Diseases & secondary effects
Learn about the causes and treatment of diseases such as diabetes, anemia or cancer, as well as the secondary effects of the intake of certain drugs, treatments and vitamin supplements.
161 articles
Ever feel stuffy or struggle with allergies at home? High humidity could be the culprit. But don't worry! Dehumidifiers can be your secret weapon for creating a comfortable and healthy living space. A dehumidifier is an appliance designed to remove excess moisture from the air in your home. We'll explore...
Whether you can kneel after having a knee replaced will depend on the individual and their circumstances. Generally speaking, it is possible to kneel after an artificial knee is implanted, but it often requires time. In rare occasions, someone may never be able to fully kneel again. However, most patients...
Lipedema is a pathology related to the production of excess adipose tissue which occurs almost exclusively in women. It is a little-known disease, but it can seriously affect the quality of life of those affected. Although it may be associated with obesity, it is a different condition and it can also affect...
The body has a series of joints that work to facilitate the performance of movements of all kinds. The hip is one of the most important for locomotion, but it is also one which is most prone to injury. This is partly because it is responsible for carrying much of the body's weight and issues such as...
Whitish spots on the nails, in various forms and extensions, are a fairly common problem that in most cases is not serious. However, it is always a good idea to consult a dermatologist, because although it is not common, it could be an indication of a health problem. These spots can have different causes...
Knowing a person's blood type is important for both giving and receiving blood. Although in emergency situations, most patients will be given O-negative blood as this works on all blood types. When we have non-emergency medical procedures which require blood transfusions, we will need to know our blood...
The astringent diet is a special diet designed to help with various gastrointestinal problems, such as gastroenteritis or diarrhea. After these diseases, the body has to deal with a great loss of nutrients. You can help your body by eating soft foods that do not require much work from the digestive system....
Astigmatism is a vision problem that affects many people. It is an ocular anomaly which derives from an irregular curvature of the cornea. The result is a distortion in vision. When someone has acute vision, they can distinguish objects in their environment easily. Astigmatism causes objects to be so distorted,...
A burning sensation on the anus can occur during a bowel movement, but often does so seemingly out of the blue. Although everyone poops, discussing issues which affect the anus is still stigmatized. It can be difficult for us to know what problems may cause a burning rectum, let alone how we may treat them....
Cryotherapy or cold therapy consists of the local or general use of very low temperatures to treat injuries, regenerate tissues and relieve muscular pain. In principle it can be applied to any part of the body, adapting the intensity to the area, the type of injury and the type of skin.
During cryotherapy,...
Donating blood is not an entirely selfless act. If we ourselves don't require a blood transfusion at some point in our lives, someone close to us surely will. Without any risk to our own health, blood donors help save the lives of thousands of people per day. Since blood scarcity is a problem, volunteers...
For anyone who has to wear glasses when walking outside, a mask can be practically difficult to wear. To do its job, the mask has to stop certain particles passing through the material, but air will also be difficult to pass. For this reason, the air rises above the top of the mask and fogs up our glasses....
Diarrhea is a fairly common digestive problem which can be incredibly uncomfortable and annoying. Whether due to indigestion or other digestive problems, the fact is that diarrhea is not fun and can really interfere with your daily routine. But, how can you treat diarrhea naturally? Well, keep reading to...
Heat wave, heating in the house or a heating pad, it doesn’t matter, have you ever noticed heat causing cramps and diarrhea? It’s important to remember some symptoms of heat stroke include palpitations, dehydration and diarrhea. But, why does heat sometimes cause diarrhea and cramps?
If you’re wondering...
Having pain in your lower left hand side back can be frightening and uncomfortable. Pain in this area can be a sign of an organ issue in your abdominal region. Except for kidneys, most internal organs are located in the front part of your body, but that doesn’t mean it cannot cause pain in your lower...
Do you suffer from pain behind the kneecap? It is common to suffer from bad knees, especially if you are an athlete, elderly or do a lot of sport. The area behind the knee, if not treated correctly, can injure easily. There are several types of injuries and conditions which can affect the general knee...
