Harvard Health Content API

Hemochromatosis can lead to excessive iron deposition in the liver and other body organs. If the hemochromatosis is not treated, the liver may develop permanent scarring known as cirrhosis. People with liver cirrhosis from any cause are prone to a buildup of toxins in the brain that are usually cleared by a normal liver. These excessive toxins in the brain can cause encephalopathy, resulting in confusion, decreased mental alertness and sometimes progress to a coma.

Encephalitis refers to inflammation of the brain. The most common cause is a viral infection, such as herpes simplex virus and West Nile virus. Encephalitis can also occur in people with inflammatory disorders from an autoimmune disease like lupus. Bacterial and fungal infections can also lead to encephalitis. While the germs that cause encephalitis can be passed from one person to the next, encephalitis itself is not contagious.

Dyslexia and other learning disabilities are usually detected as children are taught to read and write, usually around age 4 to 7. In mild cases, they may not be detected until later.

Peritonitis refers to inflammation of the membrane (peritoneum) that lines the inside of the abdomen and surrounds the abdominal organs. Peritonitis can be caused by a bacterial infection when there is a leak or hole (perforation) in the stomach or intestines. Sometimes the bacterial infection happens without an identified leak or hole. Rarely, there can be inflammation of the peritoneum without an actual infection.

Stages of decline in cognitive function can be divided into three main categories:

• Subjective cognitive decline is when individuals are concerned about their thinking and memory, but both cognition and function are normal.

• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is when there is cognitive impairment, but function is normal.

• Dementia is when cognitive impairment leads to impaired function.

There is no direct relationship between gastric (stomach) problems or panic disorder and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). However, anxiety could cause panic episodes, an upset stomach and make symptoms of BPH more pronounced. Some men who are nervous and tense urinate more frequently. Reducing anxiety and stress by exercising regularly and practicing relaxation techniques such as meditation can be very helpful.

Treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) depends on how much the symptoms are bothering a man. Sometimes lifestyle changes are enough to decrease symptoms, such as regular trips to the bathroom and not drinking fluids after dinner. Also ask if one of your medications could be making symptoms worse. Two types of medications are prescribed most commonly, one to relax the muscles around the prostate and urethra and the other to shrink the prostate. Several surgical procedures are available when necessary.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, happens when tiny calcium crystals (otoconia) break free from a sac inside the ear and travel into nearby passageways, floating in the fluid there. When your head moves, the displaced crystals also move, interfering with nerve signals to the brain and causing that spinning sensation.

Symptoms in these two conditions are not identical. For example, loss of smell and cough are more common among people with long COVID than with chronic fatigue syndrome (also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis).

However, there is a lot of overlap between symptoms of long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome. For example, either condition may cause:

• difficulty concentrating, poor memory, “brain fog”

• muscle and joint aches

• severe fatigue

• anxiety and depression

• exercise intolerance or a worsening of symptoms after physical exertion

• symptoms that begin suddenly after a viral infection

The specific cause of these symptoms in these conditions and the optimal treatment remain uncertain.

Precancerous cells are abnormal cells that could turn into cancerous cells. Depending on the grade of the precancerous cells of the cervix, you may need to undergo treatments. In rare cases, these procedures can interfere with a patient’s ability to conceive, but women of childbearing age who still want to conceive are usually treated with the procedure that is least likely to have an impact on fertility.