Pregnancy
Pregnancy is the period from the formation of an embryo in a female womb till childbirth. It is also called the gestation period, and it usually lasts for 40 weeks from the last menstrual period.
Symptoms of Pregnancy:
- Missed Periods: One of the early signs of pregnancy is a missed menstrual period.
- Nausea: Many pregnant individuals experience nausea, commonly known as morning sickness, especially in the first trimester.
- Vomiting: Vomiting may accompany nausea and is another symptom associated with early pregnancy.
- Implantation Bleeding: Some individuals may notice light spotting or bleeding when the embryo implants into the uterus.
- Breast Tenderness: Changes in breast sensitivity and tenderness are common during pregnancy due to hormonal fluctuations.
Delayed Periods
If you’re not pregnant, your period may be late due to a great deal of stress or low body weight. Certain conditions, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), diabetes, and others, can also affect your menstrual cycle.
Common Causes of Delayed Periods:
- Stress: Chronic stress can throw off your hormones, change your daily routine, and even affect the part of your brain responsible for regulating your period: your hypothalamus.
- Low Body Weight: People with eating disorders may experience irregularities in their cycle. Losing too much weight can cause irregular periods and may even stop your cycle altogether.
- Obesity: Living with a high body weight can also cause hormonal changes, leading to irregularities. Obesity can cause the body to produce an overabundance of estrogen.
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): PCOS can cause hormonal imbalances, leading to irregular or stopped ovulation. Insulin resistance is often associated with PCOS.
- Birth Control: Changes in your cycle can occur when you go on or off birth control. Birth control pills contain hormones that prevent ovulation. It can take time for your cycle to become consistent after stopping the pill.
- Chronic Diseases: Conditions like diabetes and celiac disease can affect the menstrual cycle. Unmanaged diabetes or inflammation caused by celiac disease can lead to irregular or missed periods.
- Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI): Those experiencing symptoms of menopause around age 40 or earlier may have POI. It can arise from various causes, including genetic disorders and autoimmune conditions.
- Thyroid Issues: An overactive or underactive thyroid gland can be the cause of late or missed periods. Thyroid issues can usually be treated with medication.
Research shows that the prevalence of irregular menstrual cycles is 5-35.6% depending on your age, occupation, and where you live. Irregularities can also occur during the first period and during the menopause transition.
How long is it normal for a period to be late?
There are no hard and fast rules for how long a period can be late, but addressing the underlying causes is important for overall well-being.
Headache
Headache
Headaches are a very common condition that most people will experience many times during their lives. The main symptom of a headache is pain in your head or face. There are several types of headaches, and tension headaches are the most common. While most headaches aren’t dangerous, certain types can be a sign of a serious underlying condition.
What is a headache?
A headache is a pain in your head or face that’s often described as a pressure that’s throbbing, constant, sharp, or dull. Headaches can differ greatly in regard to pain type, severity, location, and frequency.
Headaches are a very common condition that most people will experience many times during their lives. They’re the most common form of pain and are a major reason cited for days missed at work or school, as well as visits to healthcare providers.
While most headaches aren’t dangerous, certain types can be a sign of a more serious condition.
What are the types of headaches?
There are more than 150 types of headaches. They fall into two main categories: primary and secondary headaches.
Primary headaches
Dysfunction or over-activity of pain-sensitive features in your head cause primary headaches. They’re not a symptom of or caused by an underlying medical condition. Some people may have genes that make them more likely to develop primary headaches.
Secondary headaches
An underlying medical condition causes secondary headaches. They’re considered a symptom or sign of a condition.
What’s the difference between a headache and a migraine?
A migraine is a type of primary headache disorder.
Who do headaches affect?
Anyone can have a headache, including children, adolescents, and adults. About 96% of people experience a headache at least once in their life.
Symptoms and Causes
What is the main cause of a headache?
Headache pain results from signals interacting among your brain, blood vessels, and surrounding nerves.
Are headaches hereditary?
Headaches tend to run in families, especially migraines.
What headache symptoms require immediate medical care?
If you or your child has any of these headache symptoms, get medical care right away:
Diagnosis and Tests
If you have headaches often or if they’re very severe, reach out to your healthcare provider.
What tests will be done to diagnose headaches?
