General

This is a condition in which brief and sudden lapses of consciousness happen. It is called an absence seizure and mostly occurs in children rather than adults. Children with this seizure type may stare blankly into space for several seconds. Thereafter, he/she returns quickly to be alert. Usually, this condition does not cause physical injuries, […]

A swallowing health condition that negatively affects the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth with the stomach) is called achalasia. It often happens due to damage to the nerves that control the esophagus muscles. They help squeeze food and liquid into the stomach. In people with achalasia, food may begin to collect in the […]

A condition in which the back of the lower leg is injured is called Achilles tendon rupture. In most cases, this condition occurs in people who play recreational sports, but it may happen to anyone. This tendon is a strong fibrous cord that links the muscles in the back of the calf to the heel […]

A tear or sprain of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is called an ACL injury. This ligament is one of the strongest bands of tissue that links the thigh bone (also called femur) to the shinbone (tibia). In most cases, ACL injuries occur during sports that involve sudden and frequent starts, stops, direction changes, jumping, […]

Stress on the eardrum that happens when air pressure in the middle ear is out of balance compared to the environment is called airplane ear (also known as ear barotrauma). People usually get this condition when an airplane is climbing after takeoff or descending for landing. Sometimes, this condition is called barotitis media or aerotitis […]

A serious health condition (sometimes deadly) that happens due to heavy alcohol drinking in a short time is called alcohol poisoning. Those who drink large alcohol amounts in a short period may experience problems with breathing, heart rate, body temperature, and reflexes. Alcohol poisoning is a dangerous condition that sometimes may lead to coma and […]

A heart condition in which an irregular or fast heart rhythm occurs is called atrial fibrillation (AFib). However, irregular heart rhythm is another condition of the heart called arrhythmia. Atrial fibrillation may lead to blood clots in the heart as well as other conditions. These include heart failure, stroke, and others. In people with AFib, […]

A health problem that causes dizziness, vertigo, lightheadedness, or makes you feel unsteady is called a balance problem. People who experience it may feel that the room is spinning. It happens whether you are sitting, standing, or lying down. To maintain a normal balance, multiple body systems are involved. For example, muscles, bones, joints, eyes, […]

A health condition that happens rarely and causes inflammation of the blood vessels throughout the body is called Behcet’s disease (also known as Behcet’s syndrome). It may cause multiple symptoms that can seem unrelated to this syndrome at first. The most common symptoms include eye inflammation, skin rashes and lesions, genital sores, and eye inflammation. […]

There are some tumors that develop on the peripheral nerves. These tumors are not cancerous (benign) and are called benign peripheral nerve tumors. The spinal cord and brain are connected to the other body parts through peripheral nerves. The muscles that allow you to blink, swallow, pick things up, walk, and do other activities are […]