ALL KINDS OF DISEASES

Cancer

2008-10-29T08:02:00.001-07:00

Cancer begins in your cells, which are the building blocks of your body. Normally, your body forms new cells as you need them, replacing old cells that die. Sometimes this process goes wrong. New cells grow even when you don't need them, and old cells don't die when they should. These extra cells can form a mass called a tumor. Tumors can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors aren't cancer while malignant ones are. Cells from malignant tumors can invade nearby tissues. They can also break away and spread to other parts of the body.

Most cancers are named for where they start. For example, lung cancer starts in the lung, and breast cancer starts in the breast. The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another is called metastasis. Symptoms and treatment depend on the cancer type and how advanced it is. Treatment plans may include surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy.

Millions of Americans are living with a diagnosis of cancer. This National Cancer Institute (NCI) booklet (NIH Publication No. 06-1566) has information about this disease. You will read about possible causes, screening tests, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. You will also find suggestions for coping with cancer.

Researchers are learning more about what causes cancer, and how it grows and progresses. And they are looking for new and better ways to prevent, detect, and treat it. Researchers also are looking for ways to improve the quality of life for people with cancer during and after their treatment.

The NCI provides information about cancer, including the publications mentioned in this booklet. You can order these materials by telephone or on the Internet. You can also read them on the Internet and print your own copy.

What is Mesothelioma?

2008-10-27T20:41:00.001-07:00

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart, the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. Washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can also put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma[citation needed]. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking. Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma (see asbestos and the law).

The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.

Staging
Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

What is Prostate Cancer

2008-10-27T20:37:00.000-07:00

Prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. It occurs when cells of the prostate mutate and begin to multiply out of control. These cells may spread (metastasize) from the prostate to other parts of the body, especially the bones and lymph nodes. Prostate cancer may cause pain, difficulty in urinating, erectile dysfunction and other symptoms.

Rates of prostate cancer vary widely across the world. Although the rates vary widely between countries, it is least common in South and East Asia, more common in Europe, and most common in the United States. Prostate cancer develops most frequently in men over fifty. This cancer can occur only in men, as the prostate is exclusively of the male reproductive tract. It is one of the most common types of cancer in men. However, many men who develop prostate cancer never have symptoms, undergo no therapy, and eventually die of other causes. That is because malignant neoplasms of the prostate are, in most cases, slow-growing, and because most of those affected are over 60. Hence they often die of causes unrelated to the prostate cancer, such as heart/circulatory disease, pneumonia, other unconnected cancers or old age. Many factors, including genetics and diet, have been implicated in the development of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is most often discovered by PSA (prostate specific antigen) screening and less commonly by physical examination or by symptoms. There is some current concern about the accuracy of the PSA test and its usefulness. Suspected prostate cancer is typically confirmed by taking a biopsy of the prostate and examining it under a microscope. Further tests, such as CT scans and bone scans, may be performed to determine whether prostate cancer has spread.

Treatment options for prostate cancer with intent to cure are primarily surgery and radiation therapy. Other treatments such as hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, proton therapy, cryosurgery, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) also exist depending on the clinical scenario and desired outcome. Abiraterone Acetate is showing promise in reducing Tumor Size and PSA levels in Aggressive end-stage prostate cancers. The age and underlying health of the man as well as the extent of spread, appearance under the microscope and response of the cancer to initial treatment are important in determining the outcome of the disease. The decision whether or not to treat localized prostate cancer (a tumor that is contained within the prostate) with curative intent is a patient trade-off between the expected beneficial and harmful effects in terms of patient survival and quality of life.

Symptoms
Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. Often it is diagnosed during the workup for an elevated PSA noticed during a routine checkup. Sometimes, however, prostate cancer does cause symptoms, often similar to those of diseases such as benign prostatic hypertrophy. These include frequent urination, increased urination at night, difficulty starting and maintaining a steady stream of urine, blood in the urine, and painful urination. Prostate cancer is associated with urinary dysfunction as the prostate gland surrounds the prostatic urethra. Changes within the gland therefore directly affect urinary function. Prostate cancer may also cause problems with sexual function, such as difficulty achieving erection or painful ejaculation. Because the vas deferens deposits seminal fluid into the prostatic urethra, and secretions from the prostate gland itself are included in semen content, prostate cancer can affect sexual performance and cause painful ejaculation.

Advanced prostate cancer can spread to other parts of the body and this may cause additional symptoms. The most common symptom is bone pain, often in the vertebrae (bones of the spine), pelvis or ribs. Spread of cancer into other bones such as the femur is usually to the proximal part of the bone. Prostate cancer in the spine can also compress the spinal cord, causing leg weakness and urinary and fecal incontinence.

What is Lung Cancer?

