Mastitis can leave a breastfeeding mother feeling uncomfortable and run down, not to mention make breastfeeding even more of a challenge. Caused by an obstruction, infection or allergy, mastitis results in uncomfortable swelling and redness of the...
A tendon is a tough band of tissue that connects muscles to bones throughout the body. With normal functioning, the tendon slides in and out of the sheath surrounding the tendon. An inflammation in the sheath surrounding the tendons of a finger...
Your shoulder area consists of many muscles involved in stabilizing the shoulder girdle. Muscle spasms in your shoulder area are painful and may refer pain to other parts of your body, such as your neck, arms, head and hands. The knotted muscles...
Men have far less breast tissue than women and consequently have a lower incidence of breast-related ailments. However, men can experience swelling, pain and cancer in their breasts. More common than breast cancer in men is swelling in one or both...
Breast problems are common during lactation and occur at one time or another in most breastfeeding women. Most lumps that develop in the areola go away without medical intervention and do not interrupt the breastfeeding relationship. However,...
A small, pimple-like lump that appears in your child's eyelid or eyelash is similar to a pimple, but is not actually acne. Likely, that lump is either a stye or a chalazion. Sties and chalazia--plural for chalazion--can grow under or inside the...
There are various types of hernias, based on where they occur. Femoral, inguinal, ventral and umbilical are all types of hernias that can affect women. Generally, hernia symptoms are similar in both men and women. However, it is still important to...
Pain anywhere in the body is a sign, like the "check engine" light going off in a vehicle, which indicates that there is something wrong. The amount of pain does not indicate the severity of the problem. Pain under the left shoulder can be from...
A diabetic has an increased risk of problems in the extremities, especially the hands and feet. Although the cause of these problems is not always clear, many extremity conditions -- including diseases of the fingers -- are caused by insufficient...
Rectal bleeding is bleeding that can stem anywhere from the lower portion of the colon, to the rectum and the anal canal, which is the open that allows stool to pass. The color of blood associated with rectal bleeding can differ based on where the...
Breast development is a process that provides women with the tissue and structures necessary for the eventual production of life-sustaining breast milk. Typically, development begins early in life, with outward signs of change occurring during...
The male breast is composed of a mixture of tissue types, any of which may give rise to a mass or swelling. Cancerous breast tumors in men are rare, but do occur. Men can also develop benign, or non-cancerous breast disorders, causing breast...
Breastfeeding is an excellent way to bond with your baby, and provide her the antibodies and nutrients she'll need to stay healthy and strong. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics or AAP, babies should be breastfed exclusively for the...
Women who are breastfeeding are the most common victims of blocked milk ducts. When milk fails to drain properly through a milk duct, the duct becomes inflamed, according to Women’s Health. This inflammation can spread to neighboring...
Bartholin's Gland Cyst What is the Bartholin's gland? Most women don't even know they have a Bartholin's gland, although most had learned about these in school. It is a tiny gland inside each of the labia near the opening of the vagina, one...
High heel shoes put a lot of pressure on the lower back and calf muscles. They also create pressure on the back of the shoe, often pinching the Achilles tendon with every step. When you walk, the motion in high heel shoes rolls the foot forward,...
Boils, or furuncles, are pus-filled bumps caused by bacteria infecting your hair follicles. They start out as red, tender lumps, and grow larger and more painful until they either rupture and drain or are reabsorbed by your body. The Mayo Clinic...
A lump found in the breast at any time, including while breastfeeding, can be alarming. Many times, the lump is due to tissue changes that take place when the breasts begin producing milk. No matter what the suspected cause is, a lump in the...
A perirectal abscess is a collection of pus that forms as the result of an infection, most often an infected anal gland. The individual will notice a tender red lump under the skin near the anus. Pain is the most common symptom and is usually...
A pimple-like bump that develops on your eyelid or eyelash is probably either a stye or a chalazion. Styes and chalazia, the plural term for chalazion, grow along the rim of the eyelash or inside or under the eyelid. Styes and chalazia can develop...
Hemorrhoids, also called piles, are painful swollen and inflamed veins in your rectum or anus. Hemorrhoids are mainly caused by increased pressure in the veins of the anus. Factors that cause increased pressure in the anus include straining during...
Losing weight can be a challenge, and sometimes it seems that the body refuses to relinquish its rights to fat in a particular area, be it your thighs, buttocks or stomach. Persistent abdominal fat may be the result of genetics, metabolism, age or...
Rectal bleeding is defined by MayoClinic.com as bleeding that occurs anywhere from the lower colon to the rectum. Blood from rectal bleeding can range in color from bright red to dark maroon, depending on where the bleeding occurs. There are a...
Hemorrhoids are a common and often painful condition that affects many Americans. The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons notes that hemorrhoids are enlarged blood vessels in or around your anus or lower rectum. Hemorrhoids can be...
While lumps under your skin may cause you to worry, Medline Plus advises that most lumps and swellings are harmless. The location of your lumps, as well as any accompanying symptoms, can help you and your doctor determine their cause. You can...
Varicose veins are enlarged, usually blue, red or flesh-colored, veins that may look like twisted cords through the skin. Varicose veins appear most frequently on the thighs, backs of the calves or on the inside of the legs. They form when veins...
Hemorrhoids, also called piles are painful, swollen veins in the anus and lower rectum. They occur due to increased pressure on the blood vessels located in the lower part of the colon. Hemorrhoids is a rare condition in infants, according to the...
Breastfeeding takes time and experience to master, according the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you're still learning, you may experience some issues. Fortunately, most of these problems are treatable by making a few adjustments to your...
Intestines, or other abdominal parts, protruding through a weakened area or tear in the abdominal wall is known as a hernia. When the hernia is located near the femur bone, or upper portion of the thigh, it is diagnosed as a femoral hernia. A...
Bursitis of the elbow is a fluid filled sack on the elbow, caused by repetitive trauma or severe trauma. Learn more about the symptoms and treatments of bursitis of the elbow in this health video.
Boils begin as infected hair follicles, becoming inflamed and tender. Learn common treatments for boils in this free skin disease video.
