Conditions Treated at Internal Medicine | GW Medical Faculty Associates

Achalasia is a condition of the esophagus (the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach through which food passes) which makes swallowing food or liquids through the esophagus difficult. Normally, food passes from the mouth the stomach through the esophagus with the assistance of the coordinated movement of the muscles in the esophagus moving in waves to pass food into the stomach, a process called peristalsis. Achalasia involves both the muscles in the esophagus and the lower esophageal sphi ...

Acne Vulgaris

Acne vulgaris, commonly known as pimples or blemishes, is an unsightly skin condition which greatly affects self-esteem. Ance is characterized by the presence of open and closed comedones (blackheads and whiteheads, respectively). More severe acne includes erythema (reddening) and nodules (bigger collections of inflammation and, sometimes, pus under the skin). In normal skin, hair grows out of pores called follicles. The human body produces sebum (an oily substance) from glands at the bottom ...

Actinic keratosis

An actinic keratosis is an abnormal lesion on the skin which is rough and scaly. Like many skin lesions, these are caused by exposure to sunlight. They usually appear on areas which are exposed to sun including the face, ears, neck, lips, hands, forearms, and scalp. Actinic keratoses usually appear in older adults and, if left untreated, can progress to skin cancer. Actinic keratoses come from the top layer of skin, called the epidermis. The top layer of skin usually regenerates in an order ...

Acute Coronary Syndrome

There are several conditions that fall under the category of Acute Coronary Syndrome: two types of heart attacks called STEMI and NSTEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction) and unstable angina. Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) is essentially a condition where the heart loses its blood supply. When this happens, the heart can stop functioning properly. This is a very serious condition which can rapidly lead to death. ACS is usually diagnosed in an emer ...

Acute Sinusitis

Acute sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses in the face which fill with mucus and become painful. The sinuses are spaces in the bones which are normally mostly empty except a little bit of tissue that can become swollen or inflamed. This inflammation generally begins with a common cold, bacteria, allergies or fungal infections. When the sinuses become inflamed, mucus cannot drain normally and becomes backed up. The sinuses that most often have acute inflammation and get sinusitis are call ...

Addison's Disease

Addison’s Disease is a disease of the adrenal glands, two small glands that sit on top of the kidneys. The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system, which is the system that regulates hormones in the body. The hormones produced by the adrenal glands are extremely important to regulation and balance (homeostasis) of most of the organ systems in the body. There are two sections to the adrenal gland, the medulla and cortex. The inner section (medulla) produces hormones like adrenaline (a ...

Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is an abnormal reaction of the body to a normal environmental stimulus like pollen. Allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, is the itchy eyes, sneezing, stuffiness, and runny nose that happen when the body is exposed to things that cause allergy (allergens). The immune system normally works in the body to protect us from things that might do us harm, like bacteria or other infections. As part of this immune system, the body produces antibodies which serve to catch things in the bo ...

Allergies

Allergies are an overreaction of the immune system that results in itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, hives, and, sometimes, extreme swelling called anaphylaxis. Allergies can affect your sinuses, skin, gastrointestinal tract and airways. The immune system normally works in the body to protect us from things that might do us harm, like bacteria or other infections. As part of this immune system, the body produces antibodies which serve to catch things in the body that should not be there, like ...

Alopecia

Alopecia is the medical term for baldness, but can refer to all sorts of hair loss including that from heredity, medications, or medical conditions. While we generally think hair loss affects men, it can also affect women and children. Hair loss can be very traumatizing. It can affect how you feel and interact in social situations. Normally, the hairs on your head go through cycles when they grow (anagen phase) and when they rest (telogen phase). Each hair independently goes through these s ...

Anal Fissure

An anal fissure is a small break or tear in the skin of the anus which causes bleeding and/or pain. The anus is the muscular area at the end of the colon (or large bowel) that controls defecation (having a bowel movement). The job of the anus is to use its muscle (called the anal sphincter) to control when a bowel movement leaves the body. Usually, an anal fissure will occur as a result of passing stool that is hard or large, as happens with constipation. Any type of inflammation in the anal ...

