Skin tags, medically known as acrochordons, are growths that develop on the skin’s surface. Certain health conditions, such as obesity, pregnancy, diabetes, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), can increase your risk of anal skin tags, which form on the skin surrounding your anus. An anal skin tag is usually harmless and doesn’t require treatment unless…
Muscle aches and pain, known also as myalgia, are a common symptom of COVID-19. This achiness can happen when the virus triggers body-wide inflammation. The pain typically resolves within about two weeks. Some people who develop long COVID may have muscle pain for weeks or months after. According to some estimates, about 86% of people…
Vasovagal syncope is the most common type of fainting, a temporary loss of consciousness. It’s a condition that happens when your blood pressure and heart rate suddenly drop, delivering less oxygen to your brain. This response usually occurs when your nervous system gets overstimulated by something physically or emotionally stressful, for example, seeing blood or…
Toxic megacolon is a serious condition of the large intestine, or colon, that affects how well food moves through the digestive system. Digestive symptoms like bloating and nausea are common. Almost half of all toxic megacolon cases are triggered by inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), like ulcerative colitis. Prompt medical treatment is vital to minimize the…
STAGE OF APPENDICITIS WHAT IT MEANS Stage 1 The appendix becomes clogged, causing inflammation. Stage 2 The appendix becomes irritated, infected, and swollen. Stage 3 The appendix is necrotic (its tissues have died) due to a lack of blood flow. Inflammation affects the surrounding areas. Stage 4 The appendix ruptures, infecting the abdominal cavity. The…
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), also known as acute myeloid leukemia, is a type of cancer that starts in your bone marrow (the soft, spongy tissue inside the bones that makes blood cells). AML is rare, affecting about 4 in 100,000 people every year. It’s most likely to affect older adults, but it can also affect…
Palmar erythema, sometimes called liver palms, is when both of your palms turn red. This redness usually doesn’t hurt or itch, but your hands might feel warm. Palmar erythema sometimes has no clear cause, but it can also occur due to health conditions like liver disease, thyroid problems, or diabetes. If your palms suddenly become…
