Information About Disease, Illness, & Conditions

Cystitis is a painful illness, but there are a few self-help ideas that you can try. Based on my experience, these remedies will work relatively quickly, as long as you follow these instructions.

When the pain of costochondritis flares, it can feel like a heart attack. Once cardiac causes have been ruled out, you are often just given a prescription. Here are other healing treatment options.

Rabies is found throughout the world, caused by lyssavirus that is transmitted through bite wounds. The disease is now treatable, though the success rates vary immensely.

The appendix is often thought of as a useless organ, but it may be helpful. In appendicitis, the appendix becomes inflamed and swollen and may rupture.

Obesity is a complex and serious condition that is becoming increasingly common. Evidence that specific gut bacteria cause or contribute to obesity is growing.

Osteoarthritis has become quite prevalent in our society, and there are several types. This article is based on my own experience with this condition, as well as my research.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a bacterium that lives in the nose of many people. It's often harmless but can cause a variety of diseases. Some of these are serious.

Costochondritis is a painful and serious lifelong condition that affects many people of different ages. Chest pain, as well as back and shoulder pain, is one of its symptoms.

Learn the signs and symptoms of diabetes, then ask your doctor for a simple blood test to determine if you have the disease

Stress is one of the most common causes of adult acne today. In this article, we'll see how stress causes acne, how it worsens your acne, how you can manage your stress-acne, and other triggering factors.

When I went through chemotherapy, I had to figure out some critical things for myself. Here are the top 10 things I wish somebody had told me ahead of time.

Sleeping with a sleep apnea face mask and hose may seem difficult, but it is possible to get comfortable and get some rest using a CPAP machine using these tips and suggestions.

Having trouble falling to sleep? Have you considered your use of artificial lighting before going to bed? Blue light can disrupt your sleeping patterns.

Worms in humans are common, even in developed nations. They take a toll on a person's health, and cause horrific disfigurations and disease. Let's take a look at the most common of these parasites.

Flying increases the risk of blood clots, particularly for people with pulmonary embolism, DVT, Factor V Leiden, or thrombophilia conditions. Learn how to prevent blood clots while flying.

This article defines systolic and diastolic pressure, ranges of normal readings, and conditions like prehypertension and hypertension. Includes labeled photos and a video tutorial.

Colon bacteria make butyric acid. This acid improves the health of the intestinal lining. It may also reduce inflammation and decrease the risk of colon cancer.

Having a sore throat at night is a problem that many people have. Sometimes, the problem fades away by daytime prompting individuals to shrug it off. Here are the possible causes of the condition.

Swollen ankles in the summertime not only look unsightly but can be very uncomfortable, too. Read on to find the cause and how to avoid swelling.

Solanine is found in green potatoes and other nightshade vegetables. It's poisonous at high concentrations. Some people say that nightshades make their arthritis worse.

If you recently observed some white spots in your stool, you've come to the right place. Learn about the many reasons why this can occur.

This article is based on questions I’ve received from readers of my other tinnitus articles. This is a compilation of those questions and my answers.

Proteus mirabilis is responsible for urinary tract infections in some people. The bacterium causes inflammation and the production of stones in the urine.

Pneumonia can be a killer. It is often a serious complications of other medical conditions. What exactly is pneumonia, and is it the same as pleurisy?

Lysozyme is an antibacterial enzyme in body secretions that helps to protect us from infections. It's also present in eggs, where it may cause allergies.

A step-by-step guide (with pictures) on getting your health information with your AncestryDNA results.

Skin that bruises easily can be caused by a number of factors, including some medications. Here are some self-help ideas to help improve skin that is thin, easily bruised, or torn.

Warts are ugly and annoying—but more importantly, they're contagious! Get rid of them with these simple steps, and get back on the mats ASAP.

A brief overview of vitamin B12 deficiency, how it happens, what it presents, and what can be done about it.

Sort out your itchy, flaky scalp! Find out what causes this condition and how to relieve the symptoms. You may need to evaluate your hair products as well as your diet.

Concentrated oxalic acid is poisonous. Oxalic acid and oxalates are present in plants in much lower concentrations but may cause problems such as kidney stones.

In this article I share what worked for me in terms of treating athlete's foot. I also discuss treatments for toenail fungus.

Cervical osteoarthritis can be very painful. It can cause symptoms such as headaches and migraines, but it is often misdiagnosed. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatments for this condition.

Written by someone who knows sciatic pain inside and out, this article takes a detailed look at the range of medications available to treat this condition.

Learn about the causes of dyshidrotic eczema, as well as both medical and home treatments for the condition.