Anemia

Anemia is the medical term used to describe low red blood counts. Blood is made of several components including white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets and plasma. The white blood cells have the job of fighting infection. The platelets have the job of helping stop bleeding. The plasma is the fluid part of blood that allows it to flow. The red blood cells are the cells that have a structure called hemoglobin which collects oxygen in the lungs and delivers it to the rest of the body as ...

Angina

Angina is the medical name for chest pain caused by decreased blood flow to the muscles in the heart. Normally, blood is supplied to the heart muscle through arteries around the heart. As with all organs in the body, the heart requires the oxygen from blood in order to function properly. Plaques made partly of cholesterol can build in these arteries, a condition called coronary artery disease. These plaques make the arteries smaller and less able to provide blood to the heart muscle. A pers ...

Angioedema

Angioedema is a swelling of the skin, lips tongue and other areas of the body. Most of the time, angioedema is not serious. However, it is possible for angioedema to develop into anaphylaxis which is dangerous and life-threatening. Angioedema is caused by the release of a chemical called histamine from cells called mast cells in the body. The release of histamine can be triggered by allergy especially to foods, medications, or other allergens. Less frequently, angioedema is triggered by hea ...

Anhidrosis

Anhidrosis is the medical condition of not being able to sweat properly. Sweating is part of the body’s natural function to cool itself down, so not being able to sweat can be quite serious. In anhidrosis, sweat glands stop working for a variety of reasons including damage to the skin (as with scarring from burns), damage to the nerves (from illnesses like diabetes, alcohol use, or a variety of other conditions), medications (like some of those for blood pressure, urinary incontinence, and na ...

Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Antiphospholipid syndrome is a condition which causes a tendency for the blood to clot in both the arteries and veins. The body normally produces blood clots in order to keep you from bleeding when you sustain an injury. The body keeps a careful balance between keeping the blood neither too thick (with a tendency to clot) or too thin (with a tendency to bleed). In antiphospholipid syndrome, the body makes antibodies (which are normally produced to fight infection) but misdirects them toward c ...

Aortic Coarctation

Aortic coarctation is the medical name for a narrowing of part of the largest blood vessel in the body, the aorta. The aorta is the large blood vessel that comes off of the heart to deliver blood to the organs of the body. Narrowing of the aorta can be a problem because the size of the tube through which the blood can flow is smaller, causing the heart to have to pump harder to push the blood forward. Most often, coarctation of the aorta is a congenital condition (a condition present at birth ...

Aortic Valve Regurgitation

Aortic regurgitation is the medical term used to describe the backward flow of blood through the aortic valve. The aortic valve sits at the outlet of the left side of the heart (the left ventricle) and controls the flow of blood out of the heart and to the body. All of the four valves of the heart are designed to work like one-way valves to control the forward flow of blood. It is not unusual to have no symptoms from aortic regurgitation. If a person has symptoms, he or she generally feels f ...

Aortic Valve Stenosis

Aortic stenosis is the medical term used to describe the tightening or narrowing of the aortic valve in the heart. This narrowing of the aortic valve decreases forward flow of blood in the heart. The aortic valve sits at the outlet of the left side of the heart (the left ventricle) and controls the flow of blood out of the heart and to the body. All of the four valves of the heart are designed to work like one-way valves to control the forward flow of blood. Sometimes, a person won’t have an ...

Apthous Ulcer

Aphtous ulcer is the medical name for a canker sore which are small, shallows sores that appear in the inside of the mouth and near the gums. Most of the time canker sores disappear in a week or two on their own. While cold sores on the outside of the mouth are sometimes an indication of a viral infection and are contagious, canker sores inside the mouth are neither contagious nor caused by a virus. Though the cause of canker sores is not known, many factors can lead to canker sores including ...

Arrhythmia

An arrhythmia is an abnormal heartbeat which may or may not have symptoms. An arrhythmia can cause the heart to beat irregularly, too fast, or too slow. The heart’s pumping motion is coordinated by electrical activity that moves in an organized fashion from the top of the heart (the sinus node) through the middle of the heart (the atrioventricular node) and to the bottom of the heart (through the bundle of His and Purkinje fibers). First the electrical impulse reaches the atria at the top whi ...

