Tingling or Numb Lips

Lip tingling is abnormal feeling, and lip numbness is decreased or absent feeling in the lip. Both sensations, medically called paresthesia, arise from conditions affecting sensory nerves in the lips, but usually not from neurological diseases. Skin diseases also rarely cause tingling or numbness but rather itch, burning or pain in the lips.

Main causes of tingling and numb lips are listed below.

continue reading Causes of Tingling or Numb Lips

Bottom Itch

A bottom itch may arise from:

• The buttocks
• The buttock crease
• The groin or inner thighs
• The anus – anal mucosa and surrounding skin
• The rectum

continue reading Itchy Bottom

The Role of Vitamin D in the Human Body

Vitamin D is essential for life. It enables absorption of calcium and phosphate from the small intestine and their incorporation into bones and teeth. Vitamin D enhances immunity and reduces inflammation. Calcium and phosphate are, among other, responsible for proper function of nerves and muscles.

Children not getting enough of vitamin D may develop rickets (1) - a disease with bone deformities. Vitamin D deficiency in adults results in osteomalacia (2) - weak bones with pains in bones and bone fractures.

continue reading Vitamin D Sources – Foods High in Vitamin D

What Is the Calf?

The calf is a back part of the lower leg - between the knee and ankle.

Causes of Calf Pain

Pain in the calf may arise from:

• Calf muscles: exercise, injury, mineral deficiencies, dermatomyositis
• Injury or inflammation of Achilles tendon
• Nerves: pinched sciatic nerve (read about sciatic nerve pain)
• Arteries: atherosclerosis (smokers, diabetics)
• Veins: varicose veins
• Blood: venous thrombosis
• Leg swelling from any cause
• Lymphatic vessels: elephantiasis, enlarged lymph nodes in the groin or behind the knee
• Joints: popliteal cyst behind the knee
• Skin: streptococcal or staphylococcal infection of the skin or under-skin tissues (cellulitis), Herpes zoster,  systemic sclerosis

Related Articles:

• Itchy Legs
• Leg Numbness

What Is Double Balloon Endoscopy?

Double balloon endoscopy (enteroscopy) is an endoscopic investigation of the entire small intestine, using a gastroscope or colonoscope and a tube with two balloons that help to drag the intestine over the endoscope (1). Investigation is done to:

• Make biopsies of suspicious mucosal lesions found by capsule endoscopy, mainly for diagnosis of celiac and Crohn’s disease, small intestinal tumors and unexplained bowel bleeding.
• Dilatation of strictures, removing of foreign objects, stopping of bleeding, etc.

continue reading Double Balloon Endoscopy (Enteroscopy)