Disease Guide: Diagnosis, Symptoms & Clinical Treatment Protocols

For patients and caregivers, understanding clinical progression, diagnostic imaging results, and pharmacological treatment options is vital for managing acute and chronic health conditions.

Liver operation

Metabolic Functions of the Liver

The liver, weighing about three pounds in a human, is a vital organ necessary for survival. It is located in humans on the right side of the upper abdomen and consists of four unequally sized lobes. The many functions of the liver are carried out by the hepatocyte.

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arm pain of old women

Causes of Pain in the Thumb and Wrist

Thumb and wrist pain can significantly interfere with your daily activities. The bones, joints, ligaments and tendons in the thumb and wrist can all suffer injury or inflammation that leads to pain.

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The Best Jock Itch Treatments

Tinea cruris, or jock itch, is a fungal infection of the groin caused by dermatophytes. It may have symptoms of burning, itching and a rash in the genital area that may be ring shaped. Jock itch may affect both men and women and is caused by the same organism that causes ringworm.

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Over-the-Counter Treatments for Eczema Around the Lips

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a chronic skin condition that normally develops during childhood. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, as many as 20 percent of the world's population suffers from some form of eczema.

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okra and cherry tomatoes on a plate

Okra Allergies

Food allergies are common with certain foods, such as peanuts, milk and eggs, but virtually any food has the potential to cause an allergic reaction.

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young nurse measuring the patients blood pressure

Low B12 & Heart Palpitations

Having an issue with your heart can be scary. Though heart palpitations are common and usually do not indicate a heart issue, feeling your heart beat quickly can certainly cause anxiety. Often, heart palpitations are linked to psychological or dietary issues.

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Food Allergies & Swelling of the Left Side of the Face

An allergic reaction may cause a number of symptoms, including facial swelling that may localize to the right or left side or may occur on both sides. If you have a known allergy to certain foods, you can take precautions to avoid those items and prevent complications.

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Close up of newborn African baby sleeping

Symptoms of Babies Born to Fathers with Addictions

While drug addiction in pregnant women can affect fetal development, drug addiction in fathers doesn't normally affect the baby at the time of birth. Addiction can affect sperm quality and development, but these defects usually cause early miscarriage rather than birth defects.

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Beautiful pregnancy belly

Lactating While Pregnant

Lactation, the process in which your breasts produce milk to feed your baby, begins while you are still pregnant. Lactation causes a variety of changes in your breasts, some that are unpleasant and embarrassing. Fortunately, it is possible to minimize its effects and make lactation more comfortable to handle.

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Close-up of a cut open pumpkin on a cutting board with a knife

Squash & Constipation

Constipation is most simply defined as infrequent bowel movements or difficulty in passing stools, which are fairly common gastrointestinal problems. According to MayoClinic.com, lifestyle changes such as exercising more, drinking more fluids and eating high-fiber foods can help prevent and alleviate constipation.

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Flu allergy. Sick girl sneezing in tissue. Health

Can Seasonal Inhalant Allergies Make You Sick?

Seasonal inhalant allergies can make you feel like you’re sick but will not cause sickness. It’s difficult to distinguish between allergy symptoms and the common cold because the two conditions cause similar reactions in the body.

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Portrait of a young woman smiling

Are Foot Soaks Safe While Pregnant?

A foot soak becomes especially soothing in pregnancy, when excess fluid collects in your tissues and causes the feet to ache and swell. Because so many treatments are off-limits in pregnancy, many mothers-to-be wonder if foot soaking is one of them.

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Mother caring for small baby

Severe Constipation & Gas in Babies

When a baby has severe constipation and gas, she might cry for hours at a time. As a parent, that can make you feel frustrated, helpless and very worried. But gas and constipation are normal problems in a baby.

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How to Recover From Wisdom Teeth Swelling

Wisdom teeth removal can leave with you puffed out, swollen cheeks. This swelling is normal, and is proportional to the surgery -- if you had all four of your wisdom teeth removed, expect more swelling than someone who only had his upper or lower wisdom teeth removed, for example.

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Pain in the Center of the Chest After Eating

You just finish eating your favorite meal and you develop intense pain in your chest. It may feel like you’re having a heart attack, but it is most likely the result of a digestive condition.

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Exercise for an Essential Tremor

Essential tremor is also called benign essential tremor and is, among the 20 different types, the most common. This type of tremor is an unintentional, rhythmic, back and forth muscle movement of one or more parts of your body, but most commonly affects one or both hands.

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Goulash

How to Thicken a Watery Beef Stew

Thick, hearty beef stew doesn't happen by itself. You must take care to thicken the broth or you will have a beef soup instead of a savory beef stew in a thick gravy. Deciding how to thicken the beef stew takes thought because the thickening agent that you use might change the flavor of the stew.

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Close-up of a woman eating a hamburger

What to Do After Eating a Lot of Junk Food

Whether it's a bag of chips, a couple of extra scoops of ice cream or an extra large helping of cheesecake, you succumbed and now feel miserable. Don't punish yourself. No one is perfect, and it is okay to allow yourself a momentary lapse.

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Fasting and Acid Indigestion

Acid indigestion can cause discomfort in the upper abdomen. This digestive condition also goes by the names of dyspepsia and sour stomach. Indigestion most commonly occurs after eating certain foods, but it can also cause discomfort during fasting.

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Porterhouse steak on a plate

Why Does Red Meat Give Me Diarrhea?

Red meat is a staple food in many American homes, but for some people, red meat can cause adverse reactions, such as diarrhea, stomach pain and cramping. If you notice that every time you eat red meat you develop diarrhea, you need to make an appointment with your health care provider.

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