It does not matter if it is sudden and severe or chronic and achy -- upper back pain can put a crimp on your daily activities. However, upper back injuries are usually short-lived and the result of a definable problem such as poor posture or a...
Abdominal pain refers to any pain felt in the region that spans from the chest to the pelvis. Because the abdominal cavity contains so many vital organs, such as the stomach, intestines, pancreas, gallbladder, appendix, liver, kidneys and spleen,...
Upper abdominal pain accompanied by back pain occurs for a multitude of reasons, due to the large number of organs found in and near the upper abdomen. Causes range from annoying to life-threatening, so medical followup, especially for severe...
An upper back spasm is a tense, unwanted contraction of the muscles in your back. This occurs because your back supports most of your body's weight, and your upper back muscles can respond by contracting if they are overloaded. In addition, upper...
The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ that is located below your liver. The gallbladder stores bile, a liquid produced by the liver. Before meals, the gallbladder is usually full of bile and has a full pear shape. After meals, it becomes...
Alli, a brand name for the medication orlistat, is an over-the-counter product approved as a weight-loss aid by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It works in conjunction with a low-fat diet and exercise program to help people drop pounds. Dr....
While low back is a more common complaint, there are conditions that can cause periodic or chronic high back pain as well. Any new pain that occurs in the upper back or thoracic area of the spine should always be properly evaluated and diagnosed....
A bulging disc occurs when the cushions that act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae in your spine are compressed and protrude from your spinal column. When this occurs in your middle and upper back, it can result in pain that radiates from...
Osteoporosis is a medical condition that causes a reduction in bone mass and strength. Women are more at risk than men of developing this disease, which can affect all bones but is most common in the spine, hips and knees. The American College of...
Zetia is the brand name for the drug ezetimibe, a medication used to reduce the amount of cholesterol or other sterols absorbed by the body, according to Drugs.com. In addition to taking Zetia, patients are often prescribed a low-fat,...
An aneurysm is a bulge in an artery wall that can cause severe, often fatal bleeding, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. They form when a weakness in the wall of the artery balloons out under pressure from the blood inside....
Although only around 32,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer develop each year, the cancer has a deadly track record, with a five-year survival rate of only 4 percent, according to the Robert Freelove, M.D. of the University of Kansas. At the time...
The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ connected to the liver that stores the bile your liver makes. Sometimes the gallbladder develops stones that block the bile duct. This blockage can cause a gallbladder attack. Not all gallbladder stones cause...
The gallbladder stores bile made by the liver. Bile helps you digest fats. During digestion, bile moves from your gall bladder to the small intestine through the cystic duct and common bile duct.The most common causes of gallbladder symptoms are...
A heart aneurysm--more commonly called an aortic aneurysm--is a serious medical condition. Heart aneurysms occur when the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body, develops a bulge at a weak spot within the aortic wall. When blood collects at...
Gallstones are the most common cause of gallbladder attacks. Gallstones occur when deposits of digestive fluids accumulate in the gallbladder forming pebble-like stones, according to MayoClinic.com. Gallstones cause the gallbladder to become...
Myfortic is a medication prescribed to lower the body's immune system response. The immune system is responsible for fighting or rejecting foreign agents in the body. This can include a transplanted organ like a liver or kidney. Doctors use...
Vitamin D supplements are sometimes helpful for people who do not get enough of this nutrient from exposure to sunlight or dietary sources. The body can make vitamin D from sunlight, but it can only make enough if the sun is strong enough where...
Doxycycline is an antibiotic in the tetracycline family that works by inhibiting bacterial growth in the body. Doctors prescribe doxycycline to fight bacterial infections, such as pneumonia, respiratory or urinary tract infections, Chlamydia,...
If you experience any type of stomach pain after eating fatty foods, it could be the result of anything from gas pains to disease onset. There are several conditions that can cause stomach pain, especially after you eat. If your stomach pain is...
There are numerous causes of middle back pain. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases or NIAMS---a division of the National Institutes of Health, back pain, including middle back pain, can range in...
"Orlistat" is the generic name for the prescription drug marketed as "Xenical." It is also sold in nonprescription strength, over the counter, as "Alli." The orlistat diet is one that includes the prescription medication together with a...
When people talk about back pain, they generally refer to the lower part of the back. The lower back, after all, takes much of the body's stress from lifting, twisting and straining during a normal day. The upper back has a different makeup and...
The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ on the right side of the abdomen, just below the liver. It stores a digestive juice called bile. Gallstones are hardened deposits of bile that occasionally form in the gallbladder. The condition of...
Gallstones are small, pebble-like structures composed of the crystallized components of bile that develop in the gallbladder. Bile, made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, helps the body to digest fats and it contains water, cholesterol,...
A lumbar strain is basically back pain that could be caused by muscles, nerves, bones, or joints. Get tips and advice on health and medical issues in this wellness video.
