Health and Fitness

Overview Brucellosis is a bacterial infection that spreads from animals to people. Most commonly, people are infected by eating raw or unpasteurized dairy products. Sometimes, the bacteria that cause brucellosis can spread through the air or through direct contact with infected animals. Symptoms Symptoms of brucellosis may show up anytime from a few days to a few months after you've been infected. Signs and symptoms are similar to those of the flu and include: Fever Chills Loss of appetite Sweats Weakness Fatigue Joint, muscle and back pain Headache Brucellosis symptoms may disappear for weeks or months and then return. Some people have chronic brucellosis and experience symptoms for years, even after treatment. Long-term signs and symptoms may include: Fatigue Recurrent fevers Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart chambers (endocarditis) Joint inflammation (arthritis) Arthritis of the spinal bones (spondylitis) Arthritis of joints where the spine and pelvis connect (sacroi...

Overview Low blood pressure might seem desirable, and for some people, it causes no problems. However, for many people, abnormally low blood pressure (hypotension) can cause dizziness and fainting. In severe cases, low blood pressure can be life-threatening. A blood pressure reading lower than 90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) for the top number (systolic) or 60 mm Hg for the bottom number (diastolic) is generally considered low blood pressure. The causes of low blood pressure can range from dehydration to serious medical disorders. It's important to find out what's causing your low blood pressure so that it can be treated. Symptoms For some people, low blood pressure signals an underlying problem, especially when it drops suddenly or is accompanied by signs and symptoms such as: Dizziness or lightheadedness Fainting Blurred or fading vision Nausea Fatigue Lack of concentration Shock Extreme hypotension can result in this life-threatening condition. Signs and symptoms include: ...

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects your ability to read, spell, write, and speak. Kids who have it are often smart and hardworking, but they have trouble connecting the letters they see to the sounds those letters make. About 5% to 10% of Americans have some symptoms of dyslexia, such as slow reading, trouble spelling, or mixing up words. Adults can have this learning disorder, as well. Some people are diagnosed early in life. Others don't realize they have dyslexia until they get older. Kids with dyslexia often have normal vision and are just as smart as their peers. But they struggle more in school because it takes them longer to read. Trouble processing words can also make it hard to spell, write, and speak clearly. signs and symptoms Dyslexia impacts people in different ways. So, symptoms might not look the same from one person to another. A key sign of dyslexia is trouble decoding words . This is the ability to match letters to sounds. Kids can also struggle with a m...

Buerger’s disease (also known as thromboangiitis obliterans) affects blood vessels in the body, most commonly in the arms and legs. Blood vessels swell, which can prevent blood flow, causing clots to form. This can lead to pain, tissue damage, and even gangrene (the death or decay of body tissues).1 In some cases, amputation may be required.2 The most common symptoms of Buerger’s disease are:2 Fingers or toes that appear pale, red, or bluish Cold hands or feet Pain in the hands and feet that may feel like burning or tingling Pain in the legs, ankles, or feet when walking—often located in the arch of the foot Skin changes or small painful sores on the fingers or toes The exact cause of Buerger’s disease is unknown, however tobacco use is strongly linked to its development.3 Researchers believe that chemicals in tobacco may irritate the lining of the blood vessels, causing them to swell.3 Almost everyone diagnosed with Buerger’s disease smokes cigarettes or uses other forms of tobacco, s...

General Discussion Brown-Squared syndrome is a rare spinal disorder that results from an injury to one side of the spinal cord in which the spinal cord is damaged but is not severed completely. It is usually caused by an injury to the spine in the region of the neck or back. In many cases, affected individuals have received some type of puncture wound in the neck or in the back that damages the spine and causes symptoms to appear. Characteristically, the affected person loses the sense of touch, vibrations and/or position in three dimensions below the level of the injury (hemiparalysis or asymmetric paresis). The sensory loss is particularly strong on the same side (ipsilateral) as the injury to the spine. These sensations are accompanied by a loss of the sense of pain and of temperature (hypoalgesia) on the side of the body opposite (contralateral) to the side at which the injury was sustained. Signs & Symptoms Symptoms of Brown-Squared syndrome usually appear after an af...

Pelvic pain can happen in both men and women and might stem from infections, abnormalities in internal organs, or pain from the pelvic bones. In women, pelvic pain might be related to the reproductive system. Treatment depends upon the cause. OVERVIEW Pelvic pain can be a sign that there might be a problem with one of the reproductive organs in a woman’s pelvic area. Although pelvic pain often refers to pain in the region of women's internal reproductive organs, pelvic pain can be present in either sex and can stem from other causes. Pelvic pain might be a symptom of infection or might arise from pain in the pelvis bone or in non-reproductive internal organs. In women, however, pelvic pain can very well be an indication that there might be a problem with one of the reproductive organs in the pelvic area (uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, and vagina). Causes Several types of diseases and conditions can cause pelvic pain. Chronic pelvic pain can result from more than one cond...

Overview Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age. Women with PCOS may have infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods or excess male hormone (androgen) levels. The ovaries may develop numerous small collections of fluid (follicles) and fail to regularly release eggs. The exact cause of PCOS is unknown. Early diagnosis and treatment along with weight loss may reduce the risk of long-term complications such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease Symptoms The most common PCOS symptoms are missed, irregular, infrequent, or prolonged periods. Excess androgens can cause hair loss, hair in places you don’t want it (like on your face), and acne. Other symptoms include: Darkened skin or excess skin (skin tags) on the neck or in the armpits Mood changes Pelvic pain Weight gain around your middle Complications If you have PCOS and your androgen levels are too high, you have higher odds for a number of complications. These can differ from woman t...