Not everyone has the "standard" body temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Your temperature may run a little higher or lower than this normally, and a slightly lower than normal temperature is generally nothing to worry about.
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A rapid heart rate can be very disturbing. Some causes are harmless, while others are potentially life threatening. Certain physical maneuvers can quickly lower the heart rate, but they should only be attempted if your doctor has recommended them.
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While cancer is a possibility that everyone fears, most lung spots have other causes, such as infections, noncancerous growths or even blood vessel abnormalities.
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A woman may experience left-sided abdominal pain for a variety of reasons. Some are bothersome but harmless. Others, such as a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, can be immediately life threatening. Your age and medical history can play a major role in helping you determine the most likely causes.
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Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgeries performed on children, but sometimes adults need to have their tonsils removed, too. Infection is the most likely reason your doctor may recommend a tonsillectomy.
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Scalp pain and sensitivity occur for a variety reasons, ranging from common skin conditions and infections, to the physical irritation from scratching or harsh chemicals. Disorders affecting the nerves and blood vessels can also cause scalp tenderness and sensitivity.
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Most women experience at least one vaginal yeast infection, and many deal with recurrent infections. Yeast called Candida albicans accounts for most of these infections, which usually clear quickly with topical antifungal medicine.
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Blood clots deep in the legs, called deep venous thrombosis or DVT, are a serious health concern. If a clot breaks free and travels to the lungs, it can be potentially fatal. Blood clots in the lungs are the third leading cause of death in people who are hospitalized, according to the medical text "
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While most people are more concerned about their blood pressure being too high, an abnormally low blood pressure can also cause problems. Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg, but a level less than 90/60 is generally considered too low.
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Brain tumors that begin in the brain are called primary brain tumors, and they may or may not be cancerous. Other brain tumors arise when cancer from another location in the body spreads, or metastasizes, to the brain. These metastatic brain tumors are 4 to 5 times more common than primary brain tumors.
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Pain in the left arm can be due to many causes, ranging from a pulled muscle to a massive heart attack. While it is not always possible to determine whether left arm pain is due to an insignificant cause or something potentially serious, several features can help distinguish the difference.
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Many people have had an electrocardiogram, or EKG, at some point in their lives. Although it is one of the simplest medical tests to perform, it can give doctors a wealth of information, some of which could ultimately prove lifesaving. Many conditions can cause an abnormal EKG result.
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A slow heart rate, called bradycardia, may result from various medications. Some drugs were developed specifically to slow the heart rate. But bradycardia may be an unwanted side effect of a wide range of other medications that were not developed to have any impact on the heart.
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Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are common -- especially among women. Most are caused by bacteria called E. coli. But some types of staph bacteria, primarily one known as Staphylococcus saprophyticus, can also cause a urinary infection.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 8 million people living in the United States have poor circulation in the legs, also known as peripheral arterial disease, or PAD. Symptoms of poor circulation can vary and can range from pain in one or both legs to wounds that do not heal.
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While most people take iron safely, excessive amounts of iron can be toxic. Symptoms may range from fatigue to life-threatening shock. The signs and symptoms of acute iron toxicity are different than those of chronic toxicity.
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Several years before menopause, you may begin to experience a variety of symptoms that your ovaries are failing. Premenopausal women may experience such a wide range of symptoms -- headaches, joint aches, hot flashes, sleep disturbances -- that one woman's journey may be completely different from that of her friends.
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The thyroid gland is an organ that produces hormones that regulate important bodily functions, including metabolism. The thyroid is stimulated to produce its hormones by another hormone called thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH. When thyroid hormone levels are abnormally high, TSH is typically low.
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Throat cancer typically refers to cancers arising from tissue in the throat, voicebox or tonsils. Cancer in these locations can cause a variety of symptoms, dending on the exact location and size of the tumor.
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