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Changes start in the liver as inflammation (hepatitis) and lead to fatty liver and cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is the final phase of alcoholic liver disease. Symptoms may not be present until the disease is advanced, and may include: Abdominal pain and t...
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Abdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.
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New and severe abdominal pain always needs to be closely evaluated by a doctor. It is frequently a sign of serious illness.
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Repeated episodes of abdominal pain can arise from a variety of medical causes, including some serious conditions. Everyone who has unexplained abdominal pain requires a medical evaluation by a doctor.
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Most of the time, children with mild abdominal pain are not seriously ill; the symptoms go away in a day or two and can be managed at home. However, if your child has severe abdominal pain or has a bellyache along with frequent vomiting, you should contact your child's pediatrician.
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Abdominal pain is very common in children, and in many cases there’s no serious cause. But stomach pain can sometimes point to a serious problem, such as appendicitis, so it is important to know when to seek help.
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A swollen abdomen is when your belly area is bigger than usual. See: Abdominal girth
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Abdominal point tenderness refers to the pain you feel when pressure is applied to a specific part of the belly area (abdomen.
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An arrhythmia is a disorder of the heart rate (pulse) or heart rhythm, such as beating too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregularly.
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An arrhythmia is an abnormality in the heart ' s rhythm, or heartbeat pattern. The heartbeat can be too slow, too fast, have extra beats, skip a beat, or otherwise beat irregularly.
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Detailed information on arrhythmias, including symptoms, diagnostic, and treatment information
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Detailed information on arrhythmias, including symptoms, types, diagnosis, and treatment
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Detailed information on problems involving heart rhythm
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The guidelines for how long to wait before driving after having an ICD implanted have been revised, to reflect the growing number of people who receive the device preventively.
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Ascites is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. Rapidly developing (acute) ascites can occur as a complication of trauma, perforated ulcer, appendicitis , or inflammation of the colon or other tube-shaped organ (diverticulitis).
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Ascites is defined as an excessive amount of fluid built up within the peritoneal cavity. Both the abdominal organs and the abdomen itself are lined with membranes called the peritoneum.
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Detailed information on liver diseases, including the most common characteristics of liver disease such as jaundice, cholestasis, liver enlargement, portal hypertension, esophageal varices, ascites, liver encephalopathy, and liver failure
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Discharge Instructions: Ascites ShuntYou had surgery to place an ascites shunt, a tube that drains excess fluid from your abdominal space into another place in your body. The fluid buildup is called ascites.
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Aversion to food and drink can be a temporary response to a benign illness, as with the
common cold, or a response to a complex interaction of physical, mental and behavioral
issues. While it is normal to experience a loss of appetite with certain conditions, when
aversion to food and drink results in significant weight loss and nutritional deficits, it is
important to seek medical advice.
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Bloody stools often indicate an injury or disorder in the digestive tract. Your doctor may use the term "melena" to describe black, tarry, and foul-smelling stools or "hematochezia" to describe red- or maroon-colored stools.
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Gynecomastia is the development of abnormally large breasts in males.
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Gyne refers to female, and mastia refers to the breast. Gynecomastia is strictly a male disease and is any growth of the adipose (fatty) and glandular tissue in a male breast.
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Male breast enlargement (gynecomastia) is a normal condition that occurs during puberty in more than 60% of boys. Prevalence Aproximately 20% of 10bdTAG-year-old boys and more than 60% of 14-year-old boys experience gynecomastia (breast enlargement).
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While somewhat common in adolescence, gynecomastia in adult men is rare. It may be caused by liver disease, medications, or treatment for prostate cancer.
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Detailed information on gynecomastia, including causes, facts, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
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The color of vomited blood varies depending on the amount of time the blood has been in
the gastrointestinal system. If there is a delay in vomiting, blood will appear dark red,
brown or black and precipitated blood clots produce the appearance of coffee ground like
material.
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Confusion is the inability to think with your usual speed or clarity, including feeling disoriented and having difficulty paying attention, remembering, and making decisions.
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Stools are produced in the intestines and are the end product of the digestive system.
When we consume food, it passes from our stomach into our intestines.
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Urine is produced in the kidneys, which are important organs for the health of our body.
When we take fluid in, it passes from our digestive system into our circulatory system
and is filtered through the kidneys.
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Urine of an abnormal color appears different from the usual straw-yellow color. Abnormally-colored urine may be cloudy, dark, or blood-tinged. See also: Urine, bloody or dark
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Cyanosis is a bluish discoloration of the skin or mucous membranes caused by lack of oxygen in the blood.
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Detailed information on the most common skin color changes in a newborn
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Dry mouth, known medically as xerostomia, is the abnormal reduction of saliva due to medication, disease, or medical therapy. Dry mouth due to the lack of saliva can be a serious medical problem.
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A dry mouth may not sound like a health threat. But that parched feeling can cause tooth decay and gum trouble, as well as discomfort when eating or speaking.
