Exophthalmos is an abnormal bulging out of one or both eyes. Sometimes eyes can appear to be bulging when a person has lost a lot of weight. The eyes remain the same, but there’s less fat and muscle around the face. This makes the eyes look like they bulge in comparison.
The most common cause of true exophthalmos is Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder that leads to an overactive thyroid gland. The disease also can cause proteins to accumulate in certain tissues, most commonly in the muscles that control eye movements. These muscles are called the extraocular muscles. They get larger and push the eyes forward. Usually both eyes are affected.
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Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) refers to a measurable decline in at least one cognitive area—most often memory—that goes beyond the effects of normal aging. People with MCI are able to perform normal daily activities, such as eating, dressing, and bathing, as well as most complex activities, such as driving, cooking, cleaning, and managing finances. The main risk factors for MCI include head trauma, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
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Frequent urination can occur for many reasons and treatment depends on the cause. The solution may be as simple as drinking less fluid and seeing if that helps. But there are important medical reasons for frequent urination that need to be investigated. Frequent urination because of frequent urgency to urinate could be due to a bladder infection or other bladder problem. Frequent urination with excessive thirst could be due to diabetes or kidney disease. These are just a few examples.
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Agnosia is a disorder in perception. The person can’t recognize objects, shapes or people. A person with agnosia is not able to comprehend the meaning of what they see and cannot recognize objects, shapes or people. For example, the person may run into furniture, believe a spouse is an impostor, become frightened by ordinary sounds, or fail to recognize their own reflection in a mirror. Agnosia can contribute to inappropriate behavior. It can occur in people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, after a stroke or other less common brain diseases.
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Thanatophobia is a fear of dying beyond what concerns most people about life ending. Some techniques that help with any type of phobia include:
Breathing techniques. Deep breathing can counter physical and mental tension. One simple method to foster deep breathing is to breathe in slowly and count to five before exhaling to another count of five. Another technique is to place one hand beneath the belly button and breathe so that the abdomen rises and falls with each breath.
Muscle relaxation. Progressive muscle relaxation (tensing and then releasing one group of muscles at a time in order to promote whole-body relaxation) can help to slow heart rate and promote calmness.
Desensitization. This approach combines deep breathing and relaxation with gradual exposure (either through audiotapes, videotapes, or the patient’s own imagination) to the cue that most triggers the phobia..
Distraction. Putting the mind’s focus elsewhere is another way to diminish the anxiety and pain of dental visits. The more complicated the task meant to distract, the better.
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The best treatment for wrist pain depends on the cause.
Some of the most common causes and their treatments include:
• Minor injury, sprain, strain – rest, wearing a splint or brace, heat, over-the-counter pain relievers
• Ganglion cyst – over-the-counter pain relievers; occasionally a drainage procedure or surgery may be recommended
• Osteoarthritis – rest balanced with gentle exercises, wearing a splint or brace, pain reliever or anti-inflammatory medicine, cortisone injection; rarely, surgery
• Rheumatoid arthritis – anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive medicine, wearing a splint or brace, exercise; cortisone injection
• Carpal tunnel syndrome – wearing a splint or brace at night or intermittently during the day; a cortisone injection; surgery
For persistent symptoms, consultation with an occupational therapist can be helpful.
For wrist pain accompanied by symptoms that might suggest a serious cause, prompt medical evaluation is warranted. Concerning symptoms include fever, marked swelling or severe pain after an injury.
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There are two types of swallowing problems. Difficulty swallowing is called dysphagia. Painful swallowing is called odynophagia. With odynophagia, you feel pain or a burning sensation in the throat or esophagus when you swallow. It can be caused by many factors, such as esophagitis, GERD, esophageal dysmotility, and infections. Some medications, such as the antibiotic doxycycline, can also cause irritation that makes swallowing painful.
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The cause of knee pain can usually be identified by a thorough review of symptoms and a physical examination. In some cases, x-rays and other tests may be helpful. For example:
• Symptoms – Knee pain accompanied by locking – when the knee is temporarily stuck in one position – may be due to torn cartilage. Use-related symptoms that worsen with higher levels of activity are typical of osteoarthritis (also called degenerative joint disease). If symptoms of knee pain or stiffness are much worse in the morning and take more than an hour to improve, rheumatoid arthritis or another cause of knee inflammation may be suspected. Sudden pain and swelling are more suggestive of gout, pseudogout or infection.
• Physical examination – If the ability of the knee to fully flex or extend is limited and there is a grinding sensation appreciated during movement, osteoarthritis is likely. Pain with pressure on the kneecap can suggest patellofemoral syndrome. A collection of fluid in front of kneecap suggests prepatellar bursitis while pain to pressure just below the kneecap may indicate tendinitis. Instability of the knee during examination suggests a ligament problem.
• X-rays – Imaging of the knee by standard x-rays can demonstrate fracture, different types of arthritis, fluid in the knee, or abnormal calcium deposits.
Additional testing, such as MRI, may be needed to determine whether the cause of knee pain may be related to torn cartilage or a torn ligament. If there is fluid present in the knee, removing a sample of the fluid and testing it in the lab can be quite helpful in diagnosing the cause of knee pain.
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Necrosis refers to cell death in some part of the body. This happens most often when there is major trauma or interruption of blood supply to tissues or an organ, Blocked blood supply leads to a lack of oxygen and vital nutrients needed to keep cells alive. When necrosis is setting in, regaining blood supply quickly can help limit the extent of permanent damage.
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Dyskinesia refers to difficulty with voluntary movement. The prefix "dys" comes from the Greek word describing something that is bad, abnormal, diseased or the opposite of the rest of the word. The suffix “kinesia” means motion. The term dyskinesia is often combined with the term "tardive," which means "lateness," or something that does not occur right away. Tardive dyskinesia is a dreaded and sometimes permanent side effect of taking certain medications. It is characterized by involuntary movements of the lips, tongue, trunk, arms and legs.
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