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Rectal bleeding is not normal and it can be upsetting. There are common reasons for bleeding such as hemorrhoids or a tear in the anal canal. Less common reasons include colon or rectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diverticulosis, or ischemic colitis. If rectal bleeding is accompanied by severe abdominal pain, vomiting that won’t stop, or dizziness and fainting, call 911 and seek medical help immediately. The medical term for bright-red blood in the stool is hematochezia....

“Retail therapy” is a popular term for shopping to soothe or lift your mood. It’s motivated by a desire to feel better rather than to meet a need, like grocery shopping. This activity may also be called comfort buying, stress shopping, or compensative buying. Retail therapy doesn’t have to be a guilty pleasure, though. It can be a relaxing, empowering experience on occasion. This article will discuss some of the benefits of retail therapy as well as ways to recognize and control compulsive shopping....

After being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the stage may be determined by two staging systems. The stages describe the progression of the condition. In ALS, weakness gradually worsens as the motor neurons in the spinal cord degenerate. Your perception of your symptoms describes the effects of the disease. The staging systems can help you and your healthcare providers consider objective measures as you work together to decide the next steps in your care....

The medulla oblongata is a structure in the brain that transfers nerve messages from the brain to the spinal cord. It is also responsible for many involuntary functions, including: Regulating blood pressureAdjusting your heart functionPacing your rate of breathingCoordinating swallowing A stroke in the medulla is also known as a medullary stroke. It can have devastating consequences, including death. This article will give an overview of these strokes, including their effects, symptoms, and risk factors....

A flu-like illness is a condition that causes symptoms similar to influenza. The 2011 clinical definition from the World Health Organization (WHO) is an acute respiratory illness with a measured temperature equal to or greater than 100.4 degrees F and cough, with onset within the past 10 days. There are many potential causes, from strep throat to mononucleosis. Flu-Like Symptoms The common symptoms of the flu include: Fever or feeling feverish, perhaps with chills Cough Sore throat* Runny nose or congestion Muscle aches or body aches Headaches Feeling tired or fatigued In children, there may be vomiting and diarrhea *Sore throat is a common, but not guaranteed symptom of flu and flu-like illness....

Is it safe to go tanning during chemotherapy? Whether you are considering going to a tanning salon or heading to the beach, there are a few things you should know about tanning during cancer treatment. And while you probably won’t be surprised that some chemotherapy drugs don’t mix with tanning beds, you may be surprised by how beneficial the sun may be for those living with cancer. Benefits and Risks of Tanning in General There are special precautions and concerns when it comes to tanning during cancer treatment....

The temporal bones are paired bones that help make up the sides and base of the skull (cranium). This places them lateral—to the side of—the temporal lobes of the brain’s cerebral cortex, ensuring that the cranium is properly supported and protecting the important structures there. As such, blunt trauma or fracture of these bones can lead to serious complications and brain injury, damage to the inner ear, as well as facial nerve problems....

Starting in 2020, two health insurance companies in Idaho—Blue Cross of Idaho and SelectHealth—began offering “enhanced” short-term health insurance plans. Although short-term health insurance plans are available in most states in the U.S., Idaho’s enhanced short-term plans follow different rules and are a unique type of coverage. This article will explain how these plans came to be, how they’re regulated, and what consumers should know when considering these plans for their coverage needs....

Excision means “to surgically remove.” In medicine, the term indicates the removal of a growth, tissue, organ, or bone using a scalpel, laser, or another cutting tool. As opposed to taking a sample of tissue or a body part, excision describes the removal of the entire portion of a structure. For instance, a lumpectomy is an excisional biopsy that removes an entire breast tumor. This is different than a core biopsy, which takes just a part of the lump....

Even if you’re typically a grade A student when it comes to taking your birth control pills, life sometimes gets in the way and missing pills can happen to the best of us. What to do if you miss a birth control pill depends on a few things, including how long ago you missed the pill, how many pills you forgot to take, what type of pill you’re using, and whether or not you’ve had sex in the last week....

Pregnancy is by far the most common cause of a missed period. However, other medical and lifestyle factors can also affect your menstrual cycle making your period late. Weight changes, hormonal irregularities, and menopause are among the most common causes if you’re not pregnant. With these issues, you may miss a period for one or two months, or you may experience complete amenorrhea—that is, no period for three or more months in a row....

When it comes to managing type 2 diabetes, snacks can be an important part of an overall eating plan. If timed carefully, a between-meal nosh can help steady blood sugar levels, prevent them from dropping, and fend off food cravings. Healthy snacks also offer an opportunity to boost overall nutrition by providing vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and other important nutrients. On the other hand, poorly chosen snacks—those high in calories, saturated fat, sodium, and sugar—can lead to weight gain, elevated blood pressure, and out-of-control blood glucose....

When you run across the term allowed amount on your health insurance explanation of benefits (EOB), it can cause some confusion. This article will explain what an allowed amount is, and why it matters in terms of how much you’ll end up paying for your care. The allowed amount is the total amount your health insurance company thinks your healthcare provider should be paid for the care he or she provided....

Bone loss, also known as osteoporosis, is a condition that develops over time in many people. During your lifetime, natural aging, certain diet or lifestyle choices, and even some medications can make bones weaker and more brittle. This doesn’t mean that your bones get smaller; instead, they become airier or less dense and more prone to breaks or fractures. This article will go over some symptoms you can expect if you suffer from bone loss, possible causes, and how to treat it....

An armpit lump—or axillary lump—can occur as a symptom of many conditions that range from harmless to serious. It is often the result of an enlarged lymph node. While it is a common symptom of breast cancer, an armpit lump is also linked with infections, cysts, skin problems, and other factors like antiperspirants. Many armpit lumps appear and then go away after a few days. Pain may or may not be present....

Some studies have suggested cinnamon can lower blood pressure. Because the data isn’t robust, however, more research is needed to prove this effect. Cinnamon is a sweet spice from the bark of an evergreen tree native to southeast Asia. There are several types. In the United States, cassia cinnamon is the most common. This article looks at cinnamon and the research into whether or not it can help reduce blood pressure....

Blood pressure is a measure of the force of the blood as it pumps through the arteries. It is normal for blood pressure to rise and fall throughout the day depending on your activities. But if blood pressure remains elevated for extended periods of time, it can lead to health problems. An estimated 47% of adults in the United States have high blood pressure (hypertension) and many people take medication for the condition....

Catastrophic health insurance is a specific type of health coverage defined under the Affordable Care Act. Prior to the ACA, “catastrophic coverage” was a generic term that referred to any sort of health plan with high out-of-pocket costs and limited coverage for routine health needs. But the ACA created catastrophic health plans as a new type of plan available in the individual market. As defined by the ACA, catastrophic plans are not available as employer-sponsored coverage....

Perspiring, or sweating, is part of your body’s natural cooling system. Some symptoms, such as hot flashes or night sweats, can leave you tossing and turning at night, disrupting a good night’s sleep. Night sweats can occur due to environmental conditions like keeping the room too warm or using too many blankets. Night sweats may also be caused by certain medical circumstances. For example, pregnancy, menopause, inflammatory bowel disease, HIV, tuberculosis, breast cancer treatment, and other health conditions can cause sweating, especially at night....

Dengue fever is a viral infection spread by Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquitoes that may first be suspected if someone was bitten and suddenly spikes a very high fever. It is sometimes referred to as breakbone fever because of the severe muscle, bone, and joint pain it can cause. Dengue mostly affects people living in tropical and subtropical parts of the world and is usually spread in urban areas....