2008-10-26T19:21:00.000-07:00

Lung cancer is a disease of uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. This growth may lead to metastasis, which is invasion of adjacent tissue and infiltration beyond the lungs. The vast majority of primary lung cancers are carcinomas of the lung, derived from epithelial cells. Lung cancer, the most common cause of cancer-related death in men and the second most common in women, is responsible for 1.3 million deaths worldwide annually. The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, coughing (including coughing up blood), and weight loss.

The main types of lung cancer are small cell lung carcinoma and non-small cell lung carcinoma. This distinction is important, because the treatment varies; non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is sometimes treated with surgery, while small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) usually responds better to chemotherapy and radiation. The most common cause of lung cancer is long-term exposure to tobacco smoke. The occurrence of lung cancer in nonsmokers, who account for as many as 20% of cases, is often attributed to a combination of genetic factors, radon gas, asbestos, and air pollution, including secondhand smoke.

Lung cancer may be seen on chest x-ray and computed tomography (CT scan). The diagnosis is confirmed with a biopsy. This is usually performed via bronchoscopy or CT-guided biopsy. Treatment and prognosis depend upon the histological type of cancer, the stage (degree of spread), and the patient's performance status. Possible treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. With treatment, the five-year survival rate is 14%.

What is Cervical Cancer?

2008-10-26T19:15:00.000-07:00

Cervical cancer is malignant cancer of the cervix uteri or cervical area. It may present with vaginal bleeding but symptoms may be absent until the cancer is in its advanced stages. Treatment consists of surgery (including local excision) in early stages and chemotherapy and radiotherapy in advanced stages of the disease.

Pap smear screening can identify potentially precancerous changes. Treatment of high grade changes can prevent the development of cancer. In developed countries, the widespread use of cervical screening programs has reduced the incidence of invasive cervical cancer by 50% or more.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a necessary factor in the development of nearly all cases of cervical cancer. HPV vaccine effective against the two strains of HPV that cause the most cervical cancer has been licensed in the U.S. and the EU. These two HPV strains together are currently responsible for approximately 70% of all cervical cancers. Since the vaccine only covers some high-risk types, women should seek regular Pap smear screening, even after vaccination.

Signs and symptoms
The early stages of cervical cancer may be completely asymptomatic. Vaginal bleeding, contact bleeding or (rarely) a vaginal mass may indicate the presence of malignancy. Also, moderate pain during sexual intercourse and vaginal discharge are symptoms of cervical cancer. In advanced disease, metastases may be present in the abdomen, lungs or elsewhere.

Symptoms of advanced cervical cancer may include: loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, pelvic pain, back pain, leg pain, single swollen leg, heavy bleeding from the vagina, leaking of urine or feces from the vagina, and bone fractures.

What is Mutation?

2008-10-26T19:14:00.000-07:00

Mutation can be defined as a permanent change in cell's DNA. The changes in the DNA are reflected by the change expression of the character. If these changes occur in somatic cell, their impact is limited to the affected organism's life. However, any change in the mutation in the germ line-cell may become hereditary.
Kinds of mutation: there are two kinds of mutation.
Chromosomal Aberration:
These are mega or big changes, which involve:
Presence of an extra chromosome.
Loss of chromosome from the genome.
Deletion i.e. removal of one or a few bases from DNA.
Insertion i.e. addition of one or few base in DNA.
Inversion i.e. inverted reunion of the middle segment after breakage of a chromosome at two points, resulting in a change in sequence of genes or nucleotides.
Such mega changes leads to Down's syndrome etc.
Point mutation: these are alteration of one or few base pairs in the coding sequence of the chromosome. Such mutations occur by:
Spontaneous pairing error during DNA replication.
Damage to the DNA caused by mutagens, usually radiations and chemicals. Point mutation are the cause of sickle cell anaemia, phenylalanine.
Disease caused by point mutations:
Sickle cell anaemia: it is due to a change of amino acid glutamic acid by valine at position from N terminal end in haemoglobin beta chain. It reduces the ability to carry oxygen.
Phenylketonuria: in this disease, phenylketonuria is not degraded because of defective enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylate. Phenylalanine consequently accumulates in the cells leading to mental retardation, as the brain fails to develop at the infant stage.

What is chlamydia?

2008-10-26T19:02:00.001-07:00

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that is spread through sexual contact with an infected person. Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STD); more than 50 million cases occur worldwide and approximately three million cases occur in the United States annually.

Who gets chlamydia?
Any sexually active person can be infected with chlamydia. Most often, chlamydia occurs in adolescents and young adults (ages 15-24) who have new or multiple sex partners and who do not consistently use condoms or other barrier contraception.

How is chlamydia spread?
Chlamydia is spread through sexual contact. This includes penis to vagina or penis to rectum contact. It can also be passed from the mother to her newborn during birth.

