Mouth sores are shallow ulcers that usually occur inside the mouth, along the lining of the inner cheek, tongue and soft palate (back part of the roof of the mouth).  In acute mouth ulcers, no specific treatment is required as it will often heal on its own. In chronic, recurring cankers sores in the mouth,  treatment may be necessary to treat ulcers that are not resolving spontaneously as well as preventing any new mouth sores from forming.

continue reading Treatment for Mouth Ulcers (Oral Canker Sores)

Urine with a reddish color does not always indicate the presence of blood or bleeding within the urinary tract. Similarly, the presence of blood in the urine may not be visible to the naked eye. In order to differentiate between reddish brown discoloration of urine and bloody urine, it is important to test for the presence of red blood cells.

Red blood cells in the urine is  a clear indication of bleeding, usually within the urinary tract. The bleeding may stem from the kidneys, ureter, bladder, prostate (males) or urethra. The presence of red blood cells in the urine is known by the medical term, hematuria (hema ~ blood, uria ~ in urine). Hematuria is not always a cause for concern and may resolves spontaneously with no treatment. However persistent blood in the urine usually indicates a more serious problem that requires further investigation and the appropriate treatment.

continue reading Bloody Urine – Causes of Red Color, Blood in Urine

Blood, fluid and other secretions from the ear is known as otorrhea or commonly referred to as ear discharge. In otorrhea, the discharge exits through the ear and should not be confused with natural ear wax (cerumen) that occurs within the ear canal. Ear discharge should not be ignored, especially if there is  constant secretions of blood, discharges stained with blood or clear, thin or sticky fluid that may be cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

continue reading Causes of Ear Discharge (Secretion, Fluid)

Hemosiderosis is a chronic iron overload or excess iron levels in body tissues, either throughout the body or only in specific tissues and organs. If this chronic overload begins to cause tissue damage, it is known as hemochromatosis or commonly referred to as iron toxicity.

Iron is an abundant element in the human body and in conjunction with proteins, it forms hemoglobin, an essential compound in red blood cells that is responsible for gas transport (oxygen and carbon dioxide) in the blood. However excess iron intake or abnormal iron deposition can cause an iron overload (hemosiderosis) and eventual iron toxicity (hemochromatosis) if not attended to in the acute stages.

continue reading Excess Iron (Poisoning, Overload, Toxicity) in Blood

Blood iron disorders involve either the excess, deficiency or abnormal utilization of iron in the blood. In most cases this affects the blood and tissue oxygenation as the red blood cells are responsible for gas exchange between the blood and environment.

Red blood cells contain an iron-protein (metalloprotein) compound called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin binds to oxygen or carbon dioxide and transports it through the blood, carrying oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs to be expelled in the environment. This process is essential for normal life processes. Red blood cells are constantly destroyed by the body and breakdown products are excreted in the stool. Simultaneously, the body produces new red blood cells on a constant basis to ensure a balance between and loss and new red blood cells.

continue reading Blood Iron Levels – High, Abnormal, Low Iron in the Blood

Acute cases of sores in the mouth usually lasts for up 2 weeks until the ulcers heal and completely resolve. However many oral canker sore sufferers report chronic or recurring cases of mouth ulcers, either within the same area of the initial lesion or surrounding areas.

Chronic mouth sores are considered to be any individual mouth ulcer or group of ulcers that lasts for several weeks to months. Recurring mouth sores are mouth ulcers that heal and then develop again immediately after the condition resolves or recur  several days to weeks later. Chronic and recurring mouth sores are often indicative of other pathology in the area, repeated trauma or exposure to chemical irritants and allergens or systemic causes of mouth ulcers.

continue reading Chronic, Recurring Canker Sores in the Mouth

Physical Causes of Mouth Ulcers
Chemical Causes of Mouth Ulcers
Infections that Cause Mouth Ulcers
Nutritional Deficiencies that Cause Mouth Ulcers
Immune Causes of Mouth Ulcers
Chronic Diseases that Cause Mouth Ulcers

Mouth ulcers are shallow, painful ulcers that may occur in isolation or as multiple sores inside the mouth. Acute or chronic mouth ulcers may be caused by an number of factors although the reason for recurring canker sores is not known.

Mouth sores may primarily occur due to two factors :

1. Any condition causing dryness of the mouth by reducing saliva production. Saliva lubricates the inner lining of the mouth, reduces infections and maintains integrity of the mucosa.
2. Any damage to the mucosal lining of the mouth and tongue exposes underlying tissue which may be prone to infection. Contributing factors that may affect healing of the damaged mucosa may eventually lead to a canker sore.

However mouth ulcers due to chronic or systemic conditions may arise due to other factors.

continue reading Causes of Mouth Ulcers (Oral Canker Sores)

A mouth sore or canker sore is a shallow and painful ulcer in the mouth cavity (inside of the mouth). Mouth sores are also known as aphthous ulcers and can occur on the sides of the mouth cavity (inside of the cheek), under or on the tongue or inner lip. The condition of multiple, recurring mouth sores is medically referred to as aphthous stomatitis.

continue reading What are Mouth Sores? Oral Canker Sores, Mouth Ulcers

What is breast pain?

Breast pains are severe, sharp, stabbing, shooting or throbbing pains of the breast either felt on the outside of the breast (superficial) or deeper within the breast tissue. Pain may be a result of breast inflammation and can be accompanied by breast swelling, warmth/heat and/or redness of the skin.

Breast pain (medical term ~ mastalgia) is an indication of pathology of the breast itself or underlying organs within the thoracic cavity (thorax or chest). Less commonly, breast pain may indicate pathology at other areas with referred pain to the breast.

continue reading Causes of Breast Pains – Diagnosis of Breast Pain Symptoms

Treatment of Leg & Foot Cramps

Treatment should be directed at the possible causes of leg cramps at night if it is suspected that the condition is occurring as a symptom of one of the causes or risk factors. However, nocturnal leg cramps as a parasomnia disorder is not treatable and the exact cause is unknown therefore the focus should be on management of the condition.

Some important points should be noted in the treatment of secondary causes of night leg cramps.

continue reading Treatment & Management of Leg Cramps at Night