Posts

Type 2 diabetes symptoms can include excessive hunger or thirst, frequent urination, extreme fatigue, nerve tingling, and blurry vision. These all stem from the effect of excessively high sugar (glucose) levels in the blood. However, early on, some people experience no noticeable symptoms of diabetes at all. Type 2 diabetes often develops slowly, and symptoms tend to come on gradually. This is true for type 2 diabetes in both children and adults....

Voltaren (diclofenac sodium) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) often used to manage pain associated with different arthritis conditions including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Your healthcare provider might also prescribe it to treat pain from a bone or joint injury or surgery, or for other types of mild-to-moderate pain, such as migraine headaches. Formulations of Voltaren include oral tablets or capsules, eye drops, topical treatments, and powder for an oral solution....

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic condition that causes inflammation in the colon and can cause other complications throughout the body. It is an inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), a category that also includes Crohn’s disease and indeterminate colitis. The forms of IBD are sometimes confused for one another because the symptoms are similar. They are, however, different in the ways they affect the body and, in some cases, how they are treated....

The kidneys are bean-shaped organs located on either side of the spine, behind the stomach. Each kidney is about 5 inches long. A kidney’s main job is filtering the blood. About 76,000 cases of kidney cancer are reported each year, according to the American Cancer Society. There are three subtypes of kidney cancer. The most common is clear cell renal cell carcinoma, or ccRCC, which makes up about 80% of all cases....

The urinary tract is made up of multiple organs that help the body filter waste products from the blood. The kidneys filter the blood and develop urine, which then moves through tubes called ureters into the bladder. The bladder is a pouch that holds the urine until it is ready to leave the body. The urine then moves from the bladder into the urethra, which is an opening that allows the urine to pass out of the body....

There are different healthcare providers you can see if you have a skin condition, including your primary care physician, a nurse practitioner, or a physician’s assistant. But, there are times when you are best served by seeing a dermatologist—a doctor who specializes in diseases of the skin, hair, and nails. While dermatologists can treat uncomplicated skin conditions like acne or warts, they are crucial to the diagnosis and treatment of serious ones like scleroderma, cellulitis, and skin cancer....

Ovarian cysts are common, and surgery is one of the main treatments. If you want to avoid a medical procedure, there are a few options to help shrink ovarian cysts. However, these purported remedies have little to no scientific backing. This article looks at how to get rid of an ovarian cyst without surgery, what research says, and signs that surgery may be the best option for you. 6 Ways to Shrink Ovarian Cysts Some practitioners of alternative medicine claim that various natural home remedies can help shrink ovarian cysts....

Home remedies for yeast infections may help reduce associated vaginal burning and itching. While they may or may not help treat overgrowth of Candida yeast once it has occurred, there is some stronger evidence they may help prevent yeast infections from occurring in the first place. Eight home remedies for yeast infections include: YogurtBoric acid vaginal suppositoriesOil of oreganoCoconut oilTea tree oilApple cider vinegarGarlicVitamin C Before trying any of these, however, it’s important to see your healthcare provider and make sure you are indeed dealing with a yeast infection rather than bacterial vaginosis, a sexually transmitted infection, or a urinary tract infection....

Your heart pumps oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to different parts of your body. Your body depends on the heart’s pumping ability to ensure cells are nourished so they can function normally. When you have heart failure, your heart cannot efficiently fill with enough blood or pump blood to your cells. Due to the decreased flow of oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood, people with heart failure often experience fatigue, shortness of breath, and coughing....

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by impulsive and hyperactive behaviors and/or inattentive behaviors. Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a behavior disorder marked by behaviors, particularly those directed towards authority figures, that are uncooperative, defiant, negativistic, irritable, and deliberately annoying. While they are separate conditions, they often occur together. Some research suggests that as many as 40% of children with ADHD also meet the criteria for an ODD diagnosis....

Bariatric surgery (a.k.a. weight-loss surgery) is part of a multidisciplinary weight loss program that includes healthy eating, exercise, and treatment of conditions like type 2 diabetes or thyroid disease. There are several bariatric surgeries—gastric bypass, gastric banding, and others—all of which have the same end goal: to reduce the amount of food your body can absorb in order to promote weight loss. Bariatric surgery is a major medical procedure used to help you avoid health complications of obesity, not for cosmetic reasons....

Blotchy skin is a fairly common condition that most people experience at some point in their lives. The patches of discolored skin can be red, purple, or blue. Many cases are temporary, brought on by exposure to irritating influences like the sun. However, serious health conditions can also cause blotchy skin. This article outlines some of the many potential causes of blotchy skin. They include skin conditions like eczema and rosacea, infections like scarlet fever and shingles, temperature exposure, stress, pregnancy, and more....

Around 22 million Americans have sleep apnea, a disorder in which interruptions in breathing occur during sleep. These breathing interruptions happen due to a blockage in the upper airway or the brain not sending signals correctly to the breathing muscles. While factors like obesity and age can play roles in the development of sleep apnea, the condition may be triggered by the use of over-the-counter medications like Benadryl and certain prescription drugs such as benzodiazepines....

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that occurs when too much sugar, or glucose, is in the blood. Fortunately, with proper treatment and dietary changes, adverse health outcomes can be prevented. One diabetes meal planning technique that is used to manage blood glucose is carb counting, which is slightly different from calorie counting. Carb counting involves keeping track of the carbs in your snacks, meals, and beverages to manage blood sugar levels....

Bursitis is a condition in which slippery cushions within a joint space, called bursa, become inflamed. (In medical terminology, the suffix “-itis” refers to inflammation.) All told, there are over 150 bursae situated throughout the body. The function of a bursa is to decrease friction between two surfaces as they move in different directions. The bursa itself is comprised of a thin sac filled with a tiny amount of synovial fluid, which has the consistency of egg white....

Your chronological age and biological age might not be the same. Chronological age is the number of years you’ve been alive, while biological age refers to how old your cells and tissues are based on physiological evidence. If you’re especially healthy and fit for your age, your biological age may well be lower than your chronological age. But if you’re sedentary, chronically ill, or in poor physical condition, your biological age may be higher....

Heartburn occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, causing burning, irritation, or pain in the chest. This pain often appears or is made worse after eating. Occasional heartburn is often caused by overeating and poor diet and may not be a need for concern. But constant heartburn may indicate an underlying health issue that should be investigated. This article discusses the causes and treatment options for persistent heartburn....

Damiana is a shrub with the scientific name Turnera diffusa. It is native to Texas, Mexico, South and Central America, and the Caribbean. The damiana plant was originally used in Mexican traditional medicine. Damiana has several constituents (parts) or compounds (chemicals), such as arbutin, pinocembrin, acacetin, apigenin, 7-glucoside, and Z-echinacin. These parts or chemicals are likely responsible for how this plant works. This article looks at damiana and the evidence for its use....

Gas in the intestinal tract is normal, and everyone passes a certain amount of gas in the form of flatulence or belching. Most often, gas is a product of eating certain foods or swallowing air. Many people think they pass too much gas when the amount that they have is actually normal. However, in some uncommon cases, excessive gas might truly need further investigation. When to See Your Healthcare Provider If you think you’re having too much gas, you’ll want to see your primary healthcare provider....

Comprehensive and thorough diagnosis of thyroid cancer involves a number of procedures and tests. Usually, the process of evaluating for thyroid cancer starts with finding a lump or nodule in your gland. You may find it or see it yourself, or, in some cases, your healthcare provider may detect it during an exam. It’s also fairly common for thyroid nodules to be discovered when you have X-rays of your head or neck for other purposes....