Whiplash is a type of neck injury that occurs as a result of fast and vigorous movement of the neck. It is most occurs after a person has been involved in a car accident. However, many people also experience whiplash while playing sports or during some other type of traumatic accident. Whiplash may also know known as a neck sprain or neck strain.
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 MoreWernicke’s syndrome is a type of brain disorder that is caused by a long-term, inefficient amount of vitamin B1 (thiamine). It is also known as Wernicke's encephalopathy or Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. The condition most often occurs among people who suffer from alcoholism. However, it can also occur among people who are undergoing chemotherapy treatment, are vomiting chronically, have an eating disorder, or have had bariatric surgery. Wernicke’s syndrome is actually two separate conditions, Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome.
Read MoreAcute respiratory distress syndrome is the sudden failure of the respiratory system, or breathing. It can occur in anyone who is critically ill with a different illness or who is suffering from major injuries. Most people who develop this syndrome are already being hospitalized for something else. The most common symptoms people experience are quick breathing, low levels of blood oxygen, and trouble getting enough air when breathing.
Read MoreOver 15,000 people are diagnosed with avascular necrosis every year in the United States. This bone disorder, also known as osteonecrosis, is the death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply. Avascular necrosis can lead to tiny breaks within the bone and if it progresses enough will lead to the collapse of the entire bone. There are several causes, like trauma to the bone itself when it is broken of dislocated. But can also be caused by chronic use of medications like high-dose steroids. It can affect anyone, but there is increased risk for people between the ages of 30 and 60. If not treated early, this disorder can have significant long-term consequences.
Read MoreAseptic or viral meningitis is inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal core. A virus is usually the root cause such as fungi, diseases spread by insects and other conditions that trigger it. This type of meningitis is usually not as serious as bacterial meningitis, which is life-threatening. Symptoms range from headache, neck pain, stiffness, confusion, sleepiness, fatigue, fever, sensitivity to light, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and seizures.
Read MoreAlso called, Amobarbital, mephobarbital, pentobarbital, phenobarbital, secobarbital, or tuinal abuse, Barbiturate Abuse brings on the feeling of being high, drunk or sleepy. Patients may slur their words, stagger or become confused. Chronic use can cause irritability, memory loss, and difficulty dealing with people. High doses of Barbiturates, a type of prescription sedatives, can even induce a coma, make it difficult to breath and even cause death.
Read MoreAmenorrhea is a condition in which a woman does not menstruate or experiences one or more missed menstrual periods. There are two types of amenorrhea: primary amenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea. Primary amenorrhea is when a girl does not get her period by age 15. Secondary amenorrhea is when a female has had a normal menstrual cycle, but stops getting them or has missed at least three consecutive menstrual periods. Less than one percent of girls in the United States have primary amenorrhea.
Read MoreAn ACL injury stands for an anterior cruciate ligament injury. It may also be known as a torn ACL. It is one of the most common types of knee injuries. There are about 200,000 people in the United States who have an ACL injury every year.
Read MoreVascular Dementia. Usually caused by a major stroke, or one or more silent strokes. The initial symptom is usually having poor judgement or difficulty planning, organizing, and making decisions. Other symptoms may include memory problems that disrupt your daily life, trouble speaking or understanding speech, problems recognizing sights and sounds that used to be familiar, being confused or agitated, changes in personality and mood, or problems walking and having frequent falls.
Read MoreMany of us have a drink with dinner, or a few when going out with friends or at family gatherings. But for some people, the occasional drink is not occasional at all, but habitual and excessive. Alcoholism is a disease where the body becomes physically addicted or dependent on alcohol. For many alcoholics, as with other substance abuse disorders, drinking becomes a compulsion rather than a choice. This means alcoholics continue to drink despite the deleterious effects on personal relationships, everyday life and overall health. Many suffering from alcoholism may not even recognize that they have it, and can’t recognize the symptoms that they display. About 8% of Americans are diagnosed as alcoholics.
Read MoreAn Achilles tendon rupture is an injury that affects the back of the lower leg. It most common among people who play sports. The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle to the heel. It is the tendon that is responsible for making it possible to walk, jump, run, and point your toes. The Achilles tendon is the largest and strongest tendon in the body. If it is not used often, it can become weak. An Achilles tendon can tear or rupture if it is overstretched. The tear can be a partial tear or a full tear.
Read MoreA benign lipoma is a collection of fatty cells that form a lump, or a fatty tumor, underneath the skin. They are usually located between the skin and the muscular layer beneath the skin. Benign lipomas are not cancerous and are usually harmless. They are the most common type of soft tissue tumor. Benign lipomas are most often found on the shoulders, arms, trunk and back. However, they can occur anywhere in the body. Benign lipomas are very rare - about one percent of the population has at least one lipoma.
Read MoreThe name athlete’s foot sheds light on the origins of this skin condition, but don't let the name trick you. Anyone can get this itchy, bothersome condition, not just athletes. In fact, about 70% of people will get athlete's foot at some point in their life. This makes the fungal infection, typically one that begins between the toes, very common. To put this percentage into perspective, the United States sees more than 3 million cases per year.
Read MoreBell’s palsy is a condition that causes muscle weakness or paralysis in the facial muscles. When a person has Bell’s palsy, it looks like their face is drooping on one side. It is possible for Bell’s palsy to affect both sides of the face, however this is rarely seen. Bell’s palsy is also known as facial palsy. It is unclear what causes Bell’s palsy, however some believe that it is caused by inflammation and swelling that occurs in the nerve that controls the muscles on the side of the face that it affects.
Read MoreSnoring can be an annoying habit, especially for your partner or roommate, but might not be as harmless as some background noise. For those living with sleep apnea, snoring can be a serious symptom. Sleep apnea is when people stop and restart breathing multiple times while sleeping. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that is often linked to obesity, especially in the U.S. According to the National Sleep Foundation, there are over 18 million Americans who suffer from sleep apnea.
Read MoreAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (also known as ADHD) is behavioral disorder that often occurs in children. It is one of the most common childhood behavioral disorders. However, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can also occur in teenagers and adults. With attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, it is very hard for a person to concentrate, control their impulses, and act in a calm manner. Even though it is most common among children, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is often not diagnosed until adolescence or adulthood.
Read MoreFood-borne illness, also referred to as food poisoning, results from eating food contaminated by infectious organisms and/or their toxins. These infectious organisms can contaminate food throughout the production process: growing, harvesting, processing, storing, transporting or cooking. Contamination does not necessarily only happen at one point in the process, but could have occurred at multiple points. Their rough, porous skin is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria.
Read MoreObsessive-compulsive disorder is also known as OCD. It involves having irrational thoughts, fears and obsessions that cause a person to have compulsions, or repetitive behaviors. Some people who have obsessive-compulsive disorder may only have one or the other (obsessions or compulsions). About 1 in 50 people in the United States has OCD.
Read MoreHerpes zoster, commonly known as shingles, is a reactivation of the varicella zoster virus. This viral infection may sound foreign, but it is actually the virus that causes chickenpox, the bane of everyone’s childhood. Shingles in essence is a reoccurrence of this original chickenpox, but at a later time. But why or how does this happen? Following the resolution of chickenpox, the varicella zoster virus lies dormant in the spinal dorsal root ganglia, or the spinal cord nerves until something triggers a reactivation is triggered. This is important as 95% of adults have antibodies to varicella zoster virus and all those individuals are vulnerable to reactivation of infection.
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