The most common symptom of miscarriage is vaginal bleeding although not all pregnancies with bleeding end in miscarriage. The bleeding may begin as a brownish discharge but often becomes heavier, sometimes with blood clots or other tissue. Pelvic cramping, abdominal pain, and lower back pain are also common symptoms of miscarriage.
People often think they have a sinus headache when the pain is just in the front of the head. But most often the pain is due to migraine or tension headache. With a sinus infection there would usually be other symptoms such as tenderness over one of the sinuses above or below the eyes, a thick nasal discharge or post nasal drip, and fever.
Peripheral edema means there is swelling of the feet, ankles and legs due to fluid accumulation in the tissues. The most common cause is venous insufficiency, leaky valves in the leg veins. The leg veins return blood to the heart after the blood has delivered its oxygen and nutrients to the feet and lower legs. The veins need the valves to stop blood from backing up, which can lead to fluid leak. Other causes include heart disease, kidney conditions, malnutrition, thyroid disorders and blocked lymph channels (lymphedema).
There are many causes of low back pain. In many cases, the cause is unknown even after full evaluation. When a cause can be identified, some of the most common causes are:
• trauma – injuries to bones can lead to fracture; muscle injury, strain and tears are also common and may lead to muscle spasm
• disc disease – when a one or more discs bulges out of its normal location between spinal bones; also called a herniated disc or “slipped disc”
• osteoarthritis (also called degenerative joint disease)
• scoliosis – this is curvature of the spine and may begin in childhood or develop much later
• spinal stenosis – narrowing of the spinal canal, where the spinal cord is located
• nerve compression or irritation – this may complicate any of the conditions above
Dangerous conditions, such as infection or tumor, are much rarer causes of back pain.
In many cases, low back pain is not caused by a single cause; instead, 2 or more of the conditions noted above contribute to symptoms.
Hypercapnia refers to a blood level of carbon dioxide that is above the normal range of 23 to 29 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L). This usually happens when the lungs are not being able to exhale sufficient carbon dioxide. Most often people with hypercapnia also have low oxygen blood levels and experience shortness of breath.
Sinus tachycardia refers to a heart rate above 100 beats per minute, with the electrical impulses originating in the sinus node and travelling normally through the rest of the heart. Sinus tachycardia is an appropriate response when you are exercising, have a fever or are anxious. Most often you will not be aware of the high heart rate, but you might feel pounding in the chest. People with an underlying heart problem may develop chest pain, shortness of breath or lightheadedness during sinus tachycardia.
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.
Bloating usually goes away on its own as gas makes its way out of the digestive tract through belching and passing gas. But if bloating is a frequent issue, try cutting out milk products to see whether you have become lactose intolerant.
If that doesn’t help, examine your regular diet for FODMAP foods. It’s best to speak with a dietitian to help identify possible problem foods and design a strategy to either eliminate them and replace them with other foods or adjust their amounts.
You also can protect against bloating caused by excess air by eating slower, consuming smaller meals, and cutting down on carbonated beverages. Taking an over-the-counter anti-gas remedy with simethicone may help with occasional bloating.
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.
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.