Urinary incontinence is an extremely common, and often embarrassing condition that many people suffer from. The condition can vary in severity from minor leaking that occurs when coughing or sneezing, to having such a strong urge that you are unable to make it to a bathroom in time.
Read MoreAn ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that forms in or on the ovaries. The two most common types of ovarian cysts are follicle cysts and corpus luteum cysts. Other types of benign ovarian cysts which are less common include endometriomas, dermoids, and cystadenomas. Some women may experience many small cysts, which is called polycystic ovary syndrome.
Ovarian cysts are a common condition among women, especially during their childbearing years. They occur on the outside of a woman’s ovaries and develop in the form of sacs that are filled with fluid. Ovarian cysts may not pose any problems or discomfort, but sometimes, they can be quite painful. Follicular cysts are the most common type of ovarian cysts. They often go away on their own but some may require treatment. Women have two ovaries that are located on each side of the uterus. Their role is to act as a host to the eggs that develop and mature when a woman is trying to have a baby.
Most cysts do not cause any symptoms. However, when large ovarian cysts develop, they can cause symptoms such as:
· Pelvic pain shortly before your period begins or just before it ends
· Pressure on your bladder that causes you to urinate more frequently or have difficulty emptying your bladder completely
· Pelvic pain (a dull ache that may radiate to your lower back and thighs)
· Fullness or heaviness in your abdomen
· Pelvic pain during intercourse (aka dyspareunia)
· Pain during bowel movements or pressure on your bowels
· Nausea, vomiting or breast tenderness like that experienced during pregnancy
Treatment for ovarian cysts includes watchful waiting, birth control pills, or surgery. Watchful waiting may be recommended if you have no real symptoms that are causing problems. Birth control pills can help decrease the development of new cysts in future menstrual cycles. Surgery may be done to remove a cyst causes pain or other symptoms, or continues to grow after a couple of menstrual cycles.
Diuretics, or water pills, can help your body shed excess fluid through your kidneys. This class of medications are typically prescribed to treat high blood pressure, fluid buildup within the body due to heart failure, fluid buildup in the abdomen because of liver damage, or the eye condition glaucoma. Some other reasons your doctor may prescribe water pills is polycystic ovarian syndrome, kidney stones, diabetes insipidus and osteoporosis.
Read MoreEating an unbalanced diet can have more complications than just looking a bit overweight. Individuals on low-fiber diets are more prone to constipation, which can cause increased colon pressure during a bowel movement and may lead to weakening of the colon wall and eventually diverticula. Food can back up into the diverticula, or pouches in the colon, and bacteria can begin to thrive there leading to infection. When these pockets, or diverticula, in the wall of the colon become inflamed or infected, this is specific type of diverticular infection called diverticulitis. Although most people with diverticula in their colon will never develop diverticulitis, it is more common in people as they grow older and symptoms should not be overlooked as surgery may be necessary for proper treatment. Let’s see how diverticulitis can present itself, and what everyone should look out for.
Read MoreUlcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects as many as 700,000 Americans. The condition is known to cause ulcers and inflammation in the digestive tract. The part of the digestive tract that is affected in the innermost lining of the colon and rectum. The condition can lead to a debilitating lifestyle and may even be life-threatening. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for ulcerative colitis. However, there are treatment options that can relieve symptoms and allow for long-term remission.
Read MoreThe signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease may vary depending on the stage of the disease. The aforementioned are signs of early symptoms of the disease. People may have mild, moderate, or severe symptoms. The signs and symptoms of mild Alzheimer’s disease include wandering and getting lost, trouble handling money and paying bills, repeating questions, taking longer to complete normal daily tasks, losing things or misplacing them in odd places, personality and behavior changes.
Read MoreHeart failure is a condition that occurs when the heart is not pumping blood as effectively as it should. It is estimated that there are more than three million cases of heart failure each year in the United States. It is also known as congestive heart failure and is a chronic condition. With congestive heart failure, the ventricles are unable to pump blood in ample volume. As a result, blood and other fluids get backed up inside the lungs, abdomen, liver, and lower body which can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure:
· Shortness of breath when you exert yourself or when you lie down
· Fatigue and weakness
· Swelling in your legs, ankles and feet
· Rapid or irregular heartbeat
· Reduced ability to exercise
· Persistent cough or wheezing
· Increased need to urinate at night
· Swelling of your abdomen
· Sudden weight gain from fluid retention
· Lack of appetite and nausea
· Difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness
· Sudden, severe shortness of breath and coughing up pink, foamy mucus
· Chest pain if your heart failure is caused by a heart attack
Congestive heart failure may be caused by other health conditions that affect your heart such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, or certain valve conditions. When your blood pressure is greater than 120/80 mmHg it can eventually lead to CHF if left untreated or not managed properly. With coronary artery disease, your heart’s coronary arteries become damaged by restricting blood flow. The arteries become blocked and narrowed as fatty substances build up. Valve conditions occur when the valves do not open and close correctly which causes the ventricles to work even harder to pump blood to the rest of your body.
