Fibromyalgia is a clinical term used to describe a constellation of symptoms characterized by widespread, non-specific pain lasting for three months or longer. The condition is diagnosed through a physical exam that tests pain at several points on...
If you had chicken pox as a child, you can get shingles, a painful, blister-like rash that tends to affect people as they get older. The condition is caused by the varicella-zoster virus that is dormant in your body after chicken pox resolves....
Common allergy symptoms include swelling, itching and sneezing as your body releases histamines in response to what your immune system considers a threatening intruder. Over-the-counter medications can alleviate your symptoms, but these...
Your gallbladder is a small sac that sits just below your liver, storing the bile your liver produces. The greatest of plans can go awry, though. Just because this process sounds easy, it doesn't mean that something can't go wrong. When your...
Premenstrual syndrome, commonly known as PMS, is a collection of symptoms presumed to be the result of changes in hormones prior to the start of the menstrual cycle. PMS can occur up to two weeks before the start of the cycle and symptoms can last...
Randall Schultz, M.D.. of Spine-Health.com, explains that roots in the lower part of the spine come together to form the sciatic nerve in the pelvis. The term sciatica describes the pain radiating down the nerve, which begins in the lower back,...
Flu-like syndrome is a collection of side effects associated with some chemotherapy drugs. Patients may feel like they have the flu while taking chemotherapy treatment. According to Caring4Cancer, the reason flu-like syndrome occurs is not...
A sore throat can make you miserable. Avoiding an unhealthy lifestyle can help minimize the incidence of sore throats, but once it happens, many times all you can do is try to alleviate the symptoms, which include difficulty swallowing, tenderness...
When gas builds up within the stomach, it can lead to bloating. When a person is bloated, she might also experience some abdominal discomfort. Passing the gas can usually help alleviate the symptoms. Although there are medications, like...
Medicare provides benefits for breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammoplasty, when it is medically necessary to treat macromastia or breast hypertrophy that is causing adverse health effects. Women experiencing this condition...
If you are suffering from a cold or allergies, a Vicks steam may temporarily alleviate your symptoms. Adding steam to the air is an effective way to increase the humidity and moisture in a room, which aids in easing breathing and dry skin...
With age, the colon tends to develop outpouchings, especially on the left side. This common condition is called diverticulosis. Occasionally, one or more of these diverticular openings becomes inflamed, causing moderate to severe abdominal pain....
Research has shown that exercise can help alleviate symptoms of depression. According to Jeanine Stein of the Los Angeles Times newspaper, one way exercise helps depression is by "inspiring people to return to work and connect again with friends...
The esophagus connects the mouth to the stomach, allowing for food to pass through easily. An inflammation of the esophagus is known as esophagitis. It results in tissue damage to the esophagus. According to the Mayo Clinic, causes include oral...
Depression is a crippling disease, which affects 3.3 million adults and is the leading cause of disability in Americans between the ages of 15 and 44, according to the National Institute of Mental health. Depression can include prolonged feelings...
Discs are the shock absorbers of the spine. Sandwiched between each vertebrae, they act as cushions. Healthy discs are composed of tough cartilage exteriors with a soft squishy interior, but as they age, discs can deform by flattening, stiffening,...
Hiatal hernias occur when a portion of the stomach pushes up through a defect in the diaphragm. If the hiatal hernia becomes large, this condition causes food and acid to back up in esophagus, leading to acid reflux and heartburn, according to...
There are many reasons for a diminished female sex drive, and there are just as many ways to improve sexual function in women. Women can try various methods to bring back the love life they once enjoyed, but they should also get help from their...
Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. It causes chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, particularly the colon and rectum. It exists along continuous parts of the colon, whereas Crohn's Disease, another form of IBD, occurs along...
Because your child may catch as many as eight or more colds per year, according to the KidsHealth website, knowing how to expel phlegm from your child's chest is a skill that will likely come in handy. A cold is a viral infection of the upper...
If you repeat an idea long enough, eventually you begin to believe it's the truth -- even if it's not based on facts or reality. This is how negative thinking eats away at self-esteem, according to MayoClinic.com. One way to transform negative...
According to Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital, varicose veins are enlarged blood vessels that are visible through the skin. They usually occur in the legs and can be quite painful and unattractive. Moderate exercise increases...
You wake up in bed. Your foot is under the covers, so you can't see it, but it feels as if it's been lit on fire. There's nothing quite like the pain associated with a flareup of gout. But there are ways to alleviate the symptoms of an attack and...
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that causes your immune system to attack your hair follicles. This condition affects 4.5 million Americans, reports the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. The disorder causes you to lose hair in round or...
Neuropathy refers to nerve damage that may be the result of severe injury, diabetes or infection. It is described as a tingling or numbing of the hands and feet, with some stabbing pain, according to the Mayo Clinic. Sufferers of neuropathy are...
Fibromyalgia is a serious and incurable condition that causes pain throughout the body. There are several treatment options that aim to reduce the severity of your symptoms. These include following a proper diet. One important aspect of your diet...
Nosebleeds are a common side effect for patients undergoing oxygen therapy. However, ongoing severe nosebleeds should be brought to the attention of your health care provider to ensure there isn't another underlying cause.
Irritable bowel syndrome is commonly known as IBS. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, also known as NDDIC, approximately 20 percent of Americans have symptoms of IBS. The condition typically includes symptoms...
Dizziness is a feeling of imbalance that may come on suddenly. There are many causes of dizziness in the elderly. A change in vision or an eye disease such as macular degeneration can confuse the visual system and cause a loss of balance. Other...