What are the symptoms of chlamydia?
Because approximately 75 percent of women and 50 percent of men have no symptoms, most people infected with chlamydia are not aware of their infections and may not seek health care. If males have symptoms, they may include urethritis (itching and/or burning on urination) and discharge from the penis in small or moderate amounts. If females have symptoms, they may include vaginal discharge and painful urination.

What is the flu?

2008-10-26T19:00:00.000-07:00

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent this illness is by getting a flu vaccination.

Every year in the United States , on average:

-5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;
more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and;
-about 36,000 people die from flu.
-Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications.

What are the symptoms of flu?
The flu usually starts suddenly and may include these symptoms:

-fever (usually high)
-headache
-extreme tiredness
-dry cough
-sore throat
-runny or stuffy nose
-muscle aches
-stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults.

What is scabies?

2008-10-26T18:59:00.000-07:00

Scabies is a fairly common infectious disease of the skin caused by a mite. Scabies mites burrow into the skin producing pimple-like irritations or burrows.

Who gets scabies?
Scabies infestations can affect people from all socioeconomic levels without regard to age, sex, race or standards of personal hygiene. Clusters of cases, or outbreaks, are occasionally seen in nursing homes, institutions and child care centers.

How is scabies spread?
Scabies mites are transferred by direct skin-to-skin contact. Indirect transfer from undergarments or bedclothes can occur only if these have been contaminated by infected people immediately beforehand. Scabies can also be transmitted during sexual contact.

What are the symptoms of scabies?
The most prominent symptom of scabies is intense itching particularly at night. The areas of the skin most affected by scabies include the webs and sides of the fingers, around the wrists, elbows and armpits, waist, thighs, genitalia, nipples, breasts and lower buttocks.

What is gonorrhea?

2008-10-26T18:58:00.000-07:00

Gonorrhea is an infection that is spread through sexual contact with another person. The gonorrhea germs are found in the mucous areas of the body (the vagina, penis, throat and rectum).

Who gets gonorrhea?
Any sexually active person can be infected with gonorrhea. Most often, gonorrhea is found in younger people (ages 15-30) who have multiple sex partners. Gonorrhea is reported more frequently from urban areas than from rural areas.

How is gonorrhea spread?
Gonorrhea is spread through sexual contact. This includes penis to vagina, penis to mouth, penis to rectum and mouth to vagina contact. Gonorrhea can also be spread from mother to child during birth.

What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?
Men infected with gonorrhea will have burning while urinating and a yellowish white discharge from the penis. Those few women with symptoms will have a discharge from the vagina and possibly some burning while urinating. Infections in the throat and rectum cause few symptoms.

What is meningococcal meningitis?

2008-10-26T18:56:00.000-07:00

Meningococcal disease is a severe bacterial infection of the bloodstream or meninges (a thin lining covering the brain and spinal cord) caused by the meningococcal germ.

Who gets meningococcal disease?
Anyone can get meningococcal disease, but it is more common in infants and children. For some adolescents, such as first-year college students living in dormitories, there is an increased risk of meningococcal disease. Every year in the United States, approximately 2,500 people are infected and 300 die from the disease. Other persons at increased risk include household contacts of a person known to have had this disease, immunocompromised people, and people traveling to parts of the world where meningococcal meningitis is prevalent.

How is the meningococcus germ spread?
The meningococcus germ is spread by direct close contact with nose or throat discharges of an infected person.

What are the symptoms?
High fever, headache, vomiting, stiff neck and a rash are symptoms of meningococcal disease. The symptoms may appear two to 10 days after exposure, but usually within five days. Among people who develop meningococcal disease, 10 to 15 percent die in spite of treatment with antibiotics. Of those who live, permanent brain damage, hearing loss, kidney failure, loss of arms or legs, or chronic nervous system problems can occur.

What is the treatment for meningococcal disease?
Antibiotics, such as penicillin G or ceftriaxone, can be used to treat people with meningococcal disease.

Kidney Disease

2008-10-26T06:46:00.000-07:00

Kidney disease: Reduced kidney function from various causes. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Kidney disease is available below.

The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Kidney disease includes the 2 symptoms listed below:
-Microalbuminuria
-Proteinuria

Other conditions that might have Kidney disease as a complication might be potential underlying conditions. The list of conditions listing Kidney disease as a complication includes:
-Blue Diaper Syndrome
-Classic Distal Renal Tubular Acidosis
-Diabetic Nephropathy
-Fabry's Disease
-Hypertension
-Legionnaires' disease
-MODY syndrome
-Polycystic kidney disease
-Pyelonephritis
-Renal Tubular Acidosis
-Simple kidney cysts
-Tuberculosis
-Urinary tract infections (child)
-Wegener's granulomatosis

Prevention of Kidney disease:
Prevention information for Kidney disease has been compiled from various data sources and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of Kidney disease.
-Control diabetes
-Control blood pressure
-Low-protein diets
-Vitamin B12 - possibly used for prevention of Vitamin B12 deficiency

Hepatitis

2008-10-25T10:48:00.000-07:00

Hepatitis: Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by certain viruses and other factors, such as alcohol abuse, some medications, and trauma. Its ... more about Hepatitis.
Hepatitis: Any type of liver inflammation or infection. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Hepatitis is available below.