Tangles of alpha-synuclein fibrils in the brain are a feature of Parkinson's disease. The fibrils sometimes appear in nerves around the gut. They might travel from here to the brain.

Scar tissue may form on or in our body when we're injured. It replaces damaged tissue but is sometimes troublesome. The appearance of scars can often be improved.

The symptoms of water retention (also known as fluid retention or edema) can sometimes be confused with the appearance of chronic diabetic skin blisters. Do you know how to tell the difference?

Histamine has important functions but also causes the symptoms of hay fever. It's released from mast cells. Helpful techniques can prevent or reduce hay fever symptoms.

To understand the causes of sleep paralysis, it is first important to be aware of what sleep paralysis is. Countless people around the world have reported waking up, yet not being able to move their bodies. They describe a feeling or sensation that has been diagnosed as sleep paralysis.

Find the causes, treatment, and pictures of lumps that occur in different parts of the body, including the throat, armpit, neck, chin, earlobe, wrist, jaw, and other parts of the skin.

An in-depth review of the early signs of diabetes. Find out what the symptoms are, discover whether you should be screened, and learn if you fall into one of the high-risk groups.

The gallbladder stores bile, which helps fat digestion take place. Gallstones are solid lumps in bile that may cause a lot of pain when they enter bile ducts.

Most adults have the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in their body. The virus is either dormant or active. The active form causes mononucleosis, some types of cancer, and perhaps other diseases.

Prevention, removal, and recovery information regarding aging spots. Plus, natural remedies and other possible procedures.

Bone spurs are projections or outgrowths that extend from a bone. They may press on nerves or other tissues, causing pain, numbness, or difficulty in moving.

Glial cells affect the activity of neurons, or nerve cells. Problems with astrocytes, a type of glial cell, may cause or worsen amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Glucagon is an essential pancreatic hormone that raises the blood sugar level. Glucagon administration is sometimes required to treat hypoglycemia in diabetes.

People with COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, suffer from chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both of these disorders. Treatment often slows lung deterioration.

Waking up can be refreshing. However, waking up with swollen fingers is no one's idea of a perfect morning. Learn what causes swollen fingers and how you can treat them.

Most of us don't drink enough water which leaves us dehydrated and damages our health. Learn about the benefits of drinking more water as well as the easiest way to increase the amount of water you drink every day.

Biotech companies are striving to find new cancer treatments using immune therapies and targeted biologics. New detection and screening tests are also under development to diagnose patients earlier.

Measles and rubella (German measles) are viral diseases. They both produce a red body rash and can cause complications, but there are important differences between them.

Recovery from a pulmonary embolism takes a lot of time. Lung damage from blood clots is very serious. Based on my own experience with this condition, I will share what to expect during your recovery.

Do you feel chilled but you don't have a fever? There are many possible reasons for why you may experience chills without a high temperature, and this article explores them.

In someone with an anemia disorder, there are either not enough red blood cells in the blood or the cells contain abnormal hemoglobin. Symptoms range from mild to severe.

The therapeutic use of N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is gaining traction, due to its ability to halt addictive behaviors and rumination. A potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, it normalizes neurotransmitter levels and proves effective in 'snapping' sufferers out of limerence, OCD and food addiction.

Death is difficult to accept, and yet it is a part of life that we cannot change. Having a better understanding of the stages of the dying process will help ease the experience for all involved.

Chemicals in urine react with pool disinfectants. The resulting products can be irritating to the eyes, skin, and airways and might cause more serious effects.

Urine can have many colors, ranging from black to colorless. A change in pee appearance may be unimportant or may indicate a serious health problem.

Find out more about this frequently misdiagnosed type of headache. It's like a migraine but different. It's called a cervicogenic headache or migraine, and it's a real pain!

Learn how to take care of your skin when you have lupus. Reduce malar rashes and other skin irritations by following a few common-sense precautions, as well as your doctor's instructions.

Sleep apnea was a major contributor to NFL star Reggie White's death at age 43. What is sleep apnea, and how is it treated?

Walking pneumonia is often used to describe a case of pneumonia that is not severe enough to require hospitalization or bed rest. Learn about its contagiousness and how you can treat it at home.

Blood platelets help blood to clot after an injury. A low platelet count caused by faulty platelet manufacture or platelet destruction may result in bleeding.

Staph infection is caused by a bacterium that has evolved to resist many of our current antibiotics. Though many infections are minor, some can cause serious damage or even death.

Escherichia coli is a bacterium that exists as different strains. Some strains live in our gut and are very helpful. Others cause foodborne illness and disease.

Chronic back pain, stiff neck, frozen shoulders, and all posture-related pains can be prevented and cured with simple gravity inversion.

