Category: Uncategorized

The whooshing sound in one ear is known as pulsatile tinnitus. Some people describe it as a thumbing in the ear. Usually pulsatile tinnitus is not a cause for concern, especially if it lasts just a short time. However, you should contact your doctor. High blood pressure, ear problems, severe anemia and an overactive thyroid gland can cause pulsatile tinnitus. On rare occasions, pulsatile tinnitus can be a symptom of an abnormality of the carotid artery or other blood vessel close to the affected ear.

Although there are some well-established triggers, the cause of aphthous stomatitis is often unknown.

For example, the most common form of aphthous stomatitis causes painful “canker sores,” occurring one or two at a time, and lasting 7-10 days; a specific cause is rarely identified.

When a cause or trigger can be identified, aphthous ulcers may be attributed to:

•    injury to the lining of the mouth, tongue or palate
•    stress
•    an allergic reaction
•    a reaction to a medication or a toxin or chemical in certain foods, drinks or toothpaste
•    vitamin or nutrient deficiency (such as iron, folate or B12 deficiency)
•    immune-mediated disease, including celiac disease, Behcet disease, Crohn disease or lupus
•    poor dental hygiene
•    newly acquired HIV Infection
•    low white blood cell count

We constantly release enzymes produced by our liver cells into the bloodstream. When liver cells are injured by any cause, the blood level of these proteins may rise. But injured liver cells do not mean that the person definitely has permanent liver disease. The liver can repair itself if the factor that caused the injury is corrected. Common causes of elevated liver enzymes include fatty liver disease, alcohol use, prescription and some over-the-counter medications, herbal and dietary supplements, and viral hepatitis.

Nausea is a general term describing a queasy stomach, with or without the feeling that you are about to vomit. There are several things you can do on your own to help, including:  
•    Drink beverages that settle the stomach, such as ginger ale or chamomile tea.  
•    Avoid caffeinated colas, coffees and teas.  
•    Drink clear liquids to avoid dehydration (if vomiting is associated with nausea).  
•    Eat small, frequent meals to allow the stomach to digest foods gradually.  
•    Eat foods that are bland and simple for your stomach to digest, such as crackers or unbuttered bread, rice, chicken soup and bananas.  
Some over-the-counter medications can help to relieve nausea, including chewable or liquid antacids or bismuth sub-salicylate (Pepto-Bismol). Dimenhydrinate or meclizine hydrochloride are helpful for treating or preventing nausea due to motion sickness.
If you continue to feel nauseated, several prescription medications are available to help relieve nausea.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a form of skin inflammation (dermatitis) that causes a red, oily, flaking skin rash in areas of the body where glands in the skin called sebaceous glands are most abundant, such as the scalp. When seborrheic dermatitis affects the scalp, it appears as either patchy or diffuse areas of redness and flaking. The condition is not contagious.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a reactivation of the herpes zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles. It’s also known as herpes zoster oticus. Symptoms include ear pain, a blistering rash on the ear surface or in the canal and facial muscle weakness similar to Bell’s palsy all on the same side of the head.

Hematochezia is the medical term for passing blood through the rectum or anus. Hemorrhoids are the most common cause. Other causes include rectal trauma, diverticula (outpouchings of the colonic wall), infection, inflammatory bowel disease, polyps and cancer. Any new hematochezia should prompt a call to your doctor.

The first symptom in most people is feeling thirsty and a dry mouth. However, older adults often have a constant dry mouth and may have a diminished sense of thirst. That’s why it can be especially dangerous for them. The next symptoms are fatigue, weakness, foggy thinking, lightheadedness and sometimes a headache.

There are no quick ways to build abdominal and other core muscles. Unlike resistance or weight training for certain muscle groups, you can do core exercises every day. By doing them daily, you will more rapidly improve abdominal and core muscle strength and tone. Typical core exercises include sit-ups or crunches, planks, push-ups, bridges and superman poses. Start slow and easy, then gradually increase the intensity of the exercises.