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Xerostomia, also known as dry mouth, is marked by a significant reduction in the secretion of saliva. Signs and symptoms of xerostomia include: dryness of the mouth cracked lips, cuts, or cracks at the corners of the mouth taste changes a burning sensation of the tongue changes in the surface of the tongue difficulty wearing dental appliances (like dentures) difficulty swallowing fluids accompanied by an increase in thirst Xerostomia makes the mouth less able to neutralize acid, clean the teeth and gums, and protect itself from infection.
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Mouth and Throat Tumors: Your Health Care TeamYour health care team will explain your options and can answer your questions. They’ll work with you during all stages of your treatment.
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Dry mouth, known medically as xerostomia, is the abnormal reduction of saliva due to medication, disease, or medical therapy. Dry mouth due to the lack of saliva can be a serious medical problem.
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Dry Mouth--One Woman's StoryAt 42 years old, Nancy Howe was an enthusiastic body builder. She regularly leg-pressed 500 pounds while grunting loudly.
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Tips to fight a dry mouth.Water’s good. Sugar-free gum helps. But Listerine may dry out your mouth.
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This guide will cover the most common reason for dry eyes and dry mouth. While these symptoms are more common among persons who are older, they are not inevitable; while tear production may decline with advancing age, symptoms are often not solely related to aging.
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What is the treatment for dry mouth?
Robert Shmerling, M.D., is associate physician and clinical chief of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an associate professor in medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is an active teacher in the Internal Medicine Residency Program, serving as the Robinson Firm Chief. He is also a teacher in the Rheumatology Fellowship Program and has been a practicing rheumatologist for over 25 years.
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What could cause a person to constantly have a dry, raw mouth that feels like the roof of the mouth has been burned?
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Excessive thirst is an abnormal feeling of always needing to drink fluids.
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Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness due to a drop in blood flow to the brain. The episode is brief (lasting less than a couple of minutes) and is followed by rapid and complete recovery. You may feel lightheaded or dizzy before fainting. A longer, deeper state of unconsciousness is often called a coma.
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Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness, weakness of muscles, and inability to stand up, all caused by sudden loss of blood flow to the brain. Fainting is a relatively common symptom caused by a variety of problems relating to changes in blood pressure.
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Detailed information on syncope, also called fainting, including causes, symptoms, diagnostic, and treatment information
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Fainting is loss of consciousness caused by a temporary lack of oxygen to the brain. Known by the medical term " syncope, " fainting may be preceded by dizziness , nausea, or a feeling of extreme weakness.
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When the brain receives conflicting signals, or when there is a problem with blood flow, dizziness or fainting can occur.
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If your blood pressure drops too low, your brain may not get enough oxygen-rich blood. Your body responds by losing consciousness briefly. You also slump or fall down. This problem is called syncope, fainting, or a blackout.
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Syncope, or fainting, is a temporary loss of consciousness, usually caused by decreased blood flow to the brain . Syncope is a symptom, rather than a disease itself, and has many causes.
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Fainting is a loss of consciousness, falling down or needing to lie down, followed by spontaneous recovery. Fainting by itself is not a problem, but it could be a sign of a serious health condition.
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Every time I have blood drawn, I have vasovagal reaction. Does that prevent me from blood donation? Any advice how to combat this?
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A drug trial shows that beta blockers do not reduce the incidence of fainting spells.
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Falls or accidents can lead to pain, broken bones, and fear of future falls. Protect yourself and others by preparing for episodes. Simple steps can help increase your safety at home and wherever you go.
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The heart rate, usually measured by checking the arterial pulse or sounds counting the
times of the heart beat, is considered one of the vital signs. Vital signs - body
temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure provide information about the state
of health of a person and, if abnormal, offer clues to problems.
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A Harvard Medical School physician answers your question about rapid heart beat.
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Fatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.
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Fatigue is physical and/or mental exhaustion that can be triggered by stress , medication, overwork, or mental and physical illness or disease. Everyone experiences fatigue occasionally.
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Boosting Your Energy provides information on the causes and treatments of persistent fatigue. Includes information on aging and energy, eating for energy, and boosting your energy.
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Fatigue may be defined as a subjective state in which one feels tired or exhausted, and in which the capacity for normal work or activity is reduced. There is, however, no commonly accepted definition of fatigue when it is considered in the context of health and illness.
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Fatigue: TreatmentIf the fatigue is related to a decrease in hemoglobin, or oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, then replacing the red blood cells by transfusion or taking erythropoietin can help reduce fatigue. If the fatigue is not related to...
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If you regularly feel weary after waking from a good night’s sleep or for no apparent reason, it’s time to find out why.
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Introduction Fatigue may be defined as a subjective state in which one feels tired or exhausted, and in which the capacity for normal work or activity is reduced. There is, however, no commonly accepted definition of fatigue when it is considered in the context of health and illness.
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Fatigue is physical and/or mental exhaustion that can be triggered by stress , medication, overwork, or mental and physical illness or disease. Everyone experiences fatigue occasionally.
