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Prostatitis is a condition that involves inflammation of the prostate, a walnut-shaped gland responsible for producing the fluid portion of semen. Prostatitis can also involve inflammation in areas adjacent to the prostate (though this cannot happen without inflammation of the prostate first). Interestingly, the symptoms of prostatitis can include pain in the male genitourinary system, or it may be completely painless. There are several variations of the condition. Prostatitis treatment, symptoms, and likeliness depend on the type of prostatitis that one experiences....

The seminal vesicles are a pair of glands along the back of the bladder base in men and are part of the male genital system. Their main function is to produce a fluid that makes up semen, which is released during ejaculation. Anatomy The seminal vesicles look like two tightly coiled tubular sacs on either side of the back of the bladder base, or fundus. They are about 2 cm–4 cm (centimeters) long and 1 cm–2 cm in diameter....

Smoldering myeloma, or smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM), is a rare pre-cancerous condition involving abnormal proteins and increased plasma cells in the bone marrow. It doesn’t have symptoms but can cause severe complications. In some cases, SMM progresses to a rare blood cancer called multiple myeloma (MM). Anyone diagnosed with SMM should be evaluated for their risk of developing MM. This article looks at possible signs, symptoms, and complications; the risk of the condition progression; and causes....

Somatic symptom disorder (SDD) is a mental disorder characterized by recurring, multiple, and clinically significant complaints about physical symptoms. Previously known as somatization disorder or psychosomatic illness, SSD causes such worry and preoccupation that it interferes with daily living. People with SSD may perceive routine medical procedures or conditions as life-threatening. The feelings and behaviors associated with the concern over illness are not relieved by receiving normal test results. Treatment for SSD includes cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and certain antidepressants....

Certain sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests are conducted by swabbing the genital area, which can make some people hesitant to get them. While that is the only way some STIs can be diagnosed, there are several that can be accurately detected with a blood test instead. This article details which STIs can be diagnosed with a blood test and what other tests may be used to accurately detect these and other STIs....

Stress can raise blood pressure and has been associated with adverse cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) events. Learning to manage stress can make a difference in overall health, and it can potentially lower high blood pressure (hypertension). Read on to learn more about the relationship between temporary and long-term stress on blood pressure and some tips to manage stress levels. How Stress Affects Blood Pressure Stress can be either short term (acute) or long term (chronic)....

Swollen joints (effusion) occur when extra fluid builds up within joints due to injury or inflammation. This causes the areas within and around the joints to become swollen and puffy, which can cause pain and difficulty moving your joints. While swollen joints commonly result from physical injuries to joints or from osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear arthritis), swollen joints can also result from autoimmune conditions that cause the body to attack its own joints....

Palpation is the process of using one’s hand or fingers to physically examine part of the body by feeling. It can be used to feel something near the surface of the skin (superficial) or farther inside the body (deep). Uses Medical practitioners use palpation to determine the following about an organ or body part: Location (site on the body) Size (length and width) Shape (oval, round, elongated, irregular) Consistency (soft, firm, hard) Tenderness (degree of tenderness or pain to palpation) Position of a fetus during pregnancy Abnormal or irregular findings (inflammation, tumor, hernia, fracture, joint dislocation, or slipped disk) Commonly used to examine the abdomen and chest, palpitation can also be applied to any part of the body, including the mouth, vagina, and anus....

What Is Tylenol? Tylenol (acetaminophen) is an over-the-counter (OTC) drug that can help relieve pain and reduce fever. Tylenol is classified as an analgesic, which is a pain reliever. It is also classified as an antipyretic, which means it can reduce fevers. Tylenol works on the hypothalamus (the region of the brain where body temperature is regulated) to reduce fever. It also works on the central nervous system to help with pain....

Think health insurance won’t pay for elective surgery? Wrong. Health insurance will pay for elective surgery. In fact, the majority of surgical procedures done in the United States are elective surgeries. And most are paid for, at least in part, by health insurance. Even Medicare and Medicaid pay for elective surgery. The catch is that most health plans will only pay for an elective surgery that’s medically necessary, and your health insurer’s opinion of what’s medically necessary may differ from your surgeon’s opinion....

