Medical Symptoms Pages

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome - PCOS

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), is a healing opportunity that can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle, fertility, hormones, insulin production, cardiovascular system, and physical appearance. The primary defining characteristic of this disease, is the growth of many, cysts inside the ovaries. PCOS is typically caused by Insulin Resistance and may take the form of numerous symptoms, which vary from woman to woman. These symptoms include, but are not limited to:

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Irregular Periods (which may include any of the following medical conditions)

Amenorrhea - Absence of periods
Oligomenorrhea - Unusually infrequent periods
Secondary amenorrhea - Periods that have stopped

Weight Gain

Infertility

Hirsutism - Excessive Hairiness in Females

Thinning Hair

Acne

Other Skin Problems - Including Skin Tags, and darkening and thickening of the skin.

Depression and Anxiety

PCOS Symptoms in Detail:

Irregular Periods. Typical menstrual cycles arrive on a regular basis, 12 times a year. Nine or few menstrual cycles per year may be a sign of PCOS. Bleeding may be heavier than normal.

Weight Gain. Many women with PCOS gain weight around their abdomen, taking on an round shape rather than a pear shape.

Infertility. The high levels of excess insulin seen with PCOS can stimulate the ovaries to produce large amounts of the male hormone testosterone, which can prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg each month.

Hirsutism. Due to hormone imbalances, for most PCOS sufferers, hair in the mustache and beard areas becomes heavier and darker. Masculine hair on the arms and leg is also possible, as well as hair on abdomen, chest or back, together with more growing in the pubic area.

Thinning Hair. Just as heavier hair growth is possible, so is the type of hair thinning that many men experience which, in men, is known as alopecia.

Acne. The acne is usually found around the face (especially along the jaw line), chest and back.

Other Skin Problems.

Skin tags – thick lumps of skin sometimes as large as raisins – can form as a result of PCOS. They are usually found in the armpits, at the bra line or neck and can easily be removed by a dermatologist.
Darkening and thickening of the skin can also occur around the neck, groin, underarms or skin folds. This condition, called Acanthosis Nigricans, is a sign of Insulin Resistance, the underlying cause of PCOS.

Depression and Anxiety. Many women with PCOS may find themselves more anxious or depressed by their appearance or their inability to become pregnant. Depression can also be caused by hormone problems.

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For more information about PCOS, please visit the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) pages at Insulite Labs.

Yeast Infection

Yeast is a fungus that grows freely throughout the world. Several strains grow in cooperation with the human body, and several are considered pathogenic. Typically when we are talking about yeast infections, we are discussing Candida Albicans, and the technical name for the infection is candidiasis.

]]> Candidiasis is an infection of the skin and/or mucous membrane. It is usually located in the skin, nails, mouth, intestines, genitalia, bronchi, or lungs, but may invade the bloodstream as well. It is thought to occur primarily a secondary infection, associated with a compromised immune system. However, according to many theories in alternative medicine, Candida is seen as the primary infection resulting in the immune system dysfunction. In this theory, such diseases as Lupus, Eczema, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Arthritis may actually be caused by a systemic yeast infection. This is not to say that all of these diseases are caused by candidiasis, but tests should be conducted to determine if this infectious disease is involved.

For the purpose of this article, we will focus on what we traditionally think of when we discuss yeast infections, and will narrow the symptoms discussed to those traditionally associated with candidiasis.

yeast infection symptoms may include:

Thrush: oral lesions consisting of painless, discrete white plaques that adhere on the oral and pharyngeal mucosa.
Skin infections are:
- red
- macerated: appearing moist
- usually occur in areas where skin folds upon itself.
Invasive systemic infections may present in any organ including the brain, heart, kidneys, and eyes.
- symptoms produced in systemic infections depend on the extent of the infection and the organs affected.

Acid Reflux

Acid reflux can be a result of a number of disorders. According to traditional western medicine, this type of symptom is usually the result of either a relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, or due to the presence of hiatal hernia allowing for acid from the stomach to reflux.

]]> Acid Reflux Symptoms

The symptoms are fairly straight forward, and can include:

Dysphagia: impairment of speech.
Burning sensation radiating up to the neck.

Temporary relief is available via antacids. According to Oriental Medicine, this complex is caused by one of several factors. For each, traditional herbs have very positive clinical effects when treated properly.