Sickled feet are considered as the bane in any form of dancing. It is also a problem of many athletes as well. Well there is that and rolling, which make two of the biggest issues out there. However, it should be noted that sickling of the feet when performing is a bit harder to get rid of.

Learn how to treat and prevent itchy ears.

Pulmonary embolism recovery can be difficult due to the heart and lung damage that occurs. This article focuses on things that patients can do to help themselves throughout the recovery process.

A migraine is a severe headache that is often accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, and other symptoms. Sumatriptan, or Imitrex, helps some migraine sufferers.

This article briefly summarizes the causes and implications of coronary heart disease and explains major risk factors for the disease.

Sleep paralysis is a fairly common condition characterized by either partial or total paralysis of muscles. It occurs upon awakening from sleep or falling asleep, and can be quite frightening.

If you have trouble falling asleep or maintaining a regular sleep pattern, foods with naturally high levels of melatonin can help you without the need for sleep medication.

The synovium is a membrane that lines the inside of many of our joints. Inflammation of the synovium is known as synovitis. Symptoms may include swelling and pain.

While relatively uncommon, an avocado allergy can cause a variety of symptoms ranging from mild to life-threatening. Here are some facts about this type of allergy.

When you sing or speak, do you sound hoarse? If you keep losing your voice, you may have vocal nodules. Learn about vocal nodes and nodules: what causes them and how to avoid them.

Toxoplasma gondii causes toxoplasmosis and may affect brain chemistry and our behavior. The pork tapeworm may enter our brain and cause serious health problems.

Slipping rib syndrome occurs when one of the ribs intermittently slips out of place, thereby stretching the ligaments that support the front and back of the affected rib.

Does milk cause your body to produce more mucus, making your cold and asthma symptoms worse? The research says no. But you might be surprised at the other tricks that milk can play on your system.

My cluster headaches created intense pressure on the eye region. This article describes how I managed to get rid of these headaches without the use of medication.

The pancreas makes digestive enzymes and essential hormones. Pancreatic disorders include inflammation, known as pancreatitis, and type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

I discovered that microfiber sheets help me sleep better. They avoid dust mites that live in mattresses and pillows and cause allergies. Here's my story.

Scabies mites burrow under the surface of the skin, causing a very itchy disease. Demodex skin mites are often harmless but may cause rosacea or blepharitis.

If your body does something unexpected, it's often a sign that something's wrong. One of the things that should never happen is bleeding from the belly button or navel.

Can fallen arches cause knee pain? Not only that, flat feet affect the entire body structure. Learn how the foot works and practice these simple exercises to cure the painful symptoms of fat feet.

A biphasic sleep pattern is a type of segmented sleep that allows one to gain an extra 2 hours a day!! You could do a lot in 2 hours!!

In GERD, acidic material in the stomach moves in the wrong direction and enters the esophagus, causing heartburn. Dietary changes may relieve or improve symptoms.

Tons of easy, fun, and successful breast cancer fundraising ideas that allow you to simplify your group's fundraiser planning and get down to the business of raising money for charity.

When we touch objects, our hands are contaminated by bacteria on the surfaces of the objects. It's very important to wash hands regularly to prevent infections.

Many people who use Accutane (isotretinoin) for acne are aware that it can cause severe hair loss. I lost 70% of my thick, long hair from Accutane; luckily, I managed to regain most of my hair within 2 years due to topical minoxidil (Rogaine), peppermint oil and an anti-inflammatory, fat-rich diet.

The maleficent stomach virus, also known as norovirus, is an epidemic around the world that spreads like wildfire. Here are some tips to protect yourself from this miserable experience.

Stress. Nausea. A need to nap. A sudden feeling of being chilled to the bone. Let's be honest, chemo is challenging and harsh. We researched for you. Here's a comprehensive list of items to include in a care package for cancer patients.

Many different bacteria live on our skin and in its upper layer. Most are harmless. Some may be helpful. A few become harmful under certain conditions.

In some cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a protein called SOD1 is misfolded due to a gene mutation. In mice, a copper compound can prevent the misfolding.

Vitiligo is a skin disorder involving loss of melanin, the pigment that colors skin. It's most likely an autoimmune condition. A variety of potentially helpful treatments are available.

With these gentle daily exercises, as well as the help of gravity inversion, you can improve your posture and ease your neck or shoulder pain.

Difficulty sleeping spoils your day, undermines relationships, and makes you less effective at work. Many causes of sleep problems relate to your lifestyle. This article explains 13 gentle but effective changes you can make to help you get a good night's sleep and wake refreshed and raring to go.

Eczema is a distressing condition that causes the skin to become itchy, red, dry and cracked. It afflicts children and adults alike.