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Metatarsal pain (also called metatarsalgia) is pain in the metatarsal joint(s) where the toes attach to the rest of the foot. It is particularly common beneath the big toe, but it can affect any single toe or all 10. The best treatments depend on the cause of pain but some of the most common treatments include rest, over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medicines, a change in footwear (to allow more room in the “toe box”) and orthotics (shoe inserts). In some cases, a cortisone injection may be recommended and for certain conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout, medications to treat these conditions are appropriate. Rarely, surgery may be recommended.

Addison’s disease is a condition in which a person cannot produce a normal amount of adrenal hormones. The best way to help support and lower the stress level for someone with Addison’s disease is to make sure the patient has a good system to remember to take their medications on time every day. Other stress reducing techniques you can suggest include practicing mindfulness and focused breathing.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. The disease only affects the brain. However, some of the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease are similar to those that increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Those risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and diabetes.

Amyloidosis is a condition in which certain proteins in the body do not fold properly which leads to their accumulation in various organs. There are many types of amyloidosis, some affecting the entire body, some affecting a single organ and some in between. There is no specific food or diet known to fight amyloidosis. However, it is possible that if amyloidosis is due to chronic inflammation (as with a condition such as rheumatoid arthritis), an “anti-inflammatory diet” might be helpful; however, this is unproven. An anti-inflammatory diet, such as the Mediterranean Diet, is typically high in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and beans. Fish, poultry, and olive oil are favored over red meat and other sources of fat.

Hepatitis caused by the hepatitis A virus inflames and temporarily damages the liver. Unlike other forms of hepatitis, hepatitis A rarely causes life-threatening illness and does not lead to a persistent infection. Once you have had hepatitis A, you are immune from getting it again.

There are many causes of hepatitis, inflammation of the liver. How the body responds depends primarily on the severity and persistence of the inflammation and somewhat upon the underlying cause. Many people have mild liver inflammation without any symptoms. People with more significant liver damage, no matter what the cause, may become very ill and potentially develop liver failure, especially if the damage continues for many months or years.

The hepatitis C virus can cause short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic) hepatitis C. Most people with acute hepatitis C have no symptoms or mild symptoms, but eventually develop chronic hepatitis C. Treatment with antiviral drugs can cure hepatitis C. Doctors choose the specific drug therapy based upon the genotype of the hepatitis C virus, amount of liver fibrosis (scarring), and whether the person has already tried other treatment.

People often think pain in their mid-back is kidney pain, when it is actually caused by something else. True kidney pain is almost always one sided in the flank area. The most common causes are a kidney stone or an infection of the kidney (pyelonephritis). Other less common causes are trauma, a kidney tumor or large cyst, and blocked blood flow to part of the kidney.

New onset chest pain always requires evaluation by your doctor. If the pain is severe, you should seek immediate medical care. Even if the chest pain is not severe, emergency care is needed if the chest pain is crushing or squeezing or is accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms
•    shortness of breath
•    discomfort or tingling in the arms, especially the left arm
•    pain in the back
•    tightness or pain in the lower jaw
•    profuse sweating
•    lightheadedness or loss of consciousness.

If you notice bloody urine, you should contact your doctor. The most common causes of bloody urine are urinary tract infections and kidney stones. Other less common causes include kidney injury, kidney inflammation known as glomerulonephritis, a tumor in the kidney or bladder, or a blood clotting disorder.