Clear Answers for Common Questions

  • What are the Symptoms of Gout?

    Gout is a rheumatic disease and its symptoms can be extremely painful. Shard-like deposits of uric acid can build up in connective tissue, such as in the joints between bones, and cause inflammatory arthritis. The primary noticeable symptoms of gout are lumpy uric acid deposits around the joints and ...

  • What are Some Symptoms of Bladder Cancer?

    Some of the symptoms of bladder cancer are the same as those of a bladder infection or other medical conditions, so you shouldn't automatically fear that you have cancer if you experience them. You should see a doctor for testing as soon as possible though, as both infections and ...

  • What are the Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis?

    Multiple sclerosis is a disease that attacks the nervous system. It is a progressive disease, which means that it worsens over time. There is no known cure for multiple sclerosis, and the symptoms are different in every sufferer. The symptoms of multiple sclerosis range in severity over time. The length ...

  • What are the Symptoms of Heat Stroke?

    Heat stroke is a very serious condition that can cause severe dehydration and blackouts. This condition is caused when the body’s temperature rises too high, usually due to excessive heat. The body will lose vital fluids and minerals, usually through excessive sweating. Heat stroke can also be a serious ...

  • What are the Symptoms of Kidney Stones?

    Severe pain in the abdomen is the most telltale symptom of a kidney stone. These stones, called nephrolithiasis, are tiny pieces of minerals, such as calcium and salts, that collect in the kidneys and are too large to pass easily along the ureter to the bladder and out of the ...

  • What are the Symptoms of Gallstones?

    Gallstones are small clusters of crystals that form in the gallbladder. If they become large or numerous enough, they can block the organ’s ducts and prevent digestive bile from reaching the small intestine. Most gallstones are tiny and cause no harmful effects, but stones that are large enough to ...

  • What Are Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer?

    The pancreatic gland is a large gland situated behind the stomach. The pancreas forms part of the digestive system and is responsible for producing juice that aids in the digestion of food. If pancreatic cancer occurs, it is most commonly found in this part of the pancreas. Symptoms of pancreatic ...

  • What are Symptoms of Uterine Cancer?

    Uterine cancer, also known as endometrial cancer, affects the lining of the uterus. Postmenopausal women are at higher risk for this condition. Women who have not had children are also thought to be at risk. In postmenopausal women, the biggest symptom of uterine cancer is vaginal bleeding. The bleeding may ...

  • What are Some Blood Clot Symptoms?

    Blood clot symptoms depend very much on where the blood clot is located. Generally speaking, however, symptoms may include redness, pain or numbness, throbbing, a burning sensation and inflammation at the location of the clot. The trouble with blood clots is that they can travel to the brain causing a ...

  • What are Symptoms of Stomach Cancer?

    Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, can be difficult to identify. This is particularly true when it is in its early stages, during which there usually are no symptoms. In addition, most people do not pay much attention to its symptoms because they are so mild. For these reasons, it ...

  • What are Symptoms of Caffeine Withdrawal?

    The medical community has recently taken caffeine withdrawal quite seriously. It is estimated that one in eight people will experience symptoms that will interfere with ability to work or function for at least a couple of days. Researchers in 2004 suggested including caffeine withdrawal as a verifiable condition in the ...

  • What are Symptoms of Liver Cancer?

    Liver cancer is a type of cancer that affects the liver. It may be the primary form of cancer, which means the cancer begins in the cells of the liver, or it may be metastatic cancer, which means the cancer spreads from other areas of the body to the liver ...

  • What are the Symptoms of Hyponatremia?

    Hyponatremia is the result of insufficient sodium in the body fluid that surrounds cells. Proper sodium levels are important in maintaining blood pressure and in keeping nerves and muscles functioning properly. There are several symptoms of hyponatremia, and though it occurs in only a small percentage of people, it is ...

  • What Are Symptoms of Hyperactivity?

    Hyperactivity, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as it is commonly referred to, is often first noticed in childhood. The main symptoms of hyperactivity include inattention, impulsivity and excessive activity. These symptoms can certainly surpass the childhood years and manifest themselves in teens and adults. Inattention includes difficulty with being able ...

  • What are the Symptoms of Glaucoma?

