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Anemia due to chemotherapy isn’t something we hear about as often as, say, hair loss, but it is a very common and undertreated side effect of chemotherapy. Anemia can result in fatigue and lightheadedness as well as other symptoms, but fortunately, it is relatively easy to diagnose with a complete blood count. When severe, treatment options can include blood transfusions, iron supplements, or medications to stimulate blood cell production. That said, anemia related to chemotherapy can often be managed with conservative measures to cope with the symptoms....

Enochlophobia is a phobia (irrational fear) of crowds that negatively affects your daily life. While enochlophobia isn’t an actual mental health disorder, this condition causes symptoms similar to other types of anxiety disorders. This article discusses the symptoms and causes of enochlophobia, how it is identified, and how this condition is treated. What Is Fear of Crowds? Many people are uncomfortable in large groups of people. However, if this is true for you, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have enochlophobia....

Glycogenesis is a process your body uses to convert the glucose (sugar) you eat into glycogen, which is then stored in your liver and burned later for energy. It happens whenever you take in more glucose than your body needs right away. Then, when you need the energy, your body creates it by taking glycogen out of storage and breaking it down. Glycogen storage disease (GSD) is a rare condition found almost exclusively in babies and young children....

A hospitalist is a subspecialty of physician who treats patients solely in a hospital. Hospitalists practice what is known as hospital medicine, a medical specialty centered on the care of acutely ill hospitalized patients. Hospitalists do not maintain outside practices but provide exclusive care to patients during their hospital stay. This improves the oversight and consistency of care for patients while providing a timely response outside of your primary doctor’s usual hospital rounds (times when doctors visit their patients who are admitted to hospitals)....

Influenza is extremely common, especially during the fall and winter months. You probably know about symptoms of the flu, like coughing and fever, but might wonder how long the flu lasts. In healthy children and adults, the flu typically lasts for three to seven days. However, if you develop complications, you’ll feel sick much longer. The cough from the flu can also stick around for up to two weeks. People with the flu are often contagious a day before they experience symptoms, and they can pass the flu to others for up to a week after symptoms appear....

Peeling skin, also known as desquamation, occurs when the outer layer of your skin is shed as damage to your skin heals. It can be caused by external events, such as a burn, or internal causes, such as a reaction to medication or an autoimmune disease. In some cases, treatment may be simple and involves over-the-counter (OTC) or home remedies. Peeling skin could also be a sign of an underlying health condition that requires treatment....

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that can cause an infection that’s spread through skin-to-skin contact. It can also cause some cancers later in life. You may not have symptoms of HPV, but you may have already been infected with the virus. There are many ways the virus can affect your overall health, but people of childbearing years may be most worried about its impact on their fertility, ability to carry a pregnancy to term, and the postpartum period....

An incisional hernia is a bulge in the abdomen that forms when tissues or organs protrude at the site of a surgical scar. It can occur when the surgical incision weakens the abdominal muscles, which normally protect, support, and hold in the abdominal organs. An incisional hernia is a common complication associated with abdominal surgery. A surgical incision in the abdomen can allow the abdominal lining or abdominal organs to push through the stomach wall directly under the skin....

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a disorder of the heart’s electrical system that can lead to a potentially fatal type of ventricular tachycardia known as torsades de pointes. As a result of this abnormal heart rate (arrhythmia), people who have LQTS are at risk for loss of consciousness (syncope) and sudden death, often at a young age. In fact, LQTS is one of the more common causes of sudden death in young people....

Chronic pain is one of the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks the protective covering of nerve fibers called the myelin sheath. Chronic pain can affect your quality of life, making it hard to complete everyday tasks. It may also affect your mental health. Living with chronic pain can be difficult since it is invisible and often hard to explain to others....

A loss of appetite means that you no longer feel hungry or have the desire to eat as you normally do. The medical term for this is anorexia, which can be a symptom of a wide range of conditions, some physical and some psychological. As we age, loss of appetite becomes more common. Also, certain medications may contribute to a lack of hunger. Frequently, nausea will accompany a loss of appetite....

The ribs are a set of bones that course from your spinal column, around your body, and attach to your sternum, or breastbone. These bones serve to protect the contents of your thoracic cavity. They also serve as an attachment point for many muscles and are active during respiration. You have 24 ribs in total; there are 12 on each side of your body. Anatomy There are two types of ribs, namely typical and atypical....

A serum ferritin test measures the amount of ferritin in your blood. Ferritin is a protein that binds to iron in the cells and bloodstream. Measuring ferritin levels is a way of determining whether there is too much or too little iron available in your body. Also known simply as a “ferritin test” or a “serum ferritin level,” the test has been available since the 1970s. It is a test commonly used to check for possible iron-deficiency anemia....

A shuffling gait is a walking pattern that occurs when a person drags their feet while walking. The length of each step is typically shorter than normal. While most people occasionally shuffle—perhaps while catching their balance after tripping or trying to run when their leg muscles are tired—a consistent shuffling gait pattern can signify an underlying health condition. This article discusses shuffling gait, including its causes, treatment, and diagnosis of conditions associated with this symptom....

There is a connection between sleep and lung cancer. As with other types of cancer, side effects of treatments such as chemotherapy can make it difficult for people to fall asleep, stay asleep, return to sleep, or get quality sleep. A good night’s sleep is important to not only help you cope with cancer and treatment side effects but also to keep you healthy. In fact, sleep problems, including a lack of sleep or getting too much sleep, can even pose a risk of developing lung cancer....

Sleep apnea is a relatively common sleep disorder in which a person experiences many breathing pauses during a night’s sleep. Sleep apnea puts a person at higher risk for heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and more, so it’s essential to treat it to prevent serious health complications. This articles discusses the various treatment options for sleep apnea. What Is Sleep Apnea? Sleep apnea occurs when people have pauses in breathing, sometimes lasting 10 seconds or longer, during sleep....

The causes and risk factors for small cell lung cancer differ somewhat from other types of lung cancer. While smoking is more strongly associated with small cell than non-small cell lung cancer, other risk factors, such as radon exposure in the home and asbestos exposure on the job, are very important as well. While our understanding of the genetics of lung cancer is in its infancy, there are some hereditary mutations that may increase risk....

You may experience spotting instead of a period for a number of reasons, including pregnancy, menopause, ovulation, stress, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Other medical conditions, trauma, smoking, and taking birth control pills can also cause spotting. Spotting is not like menstrual flow. It is abnormal vaginal bleeding that occurs outside of or instead of your period. It’s considerably lighter, usually dark brown, red, or pink, and lasts up to a few days....

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a cluster of disorders that occur when the nerves, arteries, or veins that run between your clavicle (collarbone), highest rib, and two of the scalene muscles are pinched or compressed. It is named for the pathway (the thoracic outlet) through which these blood vessels and nerves travel en route to your arms and hands. While anyone can get TOS, individuals participating in repetitive overhead activities or sports, those with poor posture or weak shoulder muscles, people in their middle ages, and females are the most likely to experience it....

Pain, burning, and itching are just a few symptoms of vaginal dryness. Often an embarrassing topic to discuss, vaginal dryness will affect most people with a vagina at some point in their lifetime. Low estrogen levels typically cause vaginal dryness, which leads to painful sex and pelvic discomfort. Although most common in postmenopausal people, vaginal dryness also affects nearly 20% of people between 17 and 50. This article will discuss the symptoms of vaginal dryness, its causes, and treatment options....