Asperger's Syndrome

Asperger’s Syndrome is a type of developmental disorder that manifests as difficulty communicating and socializing normally. Asperger’s Syndrome falls into the spectrum with other developmental diseases like autism, but is more mild than autism. Asperger’s Syndrome is generally noted since childhood, with children having those same awkward social habits. A person with Asperger’s Syndrome usually isn’t aware that he or she doesn’t fit in with others. People with Asperger’s Syndrome also gener ...

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the hardening and narrowing of the arteries in the body. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the body. When we are younger, our arteries are very flexible and can respond appropriately to changes in blood pressure. However, as we age, higher blood pressure over time as well as buildup of cholesterol plaques can lead to hardening of the arteries. These smaller and less flexible arteries can’t always get enough oxygen-rich blood to the organs th ...

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a type of arrhythmia or abnormal beating of the heart. Normally, the heart’s pumping motion is coordinated by electrical activity that moves in an organized fashion from the top of the heart (the sinus node) through the middle of the heart (the atrioventricular node) and to the bottom of the heart (through the Bundle of His and Purkinje fibers). First the electrical impulse reaches the atria at the top which causes them to contract, filling the ventricles with blood. Th ...

Atrial Flutter

Atrial flutter is a type of arrhythmia or abnormal beating of the heart. Normally, the heart’s pumping motion is coordinated by electrical activity that moves in an organized fashion from the top of the heart (the sinus node) through the middle of the heart (the atrioventricular node) and to the bottom of the heart (through the Bundle of His and Purkinje fibers). First the electrical impulse reaches the atria at the top which causes them to contract, filling the ventricles with blood. Then, t ...

Atrial Septal Defect

An atrial septal defect is a hole between the top two chambers of the heart. The heart is made of four chambers, the two upper chambers called the atria and the two lower chambers called the ventricles. Normally, oxygen-deficient blood moves from the body through the right atria to the right ventricle where it is pumped through the lungs to pick up oxygen. It then returns to the left atrium, through the left ventricle and is pumped back out to the body. An atrial septal defect is a hole betw ...

Autism

Autism is a severe form of developmental disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism generally begins to show symptoms in early childhood, before the age of three. Parents usually note that the child seems not to form attachments, resists affection, has repetitive activities, and prefers to play alone. The rate of autism in the United States is roughly three to six out of every 1,000 children. Though no precise cause of autism is known, many fact ...

Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are conditions where the body attacks itself. Normally, the body produces antibodies to help fight infection. Sometimes, the body mistakenly produces antibodies that are directed against the body itself, against its own liver in the case of autoimmune hepatitis. The antibodies attack the liver cells, causing severe inflammation and damage. Autoimmune hepatitis, if left untreated, can lead t ...

Back Pain

Most people in the United States will experience back pain in their lives. Back pain is the second most common reason that patients go to the doctor and a very common reason that people miss work. Back pain can originate from the many parts of the back: the muscles, bones, disks, ligaments, tendons, and even the organs that lie toward the back of the abdomen. The most common cause of back pain is strain of the muscles or ligaments involved in movement. Muscle strain is most commonly arises f ...

Bags Under the Eyes

Puffiness or swelling under the eyes, so-called “bags”, happens as we get older. As we age, the skin on the body becomes thinner, including the skin under the eye. More importantly, the skin becomes less taut and the muscles that support the eyelid become weaker while fat moves forward into the lids and undereye area. The presence of this fat makes the area look puffy. A variety of factors can cause fluid to pool under the eyes including weather changes, hormones, salty foods, not sleeping e ...

Barrett's Esophagus

Barrett’s esophagus is the name for abnormal changes in the cells of the lower part of the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth with the stomach). Most of the time, Barrett’s esophagus is caused by repeated exposure to acid from the stomach from gastroesophageal reflux disease though some people who get Barrett’s esophagus never have had any symptoms of acid reflux. If acid is coming into the esophagus but you have no symptoms, this is a condition called “silent reflux”. The repeated e ...