Vasculitis is a general term given to any disease that leads to inflammation of the blood vessels. When your blood vessels are inflamed, the affected body part becomes weak and can either increase or decrease in size. Sometimes, it narrows to the point it entirely closes off and blocks. Symptoms may...
The human body is resilient. It has ways of protecting us from injury. Even if we do get injured, it has its own incredible system of healing. Minor wounds can damage your skin cells, but they can heal within a few days with time and little treatment. Most wounds are shallow and are limited to the outer...
Tonsillitis is a condition in which tonsils become red and swollen due to viral or bacterial infection. It is a common condition suffered by children from 5 to 15 years of age, but adults can also have it from time to time. If your tonsils become infected too often, and if you are not able to breathe...
There are different areas of the body that, due to their disposition and shape, have a tendency to smell bad. Discharge, the armpits or the navel are clear examples of those areas that, if they are not washed regularly and in a correct way, can end up causing bad smell.
But not only hygiene, or lack...
Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, herpes labialis or oral herpes, are a kind of infection which affect lips or the area around the mouth. They are caused by HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus 1). Cold sores may take as long as 2-3 weeks to heal completely, but the virus causing them will still be laying...
White blood cells play a significant role in defending the immune system, and they are essential for protecting your body from invading parasites and bacteria. Human body has five different types of white blood cells, and eosinophils are one of them. An eosinophil count test is conducted to find out the eosinophils...
Eosinophilic folliculitis is a recurrent skin disease most commonly occurring in HIV positive individuals for unknown causes. It may also affect HIV negative individuals with the name of Ofuji disease, which is why the cause for Eosinophillic Folliculitis will determine how long it lasts, although it can...
Fissure is a tear or cut in the anus, extending up towards the anal canal. This is a common anal condition, and usually causes severe pain during bowel movements. Anal fissure is usually caused by repeated diarrhea or hard stool that caused trauma to the anal canal. Sometimes, insertion of an enema tip, rectal...
Lymphocytosis occurs when the number of lymphocytes in your blood increases significantly. Ideally, adults should have maximum 4000 per microliter of lymphocyte count, followed by 7000 per microliter in older children, and 9000 per microliter in infants. A complete blood count is usually obtained to calculate...
Often the cure for balanitis is simply regular and thorough cleaning of the affected area. As this area is the penis, it is understandable you may be concerned. On the most sensitive part of your most sensitive area, a red skin rash appears. It presents as a red rash on the head of the penis (the glans...
Psoriasis is an autoimmune system related disorder characterized by flaky, red patches on skin. Even though the symptoms are visible on the skin, the problem is actually hidden deep inside. T-cells, a type of WBCs, are responsible for giving you psoriasis, as these cells are designed to protect you...
Many people feel itching in the anus at night, which regularly does not allow them to sleep peacefully. In addition, the continuous scratching can lead to the appearance of wounds, inflammation in the rectum, slight bleeding, etc. This is why it's important to know the causes of itching in the anus so...
Balanitis is a disease which works similarly to yeast infections, except it solely affects the glans penis of a male penis. The glans penis is the bulbous head of a penis which is covered in foreskin if uncircumcised. As balanitis is often caused by fungal infection, cleanliness is an issue. Uncircumcised...
Ideally, a human body’s temperature should be between 35˚C and 37˚C or 95˚F and 98.6˚F. In certain conditions, it may go below this temperature range and you become the victim of hypothermia. Usually, this happens when you are exposed to cold temperatures for long periods of time, and your body is not able...
A stye is a pimple like bump on the eye caused by a bacterial infection due to staphylococcal bacteria. It usually occurs on the eyelid, or in the inner eye corner along the lash line. Most of the times, a stye goes away on its own within 2-3 days. It is mostly characterized by pain and swelling, soreness,...
When summers strike, we all tend to sweat. Some people sweat a little more than others, but that’s fine. Actually, sweat is a good thing to happen, as it opens up your pores and releases toxins out. But sweating at the wrong times can make things worse and even embarrass you. You would not want those...
You can use turmeric to cure psoriasis by ingesting curcumin capsules, drinking turmeric milk, or applying turmeric paste on your skin.
Turmeric is used in Ayurveda to treat a variety of diseases, but it is especially recommended for skin problems, to lighten the skin, and to remove hair easily. But did...
