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Abdomen - swollen 10/30/2010
Swollen belly; Swelling in the abdomen; Abdominal distention; Distended abdomen Common Causes: Abdominal swelling, or distention, is more often caused by overeating than by a serious illness. This problem can be caused by: Air swallowing (a nervous habit) Buildup of fluid in the abdomen (this can be a sign of a serious medical problem) Gas in the intestines from eating foods that are high in fiber (such as fruits and vegetables) Irritable bowel syndrome Lactose intolerance Ovarian cyst Partial bowel blockage Pregnancy Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) Uterine fibroids Weight gain Home Care: A swollen abdomen that is caused by eating a heavy meal will go away when you digest the food.
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Abdominal bloating 04/12/2010
Bloating; Meteorism Considerations: Common Causes: Common causes include: Air swallowing (a nervous habit) Constipation Gastroesophageal reflux Irritable bowel syndrome Lactose intolerance and other food intolerances Overeating Small bowel bacterial overgrowth Weight gain The diabetes medication acarbose, as well as any medicine containing lactulose or sorbitol, may cause bloating.
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Abdominal mass 10/30/2010
Mass in the abdomen Considerations: An abdominal mass is usually found during a routine physical examination . Most of the time the mass develops slowly. You may not be able to feel the mass. Finding where the pain occurs helps the doctor make a diagnosis. For example, the abdomen is usually divided into four areas: Right-upper quadrant Left-upper quadrant Right-lower quadrant Left-lower quadrant Other terms used to find the location of abdominal pain or masses include: Epigastric -- center of the abdomen just below the rib cage Periumbilical -- area around the bellybutton The location of the mass and its firmness, texture, and other qualities can provide clues to its cause.
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Abdominal pain 10/07/2009
Stomach pain; Pain - abdomen; Belly ache; Abdominal cramps Considerations: Almost everyone experiences pain in the abdomen at one time or another. Most of the time, it is not caused by a serious medical problem. There are many organs in the abdomen. Pain in the abdomen can originate from any one of them, including: Organs related to digestion -- the end of the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas The aorta -- a large blood vessel that runs straight down the inside of the abdomen The appendix -- an organ in the lower right abdomen that no longer serves much function The kidneys -- two bean-shaped organs that lie deep within the abdominal cavity The spleen -- an organ involved in blood maintenance and infection control However, the pain may start from somewhere else -- like your chest or pelvic area.
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Abdominal rigidity 10/30/2010
Rigidity of the abdomen Considerations: When there is a sore area inside the belly or abdomen, the pain will get worse when a hand presses against muscles of the abdomen. Your fear or nervousness about being touched (palpated) may cause this symptom, but there should be no pain. If you have pain when you are touched and you tighten the muscles to "guard" against more pain, it is more likely caused by a physical condition inside your body.
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Abdominal sounds 10/30/2010
Bowel sounds Considerations: Abdominal sounds (bowel sounds) are made by the movement of the intestines as they push food through. Since the intestines are hollow, bowel sounds can echo through the abdomen much like the sounds heard from water pipes. Most bowel sounds are harmless and simply mean that the gastrointestinal tract is working. A doctor can check abdominal sounds by listening to the abdomen with a stethoscope ( auscultation ).
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Abnormal posturing 03/26/2009
Pathologic posturing; Evaluating a person in a coma Considerations: Abnormal posturing present with little or only mild stimulation is a sign of serious central nervous system damage.
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Agitation 02/28/2010
Restlessness Considerations: Agitation can come on suddenly or over time. It can last for just a few minutes, or for weeks and even months. Pain, stress, and fever can all increase agitation. Agitation by itself may not be a sign of a health problem. However, if other symptoms occur, it can be a sign of disease. When agitation lasts for hours and there is a change in alertness (altered consciousness), doctors call this delirium .
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Ambiguous genitalia 05/12/2009
Genitals - ambiguous Considerations: The genetic sex of a child is determined at conception. The mother's egg cell (ovum) contains an X chromosome , while the father's sperm cell contains either an X or a Y chromosome. These X and Y chromosomes determine the child's genetic sex. Normally, an infant inherits one pair of sex chromosomes -- one X from the mother and one X or one Y from the father.
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Anisocoria 06/24/2009
Enlargement of one pupil; Pupils of different size; Eyes/pupils different size Considerations: It is normal for a person's two pupils to be up to 1 mm (.05 inch) different in size. Babies born with different sized pupils may not have any underlying disorder. If other family members also similar pupils, then the pupil size difference is possibly genetic and nothing to worry about.
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Ankle pain 02/03/2009
Pain - ankle Considerations: Ankle pain is often due to an ankle sprain. A sprain is an injury to the ligaments, which connect bones to one another. In most cases of ankle sprain, the ankle is twisted inward, causing small tears in the ligaments. This makes the ankle unstable. The tearing leads to swelling and bruising, making it difficult to bear weight on the joint. Once an ankle is sprained, the injury may take a few weeks to many months to fully heal.
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Appetite - decreased 07/22/2010
Loss of appetite; Decreased appetite; Anorexia Considerations: Any illness can affect a previously hearty appetite. If the illness is treatable, the appetite should return when the condition is cured. Loss of appetite can cause unintentional weight loss . Common Causes: A decreased appetite is almost always seen among elderly adults, and no cause may be found.
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Appetite - increased 10/30/2010
Hyperphagia; Increased appetite; Hunger; Excessive hunger; Polyphagia Considerations: An increased appetite can be a symptom of different diseases. For example, it may be due to certain mental conditions and endocrine gland disorders. An increased appetite can come and go (intermittent), or it can last for long periods of time (persistent), depending on the cause. It does not always result in weight gain.
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Arachnodactyly 01/29/2010
Dolichostenomelia; Spider fingers; Achromacria Considerations: Long, slender fingers can be normal and not associated with any medical problems. In some cases, however, spider fingers can be a sign of an underlying disease. Common Causes: Homocystinuria Marfan's syndrome Other rare genetic disorders Note: Having long, slender fingers may be normal.
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Armpit lump 08/02/2009
Lump in the armpit; Localized lymphadenopathy - armpit; Axillary lymphadenopathy; Axillary lymph enlargement; Lymph nodes enlargement - axillary; Axillary abscess Considerations: Lumps in the armpit have various causes. Cysts and infections on the surface of the skin of the armpit may be caused by shaving or use of antiperspirants (as opposed to deodorants).
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