Health and Fitness

Overview A migraine is a headache that can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head. It's often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can last for hours to days, and the pain can be so severe that it interferes with your daily activities. For some people, a warning symptom known as an aura occurs before or with the headache. An aura can include visual disturbances, such as flashes of light or blind spots, or other disturbances, such as tingling on one side of the face or in an arm or leg and difficulty speaking. Medications can help prevent some migraines and make them less painful. The right medicines, combined with self-help remedies and lifestyle changes, might help. Symptoms Migraines, which affect children and teenagers as well as adults, can progress through four stages: prodrome, aura, attack and post-drome. Not everyone who has migraines goes through all stages. Prodrome One o...

Overview Hydrocephalus is the buildup of fluid in the cavities (ventricles) deep within the brain. The excess fluid increases the size of the ventricles and puts pressure on the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid normally flows through the ventricles and bathes the brain and spinal column. But the pressure of too much cerebrospinal fluid associated with hydrocephalus can damage brain tissues and cause a range of brain function problems. Hydrocephalus can happen at any age, but it occurs more frequently among infants and adults 60 and over. Surgical treatment for hydrocephalus can restore and maintain normal cerebrospinal fluid levels in the brain. Different therapies are often required to manage symptoms or problems resulting from hydrocephalus. Symptoms The signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus vary somewhat by age of onset. Infants Common signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus in infants include: Changes in the head An unusually large head A rapid increase in the size of the head A bulging or ten...

Ascites is a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. This can happen when the liver is not working properly. Fluid fills the space between the organs and abdominal lining, which can cause swelling and pain. Ascites is a common symptom of cirrhosis, which is scarring on the liver. As fluid accumulates in the abdomen, a person can feel bloated and uncomfortable. The fluid can also press on the lungs, causing shortness of breath. Depending on the cause of a person’s ascites, a doctor can treat the condition with lifestyle changes, diuretics, and antibiotics. They may need to drain the fluid with a needle in some cases. Ascites is the medical term for a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. It can happen when the blood pressure of the portal vein — which runs from the digestive organs to the liver — gets too high. This increased pressure reduces kidney and liver function, causing fluid to accumulate. The condition occurs in 80%Trusted Source of people with liver problems or cirrhosis symptoms Excess f...

Overview A heart arrhythmia (uh-RITH-me-uh) is an irregular heartbeat. Heart rhythm problems (heart arrhythmias) occur when the electrical signals that coordinate the heart's beats don't work properly. The faulty signaling causes the heart to beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia) or irregularly. Heart arrhythmias may feel like a fluttering or racing heart and may be harmless. However, some heart arrhythmias may cause bothersome — sometimes even life-threatening — signs and symptoms. However, sometimes it's normal for a person to have a fast or slow heart rate. For example, the heart rate may increase with exercise or slow down during sleep. Heart arrhythmia treatment may include medications, catheter procedures, implanted devices or surgery to control or eliminate fast, slow or irregular heartbeats. A heart-healthy lifestyle can help prevent heart damage that can trigger certain heart arrhythmias. Symptoms An arrhythmia can be silent, meaning you don't not...

General Discussion Central diabetes insipidus (CDI) is a rare disorder characterized by excessive thirst (polydipsia) and excessive urination (polyuria). It is not related to the more common diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. CDI is a distinct disorder caused by complete or partial deficiency of the protein, arginine vasopressin (AVP), which is required by the kidneys to manage water balance in the body. If affected individuals do not have access to water, dehydration may occur. Eventually, more serious symptoms can develop including changes in consciousness and confusion associated with dehydration and elevation in serum sodium concentration (hypertonic dehydration). CDI may be caused by any condition that affects the creation, transport or release of vasopressin. CDI may be inherited or acquired. In some cases, no cause can be identified (idiopathic). Symptoms Signs and symptoms of diabetes insipidus include: Being extremel...

Caroli disease is a rare genetic condition that causes the bile ducts in the liver to be wider than usual. Widening (dilation) of the bile ducts in the liver (intrahepatic bile ducts) can cause bile duct stones to form, which can lead to yellowing of the skin (jaundice) and flu-like symptoms. People with Caroli disease can have many episodes of these symptoms over their lifetime. A different type of Caroli disease is called Caroli syndrome. It is common to group these two conditions together because they share features. People with Caroli syndrome have scarring on their liver (congenital hepatic fibrosis) which can cause high blood pressure in the veins in the liver (portal hypertension) as well as problems with the bile ducts in the liver. Sometimes, people with Caroli syndrome can develop cysts on their kidneys (polycystic kidney disease). Symptoms of Caroli syndrome are similar to Caroli disease, but can also include blood in the stools, frequent illnesses, and pain in the abdomen. ...