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer apart from melanoma. Fortunately, basal cell carcinoma is not likely to spread and easily treated by removal. However, if left alone, basal cell carcinoma can grow large and invade surrounding bone, muscles and nerves. Skin is made of three layers: the epidermis (on the outside), the dermis (the second layer) and the subcutis at the bottom. Basal cell carcinoma comes from the basal cells which live at the bottom of the epidermis. T ...

Bedsores

Bedsores are the areas of dead and damaged skin that happen as a result of sustained pressure cutting off circulation to certain areas of the body. Bedsores are also commonly called pressure sores or pressure ulcers. The most common locations for these types of sores are the low back (just above the buttocks), the buttocks, the hips, and the heels. As with all other tissues in the body, when blood supply is cut off, the tissue begins to die. Other factors that contribute to pressure ulcers i ...

Bee Stings

A bee sting is the painful sting caused by a common outdoor insect, the bee. Bee stings are caused by the bee inserting the venom-filled stinger on its back end into a person’s skin. Many insects sting, including bees and wasps. These stings cause pain and swelling and, in some people, a very severe allergic reaction. Normally, bee stings go away quickly on their own. However, in some cases of multiple stings or a severe allergic reaction, you may have to go to the emergency room. The veno ...

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Vertigo is a feeling of dizziness that comes on quickly which may feel like a loss of balance or like that the room is spinning. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a type of vertigo that happens suddenly and unexpectedly, especially with turning of the head to one side or change in position of the head including rising from lying down. The ear is a very complex organ that deals with both hearing and balance. With regard to balance, the ear has several structures including the semi ...

Blind Loop Syndrome

Blind loop syndrome is a condition where a section of the smaller intestine does not function normally because it does not get the normal flow of food and digestive juices due to being cut off from the rest of the intestine. Normally, food enters the body through the mouth where it gets chewed up and mixed with saliva and some digestive enzymes. The food then passes down the esophagus to the stomach. In the stomach, the food gets broken down by acid and churning motion. The food passes in sm ...

Botox

Botox is the brand name for botulinum toxin, a byproduct of certain bacteria that causes temporary weakening of muscles. Botulinum toxin has been used in the past and is currently used for many different medical treatments including neuromuscular disorders. More recently, botulinum toxin has been used to soften the look of wrinkles by weaken the tiny muscles of the face. Botox is administered by dermatologists certified in the administration of Botox. The most effective places to use Botox i ...

Bradycardia

Bradycardia is the medical term for a slower than normal heartbeat. A normal heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. If your heart beats less than 60 times per minute, you are considered to have a slow heartbeat or bradycardia. The organs of the body, especially the brain, are dependent on receiving oxygen-rich blood from the heart. If the heart pumps too slowly, the oxygen supply to the head may not be enough and a person may feel dizzy or lightheaded and pass out. Similarly, a ...

Breast Cyst

A breast cyst is a closed, fluid-filled sac that can be present in the breast that is not harmful. Unlike other more solid masses in the breast, a cyst has the feeling of being filled with fluid, like a small water balloon. Generally, breast cysts feel round, fluid-filled and separated from the tissue around them though they can be more firm. The breast is made up of distinct areas of glands in a circular pattern around the breast as well as milk ducts that connect together just under the nip ...

Breast Pain

Mastalgia is the medical term for pain in the breasts. Breast pain is very common, happening to roughly 70% of women at some point during their lifetime. Many women have breast pain every month with their menstrual cycles with a lot of women reporting breast pain more than five days per month. Breast pain is most common in younger women who are menstruating, though it can occur after menopause as well. Breast pain can have a major impact on a woman’s life, including her relationships at work ...

Broken Heart Syndrome

Broken Heart Syndrome is the common name of a temporary malfunction of the heart due to physical or emotional stress. The symptoms of broken heart syndrome often mimic a heart attack with similar chest pain. Broken heart syndrome is also called Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and stress cardiomyopathy. Broken heart syndrome is started by a sudden release of stress hormones that cause the heart to temporarily enlarge and not function properly. The release of stress hormones can be caused by any type ...