Panic Attack

Panic is typically defined as acute anxiety, terror, and or fright that is usually of immediate and sudden onset. The panic feels uncontrollable to the one experiencing it. Panic attacks are considered to be more acute and intense than general panic.

]]> Panic Attack Symptoms

Typically a person diagnosed with panic attack will need to show four of the following symptoms. These symptoms initiate quickly, without reasonable stimulus, and peak at around 10 minutes:

Palpitations: The experience of intensely feeling one’s own heart beating as if it was to beet out of one’s chest.
Sweating
Trembling or shaking
Sensations of shortness of breath or a sense of being smothered
Feeling of choking
Chest pain or discomfort in the chest
Nausea or abdominal distress
Dizziness or light headedness
Feeling of unreality or being detached from oneself
Felling of losing control or going crazy
Fear of dying
Paresthesia: numbness or tingling sensation, particularly in the arms and lets
Chills or hot flushes
Feeling of imminent danger
Feeling of impending doom and an urge to escape

How do you help someone experiencing a panic attack?

Allow the individual to express their anxiety, and to release energy. Be cautious to provide a safe environment where the individual will be safe from harm. A gentle and calm attitude will help the person work through the acute attack.

Migraine

A migraine headache is a form of headache which is typically considered the most intense and disabling. Migraines are chronic in nature, meaning that they happen often for the individual that is affected. Typically Migraines are one sided in nature, meaning that the pain is felt on one side of the head.
]]> Migraine Symptoms
Looking at the symptoms of migraine headaches can be a little overwhelming and not make a lot of sense at first. The list looks like:

Pain - Moderate to severe on one or both sides of the head
Throbbing - Some pain may throb, almost like the heart pulse, but on its own rhythm
Vomiting
Photophobia - Fear of, or dislike of light
Phonophobia - Fear of, or dislike of sound
Pain may be worse with movement

A traditional migraine, often referred to as a migraine with aura, is preceded by a group of specific symptoms called aura, most commonly experienced as a visual disturbance (sense the term aura). Common migraine or migraine without aura, in contrast, lacks this specific warning. Many migraine patients will experience a prodrome, a vague sensation that things are just not right that may precede the headache by several hours. Although sometimes comparable in severity, the symptoms of migraine differ from those of cluster headache.

Alternative Medicine and Migraines

When one looks at the Oriental Medical breakup of headaches, migraine symptoms start to make a lot more sense. In this system, migraine symptoms can be broken down by location, type of pain, amelioration and aggravation. Then, diagnosis can be made in relation to the organ systems or the channels affected. Lets look at how some of these symptoms might break down.

Location of Pain in Headaches:

Top of the head - The liver channel reaches the top of the head. This type of headache is most often related to "a deficient liver blood state" but can also relate to "liver yang rising" which is an excess state. The difference being that if excess, the headache would be aggravated by lying down, but if deficient, would get relief from lying down.
Sides of the Head

Only One Sided - This relates to the "Gall Bladder" channel, and headaches here are either due to "Liver Yang Rising" or "Liver Fire"
Temples - This again is typically thought of as due to a disturbance in the "Gall Bladder" channel, and as such, can be either caused by "Liver Yang, "Liver Fire" or "Liver Wind." This location shows pain that is often throbbing in nature.
Behind the Eyes - This is a very frequent location for migraine. This type of headache is often due to "Liver Blood Deficiency."

Forehead - Headaches here are usually related to the "stomach."
Back of the Head - Here, headaches are usually due to a "Kidney Deficiency" manifesting on the "Bladder Channel."
Whole Head - Chronic Headaches n this area are due to "Kidney - Essence deficiency. They are not typically scene as migraines.

Types of Pain in Migraine Headaches:

Dull Headache - A headache is due to one of the deficiencies outlined above
Feeling of Heaviness - This is characteristic of "Dampness" or "Phlegm"
Distending Pain - Typically a migraine symptom of "Liver Yang" or "Liver Fire."
Stiff - "Liver Yang"
Pulling - "Liver Wind"
Stabbing and Boring - This sensation is very intense and fixed in one place and it indicates "Blood Stasis." This is more of a symptoms of Cluster Headaches.
Feeling of Emptiness - This can indicate a deficiency of Kidney Yin or Yang.