-No symptoms - in some cases
-Mild symptoms - in some cases

Early symptoms:
-Mild fever
-Mild flu-like symptoms
-Headache
-Muscle aches
-Fatigue
-Loss of appetite
-Lethargy
-Malaise
-Nausea
-Vomiting
-Diarrhea
-Fever
-Chills
-Biliousness

Later symptoms:
-Dark urine
-Red urine
-Orange urine
-Foamy urine
-Pale feces
-Abdominal pain
-Jaundice
-Yellowing skin
-Yellowing eyes

Severe symptoms of fulminant hepatitis
-Edema
-Loss of consciousness
-Jaundice
-Liver failure
-Kidney failure
-Coma
-Death

Note that Hepatitis symptoms usually refers to various symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Hepatitis signs may refer to those signs only noticable by a doctor.

Stroke

2008-10-25T10:44:00.000-07:00

Stroke symptoms: There are various causes of stroke-like symptoms including stroke, transient ischemic attacks (mini-strokes) and several other serious conditions. ... more about Stroke symptoms.
Stroke: A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the part of the brain is suddenly interrupted (ischemic) or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, ... more about Stroke.
Stroke: Serious brain event from bleeding or blood clots. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Stroke is available below.

-Sudden onset of symptoms - some strokes come on quickly
-Gradual onset of symptoms over hours or days - some strokes take time to onset
-Hemiparesis
-Hemiplegia
-One-sided numbness
-One-sided weakness
-One-sided paralysis
-Temporary limb weakness
-Limb tingling
-Confusion
-Trouble speaking
-Trouble understanding speech
-Trouble seeing in one eye
-Trouble seeing in both eyes
-Dim vision
-Loss of vision
-Trouble walking
-Dizziness
-Loss of balance
-Falls
-Loss of coordination
-Sudden severe headache
-Noisy breathing
-Transient Ischemic Attack - a TIA may be a precursor to full stroke
-Loss of consciousness
-Disturbance of consciousness
-Less common stroke symptoms
-Sudden nausea
-Fever
-Vomiting
-Fainting
-Convulsions
-Coma

Note that Stroke symptoms usually refers to various symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Stroke signs may refer to those signs only noticable by a doctor.

About HIV

2008-10-25T04:47:00.000-07:00

HIV is a sexually transmitted virus and AIDS is the life-threatening immune failure that occurs late in the progression of HIV. AIDS was once in the top ten cause of death in the USA but has dropped out owing to better treatments and reduced transmission.
Very early stages of HIV just after infection resemble the flu or another viral infection. There then follows a latent stage (often years) with no symptoms, and then an early AIDS stage (also often years) with various symptoms, many of them non-specific and easy to misdiagnose. AIDS becomes much more characteristic in the latter stages of the disease where immune failure becomes almost total

TopSymptoms of HIV/AIDS
The initial phase of HIV infection occurs briefly, usually a month or two after exposure:

-No early symptoms - some people notice no early infection symptoms
-Flu-like symptoms
-Fever
-Headache

What is Asthma

2008-10-25T04:35:00.002-07:00

Asthma: Asthma is a chronic lung condition with ongoing airway inflammation that results in recurring acute episodes (attacks) of breathing problems such as ... more about Asthma.
Asthma: Repeated attacks of breathing difficulty. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Asthma is available below.

Symptoms of an asthma attack:
-Coughing
-Wheezing
-Shortness of breath
-Chest tightness
-Rapid breathing
-Shallow breathing
-Itchy throat
-Sore throat
-Drop in peak flow rate
-Rapid pulse
-Difficulty speaking
-Cyanosis
-Breathing difficulty
-Shortness of breath after exertion
-Persistent cough
-Cough worse at night
-Poor stamina

Note that Asthma symptoms usually refers to various symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Asthma signs may refer to those signs only noticable by a doctor.

What is Heart Attack?

