Aug 12th, 2019 - If you shudder at the thought of having a colonoscopy to check for hidden colon cancer, chances are it's the "prep" that's stoking your apprehension. It's certainly a major inconvenience: getting ready for the procedure takes much longer — an average of 16 hours, according to one study — than the three hours or so you'll spend at a medical center the day of your colonoscopy. But what's most off...

The need for healthcare providers to effectively engage with patients with SLE is ongoing and the stakes are high. Even when patients have no complaints and no visual signs of disease, organ damage can be occurring. We've developed these tools to help both you and your patients communicate and be vigilant.

Jan 20th, 2020 - Diagnosis Diagnosing age spots might include: Visual inspection. Your doctor can usually diagnose age spots by looking at your skin. It's important to distinguish age spots from other skin disorders because the treatments differ and using the wrong procedure may delay other needed therapy. Skin biopsy. Your doctor might do other tests, such as removing a small sample of skin for examination in ...

Jan 16th, 2020 - Overview Fecal incontinence is the inability to control bowel movements, causing stool (feces) to leak unexpectedly from the rectum. Also called bowel incontinence, fecal incontinence ranges from an occasional leakage of stool while passing gas to a complete loss of bowel control. Common causes of fecal incontinence include diarrhea, constipation, and muscle or nerve damage. The muscle or nerve...

Jan 16th, 2020 - Diagnosis Your doctor will ask questions about your condition and perform a physical exam that usually includes a visual inspection of your anus. A probe may be used to examine this area for nerve damage. Normally, this touching causes your anal sphincter to contract and your anus to pucker. Medical tests A number of tests are available to help pinpoint the cause of fecal incontinence: Digital ...

Jan 15th, 2020 - Overview Enlarged heart, in heart failure Enlarged heart, in heart failure As your heart weakens, such as in heart failure, it begins to enlarge, forcing your heart to work harder to pump blood to the rest of your body. An enlarged heart (cardiomegaly) isn't a disease, but rather a sign of another condition. The term "cardiomegaly" refers to an enlarged heart seen on any imaging test, including...

Jan 15th, 2020 - Overview A migraine can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head. It's often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can last for hours to days, and the pain can be so severe that it interferes with your daily activities. For some people, a warning symptom known as an aura occurs before or with the ...

Jan 15th, 2020 - Overview Varicocele Varicocele A varicocele is an enlargement of the veins that transport oxygen-depleted blood away from the testicle. A varicocele (VAR-ih-koe-seel) is an enlargement of the veins within the loose bag of skin that holds your testicles (scrotum). A varicocele is similar to a varicose vein you might see in your leg. Varicoceles are a common cause of low sperm production and decr...

Jan 15th, 2020 - Migraine care at Mayo Clinic Your Mayo Clinic care team The doctors trained in nervous system disorders (neurologists) include internationally recognized researchers in the treatment and prevention of migraines. Teams of doctors work together to bring you the best possible treatment for your migraines. Your care team of experts collaborates to provide you with the benefit of each specialist's k...

Jan 15th, 2020 - Diagnosis If you have migraines or a family history of migraines, a doctor trained in treating headaches (neurologist) will likely diagnose migraines based on your medical history, symptoms, and a physical and neurological examination. If your condition is unusual, complex or suddenly becomes severe, tests to rule out other causes for your pain might include: MRI. An MRI scan uses a powerful ma...

Jan 14th, 2020 - Diagnosis Tests and X-rays are not usually needed to diagnose bronchiolitis. The doctor can usually identify the problem by observing your child and listening to the lungs with a stethoscope. If your child is at risk of severe bronchiolitis, if symptoms are worsening or if another problem is suspected, your doctor may order tests, including: Chest X-ray. Your doctor may request a chest X-ray to...

Jan 10th, 2020 - Diagnosis Bone marrow biopsy Bone marrow biopsy In a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, a doctor or nurse uses a thin needle to remove a small amount of liquid bone marrow, usually from a spot in the back of your hipbone (pelvis). A bone marrow biopsy is often taken at the same time. This second procedure removes a small piece of bone tissue and the enclosed marrow. The following tests can help...

Jan 10th, 2020 - Overview Claudication Claudication Claudication is pain caused by too little blood flow to your legs or arms. This is usually a symptom of peripheral artery disease, in which the arteries that supply blood to your limbs are narrowed, usually because of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis occurs when arteries get thick and stiff due to a buildup of fatty deposits (plaques) on your artery walls. Cla...

Jan 10th, 2020 - Overview Aplastic anemia is a condition that occurs when your body stops producing enough new blood cells. The condition leaves you fatigued and more prone to infections and uncontrolled bleeding. A rare and serious condition, aplastic anemia can develop at any age. It can occur suddenly, or it can come on slowly and worsen over time. It can be mild or severe. Treatment for aplastic anemia migh...

Jan 9th, 2020 - Diagnosis Pulmonary embolism can be difficult to diagnose, especially in people who have underlying heart or lung disease. For that reason, your doctor will likely discuss your medical history, do a physical exam, and order one or more of the following tests. Blood tests Your doctor may order a blood test for the clot-dissolving substance D dimer. High levels may suggest an increased likelihood...

Jan 9th, 2020 - Overview Pulmonary embolism Pulmonary embolism Pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot gets lodged in an artery in the lung, blocking blood flow to part of the lung. Blood clots most often originate in the legs and travel up through the right side of the heart and into the lungs. Pulmonary embolism is a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in your lungs. In most cases, pulmonary emboli...

Jan 8th, 2020 - Diagnosis Hereditary hemochromatosis can be difficult to diagnose. Early symptoms such as stiff joints and fatigue may be due to conditions other than hemochromatosis. Many people with the disease don't have any signs or symptoms other than elevated levels of iron in their blood. Hemochromatosis may be identified because of abnormal blood tests done for other reasons or from screening of family...

Jan 6th, 2020 - Overview Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior that impairs daily functioning, and can be disabling. People with schizophrenia require lifelong treatment. Early treatment may help get symptoms under control before serious co...

Jan 6th, 2020 - Diagnosis In general, your doctor may test for Hashimoto's disease if you're feeling increasingly tired or sluggish, have dry skin, constipation, and a hoarse voice, or have had previous thyroid problems or a goiter. Diagnosis of Hashimoto's disease is based on your signs and symptoms and the results of blood tests that measure levels of thyroid hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) pro...

Jan 6th, 2020 - Diagnosis In general, your doctor may test for an underactive thyroid if you are feeling increasingly tired, have dry skin, constipation and weight gain, or have had previous thyroid problems or a goiter. Blood tests Diagnosis of hypothyroidism is based on your symptoms and the results of blood tests that measure the level of TSH and sometimes the level of the thyroid hormone thyroxine. A low l...