Mesothelioma

This is an rare form of cancer, usually related to exposure to asbestos. In Mesothelioma, cancerous cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the bodies internal organs. The most common site for Mesothelioma is the outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity (known as the pleura lining), but it may also occur in the lining of the abdominal cavity (also known as the peritoneum) or the outer lining of the heart (pericardium).
]]> Individuals who develop Mesothelioma have typically worked in jobs where they were exposed to asbestos particles via airborne means, or by direct contract with contaminated materials used by loved ones or friends in such occupations.

Mesothelioma symptoms

It may take upwards of 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos for Mesothelioma symptoms to become apparent. Among the symptoms of Mesothelioma one might see, the primary two associated with plural cavity Mesothelioma are:

shortness of breath
pain in the chest - most likely due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space

Symptoms of Mesothelioma that are affecting the peritoneal cavity may include

weight loss
abdominal swelling
pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity).
bowel obstruction
blood clotting abnormalities
anemia
fever

If the cancer has spread then the symptoms may diversify as well. General symptoms of metastasized Mesothelioma may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

All symptoms on this page may be caused by Mesothelioma, especially if the individual had a prior exposure to high levels of asbestos earlier in life. However, all of these symptoms can be caused by less serious conditions.

Menopause

Menopause is a stage of life for women that occurs as the ovaries stop producing estrogen, causing the reproductive system to gradually cease to function. As the body adapts to the changing levels of natural hormones many symptoms become apparent such as; hot flashes, night sweats, palpitations, hot hands and feet, increased depression, anxiety, irritability, mood swings and lack of concentration. Other symptoms include vaginal dryness, hair dryness, and urgency of urination. Eventually, woman will experience increasingly scanty and erratic menstrual periods ending in a cessation of a menstrual cycle.
]]> Strictly speaking, menopause refers to the ceasing of menses but in looser, more common understanding menopause refers to the gradual process through which menstrual cessation occurs. Menopause can last anywhere from a mild six month transition, to a turbulent 5 year ordeal. Among the western therapies available are hormone replacement therapies which have little track record of research in comparison to 5000 years of Traditional Chinese Medicines detailed focus on helping ease women through the transition.

Early Menopause Symptoms

In western culture, we are seeing a rise in early menopausal symptoms. Clinically, this begins with a drying of the skin and hair. Menstrual flow becomes slightly irregular and increasingly less blood flows each month. What was once a regular twenty eight day cycle can become thirty, then thirty five days signalling the early stages of menopausal symptoms. Often with this irregularity comes either a lack of groundedness in emotional states, or a lack of ability to concentrate. Insomnia can also begin to appear, usually either as a difficulty falling asleep as heat and irritability are present in the evenings, or as dream disturbed sleep leading to the inability to fall back asleep again, often with hot flashes at night. When stepping back, early menopause symptoms are seen similarly to the main symptoms listed below, only more mild in nature.

Menopause Symptoms

Looking at the symptoms of menopause, we see an increase in the infrequent symptoms mentioned above in "early menopause symptoms." All of the symptoms become more pronounced, and every women can show a different pattern of the following symptoms:

Physical menopause symptoms:

hot flashes - usually begins in the evenings, but then becomes more invasive as they can move into the day time as well.
palpitations - again, typically experienced more in the evening during the early stages, but then quickly these symptoms can extend into the day time as well.
night sweats
hot hands and feet
irregular and scanty menstruation
dryness of the skin and hair
vaginal dryness
urgency of urination

Emotional menopause symptoms:

increased depression
emotional instability
anxiety
irritability
mood swings
lack of concentration

Alternative Medicine and Menopause Symptoms

Traditional Chinese Medicine has had over 5000 years of working with menopause, and adjusting it's theory and clinical traditions to create an extremely effective medium for working with menopause and it's symptoms. Although the names of the syndromes may seem foreign, our hope in presenting the different sub-groupings is to help those unfamiliar with the theory begin to see how it functions.

