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Curling ulcers are stress-driven ulcers that develop in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract when a person experiences a significant physical injury, specifically a burn. The most common symptom associated with curling ulcers is bleeding in the upper GI tract. This article discusses the symptoms, complications, and causes of curling ulcers. Stress-Related Ulcer Symptoms In some cases, stress-related ulcers may develop without any symptoms at all. However, when symptoms do appear, the most notable is GI tract bleeding....

A number of diseases can be similar to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There is notable overlap between symptoms of RA—joint pain, stiffness, fatigue—and those of RA-like rheumatic or autoimmune diseases, other types of arthritis, and some viral and bacterial infections. Ruling out other conditions that mimic RA, such as Lyme disease, lupus, and fibromyalgia is part of diagnosing RA. This process relies on a combination of your physical examination, medical history, laboratory test results, and imaging studies....

It is unlikely to come as a surprise to anyone to find another reference to the negative effects of smoking tobacco on your health. We often hear about concerns related to cancer or to heart disease, and the benefits of quitting smoking. What people may not be so familiar with are the musculoskeletal effects of smoking. As one might expect, there are problems that occur in the musculoskeletal system when people smoke cigarettes....

Call it passing gas, breaking wind, or farting—most healthy people do it between eight and 14 times a day, although up to 25 times a day can be normal. If you fart more than the typical person, you may wonder what’s going on in your digestive tract and whether you should be concerned about it. Excessive gas is commonly caused by swallowing extra air or eating certain foods. However, it can also indicate an underlying health condition such as a food intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or something more serious....

What Is Fanapt? Fanapt (iloperidone) is a treatment option for schizophrenia. Fanapt is considered a second-generation, or atypical, antipsychotic. It’s thought to work by interfering with the activity of dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine and serotonin are naturally occurring chemicals in the brain. Fanapt is available as prescription tablets. What Is Fanapt Used For? Fanapt is used for schizophrenia. Drug Facts Generic Name: Iloperidone It’s unknown exactly how common schizophrenia is, but it’s estimated that 0....

Gastric cancer (stomach cancer) is when abnormal cells grow in the stomach. It can occur anywhere in the stomach. The incidence of this type of cancer is decreasing in the United States as some of the risk factors for the disease are declining. However, stomach cancer is a leading cause of death in other parts of the world. Stomach cancer is connected to various diseases and conditions as well as certain environmental triggers and lifestyle factors....

Down syndrome (trisomy 21) can be diagnosed almost as soon as a baby is born, based on distinctive physical characteristics that prompt immediate testing. Down syndrome can also be diagnosed, or at least suspected, based on any of several prenatal tests including a nuchal translucency screening, sonogram, quadruple screen, or other blood tests. Here is how Down syndrome is diagnosed in both scenarios. Imaging Modern imaging techniques can provide very detailed pictures of what’s going on inside of the body, including features of a still-developing fetus....

Glycolic acid is a water-soluble alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) made from sugar cane. It is one of the most widely used AHAs in skincare products. AHAs are natural acids that come from plants. They consist of tiny molecules that are very easy for your skin to absorb. This makes them ideal for smoothing fine lines, improving skin texture, and other anti-aging uses. This article takes a closer look at what glycolic acid is and how it can help your skin....

Ankle sprains occur when the ligaments that connect bone to bone are stretched too far, causing inflammation and sometimes tears. These injuries most commonly affect the ligaments on the outside of the ankle when a person’s foot rolls too far inward. This injury is called a “lateral ankle sprain.” This can happen while walking on uneven surfaces, stepping off a curb, playing sports, or during a fall. This article discusses instructions for wrapping a sprained ankle, other treatments for this injury, and when to see a doctor....

An extreme form of high blood pressure is called hypertensive emergency. Hypertensive emergency is characterized by an acute, severe elevation in blood pressure, systolic blood pressure higher than 180 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or diastolic higher than 120 mm Hg, which is causing damage to at least one target organs, like the brain, heart, kidneys, and vessels. Blood pressures in this high range without evidence of organ damage is termed “hypertensive urgency,” a slightly less dangerous condition than hypertensive emergency....