Treatment for congestive heart failure may include ACE inhibitor medications, diuretics, heart muscle stimulants, beta-blockers, surgery, devices such as a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, or a heart transplant.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement is a type of procedure to treat aortic valve stenosis. Aortic valve stenosis occurs when there is a narrowing of the aortic valve in the heart. When the aortic valve becomes narrow, the valve is no longer able to fully open. This leads to an obstruction of blood from the heart to the aorta and throughout the rest of the body.
Read MorePorphyria is a rare hereditary disease where hemoglobin in the blood is not metabolized properly. This causes a buildup of natural chemicals that produce porphyrin in your body, and at high levels this porphyrins can cause a wide array of issues in the body.
Read MoreHistoplasmosis is a fungal infection that is caused by inhaling fungal spores into your lungs. The spores of a fungus are often found in the fecal matter of birds and bats which is often found in soil. People are most commonly exposed to histoplasmosis when these fungal spores are airborne during cleanup or demolition projects. It is most often found in the mid-Atlantic, southeastern, and central regions of the United States. The illness can either be mild or life-threatening. Histoplasmosis most often affects your lungs. However, if the infection is severe, it can spread throughout the entire body. There are about 250,000 people in the United States who get histoplasmosis each year.
Read MoreWest Nile virus is caused by a virus that is commonly spread by infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes get infected after biting infected birds. While West Nile virus is usually found in other parts of the world such as Africa, the Middle East, India and parts of Asia, the virus is present in the United States as well. There are about 1,000 cases of West Nile virus reported in the United States each year. However, these numbers can vary.
Read MoreHemorrhoids are swollen and inflamed veins that appear on the anus and lower rectum. They are also known as piles. Hemorrhoids often occur when a person strains during bowel movements or is constipated, or when women experiences increased pressure on the veins during pregnancy. Hemorrhoids can be internal or external. They may appear inside the rectum (internal) or under the skin around the anus (external). Both types of hemorrhoids can cause anal pain, bleeding, itching, or a hard lump near the anus.
Read MoreGout is a type of arthritis that is caused by too much uric acid in the body. Too much uric in the body occurs for two reasons: when the body produces an excess amount of uric acid or when the kidneys fail to get rid of the proper amount of it. When uric acid builds up in the body, it builds up within the fluid that surrounds the joints. This eventually causes severe joint pain and inflammation and most often affects the big toe, heels, ankles, knees, fingers, wrists, and elbows. This can later lead to kidney stones and lumps of uric acid crystals under the skin. About five out of 1,000 people in the U.S. have gout.
Read MoreThere are now two times more Americans living with autoimmune diseases than heart disease, according to The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association. Despite billions of dollars spent on care every year, people are struggling with autoimmune problems more than ever before.
Read MoreAn STD is a sexually transmitted disease, also known as an STI or sexually transmitted infection. These diseases or infections are spread via sexual contact from one partner to the next. This sexual contact can occur in many ways such as orally, vaginally, anally, or from hand to genital interaction. Our first line of defense against these STDs is to practice safe sex, using abstinence, condoms, and getting checked regularly.
Read MoreBipolar disorder is more likely to affect the children of parents who have the disorder. But there are four types of bipolar disorder that are critical to understand.
Read MoreBipolar disorder is also known as manic depression. It causes drastic behavioral changes such as in mood, thoughts, and energy. Changes are usually extreme, from experiencing highs in a manic state, to lows in a depressed state.
Read MoreThere are various symptoms associated with appendicitis. Here's what you need to know.
Read MoreA lot of so-called "facts" are thrown around about HIV and Aids, but how much of it is true? Here we debunk myths on these two diseases and give you the facts.
Read MoreNew study says multiple sclerosis patients may be at an early risk of death. Here's what you need to know.
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