Health and Fitness

Hemiplegia Overview Hemiplegia is paralysis that affects only one side of your body. This symptom is often a key indicator of severe or life-threatening conditions like a stroke, but can also happen with conditions and circumstances that aren’t as dangerous. Hemiplegia is paralysis, which means you can’t move or control the muscles in the affected body part. That can cause muscles that are completely limp. It can also cause spastic hemiplegia, a type of paralysis where muscles contract uncontrollably. Hemiplegia affects either the right side of your body (right hemiplegia) or the left side of your body (left hemiplegia), with your spine (backbone) being the dividing line between the two halves. Hemiplegia may affect your face, arm and leg on one side of your body in various ways: The paralysis may not be present, or not be as severe in all of these three body areas. There are even some rare conditions that cause hemiplegia to come and go, affecting one or both sides of the body as it d...

Quadriplegia Overview Quadriplegia is a pattern of paralysis — which is when you can’t deliberately control or move your muscles — that can affect a person from the neck down. Depending on how and why it happens, it can affect your ability to move parts of your body, as well as some of your body’s automatic processes that keep you alive. Quadriplegia (also known as tetraplegia; see below for an explanation of these terms) is usually a symptom of other problems, but there are some instances where it’s a standalone condition. Overall, quadriplegia is the most common symptom of traumatic spinal cord injury, happening in about 60% of cases. There are also two main ways, complete and incomplete, that quadriplegia can happen. Incomplete quadriplegia . This means that the quadriplegia blocks some — but not all — signals from getting through. That means a person might still have some ability to move, feel sensations or control automatic body processes (such as bowel and bladder function). This...

Walking pneumonia Overview Walking pneumonia is a mild form of pneumonia. Pneumonia is a lung infection that causes your airways to swell, the air sacs in your lungs to fill with mucus and other fluids, a high fever and a cough with mucus. If you have walking pneumonia, you may feel well enough to walk around and carry out daily tasks without realizing you have pneumonia. “Walking pneumonia” is the common term for atypical pneumonia. Who does walking pneumonia affect? Anyone can get walking pneumonia. You’re more likely to get walking pneumonia if you: Are 2 or younger. Are 65 or older. Have a weakened immune system (immunocompromised) or take immunosuppressant medications. Have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Have asthma. Have emphysema. Live or work in crowded places, such as schools, dormitories, nursing homes or military barracks. Use tobacco products. Regularly use inhaled corticosteroids. Symptoms Walking pneumonia symptoms include: Sore throat (pharyngitis). Extrem...

Vitamin B12 transport defects Overview Vitamin B12 transport defects are rare congenital disorders, such as Transcobalamin II (TC II) deficiency, that prevent cobalamin from reaching tissues, causing severe cellular deficiency despite normal serum B12 levels. These genetic conditions lead to megaloblastic anemia, developmental delay, and neurological issues in infants, often requiring lifelong treatment. Symptoms Neurological Symptoms (Severe): Developmental delays, ataxia (difficulty walking), tremor, convulsions, hypotonia (weak muscle tone), and tingling or numbness (paresthesia). Hematological Issues: Megaloblastic anemia, causing profound fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and pale or yellowish skin. Gastrointestinal Distress: Persistent vomiting, diarrhea, and failure to gain weight/grow properly in infants. Mucosal and Skin Issues : Sore mouth or tongue (glossitis), skin hyperpigmentation, and dermatitis. Psychological Changes: Irritability, confusion, and potential cognitive decl...

Villous adenomas Overview Villous adenomas are benign, often sessile (flat) gastrointestinal tumors, primarily found in the rectum and sigmoid colon, characterized by high malignant potential (up to 50% for large lesions). They are defined by long, finger-like projections (villi) and carry a high risk of severe dysplasia. Large adenomas may cause rectal bleeding, mucus discharge, and diarrhea Symptoms Rectal Bleeding: Blood in the stool or on toilet paper, often associated with a large, delicate mass Excessive Mucus Discharge: A distinct, often excessive, watery mucous discharge. Diarrhea or Constipation: Changes in bowel habits are common, including alternating diarrhea and constipation. Abdominal Pain/Cramping: Ongoing lower abdominal discomfort, often related to the size of the growth. Anemia and Fatigue: Chronic bleeding can lead to iron-deficiency anemia and associated weakness. Rectal Prolapse: Rare cases of very large polyps can prolapse through the anus. Causes Genetic Mut...

Persistent Vegetative State Overview A persistent vegetative state (PVS) is a disorder of consciousness where patients appear awake but are entirely unaware of themselves or their environment. It is characterized by preserved autonomic brainstem functions (breathing, sleep-wake cycles) alongside a complete lack of cognitive function or purposeful response. It often results from severe traumatic brain injury or oxygen deprivation (hypoxic-ischemic damage) Symptoms Unawareness: Total lack of ability to interact with the environment or demonstrate self-awareness. Awake but Unresponsive: Eyes may be open and move (roving eye movements), but they do not fixate or track objects consistently. Reflexes: Preservation of brainstem reflexes (chewing, swallowing, yawning, pupillary response). Motor Activity: No purposeful movement, though primitive reflexes (grasping) and non-purposeful movements (grimacing, posturing) may occur. Incontinence: Lack of bowel and bladder control Causes PVS is ca...