    Many people wish there were symptoms of glaucoma, especially in its early stages, since it would be easier to detect and thus begin early treatment. Unfortunately, glaucoma, which is caused by too much pressure in the internal part of the eye, rarely exhibits symptoms until damage to the eyes has ...

  • What are the Symptoms of Lupus?

    Lupus is an autoimmune condition that can create varied symptoms and outcome. People with the condition may be more prone to infections, to kidney trouble, trouble with the skin, the joints, the lungs, heart and brain; the disease is called systemic lupus (though some people have a variant that mainly ...

  • What are Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal?

    Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe. Degree of severity and number of symptoms often depends on how long a person has used alcohol habitually, and how much alcohol one has used on a regular basis. People who have consumed small amounts of alcohol for a short period ...

  • What are Some Symptoms of Colon Cancer?

    Colon cancer is a serious condition that can lead to a decreased quality of life and even to the occurrence of death. One of the ways that it is possible to detect the development of colon cancer early on is to be aware of the common symptoms of colon cancer ...

  • What are Symptoms of Appendicitis?

    The most common symptom of appendicitis, which is the inflammation of the appendix, is pain in the lower right side of the abdomen, in between the naval and pelvic bone. Such a symptom is important to note, since this condition can result in very serious infection if it remains untreated ...

  • What are Some Symptoms of Salmonella?

    Many people experience mild symptoms of Salmonella poisoning and may not even make the connection between a feces-borne bacteria and their gastric distress. For the elderly, young and those with weakened immune systems, the symptoms of Salmonella can be more pronounced and more persistent. Some victims of food poisoning ...

  • What are Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer?

    Ovarian cancer is a disease affecting one or both of a woman’s ovaries, which are located on either side of the uterus. In the United States alone, more than 25,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and 16,000 die of the disease every year. Early detection of ...

  • What are the Symptoms of Breast Cancer?

    In most cases, early breast cancer has few symptoms. Most women and men, since both can develop breast cancer, may note breast cancer by detecting a lump in the breast or in the underarm. Lumps don’t necessarily mean you have breast cancer. In about 90% of cases lumps are ...

  • What are the Symptoms of Iritis?

    Iritis is the inflammation of the iris, the colored part of the eye. It is caused by numerous conditions, including autoimmune disorders, viruses and bacterial infection, or traumatic eye injury. Iritis may also be called anterior uveitis. Iris inflammation allows white blood cells, called leukocytes, to collect beneath the iris ...

  • What are Some Symptoms of TMJ?

    Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) is a condition which affects the cartilage around the temporomandibular joint, the joint between the mandible and the skull. A number of symptoms are associated with TMJ, and these symptoms can vary, depending on the patient and the severity of the problem. Someone who experiences several ...

  • What are Symptoms of Nicotine Withdrawal?

    Symptoms arising from nicotine withdrawal can be physical and psychological. In general, most people see a decrease in physical nicotine withdrawal symptoms about 72 hours after last use of nicotine. Psychological symptoms can continue for many months afterwards, which can often account for people beginning to use nicotine again. The ...

  • What are the Physical Symptoms of Depression?

    Many people associate depression with a mental or emotional state of mind, but there are also a number of physical symptoms of depression. Headaches, digestive ailments, insomnia, muscle fatigue, loss of appetite or even an increased appetite can all be physical symptoms of depression. Some physical aspects of depression may ...

  • What are the Symptoms of Pneumonia?

    There are many different causes of pneumonia, which can be roughly defined as fluid accumulation in the lungs. Signs and symptoms of pneumonia can be as variable as its causes, and sometimes those in the most at risk populations are least likely to identify that they have the condition, and ...

  • What are the Symptoms of Diabetes?

    Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough, or properly use insulin. Our bodies use insulin to convert carbohydrates into energy. Approximately 13 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes, though the cause is still unknown. Many doctors believe lack of exercise and excess weight are significant factors. Many ...

  • What are Symptoms of High Level Autism?

    People with high functioning or high level autism can function normally in society, but may have some of the symptoms of autism. The condition is often called Asperger's syndrome, although some experts disagree on whether the two are synonymous. Symptoms can vary from person to person. According to the ...