Although scans and other imagining tests can be important when ruling out other diseases, they don’t help in diagnosing migraines, cluster, or tension-type headaches.
Management and Treatment
How is a headache treated?
Treatment for headaches depends on the type.
How can I get rid of a headache?
You can treat the occasional, mild headache at home with over-the-counter pain relievers.
Prevention
How can I prevent headaches?
The key to preventing headaches is figuring out what triggers them.
Outlook / Prognosis
Can headaches or migraines be cured?
Recently, there have been several new advancements in our understanding of what causes headaches.
Living With
When should I see my healthcare provider about headaches?
Contact Sanyu Hospital if you or your child has any of the following symptoms or situations.
Chest pain
Chest pain
Chest pain appears in many forms, ranging from a sharp stab to a dull ache. Sometimes chest pain feels crushing or burning. In certain cases, the pain travels up the neck and into the jaw and then spreads to the back or down one or both arms.
Many different problems can cause chest pain. The most life-threatening causes involve the heart or lungs. Because chest pain can be due to a serious problem, it's important to seek immediate medical help.
Symptoms
Chest pain can feel different depending on what's triggering the symptom. Often, the cause has nothing to do with the heart — though there's no easy way to tell without seeing a health care provider.
Heart-related chest pain
Chest pain is often associated with heart disease. But many people with heart disease say they have a mild discomfort that they wouldn't really call pain. Chest discomfort due to a heart attack or another heart problem may feel like:
- Pressure, fullness, burning, or tightness in the chest.
- Crushing or searing pain that spreads to the back, neck, jaw, shoulders, and one or both arms.
- Pain that lasts more than a few minutes, gets worse with activity, goes away and comes back, or varies in intensity.
- Shortness of breath.
- Cold sweats.
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, or weakness.
- Racing heartbeats.
- Nausea or vomiting.
Other types of chest pain
It can be difficult to tell if chest pain is related to the heart or caused by something else. Usually, chest pain is less likely due to a heart problem if it happens with:
- A sour taste or a sensation of food reentering the mouth.
- Trouble swallowing.
- Pain that gets better or worse when you change body position.
- Pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply or cough.
- Tenderness when you push on your chest.
- Pain that continues for many hours.
The classic symptoms of heartburn — a painful, burning sensation behind the breastbone — can be caused by problems with the heart or the stomach.
Causes
Chest pain has many possible causes, all of which need medical care.
Heart-related causes
Examples of heart-related causes of chest pain include:
- Angina. This is chest pain caused by poor blood flow to the heart.
- Heart attack. A heart attack results from blocked blood flow to the heart muscle.
- Aortic dissection. This life-threatening condition involves the main artery leading from the heart.
- Inflammation of the sac around the heart, called pericarditis.
Digestive causes
Chest pain can be caused by disorders of the digestive system, including:
- Heartburn. This is a painful, burning feeling behind the breastbone.
- Swallowing disorders. Problems with the esophagus can make swallowing difficult and even painful.
- Gallbladder or pancreas problems. Gallstones or inflammation of the gallbladder or pancreas can cause stomach pain that spreads to the chest.
Muscle and bone causes
Some types of chest pain are associated with injuries and other problems affecting the structures that make up the chest wall.
- Costochondritis. In this condition, the cartilage of the rib cage becomes inflamed and painful.
- Sore muscles. Chronic pain syndromes, such as fibromyalgia, may cause long-term pain that affects the chest muscles.
- Injured ribs. A bruised or broken rib can cause chest pain.
Lung-related causes
Many lung problems can cause chest pain, including:
- A blood clot in the lung, called a pulmonary embolism.
- Inflammation of the membrane covering the lungs, called pleurisy.
- Collapsed lung.
- High blood pressure in the lung arteries, called pulmonary hypertension.
Other causes
Chest pain also can be caused by:
- Panic attack. Seek medical help if you aren't sure of the cause of chest pain.
- Shingles. This condition can cause intense pain and a band of blisters from the back around to the chest area.
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction (impotence) is very common, particularly in men over 40. It's usually nothing to worry about, but see a GP if it keeps happening.
What is erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is when you are either:
- Unable to get an erection.
- Unable to keep an erection for long enough to have sex.
