Health and Fitness

Borborygmi Overview Borborygmi (pronounced bawr-buh-rig-mai) is the medical term for stomach growling or bowel sounds. It is the rumbling, gurgling, or growling noise caused by gas and fluids moving through the intestines as the body digests food. Symptoms When borborygmi is caused by an underlying condition, it is frequently accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms: Abdominal discomfort: Cramping, bloating, and generalized stomach pain. Changes in bowel habits: Frequent diarrhea or constipation. Gas-related symptoms: Flatulence, excess burping, or a feeling of fullness Digestive distress: Nausea, vomiting, or persistent heartburn. Severe indicators: High-pitched stomach sounds, fever, sudden unintentional weight loss, or bloody stools  Causes Hunger: An empty stomach causes muscles to contract more vigorously in preparation for food, leading to loud, audible rumbling. Swallowing Air: Eating too fast, drinking carbonated beverages, chewing gum, or talking while ea...

Body dysmorphic disorder Overview Body dysmorphic disorder is a mental health condition in which you can't stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in your appearance — a flaw that appears minor or can't be seen by others. But you may feel so embarrassed, ashamed and anxious that you may avoid many social situations. When you have body dysmorphic disorder, you intensely focus on your appearance and body image, repeatedly checking the mirror, grooming or seeking reassurance, sometimes for many hours each day. Your perceived flaw and the repetitive behaviors cause you significant distress and impact your ability to function in your daily life. You may seek out numerous cosmetic procedures to try to "fix" your perceived flaw. Afterward, you may feel temporary satisfaction or a reduction in your distress, but often the anxiety returns and you may resume searching for other ways to fix your perceived flaw. Treatment of body dysmorphic disorder may include...

Orthostatic hypotension (postural hypotension) Overview Orthostatic hypotension — also called postural hypotension — is a form of low blood pressure that happens when standing after sitting or lying down. Orthostatic hypotension can cause dizziness or lightheadedness and possibly fainting. Orthostatic hypotension can be mild. Episodes might be brief. However, long-lasting orthostatic hypotension can signal more-serious problems. It's important to see a health care provider if you frequently feel lightheaded when standing up. Occasional orthostatic hypotension is usually caused by something obvious, such as dehydration or lengthy bed rest. The condition is easily treated. Chronic orthostatic hypotension is usually a sign of another health problem, so treatment depends on the cause. Symptoms The most common symptom of orthostatic hypotension is lightheadedness or dizziness when standing after sitting or lying down. Symptoms usually last less than a few minutes. Orthostatic hypotensio...

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Overview What is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)? Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common form of liver cancer. It’s an aggressive (fast-growing) cancer most common in people with advanced liver disease, like cirrhosis of the liver. Increasingly, people diagnosed with HCC have a liver condition that sometimes leads to cirrhosis called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). In the beginning, hepatocellular carcinoma grows slowly. Surgery to remove the tumor or a liver transplant can treat HCC in its early stages. But most people don’t learn they have it until it’s advanced and spreading more quickly. Eventually, it can lead to liver failure. At this point, HCC is challenging for providers to treat. Given how serious it is, you should receive regular checks for signs of HCC if you have cirrhosis or MASLD. Symptoms Tumors may not cause symptoms in the early stages. But as HCC progresses, you may notice: Fullness or a knot under ...

Nager Syndrome Overview What is Nager syndrome? Nager syndrome (also known as acrofacial dysostosis 1, Nager type) is a rare genetic condition where your child is born with underdeveloped bones in their face, hands and arms. Because this condition causes side effects like hearing loss due to underdevelopment of certain parts of their anatomy, children may face developmental delays like learning how to speak. Nager syndrome typically doesn’t affect the intelligence (cognitive development) of the person diagnosed with this condition. Who does Nager syndrome affect? Nager syndrome is a genetic condition that can affect anyone with a specific mutated gene in their DNA during fetal development. Children diagnosed with the condition may inherit it from their parents or acquire it from a new genetic mutation. It’s more common for the condition to arise after a new genetic mutation. If your child inherits the condition, only one parent needs to carry and pass the mutated gene through their DNA...

Mal de Meleda (MDM)  Overview Mal de Meleda (MDM) is a rare, inherited autosomal recessive skin disorder characterized by severe, progressive thickening of the skin on the palms and soles (palmoplantar keratoderma), often spreading to the wrists and ankles. It appears in infancy, often with sharply defined, waxy yellow-brown plaques, and is typically managed with oral retinoids. Symptoms Palmoplantar Keratoderma: The skin on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet becomes diffusely thick, hard, waxy, and yellowish. Transgredient Spread: The keratoderma often spreads to the back of the hands and feet (dorsum), wrists, ankles, and lower forearms in a "glove and stocking" distribution. Erythema (Redness): Affected areas are often surrounded by a sharp, clearly demarcated red, scaly border. Plaques on Joints: Thickened, scaly, and rough plaques frequently appear on the elbows, knees, and knuckles. Causes Protein Function: The \(SLURP1\) gene provides instructions for produ...