  • What are the Symptoms of a Nervous Breakdown?

    Many illnesses can cause what many people might call a nervous breakdown, so it is difficult to make an all-inclusive list of symptoms. Among the most common are a sudden disinterest in work or family life, alienation from previously close friends and family members, paranoid thoughts, persistent anxiety and ...

  • What are the Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism?

    Hyperthyroidism is the presence and production of too much of either or both of the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T-4) and thyroxine (T-3) in the body. It is caused by several illnesses. A main cause of hyperthyroidism is Grave’s Disease, a condition that frequently is diagnosed by evaluating ...

  • What are the Symptoms of Hypochondria?

    Hypochondria is a very real condition for many people. It is a mental disorder experienced by both men and women where the sufferer believes that they are experiencing medical illness, whether real or imagined. They also believe that the symptoms they have are attributable to serious medical ailments. The condition ...

  • What Symptoms are Associated with the Common Cold?

    The common cold is often a misunderstood illness. It can be caused by over 200 different viruses, and most affect children, though adults usually get about three colds a year. Children in school may have as many as 12 colds a year. More commonly, however, children get about five to ...

  • What are Some of the Symptoms of Depression in Children?

    Mental health professionals now claim that many children suffer from clinical depression, and that in fact children are just as likely to have major depression, as are adults. In adults, depression tends to be easier to recognize, whereas a child with depression may simply be labeled as moody, sensitive or ...

  • What are Symptoms of Rabies in Humans?

    The early symptoms of rabies in humans include irritability, itching at the infection site, and fever. As the disease progresses, muscle spasms in the throat and respiratory tract affect breathing, and a person may have difficulty swallowing, the combination of which can produce the well-known symptom of foaming at ...

  • What are the Symptoms of Crohn's Disease?

    Crohn's disease is a condition that inflames the bowel. It is sometimes called inflammatory colitis, or ulcerative colitis. It tends to make its first appearance in people from 16-21 years old, though some children may also show early symptoms of Crohn's disease. As the disease progresses, numerous ...

  • What are Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease?

    Parkinson’s Disease is a condition that causes degeneration of the central nervous system over time. It is most common in the elderly, but can also affect young adults. Michael J. Fox has been a spokesperson for promoting a cure of Parkinson’s disease for the past several years. His ...

  • What are Symptoms of Liver Failure?

    Liver failure occurs when the body’s liver can no longer function properly. This is often preceded by liver disease, which can have numerous symptoms. Liver failure, however, is marked by several symptoms, which taken together with blood tests and other medical exams indicate the liver’s function is impaired ...

  • What are Symptoms of Prostate Cancer?

    Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that attacks a man’s prostate, which is a small gland shaped like a walnut. This gland is responsible for producing seminal fluid, which is used to transport and support sperm. Although any man can develop prostate cancer, there are certain risk factors ...

  • What are the Symptoms of Dehydration?

    The symptoms of dehydration can be both physical and mental. On the physical side, people often experience thirst, dry skin and eyes, dizziness, and fatigue. It’s also common for urine to slow down and grow much darker in color, typically a consequence of the body trying to conserve water ...

  • What are Some Hernia Symptoms?

    A hernia is caused by a weakening of the abdominal wall that leads to a bulge or tear in the area. Though a hernia can be located anywhere in the abdominal area, the majority occur near the groin area. For this reason, the primary hernia symptom is a painful bulging ...

  • What are Some Symptoms of Food Allergies?

    Many people who have food allergies are not even aware of the problem. Not all allergic reactions are severe or extremely noticeable. Some symptoms of food allergies may take the form of irritation or headaches. There are some warning signs that you may be suffering from simple food allergies. Many ...

  • What are the Symptoms of Scurvy?

    Scurvy is probably best known as a condition that once affected sailors on long sea voyages. There is one cause of this condition, and that is an inadequate amount of vitamin C in the diet. Sailors used to take large amounts of fruit — usually lemons — onto their ships ...

  • What are the Symptoms of Otitis?

    Otitis is a medical condition in which the internal or external ear becomes inflamed or infected. For this reason, it is also commonly referred to simply as an ear infection. An infection can last for a short period of time, in which case it is referred to as acute otitis ...