Depending on the cause, you may still be able to get an erection at other times, such as when you wake up. Sometimes you might also have low sex drive (loss of libido).
Causes of erectile dysfunction
Most men occasionally fail to get or keep an erection. This is usually caused by stress, tiredness, or drinking too much alcohol, and it's nothing to worry about. It can also be a side effect of some medicines.
If erectile dysfunction happens often, it may be caused by a condition such as:
- High blood pressure or high cholesterol.
- Diabetes.
- Depression or anxiety.
- Hormone problems.
Things you can do to help with erectile dysfunction
Healthy lifestyle changes can sometimes help with erectile dysfunction.
Do:
- Lose weight if you're overweight.
- Stop smoking.
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Exercise daily.
- Try to reduce stress and anxiety.
Don't:
- Do not drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week.
- Do not cycle for a while, if you cycle for more than 3 hours a week.
Non-urgent advice:
See a GP or go to a sexual health clinic if:
- Erection problems keep happening. It might be a sign of a health condition that can be treated.
Information:
How sexual health clinics can help with erection problems
Sexual health clinics treat problems with sexual health. They can provide the same treatment you would get at your GP surgery. Many sexual health clinics offer a walk-in service, where you do not need an appointment. They'll often get test results quicker than GP practices.
Find a sexual health clinic near you
What happens at your appointment
If you see someone about erectile dysfunction, the doctor or nurse may:
- Ask about your lifestyle and relationships, and any problems you might be having.
- Do some basic health checks, such as taking your blood pressure.
- Examine your genitals to rule out any obvious physical cause.
If you have symptoms like needing to pee more often than usual, you may also have an examination of your prostate (rectal examination).
Treatments for erectile dysfunction
Treatment can usually help improve erectile dysfunction.
Medicines for erectile dysfunction
The main treatments are medicines that increase the blood flow to your penis, called PDE-5 inhibitors. These include:
- Sildenafil (Viagra)
- Tadalafil (Cialis)
- Vardenafil (Levitra)
- Avanafil (Spedra)
You can get sildenafil on prescription or you can buy it from a pharmacy. You need a prescription for the other types.
Buying Viagra online
...
Vacuum pumps
Vacuum pumps encourage blood to flow to the penis, causing an erection. They work for most men and can be used if medicine is not suitable or does not work. They're not always available on the NHS. Speak to a doctor about where to get a vacuum pump.
Treating the cause of erectile dysfunction
There are also treatments for some of the causes of erectile dysfunction.
- Your doctor may switch you to a different medicine if it's causing your erectile dysfunction.
- High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and hormone problems may be treated with medicine.
- Counselling and therapy can help if your erection problems are linked to emotional or mental health problems – but there can be a long wait for these services on the NHS.
Information:
Back pain
Back pain is one of the most common medical problems in the United States. It can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain that may shoot down the leg. Sometimes it can come on suddenly – from an accident, a fall, or lifting something heavy, or it can develop slowly because of age-related degenerative changes in the spine. In some cases, inflammatory arthritis disorders or other medical conditions cause back pain.
Treatment
Treatment varies depending on the cause and symptoms, and often there are several contributing factors. However, there are steps you can take to improve your health and lower your chance of developing chronic or long-lasting back pain.
Understanding the Anatomy of the Back
There are many different structures in the anatomy of the back that work together to support your body. Problems with any one of these structures can cause back pain.
Four regions of the spine:
- Cervical spine.
- Thoracic spine.
- Lumbar spine.
- Sacrum and coccyx.
Parts of the spine and back include:
- Vertebrae – small bones stacked on top of one another, which protect the spinal cord.
- Spinal cord – long bundle of nerves that run down the back through a canal in the vertebrae.
Who Gets Back Pain?
Anyone can have back pain, and almost everyone will experience back pain at some point in their life. Several factors increase your risk of developing back pain and can include:
- Fitness level: Back pain is more common among people who are not physically fit. For example, weak back and stomach muscles may not properly support the spine (core strength).
Types of Back Pain
Doctors and researchers describe the types of back pain in the following ways:
- Acute back pain happens suddenly and usually lasts a few days to a few weeks.
