Diseases & Health Conditions

A collapsed lung, called a pneumothorax, occurs when air accumulates around the outside of the lung. The air pushes against the lung, preventing it from expanding when an individual tries to breathe. According to the Mayo Clinic, the condition may…
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Arthritis in the fingers can cause pain, deformity and loss of range of motion. This can make it hard to hold onto objects such as writing and eating utensils. It may also be more difficult to dress and groom, which…
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Many different causes can result in chronic fatigue and tiredness. Loss of energy affects the ability to function at work, at home and with the family. Sometimes the lack of energy creeps in so insidiously that a person may not…
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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) mainly affects the lower intestinal tract and involves a combination of abdominal pain and diarrhea, or an alternating pattern of these problems. The development of IBS remains unclear and occurs at any age. Although no cure…
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Blushing is a physical manifestation of emotional stimuli. It results in reddening of the face, concentrated particularly where bones are close to the surface like the cheeks. It can extend to the neck and even upper chest in severe cases….
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A sinus infection occurs when sinuses or nasal membranes become infected by some type of virus. A sinus infection typically results from sinusitis or an inflammation of the nasal membranes. When the nasal membranes become irritated or inflamed, they may…
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Depression is more than having a bad day from time to time or feeling sad. Genetics, life events, hormones, and even medications can all cause or contribute to depression. Depression plays out differently for each person. However, there are some…
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Back pain is a common complaint that most people will experience in their lives at one time or another. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Americans will spend at least $50 billion each year to diagnose…
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Cramping, abdominal pain, loose stools and frequent emergency trips to the bathroom are common signs that you have diarrhea. It affects the average adult in the U.S. approximately four times per year, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse….
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Everyone experiences anxiety, irritability and anger. A parent might become anxious when his daughter goes to her first dance in high school or might feel angry when his son brings home a poor report card. When these emotions start to…
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Continuing bladder infections are common in women and can occur for a number of reasons. Men can also experience bladder infections but are not as susceptible because of the longer distance from the urethra—the tube that carries urine from the…
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When a person receives a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, therapists distinguish among three different types of the disorder: bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder and cyclothymia. When a therapist or psychiatrist pinpoints the specific diagnosis, many characteristics are considered. All…
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Angiography is a clinical procedure in which doctors inject a special type of dye into a blood vessel. The data from an angiography test is called an angiogram. The dye, called contrast dye, is visible by X-ray imaging, and the…
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According to American College of Physicians Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program, one third of the world’s population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis. The majority of people with tuberculosis have a latent form, and never become sick. According to…
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HIV is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. HIV can be contracted through unprotected sex, contaminated blood or blood products, the sharing of contaminated intravenous needles, and through mother-to-child transmission during childbirth or breast feeding. Early onset HIV…
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Headache remedies vary nearly as much as the types and causes of headache itself. Although pain medications, whether over-the-counter or prescription, are at the center of most headache treatments, natural remedies from foods and plants can supplement treatment regimens to…
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If you think your child might be allergic to eggs, you’re not alone, because eggs are one of the most widespread allergy-causing foods in babies and young children, affecting about 1.5 percent. “An egg allergy usually begins when kids are…
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The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases estimates that people in the U.S. have approximately 1 billion colds a year. Sneezing, achiness, sore throat and coughing are common symptoms of a cold. Adults who suffer from the common cold…
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Bacillary dysentery is a bacteria-induced diarrheal illness primarily caused by four species of Shigella: S. dysenteriae, S. sonnei, S. flexneri and S. boydii. Shigellosis is another term for bacillary dysentery. The infecting bacteria cause an intense inflammatory reaction in the…
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Hodgkin’s disease, also known as Hodgkin’s lymphoma, refers to a cancer affecting the lymphatic system. This system carries fluid containing white blood cells that fight infection. The Mayo Clinic says that symptoms of Hodgkin’s disease include swelling of the lymph…
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Femara (letrozole) is a daily oral medication available in the United States whose purpose is to lower levels of the hormone estrogen in a woman’s body. Femara is prescribed to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women, reports Drugs.com. You should…
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When a person suffers from an anxiety disorder, it can feel like his body is raging out of control. It makes sense, then, to consider the biological factors underlying anxiety. Biology alone does not explain why anxiety disorders occur. Anxiety…
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Overview Once breast cancer is diagnosed, it is staged. Staging is a standardized system of classifying the spread and extent of the cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, the stage of the cancer is the most important factor in…
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Overview Allergic rhinitis is an allergy of the nose, characterized by sneezing, running nose, nose block and itching of the nose. It occurs when your body’s immune system overreacts to substances called allergens such as pollen and dust. The symptoms…
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Esophageal cancer develops in the esophagus, the muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. There is no known or exact cause of esophageal cancer, but cancer occurs when cells are damaged. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI),…
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Antibiotics are a family of medications used to treat bacterial infections, fungal infections and some parasites. Numerous side effects are associated with antibiotic use and extremely high doses of antibiotics can have severe consequences. Respiratory Side Effects According to Merck,…
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Requip, or ropinirole, is a prescription medication used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, which includes stiffness, tremors, muscle spasms and poor muscle control, states Drugs.com. Additionally, this medication is prescribed for restless leg syndrome. Low levels of dopamine,…
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The influenza virus causes the illness commonly known as the flu. This is a highly contagious respiratory illness that passes from person to person through contact with the virus that enters the body through the nose, mouth or eyes. Only…
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1. Get Moving Many patients treat radiating neck pain with an exercise program that focuses on strengthening the muscles of your neck, shoulders and upper back. Your doctor can recommend a physical therapist experienced with treating neck pain. Many of…
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Overview The lower end of the intestines is called the anus; there is a tube called the anal canal that connects the bottom part of the large intestine to the anus and the outside of the body, according to the…
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