Yin deficiency with false heat (this is the most basic diagnosis and all others stem from this foundation):

mood swings
emotional instability
hot flashes
night sweats

Yin deficiency with false heat and dryness:

increase in thirst
increase in over all body dryness

Yin deficiency with liver qi stagnation

pronounced irritability
uncontrollable mood swings

Yin deficiency with Shen disturbance

pronounced anger
pronounced restlessness

Yin deficiency with spleen and heart blood deficiency

tiredness
insomnia upon waking

Anxiety

Anxiety is a complex experience. You can consider it similar to a combination of the feeling of fear, apprehension and worry all at the same time, often accompanied by physical sensations such as the sensation of feeling ones heart beat loudly, chest pain and/or shortness of breath without any exertion. It is similar to Anxiety Attack, but not as acute, or as intense.
]]> One who experiences frequent bout of anxiety resulting in serious affects on ones life may be diagnosed clinically as having an anxiety disorder. The most common types of anxiety disorder are generalized anxiety disorder, Social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We explore these diagnosis later on in the article.

anxiety symptoms

The physical symptoms of anxiety are caused by an initiation of the "fight or flight" response. This sympathetic / parasympathetic imbalance makes the heart, lungs and other parts of the body work much faster in a perpetual state of "fight or flight". Levels of adrenaline increase in the body. The following symptoms can occur as a result:

the feeling of having ones stomach in knots
diarrhoea and/or constipation often referred to as irritable bowel
dry mouth and throat with difficulty swallowing
rapid heartbeat and/or palpitations (the feeling of ones heart beat almost pounding out of the chest)
tightness or pain in chest often hindering the breath
shortness of breath without any known reason
dizziness and light headedness

Psychological symptoms of anxiety can include:

insomnia either with difficulty falling asleep, or with difficulty falling back asleep once awake.
Irritability and/or anger
inability to concentrate for even short periods of time
fear of madness
feeling unreal and not in control of your actions (depersonalisation)

anxiety subtypes

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder is a common disorder which is chronic in nature. The disease affects more women than men, almost at a 2:1 ratio. The symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder leads to a major affect on the basic ins and outs of daily life. Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by long-lasting anxiety that is not focused on any particular object or situation. People with this disorder feel afraid of something but are unable to articulate the specific cause of the fear. Those suffering from this type of anxiety symptoms spend large amounts of time with the inability to control their worries. The constant state of worry increases muscle tension and leads to an increase in; headaches, heart palpitations, dizziness, and insomnia. These physical complaints, combined with the intense, long term anxiety, make it difficult to cope with normal daily activities that many of us take for granted.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder is the fear or apprehension of being in a social environment. Many subtypes of anxiety show this symptom, but when it is concentrated as a blanket fear of being in a social setting, the disorder is labeled, "Social Anxiety Disorder." Individuals with this disorder experience intense fear of being negatively evaluated by others, or of being publicly embarrassed.

Panic Disorder

In panic disorder, the individual affected experiences brief attacks of intense terror and apprehension. Among the symptoms of panic disorder displayed include:

trembling and shaking
dizziness
difficulty breathing

The American Psychiatric Association in 2000 defined a panic attack as fear or discomfort that arises abruptly and peaks in 10 minutes or less. Although panic disorder attacks sometimes seem to occur out of the blue, they generally become more frequent after frightening experiences, and prolonged stress. Many individuals affected in the moment interpret panic attacks for what they are; a result of a passing crisis or stress. Unfortunately, others begin to worry excessively about when the next attack may appear, and some may even quit jobs or refuse to leave the safety of their homes to avoid the possibility of any attacks happening at all. It is labeled panic disorder when several apparently spontaneous attacks lead to a persistent concern about future attacks.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive compulsive disorder is a subtype of anxiety which is characterized by obsessions and/or compulsions. Obsessions are distressing, repetitive thoughts and/or images that the individual often realizes are senseless. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that the person feels forced or compelled into doing, in order to relieve anxiety and fear. Some examples of obsession may include an extreme need for cleanliness based on a fear of contamination. This may lead to the compulsion of having to wash ones hands hundreds of times a day. Another example may be the obsession of cleaning ones teeth out of the fear of cavities. The compulsive behavior could be brushing and flossing hundreds of times a day to alleviate the anxiety.

Phobias

This category involves a strong, irrational fear and avoidance of objects, places, or situation. The person knows the fear is irrational, yet the anxiety remains and can not easily be controlled. Phobic disorders differ from generalized anxiety disorders and panic disorders because there is a specific stimulus or situation that elicits a strong fear and even terror response.