Symptoms of Back Pain
Back pain can range from local pain in a specific spot to generalized pain spreading all over the back. Sometimes the pain radiates away from the back to other areas of your body, such as the buttocks, legs, or abdomen. The intensity of back pain varies for each person.
- Increasing pain with lifting and bending.
You should see a doctor if your pain does not improve after a few weeks or if any of the following symptoms happen with your back pain:
Causes of Back Pain
Back pain can be caused by many different factors, which may all be present at the same time and interact to result in chronic low back pain.
Mechanical/Structural Problems
Back pain can happen when mechanical or structural problems develop in the spine, discs, muscles, ligaments, or tendons in the back, or compress a nerve.
- Sprain: an injury to the ligaments that support the spine (which connect the different bones together), often occurring from twisting or lifting improperly.
Inflammatory Conditions
Ankylosing spondylitis, a specific type of arthritis of the spine.
Other Medical Conditions
Osteoporosis, which can lead to painful fractures of the vertebrae.
Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of diseases that affect how the body uses blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is an important source of energy for the cells that make up the muscles and tissues. It's also the brain's main source of fuel.
The main cause of diabetes
The main cause of diabetes varies by type. But no matter what type of diabetes you have, it can lead to excess sugar in the blood. Too much sugar in the blood can lead to serious health problems.
Chronic diabetes conditions
Chronic diabetes conditions include type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Potentially reversible diabetes conditions include prediabetes and gestational diabetes. Prediabetes happens when blood sugar levels are higher than normal. But the blood sugar levels aren't high enough to be called diabetes. And prediabetes can lead to diabetes unless steps are taken to prevent it. Gestational diabetes happens during pregnancy. But it may go away after the baby is born.
Symptoms
Diabetes symptoms depend on how high your blood sugar is. Some people, especially if they have prediabetes, gestational diabetes, or type 2 diabetes, may not have symptoms. In type 1 diabetes, symptoms tend to come on quickly and be more severe.
When to see a doctor
If you think you or your child may have diabetes. If you notice any possible diabetes symptoms, contact your health care provider. The earlier the condition is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can begin.
Causes
To understand diabetes, it's important to understand how the body normally uses glucose.
Risk factors
Risk factors for diabetes depend on the type of diabetes. Family history may play a part in all types. Environmental factors and geography can add to the risk of type 1 diabetes.
Complications
Long-term complications of diabetes develop gradually. The longer you have diabetes — and the less controlled your blood sugar — the higher the risk of complications. Eventually, diabetes complications may be disabling or even life-threatening.
Complications of gestational diabetes
Most women who have gestational diabetes deliver healthy babies. However, untreated or uncontrolled blood sugar levels can cause problems for you and your baby.
Prevention
Type 1 diabetes can't be prevented. But the healthy lifestyle choices that help treat prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes can also help prevent them:
Eat healthy foods. Choose foods lower in fat and calories and higher in fiber. Focus on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Eat a variety to keep from feeling bored.
Get more physical activity. Try to get about 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity on most days of the week. Or aim to get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week. For example, take a brisk daily walk. If you can't fit in a long workout, break it up into smaller sessions throughout the day.
Lose excess pounds. If you're overweight, losing even 7% of your body weight can lower the risk of diabetes.
Sometimes drugs are an option. Oral diabetes drugs such as metformin (Glumetza, Fortamet, others) may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. But healthy lifestyle choices are important. If you have prediabetes, have your blood sugar checked at least once a year to make sure you haven't developed type 2 diabetes.
Hypertension / pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) has no symptoms and can be dangerous if not treated. Hypertension puts you at risk for stroke, heart attack, and other problems. Nearly half of adults who have hypertension don’t realize it. So, checkups are crucial. Dietary changes, exercise, and medicine can help you keep your blood pressure where it should be.
What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is when the force of blood pushing against your artery walls is consistently too high. This damages your arteries over time and can lead to serious complications like heart attack and stroke. “Hypertension” is another word for this common condition.
How do I know if I have high blood pressure?
Getting your blood pressure checked is the only way to know if it’s too high. You can do this by seeing a healthcare provider for a yearly checkup, even if you feel healthy. You won’t feel sick if you have high blood pressure. So, these checkups are crucial and can be life-saving.
What is considered high blood pressure?