2008-10-24T21:01:00.000-07:00

Heart attacks or "acute myocardial infarction" (AMI), are very common and also very deadly. The underlying cause of a heart attack is usually "coronary thrombosis", which is a blockage of the blood vessels of the heart. When the heart actually stops in a heart attack, this is called "cardiac arrest". The most common symptom is chest pain or chest discomfort, but these may also be mild or even absent, and in many cases even the patient is uncertain if they are having a heart attack. If there is any doubt, seek immediate emergency medical help.
The classic fatal misdiagnosis of heart attack is a person believing that their chest pain is simply heartburn (i.e., reflux, indigestion, GERD, etc.), and failing to seek medical attention for what turns out to be a heart attack. Similarly, people can mistakenly believe they have angina, when it is actually a heart attack.
However, many cases of heart attack go undiagnosed even in the emergency department. This diagnostic error in the ER makes AMI the single largest malpractice litigation-related medical condition. Because the typical profile for AMI in older men (usually over 45), AMI is often underdiagnosed in women or younger adults. In any age patients, AMI can have a variety of presentations, and diagnostic tests such as an EKG may still be normal. Misdiagnoses of AMI include gastrointestinal disorders (26% of misdiagnoses), musculoskeletal pain (21%), or respiratory ailments such as pneumonia or bronchitis (6%).
Other the other hand, there are also less serious disorders that are mistakenly believed to be heart attack. A common example are people having a panic attack (anxiety attack) and will rush to emergency in the belief they are dying from a heart attack. There are many other causes of chest pain, many of them not as serious (e.g. heartburn, GERD, gastric reflux, etc.). Nevertheless, it is important not to take chances, and seek immediate emergency medical attention for chest pain, or any possible heart attack or similar symptoms.

The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Heart attack includes the 43 symptoms listed below:

-Chest discomfort - usually in the center of the chest, and may come and go.
-Uncomfortable chest pressure
-Chest squeezing
-Chest fullness
-Chest pain

Upper body discomfort - it is not necessarily just the chest that gets pain or discomfort
-Pain radiating to left arm
-Back discomfort
-Back pain
-Discomfort in one arm
-Discomfort in both arms
-Neck discomfort
-Jaw discomfort
-Stomach discomfort

Symptoms of actual full cardiac arrest:
-Loss of consciousness
-Cyanosis
-Pallor
-Absent pulse
-Dilated pupils

Other Signs
-Shortness of Breath
-Sweating
-Cold sweat
-Nausea
-Vomiting
-Light-headedness
-Fainting
-Shortness of breath
-Tiredness
-Extreme fatigue
-Anxiety
-Palpitations
-Paleness
-Upset stomach
-Dyspnea
-Diaphoresis
-Panic

Common features of heart attack symptoms
-Uncertainty about symptoms - most people are unsure whether they are having a heart attack. Doubt is common
-Progressive symptoms - the pain often starts mild and gets worse
-Intermittent symptoms - sometimes the pain or discomfort will come and go
-Sudden severe symptoms - sometimes the symptoms start out severe and sudden rather than mild.

Note that Heart attack symptoms usually refers to various symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Heart attack signs may refer to those signs only noticable by a doctor.

What is Breast Cancer?

2008-10-24T20:56:00.000-07:00

Breast cancer is the second leading malpractice-related condition with most lawsuits arising out of misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. One problem is that a mammogram may be negative, even for women with a breast lump, but a negative mammogram does not definitively rule out breast cancer. Further tests are necessary. Another problem is that women under 50 can get breast cancer, but many doctors will assume a diagnosis of breast fibrocystic disease because of their age.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer:

The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Breast Cancer includes the 28 symptoms listed below:
-No early symptoms
-Breast lump
-Breast thickening
-Lump near breast
-Hard painless breast lump
-Underarm lump
-Breast changes
-Breast size change
-Breast shape change
-Breast skin ridges
-Breast skin pitting
-Warm breast
-Swollen breast
-Red breast
-Scaly breast
-Nipple changes
-Nipple discharge
-Nipple tenderness
-Nipple inverted
-Warm nipple
-Swollen nipple
-Red nipple
-Scaly nipple
-Areola changes
-Warm areola
-Swollen areola
-Red areola
-Scaly areola

Note that Breast Cancer symptoms usually refers to various symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Breast Cancer signs may refer to those signs only noticable by a doctor.

What is Aids?

2008-10-24T20:51:00.000-07:00

A syndrome resulting from the acquired deficiency of cellular immunity caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It is characterized by the reduction of the Helper T-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and the lymph nodes; opportunistic infections (usually pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections, tuberculosis, candida infections, and cryptococcosis); and the development of malignant neoplasms (usually non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Kaposi's sarcoma). The human immunodeficiency virus is transmitted through sexual contact, sharing of contaminated needles, or transfusion of contaminated blood. Generalized lymphadenopathy, fever, weight loss, and chronic diarrhea are common symptoms of AIDS. The patients usually die either of opportunistic infections or malignant neoplasms.

Symptoms of AIDS:
-Opportunistic infections
-HIV infection
-Weakened immune system
-Fever
-Sweating

Medications used to treat AIDS:

Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.

Some of the different medications used in the treatment of AIDS include:

-Zidovudine
-Retrovir
-Combivir
-Trizivir

Unlabelled alternative drug treatments include:

-Pentoxifylline
-Pentoxil
-Trental
-Albert Pentoxyfylline
-Apo-Pentoxifylline SR
-Nu-Pentoxifylline SR
-Rato-Pentoxifylline
-Fixoten
-Kentadin
-Peridane
-Sufisal
-Vasofyl

Heart disease

2008-10-24T06:21:00.000-07:00

Heart disease is an umbrella term for a variety for different diseases affecting the heart. As of 2007, it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, killing one person every 34 seconds in the United States alone.