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is the medical term for inflammation of the tubes that connect the mouth and nose with the lungs, the bronchi. The bronchi are the large airways that allow air to pass from the mouth or nose to the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and byproducts takes place. There are two types of bronchitis: acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by a cold or other upper respiratory infection that moves down into the bronchi. Acute bronchitis can be caused by either bacteria or v ...

Brugada Syndrome

Brugada syndrome is heart rhythm disorder that is abnormal, runs in families, and can be life-threatening. Brugada syndrome is diagnosed or detected with an electrocardiogram. The problem with Brugada syndrome is that it can lead to unstable heart rhythms that can cause fainting and sudden cardiac death. Often, people who have Brugada syndrome don’t have any symptoms and don’t know that they are at risk for cardiac arrest or heart rhythm abnormalities. The heart’s normal pumping motion is co ...

Castleman Disease

Castleman disease is a rare illness that causes overgrowth of the lymph nodes, structures that normally serve as a signal center for the immune system. Normally, a white blood cell catches a bacteria, virus, or mold in the body then carries it to the lymph node where the other white blood cells send out a cascade of signals to the body to get the infection under control. In Castleman disease, the lymph cells grow too rapidly. While Castleman disease is not a cancer, it is similar to cancers l ...

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease or celiac sprue is the medical name for allergy to gluten, a protein found in many foods including breads, baked goods, pastas and foods made of wheat, barley or rye. It goes by many names including celiac sprue, gluten intolerance, and gluten sensitive enteropathy. Normally, gluten is broken down and digested in the small intestine at tiny finger-like projections from the wall called villi. These microscopic villi are also responsible for absorbing other nutrients, vitamins, an ...

Cellulite

Cellulite is the lumpy fat that appears on the buttocks, thighs and hips. If you have cellulite, you are not alone; most women will have cellulite at some point in their lives. Cellulite is not a problem in itself but can be ugly and make you feel self-conscious. Underneath the skin, many structures make cellulite appear. Fibrous cords connect the skin to the muscles below with fat in between. When fat pushes with these cords holding it back, the surface becomes lumpy and uneven. As you might ...

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is the medical term for bacterial infection of the skin. This infection causes redness, heat and pain in the affected area. Cellulitis may appear after an injury that you remember or may seem to appear out of nowhere. If left alone, cellulitis can progress into a serious infection even spreading to the bloodstream. While cellulitis can appear anywhere on the body, it is most common on the legs. The two most common bacteria causing cellulitis are staphylococcus and streptococcus. ...

Cerumen Impaction

Cerumen impaction is the medical term for earwax buildup in the ear canal. Earwax is designed to protect the ear canal by catching dirt and debris that enter the ear and making it difficult for bacteria to grow. Wax comes from glands within the skin of the ear canal. Along with the tiny hairs that line the ear canal, the wax helps keep debris from getting to the ear drum. Normally, the extra wax falls out of the ear while bathing. For unknown reasons, the wax seems to buildup in some people ...

Cholelithiasis

Cholelithiasis is the medical word for gallstones which are small stones formed from various things that collect in the gallbladder. The normal job of the gallbladder is to store bile, which is made in the liver then passed down the bile duct system to the gallbladder. This bile is used to help break down the fats that we eat. When something fatty enters the stomach, bile is released from the gallbladder to help break down fats to be used by the body. Gallstones can be made of breakdown prod ...

Chronic Cough

Chronic cough is defined as any cough lasting eight or more weeks. Chronic cough is annoying, frustrating, draining and can be difficult to manage both around your family and in public. Chronic cough can be especially annoying at night if it causes you to lose sleep. Chronic cough is extremely common. The three most common causes of chronic cough include low-grade asthma, acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD) and postnasal drip from allergies. If the cause of the chronic cou ...

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a medical disorder that involves excessive fatigue that does not improve with rest and relaxation ongoing for greater than six months. In chronic fatigue syndrome, fatigue may worsen when doing physical or mental activities. Nobody knows exactly why chronic fatigue syndrome happens but some theories, including viral infections, exist. Other theories for the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome include depression, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), iron deficiency anemia ...