Definitions of high blood pressure vary slightly depending on where you live. In the U.S., healthcare providers define high blood pressure (hypertension) as:
- A top number (systolic blood pressure) of at least 130 mmHg, and/or
- A bottom number (diastolic blood pressure) of at least 80 mmHg.
How common is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is very common. It affects 47% of adults in the U.S. This equals about 116 million people. Of those, 37 million have a blood pressure of at least 140/90 mmHg.
Symptoms and Causes
Usually, high blood pressure causes no signs or symptoms. That’s why healthcare providers call it a “silent killer.” You could have high blood pressure for years and not know it.
What causes hypertension?
Primary hypertension doesn’t have a single, clear cause. Usually, many factors come together to cause it. Common causes include:
- Unhealthy eating patterns (including a diet high in sodium).
- Lack of physical activity.
- High consumption of beverages containing alcohol.
Is high blood pressure genetic?
Researchers believe genes play a role in high blood pressure. If one or more of your close biological family members have high blood pressure, you have an increased risk of developing it, too.
Risk factors for high blood pressure
Risk factors that make you more likely to have high blood pressure include:
- Having biological family members with high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes.
- Being over age 55.
- Being Black.
Complications of this condition
Untreated hypertension may lead to serious health problems including:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD).
- Stroke.
- Heart attack.
Diagnosis and Tests
Healthcare providers diagnose high blood pressure by measuring it with an arm cuff. Providers usually measure your blood pressure at annual checkups and other appointments.
Management and Treatment
High blood pressure treatments include lifestyle changes and medications. Healthcare providers recommend treatment based on your blood pressure readings, the causes of your high blood pressure, and your underlying conditions.
Prevention
Fortunately, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure. These include:
- Follow a healthy eating plan.
- Cut down on sodium.
- Keep a healthy weight.
Outlook / Prognosis
Since high blood pressure doesn’t cause symptoms, you probably won’t feel any different with a high blood pressure diagnosis. But it’s important to follow your provider’s instructions to bring your blood pressure down so it doesn’t cause complications later on.
Living With
See your provider for yearly checkups. They’ll monitor your blood pressure and recommend treatment, if needed, to help you stay healthy.
When should I see my healthcare provider?
See your provider for yearly checkups. They’ll monitor your blood pressure and recommend treatment, if needed, to help you stay healthy.
When should I go to the ER?
Call 911 or your local emergency number if you have sudden symptoms of a hypertensive crisis. These include:
- Shortness of breath.
- Headache.
- Chest pain.
- Blurry vision.
- Heart palpitations.
What questions should I ask my doctor?
Questions that can help you learn more about your risk for high blood pressure or ways to manage existing high blood pressure include:
- What’s my average blood pressure reading?
- Should I use a home blood pressure monitor?
- What lifestyle changes should I make?
- Do I need medications? If so, which ones and what are the side effects?
Additional Common Questions
Research supports the DASH diet as a way to lower blood pressure naturally. Increasing potassium and reducing sodium through your food choices are specific strategies. Be a cautious consumer, and talk with your healthcare provider to learn more.
A note from Cleveland Clinic: High blood pressure is a serious but silent condition that can sneak up on you over the years. Seeing a healthcare provider for regular checkups can help you learn your numbers.
If you don’t have access to care, learn about available community resources (such as wellness fairs) where blood pressure checks are available. Knowing your blood pressure levels is the first step toward making lifestyle changes that can help keep your arteries healthy.
Stress
Stress is our body’s response to pressure. Many different situations or life events can cause stress. It is often triggered when we experience something new or unexpected that threatens our sense of self or when we feel we have little control over a situation.
What makes us stressed?
Many things can lead to stress: bereavement, divorce or separation, losing a job or unexpected money problems. Work-related stress can also have a negative impact on your mental health. People affected by work-related stress lose an average of 24 days of work due to ill health.
What are the signs of stress?
How you might feel:
- anxious
- afraid
- angry or aggressive
- sad
- irritable
- frustrated
- depressed
How your body might react:
- headaches
- nausea
- indigestion
- digestive problems such as constipation, bloating, or diarrhea
- shallow breathing or hyperventilating
- sweating
- heart palpitations
- aches and pains
How you might behave:
- withdraw from other people or snap at them
- be indecisive or inflexible
- be tearful
- have problems getting to sleep or staying asleep
- experience sexual problems
- smoke, drink alcohol or take drugs more than usual
If the stress is long-lasting, you may notice your sleep and memory are affected, your eating habits change, or you feel less inclined to exercise.
