Fluid in the lungs is a broad term to describe two possible conditions that may give characteristic symptoms, like a bubbling sound in the lungs (rales) when breathing. The fluid accumulation may be inside the lung (pulmonary edema) or outside the lung (pleural effusion), in the space between the lung and chest wall. The term “fluid in the lungs” is also used to refer to mucus inside the lungs. Mucus or phlegm is a thick, sticky secretion while “lung water” is a thin fluid. Other fluid accumulation may be the result of  blood or pus.

continue reading Fluid in the Lungs – Causes and Treatment

What Is a Torn Muscle?

Torn muscle or muscle strain refers to a partial or complete rupture of the fibers of a muscle, causing pain or inability to move a particular part of the body.

Causes

A torn muscle is frequently a result of a sudden unbalanced force acting on a particular muscle, which is beyond the normal capacity of the muscle, thus making it fall apart. This frequently occur in athletics and outdoor sports. Untrained weightlifting, absence of warmup, blunt trauma, etc., are some of the common factors leading to torn muscles.

continue reading Torn Muscle – Symptoms and Treatment

Tendo-Achilles Pain

The Achilles tendon is a strong tendon located at the back of the foot (Picture 1). Pain in this region is frequently seen in the 3rd – 5th decade of life and though very common, it is often not treated properly and causing constant problems.

Achilles Tendon Anatomy

The Achilles tendon or, medically, tendo-calcaneus attaches the muscles gastrocnemius and soleus, located in the calf, to the heel bone called calcaneum. These muscles primarily function to push the fore-foot downward during walking or jumping.

In our day to day life, the Achilles tendon is subjected to stresses equivalent to twice or thrice the weight of the body, possibly causing a degeneration of the tendon and leading to two painful conditions:

• Achilles tendinosis – an inflammation of the tendon, causing pain
• Achilles tendon rupture – tear of the tendon, causing pain and disability to the affected foot.

continue reading Achilles Tendon Pain – Causes and Treatment

The prostate gland, which lies below the bladder and surrounds the urethra, is the male organ that produces semen. It is very common for the prostate gland to start enlarging after the age of 40, although it may not always produce symptoms. The first noticeable symptoms appear when the enlarged prostate gland presses upon the urethra, causing problems with urination. The most common problems encountered with the prostate are benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostate cancer and prostatitis.

continue reading The Prostate Gland – Problems, Diseases, Tests

Low levels of thyroid hormones, either caused by an underactive thyroid gland, or other disorders that affect circulating thyroid hormone levels (euthyroid sick syndrome) results in a range of symptoms that collectively indicate hypothyroidism. These symptoms may vary in intensity and in early stages of hypothyroidism, few or no symptoms may be present (subclinical hypothyroidism).

continue reading Symptoms of Low or Underactive Thyroid, Hypothyroidism

How Many Days Can You Go Without Water and Food?

In a situation, where you do not have an access to water (and food), it is important to know, how long can you survive.

Most people would likely die within 3 -4 days without drinking or eating anything, and rarely one would survive over a week. But:

• A 97 year old woman survived 8 days without drinking or eating anything under the rubble of her home after earthquake occurred in Iran in January 2004 (1).
• Nearly all newborn babies, later became known as Miracle Babies, were found and rescued after being 7 days under the wreckage of a Hospital Juarez in Mexico City earthquake in 1985 (2).

continue reading How Long Can a Human Survive Without Food or Water?

Hypothyroidism is a prevalent condition and may be the result of underlying conditions, like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. In order to diagnose an underactive thyroid and isolate the possible cause, a thyroid profile blood test may be requested by your doctor. Apart from confirming diagnosis and providing valuable information as to the possible cause, the thyroid test will also identify the level of low thyroid activity and assist with assessing the efficacy of thyroid drugs.

continue reading Low Thyroid Test Levels

Treatment for an enlarged prostate depends upon the severity of the symptoms, and if the symptoms are mild or absent (asymptomatic), active treatment may not be necessary. Prostate treatment may include

1. Medication or drug therapy
2. Non-surgical therapies
3. Surgical procedures

continue reading Prostate Enlargement Treatment – Drugs, Surgery for BPH

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or an enlarged prostate gland is a very common condition in older men with estimates indicating that up to one in every two men suffers with this condition. The prostate gland, which is normally about the size of a walnut, starts to enlarge quite often after the age of forty, but may produce symptoms of enlargement much later. Most symptoms are caused due to compression of the urethra by the enlarged prostate gland, such as difficulty in passing urine, weak flow and incomplete emptying of the bladder. Benign prostatic hypertrophy is a non-cancerous condition and does not increase the risk of developing prostate cancer.

continue reading Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) – Enlarged Prostate Gland

What Is a Bowel or Fecal Urgency?

Bowel or fecal urgency is a sudden, irresistible need to have a bowel movement. Urge fecal incontinence is inability to hold stool during bowel urgency. Bowel incontinence is complete inability to control bowel movements. Tenesmus (Greek tens = strain) is a repeating painful urge to defecate without excreting any stool.  

Causes of Bowel Urgency

1. Occasional Bowel Urgency in Healthy People

Large Meal

A large, especially fibre-rich fruit or vegetable meal, can produce a lot of stool, which can be, for some people, difficult to hold in. A quick change from mixed to vegetarian diet can also irritate the bowel.

continue reading Urgency to Have a Bowel Movement, Urge Fecal Incontinence