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)

What Is Sciatica?

Sciatic pain (sciatica) is a pain in the lower back, buttock, leg and/or foot, usually on one side at a time, caused by one of disorders affecting the sciatic nerve:

• Pinched nerve due to:
  • Bulging or herniated disc 
  • Degeneration disc disease (DDD)
  • Spinal stenosis (narrow spinal canal)
  • Fracture of one or more of spinal vertebra or direct injury of the nerve
  • Tumor of the spinal cord or spine
  • Spondylolysthesis (slipping disc – from several reasons)
  • Piriformis syndrome (pressure from piriformis muscle that extends from the sacrum to the outer hip bone)
  • Spondylosis – degeneration due to wear and tear of spinal vertebra
  • Spondylitis – inflammation of spine
  • Osteoporosis
  • Tuberculosis or osteomyelitis of spinal vertebra
• Peripheral neuropathy e.g. from diabetes or alcoholism  

continue reading Sciatic Nerve Pain – Causes and Symptoms

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

Bloating – stomach distension due to gas built in the stomach or bowel – may be caused by certain foods, intestinal disorders, bacterial overgrowth or food poisoning with bacteria or parasites.

What Causes Bloating Shortly After Eating?

Bloating in the upper abdomen appearing within minutes after starting a meal may be caused by:

• Carbonated drinks, like soda or beer
• Baking soda
• Helycobacter pylori infection of the stomach. Infection with this bacterium is common and may cause nausea, early satiety, bloating and burping shortly after starting a meal 
• Slow stomach emptying, caused by:
  • Fibrous tissue (resulting from chronic infection, ulcer or surgery) obstructing the exit of the stomach (pylorus)
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Atherosclerosis of abdominal vessels or damage of abdominal nerves in long lasting diabetes, or smoking

 
continue reading Bloating After Eating; Foods that Cause Bloating

Nipple discharge affects many women who are not pregnant or breastfeeding and the presence of breast secretions do not always indicate any serious problem. While breast milk is expected in pregnancy and after child birth, other secretions from the breast may also occur in women of any age. Young women may experience nipple discharge without any cause for concern but persistent discharge in older women may be a sign of an underlying condition.

continue reading Causes of Breast Secretion, Nipple Discharge