Chronic Sinusitis

Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses in the face which fill with mucus and become painful. Sinusitis is called “chronic’ when it lasts longer than 8 weeks. The sinuses are spaces in the bones which are normally mostly empty except a little bit of tissue that can become swollen or inflamed. This inflammation generally begins with a common cold, bacteria, allergies or fungal infections. When the sinuses become inflamed, mucus cannot drain normally and becomes backed up. The sinuses that m ...

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is the medical term for scarring of the liver. The liver is located in the right upper part of the abdomen. The liver has several jobs including getting rid of toxic material from the blood making clotting components to help stop bleeding, producing hormones, and storing energy in the form of glycogen for later use. Scarring of the liver or cirrhosis happens when the liver is having long-term damage. The long-term damage can be caused by chronic alcohol abuse, hepatitis B, hepatiti ...

Cluster Headache

Cluster headache is very painful type of headache that occurs in cyclic clusters of multiple headaches generally over the course of a week. The headaches are characterized by one-sided pain (especially localized to the eye), tearing or redness of the eye on the affected side, and stuffiness of the nostril on that side. However, cluster headaches can occur without those classic signs. The headaches are intense and come one suddenly but leave just as quickly. Periods with more frequent headach ...

Colon polyps

Colon polyps are a cluster of cells that grows in the last part of the digestive tract called the colon. Polyps are usually benign, but can some develop into cancer. The colon is located at the end of the digestive tract and has the job of reabsorbing water from the digested matter and making solid waste. DNA normally controls how the cells grow and reproduce. In colon polyps, the DNA of these cells has a mutation that allows them to grow and reproduce at higher rate than normal. Instead of ...

Common Warts

Warts are abnormal growths of the skin due to infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV). The skin is made up of several layers with the outermost being the epidermis. HPV infects the epidermis. There are over 100 different kinds (or strains) of HPV that cause both benign conditions like warts and more serious conditions like cervical cancer. However, the types that cause cancer are not the same types as those that cause common warts. Warts are usually flesh colored and appear as bumps ...

Concussion

Concussion is a temporary change in the function of the brain due to injury. Concussion is usually caused by a direct injury to the head, most commonly caused during sports. While concussion can be accompanied by a loss of consciousness, it is possible to have a concussion without ever blacking out. Concussion can affect main of the functions of the brain including reflexes, memory, judgment, balance, speech or coordination. The normal brain has a soft consistency and is protected because it ...

Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure is the medical term for decreased pumping function of the heart. The job of the heart is to pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body so that the tissues can get the oxygen that they need. Depending on the cause of congestive heart failure, the heart can either become big and floppy or too thick and muscular. In both cases, the heart doesn’t pump as well as it should. Congestive heart failure can be caused by a variety of factors including coronary artery disease an ...

Crohn's Disease

Crohn’s Disease is a condition causing chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, one of the inflammatory bowel diseases. Ulcerative colitis can cause chronic diarrhea, cramping and abdominal pain as well as symptoms elsewhere in the gastrointestinal tract. Unlike Ulcerative colitis, which affects only the most superficial layer of the colon and rectum, Crohn’s disease affects all of the layers of the gastrointestinal tract and occurs in patches throughout the digestive tract from the ...

Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is the inflammation of abnormal outpouchings of the wall of the colon. These outpouchings, called diverticuli, are caused by the weakening of the bowel wall that comes with aging. Often, people do not know that they have these outpouchings (a condition called diverticulosis) until they have an episode of diverticulitis. Being older as well as eating a diet which is low in fiber and high in fat contributes to the formation of diverticuli and getting subsequent diverticulitis. D ...

Diverticulosis

Diverticulosis is the presence of abnormal outpouchings in the wall of the colon. These outpouchings, called diverticuli, are caused by the weakening of the bowel wall muscles that comes with aging. Often, people do not know that they have these outpouchings until they have an episode of diverticulitis, inflammation of the outpouchng. Being older as well as eating a diet which is low in fiber and high in fat contributes to getting diverticulosis. If you have diverticula, there are things you ...