Examples of phobias may include fear of a specific stimuli such as spiders and/or other animals. Anxiety from being in places and situations are another example, such as high buildings, and/or closed spaces. The phobic response can be so intense that normal cognition and ability to function effectively completely and totally shut down. It is an intense and focalized anxiety symptom focused on such a specific event or stimuli that all symptoms flair up in one focused event.

Stress

In western medicine, stress symptoms are produced as a result of a structure, system, or organism being acted on by forces that disrupt equilibrium or produce strain. In health care, the term denotes the physical and psychological forces that are experienced by individuals in daily life such as fear, anxiety, physical strain, and many other factors. When stress occurs in large quantities that the system cannot handle in a healthy way, it produces pathological changes in the body and thus disease is born.
]]> Emotional Stress Symptoms:

irritable
depression
anxiety
considered abrasive by others
hostile in extreme stress
nervous
generally emotional

Physical Symptoms of Stress:

a pounding sensation in the heart
frequent headaches
circulation to the extremities may be altered:

sweaty palms and feet
and or cold hands

tight muscles
pain
indigestion and digestive disruptions including:

tight stomach
nausea
diarrhea
irritable bowels
constipation

disruptions in sleep and energy

insomnia
excess sleep
fatigue even after rest

Problems with skin health

Acne
Red Swollen Skin (eczema, psoriasis may be aggravated)

Disruption in breathing

shortness of breath
holding breath

Mental Symptoms of Stress:

forgetful and decline in short term memory
lack of ability to concentrate
poor judgment
lack of organization
fuzzy perception
confusion
apathy
over thinking and/or lack of clear thought
diminished or excess fantasy life if used as an escape mechanism
low self esteem

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic condition affecting the lungs and respiratory system. Asthma is not contagious, and although it appears to follow some genetic tendencies, is not wholly genetic either. Asthma is a complex disease characterized by bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR), inflammation, Mucus production and intermittent airway obstruction. A person with asthma may experience wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough particularly after exposure to an allergen, during exercise, when exposed to cold air, or at times of greater emotional. Beyond the traditional use of inhalers, there are many holistic options available for treatment.
]]> Asthma Symptoms
The main symptom of asthma is wheezing caused by obstruction and constriction of the airways. A cough, sometimes with clear sputum, may also be present. Typically the symptoms change from person to person, often with rapid onset, and associated with the individuals set of trigger stimuli. Once again, these triggers often being:

exposure to allergen

animal
environmental

exercise - termed "exercise induced asthma"
exposure to cold air
emotional stress - especially

fear
anger
general stress

In severe cases, symptoms can be worse during the night or upon waking. Asthma sometimes occurs with acid indigestion, especially amongst older patients. Signs of asthma are wheezing, rapid breathing, expiratory phase of breathing longer than inspiratory, in-drawing of tissues between ribs and above sternum & clavicles, over-inflation of the chest and rhonchi (wheezy noises heard with a stethoscope). In severe attacks the asthma sufferer may become blue in color (associated with a lack of oxygen), may have chest pain and can lose consciousness. Between attacks a person with asthma may show no signs at all.

Asthma symptoms - an alternative view

Chinese Medicine breaks down asthma into two main categories with several sub categories. We fill first look at symptoms associated with an acute onset attack. This being category one. Next we will look at the symptoms associated with non-acute, chronic body types associated with asthmatic tendencies.

Acute asthma attack symptoms according to Traditional Chinese Medicine:

Attack of Wind Cold (without sweating)
Sudden wheezing and breathlessness with difficulty in breathing out, no sweating, tightness of the chest, pale face, feeling cold, sneezing, cough, no thirst, attack elicited by cold weather, stiffness of the shoulders and neck

Attack of Wind Cold (with sweating)
Slight sweating, asthma attack with breathlessness and wheezing, less noisy than previous case, not so much chilliness, a feeling of tightness of the chest, pale face.

Attack of Wind Heat
Fever and aversion to cold (if true exterior invasion, otherwise feeling of heat), headache, tightness of the chest, loud wheezing, barking cough, asthma, mental restlessness, slight thirst.

Chronic asthma symptoms according to Traditional Chinese Medicine:

Non-Acute "Lung Qi Deficiency"
Sweating, pale face, weak voice, prone to catching colds, sneezing, runny nose, shortness of breath, attacks of asthma elicited by pollen or dust, allergic rhinitis.

