Diseases & Conditions Archive

While the cause of fainting often is something minor, fainting also can be a sign of a serious underlying medical problem.

Ignoring the warning signs of a ministroke can lead to a major stroke at a later time. People should be evaluated right away for symptoms such as speech and vision problems or weakness in an arm or leg.

Headaches can have many triggers from allergies to stress, or even hunger. Understanding headache triggers can help you avoid one in the future. Here's a look at the most common triggers for each kind of headache.

People are considered to have resistant hypertension if their blood pressure remains at or above 130/80 millimeters of mercury despite taking the highest dosage of at least three different blood pressure medications and following healthy habits. Many times, it helps to explore other factors that could cause blood pressure to rise. These include failure to take medication correctly, white-coat syndrome, sleep apnea, alcohol intake, and use of over-the-counter pain remedies.

An estimated 32 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, and although exercise is often difficult and painful, a regular resistance training program can help them stay active, improve their level of function, reduce pain, and perhaps avoid the condition worsening to the point where they need a joint replacement. Consulting with a physical therapist is recommended to find the right program to meet a person's needs, fitness level, and limitations.

Research into the health benefits of alcohol has not provided a clear answer. Some findings suggest that alcohol helps protect against heart disease and lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and drinkers tend to live longer than nondrinkers. Other studies say these benefits are less clear. If you don't drink alcohol now, there are no health reasons to start drinking. If you do enjoy it, it's best to have no more than 2 drinks in the same day.

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland falls short in producing hormones that regulate functions such as metabolism, heart rate, and digestion. Symptoms include weight gain, fatigue, menstrual irregularities, forgetfulness, dry skin and hair, and feeling cold.

A 2023 study suggests that sleep problems such as snoring, snorting, or getting too much or little sleep can significantly raise the odds of having a stroke.