Seasonal allergies can lead to body aches and pain, in addition to more common symptoms like congestion, coughing, and watery eyes. This is primarily because allergic reactions can trigger inflammatory responses in the body. Repeatedly coughing and sneezing can lead to even more pain. There are a number of ways to treat and manage body aches and related allergy symptoms, from over-the-counter (OTC) medications and warm baths to resting sore muscles....
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a congenital condition affecting growth, which means a child will have the condition at birth. It is known as an overgrowth syndrome and may involve several parts of the body. Infants impacted by BWS are often much larger than other children their age. Like many medical syndromes, there’s a range of signs and symptoms an individual may have, and the severity may vary from one person to another....
Sometimes, after trauma to the breast or a procedure like breast surgery or radiation therapy, serous fluid can collect in one area of the breast. This is called a breast seroma. Serous fluid is a clear, pale yellow fluid that contains protein but no blood cells or pus. Seromas are usually reabsorbed by the body over a period of several weeks, but fine needle drainage is sometimes needed. Seromas do not increase the risk of breast cancer, but sometimes scar tissue or calcifications form when they heal....
A dollop of sweet, yummy goo made by bees — sounds pretty nice, and maybe a bit messy, but will it help stop an infection? Perhaps. The age-old elixir may actually be a modern-day remedy for wound healing, as antibiotics become less able to handle the infections we see. Who Thought of Using Honey on Wounds? Honey has been used since ancient times, from Egypt to China to Greece to the Middle East....
Diabetic retinopathy can cause vision changes, including trouble reading and difficulty with distance vision. Early in the disease, there may be no symptoms at all. As the disease progresses, other symptoms like blurred vision, dark floating spots, and streaks that look like cobwebs can occur. In developed countries, the most severe symptom—vision loss and blindness—is the most frequent cause of new cases of blindness among adults ages 20 to 74. It is estimated that more than half of people with diabetes will develop some form of diabetic retinopathy over time....
Orthostatic hypotension is a condition that can cause you to feel dizzy when standing up after sitting or lying down for a long time. Dizziness can be mild and only last a minute or two, but if it happens frequently, it could signal an underlying issue. This article will describe symptoms and causes of orthostatic hypotension and when to see a healthcare provider about this condition. Symptoms Orthostatic hypotension produces low blood pressure when upright, which can result in a variety of different symptoms depending on the severity of the drop in blood pressure....
Endometriomas are cysts that can form when tissue from the lining of the uterus grows in the ovaries. They are part of a condition known as endometriosis. Endometriomas are also called “chocolate cysts” because they are filled with dark brown menstrual blood. When you have endometriosis, endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus and into other areas of the abdomen/pelvic region. This article explains the symptoms and causes of endometriomas. It also describes some of the possible complications and how these cysts are treated....
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a form of chronic inflammatory arthritis often linked to the autoimmune skin condition psoriasis. Whites are more often affected by PsA, according to numerous studies. The research also shows Black Americans, Asians, and Latinxs are less frequently diagnosed with PsA. Lower incidences might have more to do with limited access to care and lower awareness of the condition among these ethnic groups. While speculated, this theory has not been confirmed by any clinical study....
Facial nerve paralysis is impaired function of the facial nerve. It causes weakness on one side of the face. Bell’s palsy is the most common cause of isolated facial nerve paralysis when there aren’t other symptoms. Facial weakness can also be one of the symptoms of other conditions, such as Ramsay Hunt syndrome (a complication of shingles), stroke (a blockage of blood flow or bleeding in the brain), facial trauma, dental infections, or meningitis (inflammation of the meninges that protect the brain)....
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition that impacts the central nervous system—the brain and spinal cord—resulting in relapsing and remitting symptoms (a series of flares and remissions) that affect your vision, balance, and muscle coordination. MS looks different in everyone. It is important for people with MS to limit their flu risk because the flu has been shown to trigger or exacerbate (worsen) MS symptoms. This article goes into detail about flu prevention, symptoms, and treatment for those with MS....