"Lung Qi" and "Lung Yin Deficiency"
Attacks of asthma at night, tightness of the chest, wheezing, dry cough, dry throat, weak voice, night-sweating, tiredness, prone to catching colds, pale face, palpitations.

"Lung Qi" and "Kidney Yang Deficiency"
Asthma attacks worse at night, tightness of the chest, chilliness, edema of the face, tiredness, back-ache, depression, husky voice.

"Lung Qi" and "Kidney Yang Deficiency" II
Daytime sweating, infrequent attacks of asthma, chilliness, back-ache, frequent-pale urination.

"Lung-Yin" and "stomach Yin" deficiency with dryness and some Empty-Heat
Mild attacks of asthma at night, dry cough, dry throat, breathlessness on exertion, slight night sweating.

"Lung-Yin" deficiency, no dryness and no "empty-heat."
Same as above but with fewer symptoms of dryness

Lung and Kidney "Yin" deficiency
Chronic asthma with infrequent attacks which usually occur at night, wheezing, breathlessness on exertion, dry throat, night sweating, back ache, tinnitus, dry cough, hot hands and feet.

Liver Qi stagnation insulting the lungs
Asthma attacks elicited by emotional stress, a feeling of oppression and distension of the chest and hypochondrium.

Liver Fire insulting the lungs
Loud wheezing, attacks of asthma elicited by emotional strain, irritability, propensity to outbursts of anger, hypochondrial and chest fullness and distension, bitter taste in mouth, thirst.

Liver Yin Deficiency
Infrequent asthma attacks at night, dry throat, dry cough, blurred vision, dry eyes, hypochondriac and chest distention.

Sickle Cell Anemia

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disorder transmitted via a recessive gene. As a result of genetic dysfunction, red blood cells may change shape under certain circumstances. The odd shapes of blood cells may cause blockage of capillaries which deprives the downstream tissue of oxygen and causes ischemia and infarction.
]]> Sickle cell anemia symptoms result from the shortened life span of the abnormal red cells, resulting in a chronic anemia. The appearance of being pale, weakness, and fatigue are common symptoms as well. Jaundice may result from the breaking down of red cells prior to processing in the liver. In the peripheral tissue, red cells may create thrombi formation and vascular occlusion.

Looking at the clinical symptoms of sickle cell anemia, when not acute, patients have baseline anemia that varies in severity. Often times white blood cell counts are elevated simply due to the fact that the marrow is hyperactivity as the body needs to replace the sickled red cells, which have a shorter life than normal red blood cells.

vasoocclusive crises - blockage of capillaries due to sickle cell anemia

Vasoocclusive crises are caused by sickled red blood cells which obstruct capillaries and thus block blood flow to an organ. The resulting damage may include; ischemia, pain, and organ damage.

Among the most common areas targeted by vasoocclusive crisis includes:

Spleen
Liver
Bone
Lungs

Neutropenia

Neutropenia is the abnormally small number of neutrophil cells in the blood. Neutrophils are a granular white blood cell, the most common type of white blood cell. They are responsible for much of the bodies protection against infection. Patients with neutropenia are more vulnerable to bacterial infections.
]]> Without prompt medical attention, Neutropenia may become life-threatening. Neutropenia can be acute or chronic and clinically is broken up into four levels based on severity.

signs and symptoms of neutropenia

Neutropenia is often a silent disease, that being one which is often difficult to see at first.
Therefore, neutropenia symptoms are generally discovered at a later stage when a patient has developed severe infections or sepsis. During an infection in these types of patients, common infections often take an unexpected course. For example, formation of pus, can be notably absent, as the formation of pus requires circulating neutrophils.

The following list of neutropenia symptoms is not indicative of the diagnosis of neutropenia, as many of the symptoms are general in nature and may refer to any number of diseases. Rather, the following list is a list of symptoms that often associate with the disease.