Hypoparathyroidism is a rare condition that results when the parathyroid glands in the neck don’t produce enough parathyroid hormone. Having too little parathyroid hormone leads to low levels of calcium (hypocalcemia) and high levels of phosphorous in the body. There are different types of hypoparathyroidism­, including acquired, autoimmune, congenital, and familial types: Acquired: This is the most common type. It occurs after removal of or damage to the parathyroid glands, either through surgery or an injury....

Tonsillitis is the inflammation of the tonsils caused by a viral or bacterial infection. The tonsils are two small lymph glands located in the back of the throat. Tonsillitis is very contagious. Tonsillitis usually comes on quickly, and common symptoms include a sore throat, fever, painful swallowing, and fatigue. This article will provide an overview of tonsillitis, including the common symptoms, causes, and treatment options. What Is Tonsillitis? Tonsillitis refers to the swelling of the tonsils....

An itchy throat can be a sign of various allergic conditions. The postnasal drip that comes with allergic rhinitis (hayfever) may be a cause, as can a food allergy or oral allergy syndrome (OAS)—an allergic reaction that only affects the throat, lips, and mouth. In some cases, an itchy throat may point to anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening whole-body reaction. (Breathing difficulties, dizziness, nausea, and hives are other symptoms.) This article looks at the causes and symptoms of an itchy throat due to an allergy....

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and fibromyalgia (FMS) are chronic pain conditions that commonly go together. Though RA is an autoimmune disease (in which your immune system attacks your joints) and FMS is primarily thought of as a neurological condition (in which pain signals are amplified), they have many of the same symptoms and are believed to have shared underpinnings as well. Fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and sleep problems are primary symptoms of both RA and FMS, which can make it hard for healthcare providers to diagnose them....

Lymphoma develops when lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) mutate and grow out of control. When this happens, the cancerous cells no longer die but continue to multiply and invade different parts of the body. Although genetics plays a central role in the development of lymphoma, no one knows for sure what causes the cells to mutate. What scientists do know is that certain risk factors can increase your risk of lymphoma....

Mania refers to a state of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, often accompanied by excitement, overactivity, agitation, overoptimism, grandiosity, or impaired judgment. Symptoms of mania can include a sustained period of exaggerated, extreme, and sometimes dangerous behaviors. Mania is commonly associated with bipolar disorder, but people without these disorders can also experience mania. When this happens, it means there is another cause or factor contributing to it, such as the effects of a substance or a medical condition....

Many types of medications are available for treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Some of them only address a particular digestive symptom, while newer drugs are designed to address the overall dysfunction that underlies IBS and therefore may offer more complete relief. IBS treatment has historically been far from standard, with variations by region and from one healthcare provider to the next. In 2021, the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) released guidelines aimed at standardizing IBS treatment based on the latest research....

Neutropenia is a condition in which the number of neutrophils in the blood is lower than normal. Neutrophils are the most common type of white blood cell. They help protect the body against infections. A deficiency in the number of neutrophils can occur due to bone marrow disease, cancer, and hereditary conditions. Or, it can be an effect of medications or common cancer treatments. Neutropenia increases the risk and severity of infections....

You may have heard of NMDA receptors while learning about a disease or medication, but do you understand what they are and why they are important? First, it helps to understand what we mean by receptor. The brain contains cells called neurons. These are the cells that send and receive the electrical impulses that control your body. Neurons are specialized—each one only deals with certain types of information. So, for example, one neuron may process information on pain and temperature but have nothing to do with visual perception or learning new information....

Parkinson’s dementia is a form of dementia typically diagnosed in someone years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. This type of dementia is often difficult to diagnose and causes motor and cognitive symptoms that impact the individual’s ability to accomplish daily tasks. The characteristics of Parkinson’s dementia distinguish it from other diseases associated with dementia. People with this type of dementia deal with motor impairments—slowed movement and trouble moving, tremors while at rest, and unstable walking—and difficulty thinking and reasoning, such as memory loss, shortened attention span, and difficulty finding words....