Coronary heart disease
Coronary artery disease is a disease of the artery caused by the accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the walls of the arteries that supply the myocardium. Angina pectoris (chest pain) and myocardial infarction (heart attack) are symptoms of and conditions caused by coronary heart disease.

Over 459,000 Americans die of coronary heart disease every year. In the United Kingdom, 101,000 deaths annually are due to coronary heart disease.

Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy literally means "heart muscle disease" (Myo= muscle, pathy= disease) It is the deterioration of the function of the myocardium (i.e., the actual heart muscle) for any reason. People with cardiomyopathy are often at risk of arrhythmia and/or sudden cardiac death.

Extrinsic cardiomyopathies - cardiomyopathies where the primary pathology is outside the myocardium itself. Most cardiomyopathies are extrinsic, because by far the most common cause of a cardiomyopathy is ischemia. The World Health Organization calls these specific cardiomyopathies:
-Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
-Coronary artery disease
-Congenital heart disease - see below
-Nutritional diseases affecting the heart
-Ischemic (or ischaemic) cardiomyopathy
-Hypertensive cardiomyopathy
-Valvular cardiomyopathy - see also Valvular heart disease below
-Inflammatory cardiomyopathy - see also Inflammatory heart disease below
-Cardiomyopathy secondary to a systemic metabolic disease

Intrinsic cardiomyopathies - weakness in the muscle of the heart that is not due to an identifiable external cause.
-Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) - most common form, and one of the leading indications for heart transplantation. In DCM the heart (especially the left ventricle) is enlarged and the pumping function is diminished.
-Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM or HOCM) - genetic disorder caused by various mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins. In HCM the heart muscle is thickened, which can obstruct blood flow and prevent the heart from functioning properly.
-Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) - arises from an electrical disturbance of the heart in which heart muscle is replaced by fibrous scar tissue. -The right ventricle is generally most affected.
-Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) - least common cardiomyopathy. The walls of the ventricles are stiff, but may not be thickened, and resist the normal filling of the heart with blood. ** Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy - the left ventricle wall has failed to properly grow from birth and such has a spongy appearance when viewed during an echocardiogram

Cope with Alcoholism

2008-10-24T06:18:00.000-07:00

You can take steps today to stop drinking. Your first step might be to see your doctor, contact a support group, or set a date in the near future to stop. While some people can stop drinking on their own, others need medical help to manage the physical process of withdrawal.
If you think you have an addiction to alcohol, talk to your doctor about whether you need to withdraw from alcohol under medical supervision. Your doctor can give you medicine that will help you safely withdraw from alcohol. Other medicines might be prescribed later to help you stay sober. With a doctor's help, withdrawal from alcohol is safer.

Stopping alcohol use can:

-Prevent or reduce health problems that are made worse by alcohol use, such as liver damage.
-Prevent harm to your unborn baby if you are pregnant.
-Reduce related family concerns or relationship problems.
-Increase your ability to be productive at work, school, and home.
-Reduce legal problems that you might have as a result of misuse of alcohol.

Cope with Allergies

2008-10-24T06:17:00.000-07:00

One of the best things you can do is to avoid the things that cause your allergies. You may need to clean your house often to get rid of dust, animal dander, or molds. Or you may need to stay indoors when pollen counts are high.
Unless you have another health problem, such as asthma, you may be able to treat your symptoms at home with medicines you can buy without a prescription. If you do have another problem, talk to your doctor first. Others who also should talk to their doctor before starting self-treatment include older adults, children, and women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.

If home treatments do not help or the over-the-counter medicines make you sleepy or cause other side effects that bother you, then your doctor can prescribe medicines. These medicines can relieve your allergy symptoms with fewer side effects than over-the-counter medicines.

Finding the treatment that works best for you may take a little time. You may need to try several medicines before you find the one that works for you.

If your allergies bother you a lot and you cannot avoid the things you are allergic to, you and your doctor can decide if you should get allergy shots (immunotherapy) to help control your symptoms. For allergy shots to work, you need to know what you are allergic to.

Cope with Asthma

2008-10-24T06:15:00.000-07:00

Asthma causes swelling and inflamation in the airways that lead to your lungs. When asthma flares up, the airways tighten and become narrower. This keeps the air from passing through easily and makes it hard for you to breathe. These flare ups are also called asthma attacks or exacerbations.
Asthma affects people in different ways. Some people only have asthma attacks during allergy season, or when they breathe in cold air, or when they exercise. Others have many bad attacks that send them to the doctor often.

Even if you have few asthma attacks, you still need to treat your asthma. If the swelling and inflammation in your airways aren't controlled, asthma could lead to permanent changes in your airways and harm your lungs.

