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Vitamin B12 deficiency is defined by low levels of stored B12 in the body that can result in anemia, a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells. Symptoms tend to develop slowly and may not be recognized immediately. As the condition worsens, common symptoms of anemia include weakness and fatigue, light-headedness, palpitations and shortness of breath. If low levels of B12 remain for a long time, the condition also can lead to irreversible damage to nerve cells, which can cause the numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, imbalance, and memory loss.

An acute stroke would very rarely cause only pain in a body part without any other symptoms. Stroke due to bleeding in the brain can cause a severe headache. Numbness, tingling and an odd sensation one side of the face or body might feel uncomfortable. Why some people develop post-stroke pain in the part of the body affected is not known.

A thoracic aortic aneurysm is an abnormal widening to 4.5 centimeters or more of a portion of the aorta that resides within the chest cavity. Even 5.0 centimeters in the section of the aorta just after it leaves the heart would be considered large. The greater the diameter of the aneurysm, the higher the risk of rupture.

Most aortic aneurysms do not cause any symptoms. Usually they are discovered when an imaging procedure like an ultrasound test or CT scan is performed during screening or unexpectedly when the test is performed for some unrelated reason. Sometimes people with an abdominal aortic aneurysm will notice a bounding pulse in their belly or they may have abdominal, chest or back pain. A leaking or ruptured aneurysm is a life threatening emergency requiring immediate medical attention.

The appendix is a tube-like structure that is connected to the cecum, the first part of the colon. The opening at the connection site is narrow. Most cases of appendicitis are thought to happen when a small ball of stool or hardened mucus blocks the narrow opening. Bacteria cannot get out of the now closed space. This allows bacteria to proliferate inside the appendix, causing inflammation and infection.

The diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is made when there is accumulation of fat in the liver not caused by alcohol, medication or other competing condition. People with obesity and/or diabetes have a 75% chance of developing the condition. The major contributing factors are over consumption of calories, an unhealthy diet, a sedentary lifestyle and insulin resistance.

Thrush is the common name for a mouth infection caused by the Candida albicans fungus. It affects moist surfaces inside the lips and cheeks, and on the tongue and palate. It can be treated with topical antifungal medications such as nystatin and clotrimazole. For mild cases, a liquid version of nystatin can be swished in the mouth and swallowed, or a clotrimazole lozenge can be dissolved in the mouth. For more severe cases, an antifungal drug such as fluconazole can be taken once a day by mouth.

The minority of breast cancers are suspected because a woman or man notices a lump in the breast or unusual skin changes over the breast. The diagnosis of breast cancer most often starts when a woman without symptoms has a mammogram that shows a worrisome finding. Ultrasound and MRI are two other imaging procedures that can detect potential cancer. The definitive diagnosis is made by doing a biopsy.

There are a number of stretching exercises that may be recommended for trigger finger. Some commonly recommended exercises include:

 

• Finger flexion – Using the opposite hand, grasp the affected finger at its base (near where the finger attaches to the hand). Flex the joints near the tip and in the middle of the finger without moving the rest of the finger. Then extend the affected finger back to where it started. Repeat 5 times.

• Finger extension – Start with the palms flat on a surface in front of you. Pick up the affected finger with the other hand and gently pull it up, away from the flat surface, slowly extending the finger. Hold that position for 10 seconds and relax. Repeat twice more.

 

• Resistance exercise – Bring the tips of the fingers and thumb together. Place a rubber band around them the mid-points of the fingers and thumb; the band should be snug but not uncomfortable. Gently pull the fingers apart against the resistance of the rubber band. Then relax and repeat 5 times.

In developing countries with high rates of tuberculosis, a vaccine against the disease often is given at birth. The vaccine is not used routinely in the United States and most European countries because the risk of transmission in these countries is low. People with a positive skin test for TB (PPD) who have never received medication to prevent TB from becoming active should consider taking a course of an anti-TB drug to prevent disease activation.