Epistaxis

Epistaxis is the medical word for a nosebleed. Many factors contribute to epistaxis including medications (especially those which thin blood), dry climate, medical conditions, and manual manipulation (nose picking or sticking other objects in the nose). The nasal passages have blood vessels which lie very close to the surface of the nasal mucosa. Risk factors for nosebleed include being either young or old, having high blood pressure, and certain medications. The two types of nosebleeds are ...

Hives

Hives, also known as urticaria, are an itchy, bumpy rash over the skin that comes as a result of allergy. Most of the time, hives are not serious. However, hives can be associated with angioedema, a swelling of the tongue, lips and throat that can lead to severe disease and even death. Hives are caused by the local release of a chemical called histamine from certain cells in the body called mast cells. The release of histamine can be triggered by allergy to foods, medications, or other aller ...

Laryngitis

Laryngitis is voice loss due to inflammation in the larynx or voice box. This inflammation can be due to an overuse injury, infection, or other causes of irritation. The larynx is called the “voice box” because the vocal cords which produce sound are in this area. The job of vocal cords is to open and close while air passes through them from the lungs to produce sounds. Normally the vocal cords are smooth and move fluidly. When inflammation happens to these vocal cords, the nature of a per ...

Mastitis

Mastitis is the medical name for infection of the breast. Mastitis is characterized by pain, swelling, redness of the breast and may involve fever or chills. Generally, mastitis is a result of breast-feeding, but can occur to women who are not breast feeding as well. Most often, mastitis happens within the first three months of breast feeding, but can occur at any time throughout that period. Mastitis is common during breast feeding because bacteria from the skin or the baby’s mouth can ente ...

Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal cancer is a type of cancer that originates in an area of the head called the nasopharnyx which is located between the back of the nose and the top of the throat. Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to detect nasopharyngeal carcinoma early on because it is hidden in an area that is not seen on routine physical exam and the cancer can grow for a long time before causing any symptoms. Also, many of the symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer can be caused by common and benign (not dange ...

Presbycusis

Presbyscusis is the technical name for the common type of hearing loss that comes with age. Hearing lss is very common as we get older, with half of people over the age of 75 having some degree of hearing loss. Many factors contribute to age-related hearing loss especially heredity (inherited diseases from the family) and being exposed to loud noises over time. Sometimes something as simple as a foreign object or earwax building up in the ear canal can lead to loss of hearing. Hearing is muc ...

Primary Aldosteronism

Primary aldosteronism is the overproduction of aldosterone in the adrenal glands. Aldosterone is a mineralocorticoid which is produced to balance the body’s sat content. The adrenal glands are two small glands that sit on top of the kidneys. The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system, which is the system that regulates hormones in the body. The hormones produced by the adrenal glands are extremely important to regulation and balance (homeostasis) of most of the organ systems in the ...

Tinea Pedis

Tinea pedis is the medical term for athlete’s foot, a fungal infection on the foot. Athlete’s foot causes a tremendous amount of itching as well as burning or stinging. The fungi that infect the foot in athlete’s foot are from a mold-like group called “dermatophytes” which have projections the stick down into the top layers of skin. The skin responds to the irritation by producing more cells which lead to thickening and cracking of the skin in the infected area. Fungus likes to grow in the m ...

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Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a condition causing chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, one of the inflammatory bowel diseases. Ulcerative colitis can cause chronic diarrhea, cramping and abdominal pain. Ulcerative colitis is different than other inflammatory bowel disease because it affects only the very inner lining of the gastrointestinal tract and begins at the end of the digestive tract (in the rectum and colon) and is continuous. This pattern is different than Crohn’s disease whic ...

Upper Respiratory Infection

Upper respiratory infection is the medical term for the common cold. The common cold is caused by any one of over 200 viruses but most commonly comes from the rhinovirus. Cold viruses get into your body through your mouth or nose, usually from being sneezed into the air or being passed from dirty hands. The cold viruses can live on counters, utensils, doorknobs and other surfaces where it is then passed on to others when they touch their eyes, nose or mouth. As its name suggests, colds are q ...

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