Feminine odor may be a sign of vaginal infection or poor hygiene, particularly if the odor is strong. A mild odor, however, should be expected even in healthy women who bathe regularly, says the WomensHealth website. A "fishy" smell results most...
Down syndrome is one of the most common genetic birth defects; the condition is found in one out of 800 births. Named after John Down, the first physician to discover the syndrome, the condition causes various levels of mental retardation as well...
Few symptoms are as distressing and disabling as not being able to breathe well. Lung infections and injuries are common causes of short-term breathing trouble. Chronic lung diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung...
Infants and children can suffer from a range of common bladder disorders, such as day- or night-time bed wetting, rare forms of cancer or physical abnormalities. Diagnosis of these disorders requires special attention from pediatric urologists....
Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a variety of neurological conditions that first appear in childhood. The disease causes permanent damage that affects muscles and body movements, though its origin is in the brain, report doctors at the...
If you would like to plan ahead during your pregnancy, you may wish to find out the sex of your unborn baby. Once you know the gender, you can buy appropriate clothing and items for the nursery. However, beware of old wives tales that state you...
Cushing's syndrome is a group of physical abnormalities caused by long-term exposure to high levels of the adrenal hormone cortisol, or by prescription corticosteroids. This disorder is sometimes referred to as hypercortisolism. Increased cortisol...
Snoring can range from occasional irritation to a serious health issue. The louder and more frequent the snoring, the more likely a serious problem or combination of issues are at fault. While the noise caused by snoring comes from constriction of...
Even if you have all the symptoms of bipolar disorder, it may not be a mental problem. A doctor who suspects bipolar disorder will have a complete physical examination performed to rule out other factors. The physical will test your vitals for...
There is no consistent pattern as to the cause or prognosis of renal cysts. Although usually associated with children, renal cysts can strike at any age. They can be caused by malignancies, genetic transmission or developmental problems in utero....
When a person goes to a health-care provider for any type of sickness, or to just have a regular check-up, the health-care provider will begin with the four techniques of a physical assessment. These four methods include inspection, palpation,...
Lyme disease is an infectious disease found mostly in the United States and Europe. It is caused by a bacteria known as Borrelia burgdorferi that is found in certain types of ticks, such as the deer tick. After a person has been infected from a...
Iodine obtained through food may affect many different systems in the body, but its main activity involves the thyroid gland. Up to 80 percent of iodine in the body is found in the thyroid and deficiencies can have a serious impact on thyroid...
Alcohol, also known as ethanol or ethyl alcohol, plays a big role in social gatherings. People generally enjoy the relaxing effects alcohol can bring about on the mind and body. Alcohol is an intoxicating substance which depresses the central...
Alcoholism causes problems with the alcoholic's family and with society in general. The violence, disturbances, loss of productivity and fatal consequences from alcoholism affect everyone. The alcoholic also faces serious health disorders that can...
Alcohol abuse is a serious condition that involves heavy drinking or problem drinking. A man who has more than 14 drinks a week or more than four drinks per occasion is abusing alcohol, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. A...
Treatment for cerebral palsy can include strengthening and stretching exercises as part of a therapeutic plan. These exercises can be used by cerebral palsy patients of any age and are best conducted under the direct supervision of a licensed...
Since babies cannot complain of changes or problems in their vision, parents have the responsibility of noticing eye conditions. Older children may not realize they cannot see well, and parents or teachers may notice the need for glasses in...
Genetic diseases occur when there is a variation or alteration in a gene. Causes of genetic abnormalities include environmental, congenital and gene mutation within the cell that can occur at random. Inherited genetic diseases require a specific...
Exercise that's vigorous enough to make you breathe harder is beneficial for your lungs and your heart. If you have breathing problems following exercise, it could simply be due to overtraining. But if your breathing difficulties persist and are...
Urinary tract infections result from bacterial infections of the bladder, kidney or urethra, the tube connecting the bladder to the outside of the body. Women are more likely to develop urinary tract infections. Approximately 20 percent of all...
The link between teeth and headaches often involves something known as bruxism. This condition is marked by a grinding or clenching of the teeth. Many people are completely unaware that they're doing this, as it's typically an unconscious reaction...
According to an Institute of Medicine Report to Congress in 1996, cocaine, heroin and marijuana are not as harmful to a developing fetus as alcohol. Alcohol passes easily through the mother's bloodstream into the fetus, causing the fetus' blood...
People who experience back pain only occasionally may wonder how they "tweaked" their backs. Obscure reasons for back aches confound doctors as well, but some seemingly mysterious injuries do have everyday causes. Sources of pain generated while...
A bladder infection is an infection of the lower urinary tract, affecting the urine-receiving and -holding structure. The bladder receives the urine from the kidneys via tubes called ureters. The bladder becomes a reservoir for the urine until the...
According to a report in the "Archives of Internal Medicine," as many as 77 percent of Americans are vitamin D deficient. Because of this deficiency, many people are looking for ways to supplement their vitamin D intake. While the easiest way to...
Morning sickness and other symptoms consume some women during the first trimester, so bonding with pregnancy really begins in the second trimester. Most of your symptoms subside for this trimester, also known as the honeymoon period, so you can...
Parents-to-be usually receive the option of prenatal testing for genetic defects and genetic counseling to help decipher the results of these tests. Not all pregnant couples choose to undergo these tests, while some couples consider genetic...
As men age, they are at greater risk of developing an enlarged prostate--a condition also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia. Doctors may conduct a variety of tests in an effort to confirm the presence of an enlarged prostate; determine the...
Menstrual disorders refer to any abnormality in the menstrual cycle in a woman. Get expert tips and advice on diagnosing and treating menstrual disorders in this video.
Childhood cancers are hard to indentify, but seventy five percent of childhood cancers can be cured. Learn about childhood cancers in this video.
The bile duct is a long tube-like structure that connects the liver to the intestine and transports bile. Learn about bile duct cancer including possible causes, and treatment options for bile duct cancer in this video.
Autoimmune disorders are conditions that occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue. There are more than 80 different types of autoimmune disorders. Learn about the various autoimmune disorders including...