Who is affected by stress?
All of us can probably recognize some of the feelings described above. Some people seem to be more affected by stress than others.
How can you help yourself?
If you're feeling stressed, there are some things you can try to feel less tense and overwhelmed.
Fever
Fever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness.
Alternative Names
Elevated temperature; Hyperthermia; Pyrexia; Febrile
Considerations
Normal body temperature may change during any given day. It is usually highest in the evening. Other factors that may affect body temperature are:
Causes
Almost any infection can cause a fever, including:
Home Care
A simple cold or other viral infection can sometimes cause a high fever (102°F to 104°F or 38.9°C to 40°C). This does not mean you or your child has a serious problem. Some serious infections don't cause a fever or can cause a very low body temperature, most often in infants.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact a provider right away if your child:
Call 911 or the local emergency number if you or your child has a fever and:
Is crying and cannot be calmed (children)
HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). When a person becomes infected with HIV, the virus attacks and weakens the immune system. As the immune system weakens, the person is at risk for getting life-threatening infections and cancers. When that happens, the illness is called AIDS. Once a person has the virus, it stays inside the body for life.
Alternative Names
HIV infection; Infection - HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Acquired immune deficiency syndrome: HIV-1
Causes
The virus is spread (transmitted) person-to-person through certain body fluids:
Symptoms
Symptoms related to acute HIV infection (when a person is first infected) can be similar to the flu or other viral illnesses. They include:
Exams and Tests
There are tests that are done to check if you've been infected with HIV.
Treatment
HIV/AIDS is treated with medicines that stop the virus from multiplying. This treatment is called antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Support Groups
Joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems can often help lower the emotional stress of having a long-term illness.
Outlook (Prognosis)
With treatment, most people with HIV/AIDS can live a healthy and normal life.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your provider for an appointment if you have any risk factors for HIV infection. Also, contact your provider if you develop symptoms of AIDS.
Prevention
Preventing HIV/AIDS:
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
A urinary tract infection is a very common type of infection in your urinary system. It can involve any part of your urinary system. Bacteria, especially E. coli, are the most common cause of UTIs. Symptoms include needing to pee often, pain while peeing, and pain in your side or lower back. Antibiotics can treat most UTIs.
What is a urinary tract infection (UTI)?
UTIs are common infections that happen when bacteria, often from the skin or rectum, enter the urethra and infect the urinary tract. The infections can affect several parts of the urinary tract, but the most common type is a bladder infection (cystitis).
Risk Factors
Some people are at higher risk of getting a UTI. UTIs are more common in females because their urethras are shorter and closer to the rectum. This makes it easier for bacteria to enter the urinary tract. Other factors that can increase the risk of UTIs include:
Symptoms
Symptoms of a bladder infection can include:
When to Seek Medical Care
Talk to your healthcare professional if you have symptoms of a UTI or for any symptom that is severe or concerning.
Treatment
Your healthcare professional will determine if you have a UTI by:
How to Feel Better
If your healthcare professional prescribes you antibiotics:
Prevention
You can help prevent UTIs by doing the following:
Candidiasis
Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by a yeast (a type of fungus) called Candida. Some species of Candida can cause infection in people; the most common is Candida albicans. Candida normally lives on the skin and inside the body, such as the mouth, throat, gut, and vagina, without causing problems. Candida can cause infections if it grows out of control or if it enters deep into the body. For example, it can cause infections in the bloodstream or internal organs like the kidney, heart, or brain.
Masturbation
Masturbation is when an individual stimulates their genitals for sexual pleasure, which may or may not lead to orgasm. There are many myths regarding the side effects of masturbation, but the majority of these are false.
Diarrhea
Alternative Names
Stools - watery; Frequent bowel movements; Loose bowel movements; Unformed bowel movements
Considerations
In some people, diarrhea is mild and goes away in a few days. In other people, it may last longer.
Diarrhea can make you feel weak and dehydrated.
