General

A reaction of the immune system to a medicine is called a drug allergy. While any supplement, herbal product, over-the-counter (OTC) medicine, and prescription medicine can trigger a drug allergy, it usually occurs with specific medicines only. Rash, fever, and hives are the most common drug allergy symptoms. However, this condition may cause serious health […]

A learning disorder that involves reading problems caused by an inability to identify speech sounds and learn how these relate to words and letters is called dyslexia. In some cases, this condition is called a reading disability. The cause of this condition is certain differences in the brain areas responsible for language processing. However, this […]

A medical term for swallowing problems is dysphagia. However, it may be a painful condition, and sometimes, people cannot swallow at all. Commonly, difficulty swallowing that happens sometimes is not a cause for concern. It usually occurs when you eat too fast or do not chew the food well. In any case, dysphagia is a […]

A condition that causes the band of tissue in the upper abdomen (belly) called median arcuate ligament to put pressure on the artery (celiac artery) that sends blood to the spleen, liver, and stomach is called median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS). This ligament makes a pathway between the abdomen and chest for the primary blood […]

A disease in which blood flow to the heart is decreased is called myocardial ischemia. It causes the heart muscle to get less oxygen. In most cases, myocardial ischemia occurs due to partial or complete blockages of the arteries of the heart muscle (also known as coronary arteries). This condition also reduces the ability of […]

A disease in which the fungus called Candida albicans builds up in the mouth is called oral thrush or candidiasis. However, candida (a yeast) lives in the mouth naturally. In some cases, it may grow and begin to cause symptoms. This condition causes creamy white patches or spots on the tongue or inner cheeks. In […]

A long-term and continuous depression form is called a persistent depressive disorder. When it occurs, people usually feel sad and empty, lose interest in activities once enjoyed, and may have problems with getting things done. Sometimes, they also may experience low self-esteem and feel hopeless. When the condition occurs, previous symptoms may last for years […]

An inflammation of the colon that is linked with the overgrowth of bacteria called Clostridioides difficile (previously called Clostridium difficile) or C. diff is called pseudomembranous colitis. Sometimes, this condition is called antibiotic-associated colitis or C. difficile colitis. In most cases, overgrowth of this bacteria occurs after staying in a hospital or taking antibiotics. Usually, […]

A ballooning or bulge in a brain’s blood vessel is called a brain aneurysm. Sometimes, the condition is called cerebral aneurysm or intracranial aneurysm. In most cases, an aneurysm looks like a berry that hangs on a stem. Aneurysms may break and cause bleeding between the brain and its coverings. In such cases, the disease […]

A condition in which recurrent breathing stops happen during sleep is called central sleep apnea. The primary cause of this condition is the brain that does not send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. It is important to know that this sleep apnea type is different from obstructive sleep apnea. The second type […]