Many people with asthma live active, full lives. Even though asthma is a lifelong disease, treatment can control it and keep your lungs healthy.

Experts do not know exactly what causes asthma. But there are some things we do know:

-Asthma runs in families.
-Asthma is much more common in people with allergies, though not everyone with
allergies gets asthma.
-Pollution may cause asthma or make it worse.

Heart Diseases

2008-10-23T05:32:00.001-07:00

Also called: Cardiac disease

If you're like most people, you think that heart disease is a problem for other folks. But heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. It is also a major cause of disability. There are many different forms of heart disease. The most common cause of heart disease is narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart itself. This is called coronary artery disease and happens slowly over time. It's the major reason people have heart attacks.

Other kinds of heart problems may happen to the valves in the heart, or the heart may not pump well and cause heart failure. Some people are born with heart disease.

You can help reduce your risk of heart disease by taking steps to control factors that put you at greater risk:

-Control your blood pressure
-Lower your cholesterol
-Don't smoke
-Get enough exercise

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Cholesterol

2008-10-23T05:29:00.001-07:00

Also called: HDL, Hypercholesterolemia, Hyperlipidemia, Hyperlipoproteinemia, LDL

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if you have too much in your blood, it can stick to the walls of your arteries. This is called plaque. Plaque can narrow your arteries or even block them.

High levels of cholesterol in the blood can increase your risk of heart disease. Your cholesterol levels tend to rise as you get older. There are usually no signs or symptoms that you have high blood cholesterol, but it can be detected with a blood test. You are likely to have high cholesterol if members of your family have it, if you are overweight or if you eat a lot of fatty foods.

You can lower your cholesterol by exercising more and eating more fruits and vegetables. You also may need to take medicine to lower your cholesterol.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

2008-10-23T05:28:00.002-07:00

Diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose, or sugar, levels are too high. Glucose comes from the foods you eat. Insulin is a hormone that helps the glucose get into your cells to give them energy. With Type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin. With Type 2 diabetes, the more common type, your body does not make or use insulin well. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in your blood
Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can damage your eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Diabetes can also cause heart disease, stroke and even the need to remove a limb. Pregnant women can also get diabetes, called gestational diabetes.

Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes may include fatigue, thirst, weight loss, blurred vision and frequent urination. Some people have no symptoms. A blood test can show if you have diabetes. Exercise, weight control and sticking to your meal plan can help control your diabetes. You should also monitor your glucose level and take medicine if prescribed.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

2008-10-23T05:28:00.001-07:00

Also called: Dyspepsia, Upset stomach

Nearly everyone has had indigestion at one time. It's a feeling of discomfort or a burning feeling in your upper abdomen. You may have heartburn or belch and feel bloated. You may also feel nauseated, or even throw up.

You might get indigestion from eating too much or too fast, eating high-fat foods or eating when you're stressed. Smoking, drinking too much alcohol, using some medicines, being tired and having ongoing stress can also cause indigestion or make it worse. Sometimes the cause is a problem with the digestive tract, like an ulcer or GERD.

Avoiding foods and situations that seem to cause it may help. Because indigestion can be a sign of a more serious problem, see your health care provider if it lasts for more than two weeks or if you have severe pain or other symptoms.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Insomnia

2008-10-23T05:27:00.000-07:00

Sleep Disorders

Is it hard for you to fall asleep or stay asleep though the night? Do you wake up feeling tired or feel very sleepy during the day, even if you have had enough sleep? You might have a sleep disorder. The most common kinds are

-Insomnia - a hard time falling or staying asleep
-Sleep apnea - breathing interruptions during sleep
-Restless legs syndrome - a tingling or prickly sensation in the legs
-Narcolepsy - daytime "sleep attacks"

Nightmares, night terrors, sleepwalking, sleep talking, head banging, wetting the bed and grinding your teeth are kinds of sleep problems called parasomnias. There are treatments for most sleep disorders. Sometimes just having regular sleep habits can help.

Migraines

2008-10-23T05:25:00.000-07:00

A migraine is a very painful type of headache. People who get migraines often describe the pain as pulsing or throbbing in one area of the head. During migraines, people are very sensitive to light and sound. They may also become nauseated and vomit.

Migraine is three times more common in women than in men. Some people can tell when they are about to have a migraine because they see flashing lights or zigzag lines or they temporarily lose their vision.

Many things can trigger a migraine. These include

-Anxiety
-Stress
-Lack of food or sleep
-Exposure to light
-Hormonal changes (in women)

Doctors used to believe migraines were linked to the opening and narrowing of blood vessels in the head. Now they believe the cause is related to genes that control the activity of some brain cells. Medicines can help prevent migraine attacks or help relieve symptoms of attacks when they happen. For many people, treatments to relieve stress can also help.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Osteoporosis

2008-10-23T05:23:00.000-07:00

Osteoporosis makes your bones weak and more likely to break. Anyone can develop osteoporosis, but it is common in older women. As many as half of all women and a quarter of men older than 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.

