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Vegetables are not a common trigger for gout flares. However, “trigger foods” can vary from person to person.

 

Rarely, spinach, asparagus and cauliflower may set off gout flares. That’s why some experts recommend limiting intake of these vegetables for people with gout.

The foods and drinks most likely to cause a gout flare include:

• alcohol

• red meat, game meats or organ meats (such as sweetbreads or liver)

• foods or drinks with high fructose corn syrup (as in many carbonated beverages and candy)

• turkey

• seafood, such as shellfish, shrimp, or scallops

Glioblastoma multiforme is a fast-growing brain or spinal cord tumor. These tumors grow from glial cells which form the (supportive) tissue of the brain and spinal cord. Glioblastoma is one of the deadliest cancers. Average survival after diagnosis is about 15 months, with only a small percent of people surviving more than five years.

Glaucoma is an eye condition in which vision is lost because of damage to the optic nerve. There are two main types. The most common form of glaucoma is called primary open angle glaucoma, fluid circulates freely in the eye and the pressure tends to rise slowly over time. A less common form of the disease, called acute or angle closure glaucoma, develops suddenly and usually causes eye pain and redness. In this form of glaucoma, pressures rise quickly because normal fluid flow within the eye becomes blocked.

According to available evidence, there are no particular foods or beverages to avoid to help prevent or treat glaucoma. Some observational studies suggest that people who maintain a healthy body weight, eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and don’t overuse caffeine might have lower eye pressures and a better outcome.

Ginger consumption may help with weight and waist size reduction. But without also reducing calories, the benefits of extra ginger alone will be small. A cautionary note: Ginger may slow blood clotting, and can be potentially dangerous for people taking antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs ("blood thinners"). Also ginger can cause extra bleeding during and after surgery.

A small study suggests that ginger may help reduce triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels. Other research shows that ginger can help to boost the immune system and combat inflammation. However, ginger may slow blood clotting, and can be potentially dangerous for people taking antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs ("blood thinners"). Also ginger can cause extra bleeding during and after surgery.

Food poisoning can be caused by viruses, parasites or bacteria. The symptoms may include one or all of the following: nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. The main goal of home treatment is adequate hydration. For watery diarrhea, over-the-counter loperamide or bismuth subsalicylate can help reduce the frequency of bathroom trips. If a person has fever, blood or mucous in the stool or cannot maintain hydration, medical evaluation is indicated.

Folliculitis is the medical term for inflamed hair follicles. The inflammation can be caused or complicated by an infection or have a non-infectious cause. In addition to bacterial folliculitis, fungi and herpes simplex viruses can also infect hair follicles. A condition called eosinophilic folliculitis is non-infectious cause, which occurs primarily in immunocompromised people. Conditions that can mimic folliculitis and/or predispose a person to folliculitis include impetigo, eczema and psoriasis.

In most cases, the cause of flat feet (also called pes planus) is unknown. Possible causes or contributors to the condition include:

• Genetic disorders (such as Marfan’s syndrome or Down’s syndrome)

• Tendon abnormalities or injury in the ankle and foot

• Developmental abnormalities, such as incomplete separation of the bones in the foot and ankle

• Aging

• Obesity

• Rheumatoid arthritis

Diagnosis of lymphoma starts with the doctor asking about your symptoms and doing a physical exam. Your doctor will check for swollen lymph nodes and organs throughout your body. If your doctor suspects lymphoma, he or she will order blood tests to check the numbers and appearance of your blood cells (red cells, white cells and platelets). Sometimes the diagnosis can be made with a special blood test called flow cytometry. This test is a way to sort and identify the different types of cells in the blood, including cancerous lymph cells. Your doctor will likely recommend a lymph node biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.