can include
Thyroid problems
Cancer
Infectious diseases
Digestive diseases
Certain medicines
Sudden weight gain can be due to medicines, thyroid problems, heart
failure, and kidney disease.
Good nutrition and exercise can help in losing weight. Eating extra
calories within a well-balanced diet and treating any underlying medical
problems can help to add weight.
Malnutrition
Food provides the energy and nutrients you need to be healthy. If you
don’t get enough nutrients — including proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins,
and minerals – you may suffer from malnutrition.
Causes of malnutrition include:
Lack of specific nutrients in your diet. Even the lack of one vitamin
can lead to malnutrition.
An unbalanced diet
Certain medical problems, such as malabsorption syndromes and cancers
Symptoms may include fatigue, dizziness, and weight loss. Or, you may
have no symptoms. To diagnose the cause of the problem, your doctor may do
blood tests and a nutritional assessment. Treatment may include replacing the
missing nutrients and treating the underlying cause.
Urethritis
Urethritis is swelling and irritation (inflammation) of the urethra.
The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the body.
Urethritis may be caused by bacteria or a virus. The same bacteria that
cause urinary tract infections (E. coli) and some sexually transmitted diseases
(chlamydia, gonorrhea) can lead to urethritis. Viral causes of urethritis
include herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus.
Other causes include:
Injury
Sensitivity to the chemicals used in spermicides or contraceptive
jellies, creams, or foams
Risks for urethritis include:
Being a female in the reproductive years
Being male, ages 20 – 35
Having many sexual partners
High-risk sexual behavior (such as anal sex without a condom)
History of sexually transmitted diseases
Blood in the urine or semen
Burning pain while urinating (dysuria)
Discharge from penis
Fever (rare)
Frequent or urgent urination
Itching, tenderness, or swelling in penis or groin area
Pain with intercourse or ejaculation
Abdominal pain
Burning pain while urinating
Fever and chills
Frequent or urgent urination
Pelvic pain
Vaginal discharge
Vaginitis
Symptoms such as vaginal itching, burning, pain and discharge are some
of the most common reasons that women seek medical care. Often, the problem is
vaginitis, an inflammation of the vagina. In women of childbearing age, the
most common cause is a bacterial infection. The main symptom is a smelly
vaginal discharge, but some women have no symptoms. The treatment is
antibiotics.
Other infections that can cause vaginitis include trichomoniasis and
yeast infections. Some other causes of vaginal symptoms, including vaginal
bleeding, are sexually transmitted diseases, vaginal cancer and vulvar cancer.
Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that you can see just under
the skin. They usually occur in the legs, but also can form in other parts of
the body. Hemorrhoids are a type of varicose vein.
Your veins have one-way valves that help keep blood flowing toward your
heart. If the valves are weak or damaged, blood can back up and pool in your
veins. This causes the veins to swell, which can lead to varicose veins.
Varicose veins are very common. You are more at risk if you are older,
a female, obese, don’t exercise or have a family history. They can also be more
common in pregnancy.
Doctors often diagnose varicose veins from a physical exam. Sometimes
you may need additional tests.
Exercising, losing weight, elevating your legs when resting, and not
crossing them when sitting can help keep varicose veins from getting worse.
Wearing loose clothing and avoiding long periods of standing can also help. If
varicose veins are painful or you don’t like the way they look, your doctor may
recommend procedures to remove them.
Vertigo and Dizziness
When you’re dizzy, you may feel lightheaded or lose your balance. If
you feel that the room is spinning, you have vertigo.
A sudden drop in blood pressure or being dehydrated can make you dizzy.
Many people feel lightheaded if they get up too quickly from sitting or lying
down.
Dizziness usually gets better by itself or is easily treated. However,
it can be a symptom of other disorders. Medicines may cause dizziness, or
problems with your ear. Motion sickness can also make you dizzy. There are many
other causes.
Weakness of Leg
Leg weakness can occur as part of a generalized feeling of weakness all
over your body, or it may develop in one or both legs. True weakness occurs
when the muscles lose their strength, but people often perceive that their
muscles are weak when they feel ill or tired. In these cases there is not a
true loss of muscle function. The sudden onset of muscle weakness can be a sign
of stroke, a potentially life-threatening condition in which part of the brain
is deprived of oxygen.
This article focuses on conditions that cause a true loss of strength
in the leg muscles. Among the most common causes for leg weakness is sciatica,
problems with the spinal cord that lead to pinching or compression of the
nerves as they exit the spinal cord through the holes between the vertebrae of
the backbone. Sciatica may be caused by various conditions. In addition to
weakness in one part of the arm or leg, other symptoms such as tingling,
burning or pain may occur.
Neuromuscular diseases, such as myasthenia gravis (autoimmune
neuromuscular disorder that causes muscle weakness) and multiple sclerosis
(disease that affects the brain and spinal cord causing weakness, coordination,
balance difficulties, and other problems), are other causes for muscle weakness
that can occur in the legs. Toxins such as botulinum toxin and certain
medications can also cause muscle weakness.
Leg weakness of sudden onset can be a sign of stroke, a potentially
life-threatening situation. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) for leg
weakness that comes on suddenly, particularly if it is felt on one side of the
body or is accompanied by any serious symptoms, including blurred vision or
double vision, loss of vision, or changes in vision; numbness; paralysis or
inability to move a body part; severe headache; high fever (higher than 101
degrees Fahrenheit); loss of bladder or bowel control; fainting or change in
level of consciousness; or lethargy.
- See more at:
http://www.aimglobalnetworks.com/health-and-wellness/100-diseases/#sthash.05TKzDQg.dpuf
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