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Fatigue is a feeling of exhaustion or loss of strength. The duration of fatigue for a patient with cancer has been found to last from one to two times the length of time between diagnosis and completion of treatment, so it is common for fatigue to persist beyond a patient ' s treatment regimen.
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Fatigue: ManagementIf the person on chemotherapy has decreased hemoglobin, or oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, and it seems like the low hemoglobin level will last for a while, then a medicine called PROCRIT® (Epoetin alfa) may be prescribed...
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Fatigue: CausesWe currently understand some of the causes of fatigue but not all of them. Fatigue may be related to physical changes caused by cancer or its treatment (chemotherapy, biotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery).
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Fatigue: DefinitionFatigue is a vague feeling of being tired, weak, or exhausted. It is often a symptom of cancer, when cancer is first diagnosed, or when cancer progresses (Ferrell et al, 1996).
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Many people experience late-in-the-day energy lags, but you can take steps to prevent them.
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Oncology: Managing FatigueFatigue is a common side effect of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It can be caused by worry, lack of sleep, and poor appetite.
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Sometimes a person feels hot to touch due to illness or environmental situation that
causes elevated core temperature. A compounding factor can be dehydration (lack of
fluids.
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Normal body temperature varies by person, age, activity, and time of day. The average normal body temperature is 98.6?F (37?C.
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A fever is any body temperature elevation over100.4 ? F (38 ? C).
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Detailed information on fevers in children
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A fever is a special cause for concern in infants younger than 3 months of age. Parents and caregivers should be most concerned with changes in eating or sleeping habits, coughing, pain or other marked changes.
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Fever is defined as an abnormally high body temperature or a regulated rise to a new set point of body temperature. While a body temperature above 100 ? F(37.
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A fever is any body temperature elevation over 100 ? F (37.8 ? C).
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An elevated body temperature. While the standard for normal body temperature is 98.
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Normal body temperature varies somewhat from one individual to another but displays a general range and pattern around the " normal " temperature of 98.6 ? F.
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One minute you're hot; the next, you're chilled and your teeth chatter. You've got a fever. But look on the bright side: Fever seems to serve a helpful function in the body.
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Buying a thermometer isn't as easy as it used to be. You face an array of choices. But the decision doesn't have to be hard. Like temperature, it's a matter of degrees.
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Most medical professionals agree a fever by itself is not an illness; it is a symptom of an underlying problem. Fevers actually can be a positive sign the body is fighting an infection. However, a fever can cause discomfort for a child.
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A fever is a way for the body to fight infection. But it may also be a sign of a serious illness, especially in children younger than 3 months and children who haven't been immunized. Know when to seek medical care for your child.
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Detailed information on fever, including when to call your physician
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Use a digital thermometer to take your child's temperature; never use a glass mercury thermometer. Most children aged three years and older can hold a thermometer under their tongue. If your child is younger than that, or you're having difficulty with the oral method, talk to your doctor about the best way to take his temperature.
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Detailed information on children and fever, including symptoms and treatment
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The best way to take an infant's temperature is rectally with a digital thermometer (never use a glass mercury thermometer). Taking the temperature under the arm, or using an ear thermometer, is less exact.
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Hyperthermia is the use of therapeutic heat to treat various cancers on and inside the body. Purpose The purpose of hyperthermia is to shrink and hopefully destroy cancer without harming noncancerous cells.
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Hyperthermia involves raising the body ' s core temperature as a means of eradicating tumors. The treatment simulates fever .
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Children can become cranky, fussy or irritable for many reasons. Often it's because they're hungry or just tired. But sometimes irritability can be a sign of illness in children.
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Gastrointestinal bleeding refers to any bleeding that starts in the gastrointestinal tract, which extends from the mouth to the large bowel. The amount of bleeding can range from nearly undetectable to acute, massive, and life threatening. Bleeding may come from any site along the gastrointestinal tract, but is often divided into: Upper GI bleeding: The upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract is located between the mouth and outflow tract of the stomach; Lower GI bleeding: The lower GI tract is located from the outflow tract of the stomach to the anus (small and large bowel included.
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GI bleeding studies uses radioactive materials in the investigation of bleeding from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. These studies go under various names such as " GI bleeding scans " or " Tagged red blood cell scans.
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Patients taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may be at increased risk for gastrointestinal bleeding, particularly if they are also taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
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The heart rate, usually measured by checking the arterial pulse or sounds counting the
times of the heart beat, is considered one of the vital signs. Vital signs - body
temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure provide information about the state
of health of a person and, if abnormal,offer clues to problems.
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Hyperpigmentation is the increase in the natural color of the skin. Melanin, a brown pigment manufactured by certain cells in the skin called melanocytes, is responsible for skin color.
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Itching is a tingling or uneasy irritation of the skin that makes you want to scratch the affected area.
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Itching is an intense, distracting irritation or tickling sensation that may be felt all over the skin ' s surface or confined to just one area. The medical term for itching is pruritus.
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Expert-reviewed information summary about pruritus (itching of the skin) as a complication of cancer or its treatment. Approaches to the management and treatment of pruritus are discussed.
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