Frequent infections - as mentioned above.
Unusual redness, pain, or swelling around wounds
Fever
Diarrhoea
Burning sensation when urinating
Frequent Sore throats
Shortness of Breath
Shaking chills

diagnoses of neutropenia

Depending on the severity of the disharmony, there are four general guidelines used to classify the severity of neutropenia based on the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) measured in cells per microlitre of blood:

Neutropenia: x < 2000 = slight risk of infection
Mild Neutropenia: 1000 < x < 1500 = minimal risk of infection
Moderate Neutropenia: 500 < x < 1000 = moderate risk of infection
Severe Neutropenia: x < 500 = severe risk of infection.

causes and types of neutropenia

Autoimmune Neutropenia

Common in infants and toddlers. The body identifies the neutrophils as foreign bodies and makes antibodies to destroy them thus attacking itself (autoimmune). This form typically begins to get better within two years of diagnosis.

Congenital Neutropenia ( Kostmann’s Syndrome )

A rare inherited form of Neutropenia. It affects children most often, and may result in premature loss of teeth and gum infections. The most severe form of chronic congenital neutropenia is known as Kostmann’s Syndrome.

Cyclic Neutropenia

Forming a rhythm, this type of neutropenia forms a cycle, occurring typically every three weeks and lasting three to six days at a time due to changing rates of cell production by the bone marrow. It is often familial, and typically improves after puberty. This is the rarest form of severe chronic neutropenia.

Idiopathic Neutropenia

A rare form which develops in children and adults typically in response to an illness or disease. It is diagnosed when the disorder cannot be attributed to any other diseases and often causes life-threatening infections.

Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS, also known as Preleukemia) is a diverse collection of hematologic conditions united by poor production of blood cells. Often referred to as Pre-leukemia, if not treated Myelodysplastic Syndrome can result in "Secondary Leukemia."
]]> signs of myelodysplastic syndrome:

neutropenia - The presence of an abnormally small number of neutrophil cells in the blood.
anaemia - A reduction in the number of circulating red blood cells per volume of blood. Anemia requiring chronic blood transfusion is frequently present.

thrombocytopenia - An abnormal disease in the number of blood platelets.
abnormal granules in cells - A minute mass in a cell that has an outline but no apparent structure, also known as granulatio.
abnormal nuclear shape and size - Deformity of the structure within a cell that contains the chromosomes. As the nucleus is responsible for the cell's metabolism, growth, and reproduction. Deformities of the nucleus can negatively affect these functions.
chromosomal abnormalities, including chromosomal translocations.

symptoms of myelodysplastic syndrome:

The following list of myelodysplastic symptoms does not in itself confirm the diagnosis of the syndrome. The symptoms can be a result of many diseases and other related syndromes. For diagnosis, the clinical exams at the bottom of the article would be required.

Anaemia - A reduction in the number of circulating red blood cells per volume of blood produces:

chronic tiredness
shortness of breath
chilled sensation

Occasional chest pain in some patients.
Neutropenia (low white cell count)

resulting in increased susceptibility to infection

Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)

resulting in increased susceptibility to bleeding

Clinical Examinations for diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome

In a clinical setting, the following exams are used to confirm the diagnosis of MDS:

Full blood count and examination of blood film (CBC)
Bone marrow aspirate and biopsy
Chromosome studies

Hemochromatosis

Hemochromatosis, is a hereditary disease characterized by improper processing by the body of dietary iron, which causes iron to accumulate in a number of body tissues. Eventually the excess of iron may cause organ dysfunction.
]]> signs and symptoms
Haemochromatosis is notoriously alusive, that is, it presents with symptoms that are often initially attributed to other diseases.

symptoms of hemochromatosis - too much iron in blood:

malaise - discomfort, uneasiness, or indisposition, often indicative of infection.
liver cirrhosis and hepatitis - hardening and enlargment of the liver.
insulin resistance - type II diabetes.
erectile dysfunction and hypogonadism - dysfunction of penile erection and gonad secretion
congestive heart failure
arrhythmias - irregular heart beet
pericarditis - inflammation of the pericardium with symptoms that may include precordial pain and tenderness, dry cough, dyspnea, and palpitations.
arthritis of the hands, knees and shoulders
dysfunction of certain endocrine organs:

pancrease
adrenals
parathyroid
pituitary
testes or ovary

a darkish colour to the skin

Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (also known simply as myeloma or plasma cell myeloma, or as Kahler's disease after Otto Kahler it's founder) is a hematological malignancy of plasma cells, the cells of the immune system that produce antibodies. Although it initially develops in the bone marrow, it spreads to the peripheral blood, lymph nodes and other organs fairly rapidly.
]]> multiple myeloma symptoms and signs
Symptoms of multiple myeloma are diverse, and very few are specific to the disease. Bone pain is the most common, as the initial stages of the disease focus the growth of malignancy in the bone marrow itself. Some other main symptoms can include:

malaise - discomfort, uneasiness, or indisposition, often indicative of infection.
anemia - a reduction in the number of circulating red blood cells.
infections - as cancer weakens the immune system.
increased incidence of broken bones - due to breakdown of bone by malignant cells, as well as a tendency to brittle bones.

