Health and Fitness

Sickle cell disease Overview Sickle cell anemia is one of a group of inherited disorders known as sickle cell disease. It affects the shape of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Red blood cells are usually round and flexible, so they move easily through blood vessels. In sickle cell anemia, some red blood cells are shaped like sickles or crescent moons. These sickle cells also become rigid and sticky, which can slow or block blood flow. The current approach to treatment is to relieve pain and help prevent complications of the disease. However, newer treatments may cure people of the disease. Types of sickle cell disease There are several types of sickle cell disease. The different types depend on the genes a person inherits from their parents. Hemoglobin SS (HbSS) HbSS is a severe form, affecting 65% of people who have SCD. People with this form inherited one gene encoded with hemoglobin S from each parent. Most or all of your hemoglobin is abnormal, causing ...

  Shortness of breath Overview Dyspnea (pronounced “DISP-nee-uh”) is the word healthcare providers use for feeling short of breath. You might describe it as not being able to get enough air (“air hunger”), chest tightness or working harder to breathe. Shortness of breath is often a symptom of heart and lung problems. But it can also be a sign of other conditions like asthma, allergies or anxiety. Intense exercise or having a cold can also make you feel breathless. Symptoms Shortness of breath can feel different from person to person and depending on what’s causing it. Sometimes, it comes with other symptoms. Some signs of dyspnea include: Chest tightness. Feeling like you need to force yourself to breathe deeply. Working hard to get a deep breath. Rapid breathing (tachypnea) or heart rate (palpitations). Wheezing or stridor (noisy breathing) Causes What causes shortness of breath (dyspnea)? Exercise, illness and health conditions can cause shortness of breath. The most common cause...

Severe Head Injury Overview A head injury is an injury that damages your head, including your skull and brain. Most head injuries are minor, temporary issues. But some head injuries can cause serious complications — especially if they cause bleeding inside your skull or damage your brain. Everyone’s bumped their head on an open cabinet door or taken an elbow during a pickup basketball game. And most of the time, you’ll only need a few days of rest to recover. But it’s never a bad idea to get a head injury checked out by a healthcare provider, especially if you’re experiencing severe pain or other symptoms that make you feel worried, confused or not like yourself. Types of head injuries Healthcare providers classify head injuries into two groups: Closed head injuries: These are head injuries that don’t break through your skull. Most head injuries are closed. Open head injuries: Something pierces through your skull into your brain. It usually takes severe trauma to cause an open head i...

Septic Shock Overview Septic shock is a serious medical condition that can occur when an infection in your body causes extremely low blood pressure and organ failure due to sepsis. Septic shock is life-threatening and requires immediate medical treatment. It’s the most severe stage of sepsis. What’s the difference between septic shock and sepsis? Septic shock is the last and most dangerous stage of sepsis. Sepsis can be divided into three stages: sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock. Sepsis: Sepsis is life-threatening. It happens when your immune system overreacts to an infection. Severe sepsis : This is when sepsis causes your organs to malfunction. This is usually because of low blood pressure, a result of inflammation throughout your body. Septic shock: Septic shock is the last stage of sepsis and is defined by extremely low blood pressure, despite lots of IV (intravenous) fluids Symptoms Septic shock is the third stage of sepsis. Early signs of sepsis can include: Fast heart ra...

Sciatica Overview Sciatica refers to pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve travels from the buttocks and down each leg. Sciatica most often happens when a herniated disk or an overgrowth of bone puts pressure on the lumbar spine nerve roots. This happens "upstream" from the sciatic nerve. This causes inflammation, pain and often some numbness in the affected leg. Although the pain associated with sciatica can be serious, those cases that are caused by a herniated disk can clear up with treatment in a few weeks to months. People who have severe sciatica and serious leg weakness or bowel or bladder changes might need surgery. Symptoms Sciatica pain can be almost anywhere along the nerve pathway. It's especially likely to follow a path from the low back to the buttock and the back of a thigh and calf. The pain can vary from a mild ache to a sharp, burning pain. Sometimes it feels like a jolt or electric shock. It can be worse when coughing ...

Scabies is a parasitic infestation caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin and lay eggs, causing intense itching and a rash. Scabies can lead to skin sores and serious complications like septicaemia (a bloodstream infection), heart disease and kidney problems Scabies is an itchy skin rash caused by a tiny burrowing mite called Sarcoptes scabiei. Intense itching occurs in the area where the mite burrows. The need to scratch may be stronger at night. Scabies is contagious and can spread quickly through close person-to-person contact in a family, child care group, school class, nursing home or prison. Because scabies spreads so easily, health care providers often recommend treating the entire family or any close contacts. Scabies is easily treated. Medicated skin creams or pills kill the mites that cause scabies and their eggs. But itching may not stop for many weeks after treatment. Symptoms Scabies symptoms include: Itching, often severe and usually worse at night Thin, wavy tunn...