A banana allergy is an allergic reaction to a protein found in bananas. This type of reaction commonly occurs with allergies to other food, or with an allergy to latex. Banana is often one of the first solids given to babies and is usually very well tolerated at this age. It is believed an allergy to bananas is rare and that individuals with banana allergy develop it later in life....

Many people with lupus have long insisted that weather changes can impact their symptoms. Now, research is backing those claims. “Lupus” is an umbrella term for several related autoimmune diseases. The most common type is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), in which a misfiring immune system attacks several systems in the body and cause inflammation. This article looks at the connections between weather, environment, and lupus symptoms. How Weather Affects Lupus Only a few studies have been done on how weather affects lupus symptoms....

You have a lot of choices when it comes to over-the-counter (OTC) cold and flu medications. In part, that’s because colds and influenza cause a lot of different symptoms. Taking stock of exactly which cold and flu symptoms are bothering you is the first step in figuring out which type of OTC medication is right for you. A single drug targeting a particular symptom may be fine. Or you may want a multi-symptom medication....

Biosimilar drugs are manufactured similarly to biologic drugs. Like biologics, they are derived from living cells (human, animal, or bacterial) in a lab setting. Many people think biosimilars are generic versions of biologics. However, this is not the case, as it is impossible to accurately copy a drug made from living cells. For consumers, the most important difference between biologics and biosimilars is price. One of the main arguments for using biosimilars is the cost savings for both patients and insurance companies....

BRAF mutations are DNA changes in some cancer cells that can be treated with newer targeted therapies. BRAF mutations are found in roughly half of melanomas. Medications that target these mutations have significantly improved the survival rates of metastatic melanoma. BRAF mutations are also present in some non-small cell lung cancers, colon cancers, and other tumor types. Genomic testing of tumors can look for DNA alterations and determine if the cancer will respond to drugs targeting mutations....

What Is Bumex? Bumex (bumetanide) is a prescription-only medication used to treat swelling caused by excess fluid in the body. Excess fluid can be caused by certain conditions such as congestive heart failure, liver disease, and kidney disease. Bumex works on parts of the kidneys and blocks certain chemicals, such as sodium (salt), chloride, calcium, and potassium, from being absorbed back into the body. This allows the kidneys to get rid of extra water and sodium through urine, reducing fluid in the body....

The best-known (but not necessarily most common) symptoms of celiac disease include smelly diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, and fatigue. However, celiac disease can affect aspects of just about every system in your body, including your skin, hormones, and bones and joints. The celiac disease symptoms you experience may be ones you might have never even thought to associate with the condition. The effects of celiac can be too wide and unpredictable for any one set of symptoms to be considered expected, so it’s doubtful that there’s a truly typical case....

Stevia is a natural sugar substitute made from the leaves of the stevia plant. It has been used in South America since the 16th century to sweeten tea and other beverages. Because it is essentially free of calories and carbohydrates, stevia often is considered a healthful alternative to table sugar. However, this hasn’t always been the case. Due to safety concerns, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned stevia in 1991....

The endocrine system consists of multiple organs and glands located throughout the body. These glands produce hormones that regulate most body systems, including metabolism, emotions, fertility, and heart rate. This article outlines the anatomy and functions of the endocrine system. It also includes information about how common endocrine disorders are diagnosed and treated. Endocrine Functions Your endocrine system is made up of three main parts: Glands: Small organs that produce and release hormonesHormones: Chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream to send messages to tissues or organsCell receptors: The targets on cells that receive hormone signals The endocrine system is partially controlled by a pea-sized organ called the hypothalamus, which acts as a bridge between the nervous system and the pituitary gland....

Epilepsy is a chronic seizure condition that can affect a person’s pregnancy and postpartum recovery. It does not appear to affect fertility or the ability to become pregnant. Epilepsy is one of the most common medical conditions among people of reproductive age. It’s estimated that more than 1.1 million women with epilepsy in the United States are of childbearing age. Each year about 24,000 babies are born to people with epilepsy....