Health and Fitness

Overview Avascular necrosis is the death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply. Also called osteonecrosis, it can lead to tiny breaks in the bone and the bone's eventual collapse. A broken bone or dislocated joint can interrupt the blood flow to a section of bone. Avascular necrosis is also associated with long-term use of high-dose steroid medications and excessive alcohol intake. Anyone can be affected, but the condition is most common in people between the ages of 30 and 50. Symptoms Many people have no symptoms in the early stages of avascular necrosis. As the condition worsens, your affected joint might hurt only when you put weight on it. Eventually, you might feel the pain even when you're lying down. Pain can be mild or severe and usually develops gradually. Pain associated with avascular necrosis of the hip might center on the groin, thigh or buttock. Besides the hip, the areas likely to be affected are the shoulder, knee, hand and foot. Some people develop avas...

Overview Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder. It causes you to repeatedly stop and start breathing while you sleep. There are several types of sleep apnea, but the most common is obstructive sleep apnea. This type of apnea occurs when your throat muscles intermittently relax and block your airway during sleep. A noticeable sign of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring. Treatments for obstructive sleep apnea are available. One treatment involves using a device that uses positive pressure to keep your airway open while you sleep. Another option is a mouthpiece to thrust your lower jaw forward during sleep. In some cases, surgery might be an option too. Symptoms Common obstructive sleep apnea warning signs include: Daytime sleepiness or fatigue Dry mouth or sore throat when you wake up Headaches in the morning Trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, depression, or crankiness Night sweats Restlessness during sleep Problems with sex, like a low sex drive S...

Overview Aplastic anemia is a condition that occurs when your body stops producing enough new blood cells. The condition leaves you fatigued and more prone to infections and uncontrolled bleeding. A rare and serious condition, aplastic anemia can develop at any age. It can occur suddenly, or it can come on slowly and worsen over time. It can be mild or severe. Treatment for aplastic anemia might include medications, blood transfusions or a stem cell transplant, also known as a bone marrow transplant. Symptoms Each type of blood cell has a different role: Red cells carry oxygen around the body. White cells fight infections. Platelets prevent bleeding. Your symptoms depend on what type of blood cells you're low on, but you may be low on all three. These are common symptoms for each: Low red blood cell count: Tiredness Shortness of breath Dizziness Pale skin Headaches Chest pain Irregular heartbeat Low white blood cell count: Infections Fever Low platelet count: Easy bruising and blee...

Erythema is a type of skin rash caused by injured or inflamed blood capillaries. It usually occurs in response to a drug, disease or infection. Rash severity ranges from mild to life threatening. Erythema Multiforme Erythema multiforme (EM) is the most common type of erythema. Viral and bacterial infections cause it. Two of the most common causes are Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and 2 and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections. Medications that may cause EM include: Gout medication called allopurinol Some antibiotics (aminopenicillins, sulfonamides) Anti-seizure medications Types There are two types of EM, minor and major. Erythema multiforme minor (EM minor) typically occurs on the peripheral parts of the body, such as the fingers and toes. Rarely, it may manifest as light mouth sores. It usually clears up on its own. Erythema multiforme major (EM major) skin lesions are more extensive and serious. These are more likely to be caused by a drug reaction than an infection. For this reason...

Overview Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during childbearing years. Also called leiomyomas (lie-o-my-O-muhs) or myomas, uterine fibroids aren't associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and almost never develop into cancer. Fibroids range in size from seedlings, undetectable by the human eye, to bulky masses that can distort and enlarge the uterus. You can have a single fibroid or multiple ones. In extreme cases, multiple fibroids can expand the uterus so much that it reaches the rib cage and can add weight. Many women have uterine fibroids sometime during their lives. But you might not know you have uterine fibroids because they often cause no symptoms. Your doctor may discover fibroids incidentally during a pelvic exam or prenatal ultrasound.                      Symptoms Many women who have fibroids don't have any symptoms. In those that do, symptoms can be influenced by the loc...

Overview Endometriosis (en-doe-me-tree-O-sis) is an often painful disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus — the endometrium — grows outside your uterus. Endometriosis most commonly involves your ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining your pelvis. Rarely, endometrial-like tissue may be found beyond the area where pelvic organs are located. With endometriosis, the endometrial-like tissue acts as endometrial tissue would — it thickens, breaks down and bleeds with each menstrual cycle. But because this tissue has no way to exit your body, it becomes trapped. When endometriosis involves the ovaries, cysts called endometriomas may form. Surrounding tissue can become irritated, eventually developing scar tissue and adhesions — bands of fibrous tissue that can cause pelvic tissues and organs to stick to each other. Endometriosis can cause pain — sometimes severe — especially during menstrual periods. Fertility problems also may devel...