Risk factors include

-Getting older
-Being small and thin
-Having a family history of osteoporosis
-Taking certain medicines
-Being a white or Asian woman
-Having osteopenia, which is low bone mass

Osteoporosis is a silent disease. You might not know you have it until you break a bone. A bone mineral density test is the best way to check your bone health. To keep bones strong, eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, exercise and do not smoke. If needed, medicines can also help.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Pneumonia

2008-10-23T05:18:00.000-07:00

Also called: Bronchopneumonia

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung, usually caused by an infection. Three common causes are bacteria, viruses and fungi. You can also get pneumonia by accidentally inhaling a liquid or chemical. People most at risk are older than 65 or younger than 2 years of age, or already have health problems.

If you have pneumonia, you may have difficulty breathing and have a cough and a fever. A physical exam and history can help determine if you have pneumonia. Chest x-rays and blood tests can help determine what is wrong. Treatment depends on what made you sick. If bacteria are the cause, antibiotics should help. Viral pneumonia may get better with rest and drinking liquids.

Preventing pneumonia is always better than treating it. The best preventive measures include washing your hands frequently, not smoking, and wearing a mask when cleaning dusty or moldy areas. There is a vaccine for pneumococcal pneumonia, a bacterial infection which accounts for up to a quarter of all pneumonias.

Stress

2008-10-23T05:16:00.001-07:00

Stress is a feeling that's created when we react to particular events. It's the body's way of rising to a challenge and preparing to meet a tough situation with focus, strength, stamina, and heightened alertness.
The events that provoke stress are called stressors, and they cover a whole range of situations - everything from outright physical danger to making a class presentation or taking a semester's worth of your toughest subject.

The human body responds to stressors by activating the nervous system and specific hormones. The hypothalamus signals the adrenal glands to produce more of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol and release them into the bloodstream. These hormones speed up heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and metabolism. Blood vessels open wider to let more blood flow to large muscle groups, putting our muscles on alert. Pupils dilate to improve vision. The liver releases some of its stored glucose to increase the body's energy. And sweat is produced to cool the body. All of these physical changes prepare a person to react quickly and effectively to handle the pressure of the moment.

This natural reaction is known as the stress response. Working properly, the body's stress response enhances a person's ability to perform well under pressure. But the stress response can also cause problems when it overreacts or fails to turn off and reset itself properly.

Ulcers

2008-10-23T05:12:00.000-07:00

A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of your stomach or your duodenum, the first part of your small intestine. A burning stomach pain is the most common symptom. The pain

-May come and go for a few days or weeks
-May bother you more when your stomach is empty
-Usually goes away after you eat

Peptic ulcers happen when the acids that help you digest food damage the walls of the stomach or duodenum. The most common cause is infection with a bacterium called Heliobacter pylori. Another cause is the long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Stress and spicy foods do not cause ulcers, but can make them worse.

Peptic ulcers will get worse if not treated. Treatment may include medicines to block stomach acids or antibiotics to kill ulcer-causing bacteria. Not smoking and avoiding alcohol can help. Surgery may help for ulcers that don't heal.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Cope with Diseases

2008-10-23T05:02:00.000-07:00

For thousands of years, people believed that stress made you sick. Up until the nineteenth century, the idea that the passions and emotions were intimately linked to disease held sway, and people were told by their doctors to go to spas or seaside resorts when they were ill. Gradually these ideas lost favor as more concrete causes and cures were found for illness after illness. But in the last decade, scientists like Dr. Esther Sternberg, director of the Integrative Neural Immune Program at NIH's National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), have been rediscovering the links between the brain and the immune system.
When you have an infection or something else that causes inflammation such as a burn or injury, many different kinds of cells from the immune system stream to the site. Dr. Sternberg likens them to soldiers moving into battle, each kind with its own specialized function. Some are like garbage collectors, ingesting invaders. Some make antibodies to fight the infectious agents; others kill invaders directly. All these types of immune cells must coordinate their actions, and the way they do that is by sending each other signals in the form of molecules that they make in factories inside the cell.

It turns out that these molecules have many more effects than just being the walkie-talkie communicators between different kinds of immune cells, Dr. Sternberg says. They can also go through the bloodstream to signal the brain or activate nerves nearby that signal the brain.

These immune molecules, Dr. Sternberg explains, cause the brain to change its functions. They can induce a whole set of behaviors that we call sickness behavior. . . . You lose the desire or the ability to move, you lose your appetite, you lose interest in sex. Scientists can only speculate about the purpose of these sickness behaviors, but Dr. Sternberg suggests that they might help us conserve energy when we are sick so we can better use our energy to fight disease.