Harvard Health Content API

As men age, they often develop benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The prostate gland can grow from the size of a walnut to about the size of a lemon. It's not clear why the prostate grows like this, but it's believed certain male hormones such as dihydrotestosterone tend to act more strongly on the prostate gland later in life. Because the prostate is located just below the bladder, when it becomes larger it can place pressure on the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder through the penis and out of the body. This may lead to a variety of urinary symptoms.

If you have the misfortune to be stung, it’s normal for a sting to hurt for several hours. Put cold compresses on the painful and swollen area and take a painkiller and an antihistamine. (Cold compresses and ice cubes work for mosquito bites, too.) If the pain continues and the swelling extends considerably beyond where you were stung, you should contact your doctor. An allergic sting reaction can be life-threatening and even fatal, though the severity of the reaction can vary from one instance to the next. If you have experienced a severe allergic reaction to an insect sting, then you could have a similar or worse reaction if you’re stung again. Always carry two epinephrine autoinjectors and consider wearing a medical bracelet or other identification for stinging insect allergy.

Clogged arteries is most often caused by fatty plague buildup in the walls of the arteries, which reduces blood flow to heart muscle cells. You can prevent developing clogged arteries by doing the following:

• Quit smoking

• Eat a healthy diet

• Reduce your LDL (bad) cholesterol

• Reduce high blood pressure

• Lose weight

• Exercise.

If left untreated, clogged arteries will continue to build plaque, increasing the risk of having a heart attack, heart failure, a stroke or painful legs from peripheral artery disease.

The effect of caffeine on blood pressure varies considerably. For many, even heavy use doesn’t raise it. But for some, even a small amount can significantly raise the systolic blood pressure (the top number). Most studies have been done on regular coffee. Higher consumption over a short period of time is most predictive of a spike in blood pressure. Otherwise research results looking at longer term effects of daily moderate coffee consumption have shown different results, even in people with known hypertension. 

Dietary choices can make a big difference in how well gout is controlled. 

Foods that may contribute to more gout attacks and poorer control of gout include:
•    Alcoholic beverages (although wine may have less impact)
•    Organ meats (such as liver or kidney)
•    Foods or drinks sweetened with high fructose corn syrup
•    Wild game and red meats
•    Certain fish and seafood, including scallops, trout, and tuna
•    High fat dairy products
These foods can be eaten in moderation, not necessarily avoided entirely. However, some people notice that certain foods trigger attacks so limiting those foods makes sense.
Foods and nutrients that tend to be well-tolerated for people with gout include:
•    Nuts, peanut butter
•    Low-fat dairy products
•    Coffee
•    Fruits (especially cherries) and vegetables
•    Vitamin C
Finally, choosing a diet that helps maintain a healthy weight may be at least as important as avoiding or favoring certain foods.

You can place any of several substances into the ear canal to help soften hardened wax for easier removal. For example, commercial over-the-counter ear drops, hydrogen peroxide, baby oil, and mineral oil are safe. (Note: If you use hydrogen peroxide, follow with a rubbing alcohol rinse to dry up any leftover liquid.) However, they should not be used if you have an active ear infection or a perforated eardrum, or if you’ve had surgery on the ear.

Anosognosia refers to a situation in which the person does not recognize that he or she has a neurological or mental health problem. For example, certain types of strokes leave people unaware that one side of the body has lost feeling or muscle function. This can lead to a higher risk of injury. People with schizophrenia have an altered reality and may not believe they need medication.

Cervical lymphadenopathy refers to swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Lymph nodes commonly enlarge in response to an infection. In the neck, causes include strep throat, an ear infection, a viral infection like mononucleosis (“mono”), or a skin infection. Rarely, an enlarged lymph node in the neck can signal a more serious problem, such as lymphoma or other cancer. Quite often neck lymph nodes swell for a couple weeks and then shrink in someone who feels well and no reason is found.

Myalgia is the medical term for muscle aches. Myalgia can be localized to one muscle, a group of muscles or aching all over. The treatment of myalgia depends on the underlying cause. For a simple muscle strain, start with the RICE rule:
•    Rest the injured muscle (and take a temporary break from sports activities).  
•    Ice the injured area to reduce swelling.  
•    Compress the muscle with an elastic bandage.  
•    Elevate the injured area. 
You can add over-the-counter oral acetaminophen and topical diclofenac gel to the affected area. For diffuse muscle pain, an oral pain reliever will provide more help.

Bradycardia is an abnormally slow heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute. A normal heartbeat is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. However, many otherwise healthy people and those taking heart or blood pressure medications often have heart rates in the 50s without symptoms. Some people even have heart rates in the 40s at rest or with sleeping, especially elite athletes. But a slow heart rate can also be due to a heart problem that can cause fatigue, weakness, lightheadedness, shortness of breath and fainting.