Diarrhea in babies and children can be serious. It needs to be treated differently than you would treat diarrhea in adults.
Talk with your health care provider if your child has diarrhea. Your provider can help you learn how to recognize and treat diarrhea in babies and in children.
Causes
The most common cause of diarrhea is the stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis). This mild viral infection most often goes away on its own within a few days.
Eating or drinking food or water that contains certain types of bacteria or parasites can also lead to diarrhea. This problem may be called food poisoning.
Certain medicines may also cause diarrhea, including:
- Some antibiotics
- Chemotherapy drugs for cancer
- Laxatives containing magnesium
Diarrhea may also be caused by medical disorders, such as:
- Celiac disease
- Inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis)
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Lactose intolerance (which causes problems after drinking milk and eating other dairy products)
- Malabsorption syndromes
Less common causes of diarrhea include:
- Carcinoid syndrome
- Disorders of the nerves that supply the intestines
- Removal of part of the stomach (gastrectomy) or small intestine
- Radiation therapy
- People who travel to developing countries can get diarrhea from unclean water or food that has not been handled safely. Plan ahead by learning the risks and treatment for traveler's diarrhea before your trip.
Home Care
Most times, you can treat diarrhea at home. You will need to learn:
- To drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration (when your body does not have the proper amount of water and fluids)
- Which foods you should or should not eat
- What to do if you are breastfeeding
- What danger signs to watch for
Avoid medicines for diarrhea that you can buy without a prescription unless your provider tells you to use them. These drugs can make some infections worse.
If you have a long-term form of diarrhea, such as diarrhea caused by irritable bowel syndrome, changes to your diet and lifestyle may help.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your provider right away if you or your child shows signs of dehydration:
- Decreased urine (fewer wet diapers in infants)
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Dry mouth
- Sunken eyes
- Few tears when crying
Schedule an appointment with your provider if you have:
- Blood or pus in your stools
- Black stools
- Stomach pain that does not go away after a bowel movement
- Diarrhea with a fever above 101°F or 38.33°C (100.4°F or 38°C in children)
- Recently traveled to a foreign country and developed diarrhea
Also contact your provider if:
- The diarrhea gets worse or does not get better in 2 days for an infant or child, or 5 days for adults
- A child over 3 months old has been vomiting for more than 12 hours; in younger babies, call as soon as vomiting or diarrhea begins
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
Your provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your medical history and symptoms.
Lab tests may be done on your stools to find the cause of your diarrhea.
This is also a good time to ask your provider any questions you have about diarrhea.
Over-the-counter supplements that contain healthy bacteria may help prevent diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics. These are called probiotics. Yogurt with active or live cultures is also a good source of these healthy bacteria.
The following healthy steps can help you prevent illnesses that cause diarrhea:
- Wash your hands often, particularly after using the toilet and before eating.
- Use alcohol-based hand gel frequently.
- Teach children to not put objects in their mouth.
- Take steps to avoid food poisoning.
When traveling to underdeveloped areas, follow the steps below to avoid diarrhea:
- Drink only bottled water and DO NOT use ice, unless it is made from bottled or purified water.
- DO NOT eat uncooked vegetables or fruits that do not have peels.
- DO NOT eat raw shellfish or undercooked meat.
- DO NOT consume dairy products.
Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is a growth of cells that starts in the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.
Causes:
Various strains of the human papillomavirus, also called HPV, play a role in causing most cervical cancers. HPV is a common infection that's passed through sexual contact. When exposed to HPV, the body's immune system typically prevents the virus from doing harm. In a small percentage of people, however, the virus survives for years. This contributes to the process that causes some cervical cells to become cancer cells.
Prevention:
You can reduce your risk of developing cervical cancer by having screening tests and receiving a vaccine that protects against HPV infection.
Treatment:
When cervical cancer happens, it's often first treated with surgery to remove the cancer. Other treatments may include medicines to kill the cancer cells. Options might include chemotherapy and targeted therapy medicines. Radiation therapy with powerful energy beams also may be used. Sometimes treatment combines radiation with low-dose chemotherapy.
Symptoms:
- Vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods, or after menopause.
- Menstrual bleeding that is heavier and lasts longer than usual.
- Watery, bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odor.
- Pelvic pain or pain during intercourse.