Harvard Health Content API

Pupil size naturally gets larger in low light. Other reasons for both pupils to dilate in a conscious person include medication side effects; use of illegal drugs that act as a stimulant; or extreme excitement, fear or agitation. Dilation of both pupils or only one pupil in someone who has had a head injury or has any other neurological symptoms should prompt immediate medical attention, because it could be a sign of brain damage. 

Signs of eye floaters include visual disruptions, such as seeing light streaks, floaters, or a cobweb-like haze. These occur when there is a posterior vitreous  detachment. The jelly-like substance called vitreous in the eye starts to liquefy and shrink, causing it tug on the retina. Call your medical team right away if you notice these signs. While most people experiencing PVD won’t need treatment, in some cases the vitreous can completely detach from or tear the retina. 

Causes of dry eye syndrome include:

•    aging
•    autoimmune diseases, such as Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Grave's disease, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis
•    medications, including birth control pills, certain psychiatric medicines, antihistamines
•    Bell’s palsy

Some of the most common ways to treat dry eye syndrome are:

•    humidifiers, wet compresses, glasses that protect the eyes from dry air (such as wrap-around sunglasses, goggles or glasses fitted with "shields" on the sides) and avoiding excessively dry environments
•    artificial lubricants – lubricating tears or ointments can help
•    punctal plugs – these block the drainage of tears, making naturally produced tears last longer
•    cyclosporine or lifitegrast eye drops – these are medicines to reduce tear gland inflammation that can lead to dryness
Other available treatments are used less commonly because of side effects, lack of convincing evidence of benefit, cost or a combination of these.

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a temporary interruption of blood supply to part of the brain. The most common symptoms are sudden weakness or numbness in the face or one side of the body, problems speaking, and/or vision changes. The symptoms typically last a few minutes to a few hours and then resolve spontaneously. Temporary confusion and not being able to respond to questions without other symptoms would be unusual for a TIA and would be more suggestive of a partial seizure.

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.

A numb or tingly tongue can happen from an allergic reaction. If a person has swollen lips or any difficulty breathing, it could be serious and the person should get immediate medical evaluation. An inflamed tongue known as glossitis is an even more common reason for tongue numbness and tingling. Many things can irritate the surface of your tongue, including tobacco products, tooth paste, mouth wash and spicy foods.

As we get older, the very tiny blood vessels in the outer layer of skin get more fragile. Easy bruising is almost always related to this. Some drugs make skin more fragile, especially oral corticosteroids (prednisone, dexamethasone, prednisolone are examples). Also aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), and other medicine that interferes with blood clotting will make the bruises larger and more noticeable. It’s very rare, but vitamin and mineral deficiencies can cause skin bruising. 

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.

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