There are many medications and treatments available that effectively treat psoriasis. However, some people may be unsatisfied with these options and seek out other, natural treatments. Natural remedies such as beeswax and aloe vera, as well as other lifestyle changes, have been found effective among some people with the condition. Read on to learn more about home remedies and lifestyle changes for psoriasis as well as treatments that don’t work....
Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is a very rare genetic condition, affecting about one in 250,000 people. This condition leads to extremely high LDL cholesterol levels, even in childhood and early adulthood. If left untreated, it can increase the risk of having an early cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke. This article will review the symptoms, risk factors, and treatment protocol for HoFH. Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia Symptoms LDL cholesterol levels in someone with HoFH are sky-high, usually above 400 mg/dl....
As with most types of cancer, the treatment for esophageal cancer depends in large part on how advanced it is. When caught in an early stage, before it has a chance to spread beyond the esophagus, removing it with surgery is often effective. When surgery alone is not effective, medication—chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination—may be necessary. Radiation also is sometimes added to esophageal cancer treatment. And because this type of cancer is especially aggressive and challenging to treat, some patients may be encouraged to participate in clinical trials when it’s clear more conventional approaches are not likely to work....
Huntington’s disease runs in families, and an inherited gene always causes it. The genetic defect associated with Huntington’s disease causes the degeneration of nerve cells in some regions of the brain that control movement and thinking. Over time, gradually progressive deterioration of the brain leads to the characteristic symptoms of Huntington’s disease. Inheritance Pattern Heredity is the only known cause of Huntington’s disease. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern....
Hypersexuality is defined by an intense urge or desire to engage in various kinds of sexual activity. The terms “sex addiction” and “compulsive sexual behavior” are often used interchangeably with hypersexuality disorder. While sexual desire and activity are part of human nature, it can become problematic when the behavior results in adverse consequences or is used as an escape mechanism. Nymphomania is an outdated term previously used to describe excessive sexual desire in women....
Large cell lung carcinoma (LCLC) is one of several forms of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). LCLC often develops in the outer regions of the lungs and tends to grow rapidly and spreads more aggressively than some other forms of lung cancer. Early symptoms of LCLC mainly include shortness of breath and fatigue. NSCLC accounts for around 85% of all lung cancers, of which roughly 10% are LCLC. Large cell lung carcinomas, also called large cell lung cancers, are so named because of the large size of the cancer cells that can be seen when the tumor is viewed with a microscope (as opposed to the tumor size, which also tends to be quite large)....
Journaling—the simple process of reflecting on your day and preparing for the next one—is a practice that many mental health professionals recommend to patients, thanks to its wide variety of benefits. While it may seem simple, it can help with stress, anxiety, and depression. “When we are going through something challenging in our lives, our emotions may be running quite high,” explains Ernesto Lira de la Rosa, PhD, PLLC, psychologist and media advisor at Hope for Depression Research Foundation....
Oncologists are physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. There are three main types of oncologists: Medical oncologists who treat cancer with chemotherapy and other medications. Surgical oncologists who treat cancer with surgery. Radiation oncologists who treat cancer with radiation. These specialists work as part of a multidisciplinary team which may include a pathologist, radiologist, primary care physician, geneticist, palliative care specialist, oncology nurse, and organ-specific oncologists....
The paraspinal muscles are the “action” muscles of the back. When they work, the result is the obvious movement of your spine. They course down your back and spine and help to move your spine into extension, rotation, and side bending. First, though, let’s get our terms straight. The technical name for the paraspinals is the erector spinae; needless to say, many people have difficulty with the pronunciation. This may be why the word “paraspinals” and the term “paraspinal muscles” are commonly used to refer to this important group of back muscles....
A penis transplant is a rare and complex procedure that has only seen a few successes. While still being considered experimental, research is progressing. In 2006 a penis transplant was performed in China, but it was considered unsuccessful because the transplant recipient’s body rejected the organ. The first successful penis transplant was performed in South Africa in 2014, involving a 21-year-old recipient who lost his penis due to a failed circumcision....