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Tired legs can be a symptom of a health problem related to blood circulation, especially thrombosis; the most common manifestation are varicose veins or spider veins. We tend to especially notice tired legs towards the end of the day, but there may come a time when we wake up with these symptoms, which...
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Blood blisters are red fluid-filled bumps under the skin. When a mild injury is sustained, such as a pinch, blood is released from the blood vessels and forms a fluid filled sac. The best way to prevent blood blisters is to lower the risk of knocking parts of your body against objects.
For instance,...
Spread through skin contact from one person to the other, scabies is a skin condition that is so itchy that it will drive you crazy. Cause is a barely visible, tiny, 8-legged mite called sarcoptes scabei. This mite is so contagious that it can transfer from a person even through a casual handshake. Then...
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Are you desperate to relieve urinary discomfort? When you experience inflammation of the urinary tract, you may suffer from a painful urinary tract infection. Therefore, it is important that you seek medical attention as soon as you notice the most minor of symptoms of urinary tract infection to stop...
Anemia is a condition that occurs when the amount of red blood cells decreases considerably or these cells don't contain enough hemoglobin. This can happen due to several factors, including following a diet low in iron and blood loss from bleeding or certain diseases. To increase iron levels and combat...
Body temperature allows us to evaluate the efficiency of the thermal regulation which occurs in the human body in relation to environmental temperatures and the intensity of the activities we do. The peripheral temperature (skin, mucous membranes, muscles, limbs, etc.) varies a lot. Normal body temperature...
In short, both lymphocytes and leukocytes are components of the human blood. Basically, blood is a kind of connecting tissue made of plasma which is a fluid matrix. It also contains various types of cells and elements that keep circulating through the body within plasma. Protection, regulation and transportation...
Some of the people who suffer from restless leg syndrome might already know that there are essential oils that are beneficial for such condition. Restless leg syndrome is a condition an incredible amount of people suffer from. It leads to itchiness, insomnia and general nervousness. Moreover, traditional...
The bone marrow produces blood cells called as lymphocytes. Their major function is to protect your body from infections. When the lymphocytes count is low, the condition is termed as lymphocytopenia. Under this condition, the body becomes more prone to catch infections, and develop symptoms of severe...
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To keep your stomach healthy and free from digestive trouble or any other problems you need to eat a balanced diet. But we often feel bloated and extremely heavy when we eat too much, which is when it is recommended to help our body detox. Natural ingredients can be great allies to feel much better on...
Gastro-oesophageal reflux is an involuntary leakage of gastric contents into the oesophagus caused by inefficiency in the gastro-oesophageal area. Such condition is very common in pregnant women and typically stops after giving birth. However, for non pregnant people with gastroesophageal reflux disease,...
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Pin prick heart pain, pricking pain in the chest, or the feeling of pins and needles down the thorax. These are some of the descriptions offered up by people who have suffered or who suffer sometimes from this painful sensation in the chest area. The causes can be many, so we should not be alarmed, and use...
Skin plays a significant role in controlling body temperature. But in case of severe burns, when a large portion of skin is damaged, the patient tends to lose body heat and suffer from dangerously low body temperature condition. This condition is called hypothermia, which is a serious condition in which...
As the summer comes to an end and fall is upon us, temperatures begin to cool and the days get shorter. As the leaves drop, cold and flu symptoms seem to rise. This is because rhinoviruses and coronaviruses, most frequently the cause of the dreary common cold, replicate more in this cool dry weather typical...
There is a good news for people who have psoriasis or eczema: you can treat them naturally using hemp oil or cream. Psoriasis and eczema are two conditions whose causes haven't been discovered yet. They are probably linked to both physical and mental factors. While it is hard to focus on the causes,...
Diverticulitis is a serious medical condition that occurs when bulging pouches called diverticula in your digestive system become infected due to weak spots in your intestinal wall. Mild cases of the condition can be treated with the help of antibiotics, but you will need to follow a diverticulitis diet...
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Color blindness, also known as color vision deficiency,is an eye disorder that makes it difficult to distinguish the primary colours blue, green and red. This visual impairment is inherited and often arises from a defective X chromosome transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy. For most people who...