Often, the diagnosis of multiple myeloma is made incidentally during routine blood tests for other conditions. The antibody that is produced in excess may cause specific medical problems, such as amyloid and chronic renal failure, polyneuropathy and other disorders.

Hemophilia

Hemophilia is the name of any of several hereditary genetic illnesses that impair the body's ability to control bleeding and blood loss. Genetic deficiencies (or, very rarely, an autoimmune disorder) cause lowered plasma clotting factor activity so as to hinder blood-clotting.
]]> hemophilia symptoms
In normal individuals, when a blood vessel is injured a scab will form and bleeding will stop. With Hemophilia, when a blood vessel is injured, a scab will not form and the vessel can continue to bleed excessively for a very long period of time, often until all blood is lost. The bleeding can be external, if the skin is broken by a scrape, cut or abrasion, or it can be internal, into muscles, joints or hollow organs.

There are three main types of hemophilia

Hemophilia A: Hemophilia leads to a severely increased risk of bleeding from common injuries. The most common sites of bleeding are:

joints
muscles
digestive tract
brain

The muscle and joint haemorrhages are quite typical of hemophilia, while digestive tract and cerebral haemorrhages are also typical of other coagulation disorders.

Hemophilia B: Deficiency of the Factor IX gene located on the X chromosome, leads to an increased propensity for haemorrhage. Bleeding may be in response to mild trauma or even spontaneously, such as in joints (haemarthrosis) or muscles.

Hemophilia C: is a mild form of hemophilia that mainly occurs in Jews of Ashkenazi descent. It is due to deficiency of coagulation factor XI. Treatment is usually not necessary, except in relation to operations.

Hughes' Syndrome

Antiphospholipid syndrome, or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, is a disease of coagulation (blood clotting), and causes thrombosis (clots) in both arteries and veins, as well as recurrent miscarriage. It is due to the autoimmune production of antibodies against cell membrane constituents. It is occasionally referred to as Hughes' syndrome after the rheumatologist Dr Graham R.V. Hughes.
]]> symptoms of Hughes' syndorome
Clinically, the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (APLAs) is suggested by thrombosis and/or recurrent miscarriage (especially in the second trimester, but often earlier). Other common clinical findings, although not part of the classification, are thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) and livedo reticularis (a skin condition). Many patients report headaches.

APLAs occur in the context of a number of diseases, most notably systemic lupus. One can only speak of Hughes' syndrome when there are no other symptoms of one of the other forms of lupis disease (e.g. arthritis suggestive of SLE). A number of patients with the syndrome (about 10%) will eventually develop SLE, but most never get signs of this disease.

Food Poisoning

Food poisoning is caused by consuming foods which are contaminated with any combination of four pathogenic substances, these being; bacteria, toxins, viruses, and/or parasites. Contamination typically arises from improper handling, preparation or storage of food. Food poisoning can also be caused by adding pesticides or medicines to food, or by accidentally consuming naturally poisonous substances such as poisonous mushrooms or non-edible substances. Contact between food and pests, especially flies, rodents and cockroaches, is another potential cause of the contamination of food.
]]> The World Health Organization defines food poising as:

"diseases, usually either infectious or toxic in nature, caused by agents that enter the body through the ingestion of food. Every person is at risk of food borne illness."

food poisoning symptoms

Symptoms of food poisoning typically begin several hours after ingestion and depending on the agent involved, can include one or more of the following symptoms:

nausea and upset stomach
abdominal pain
vomiting
diarrhea
fever
headache
lack of energy

In most cases the body is able to find balance after a short period of discomfort and illness. That said, food borne illness can result in permanent health problems and even death. The most at risk for further complications are babies, pregnant women, the elderly, those with chronic illness, and others with compromised immune systems.

early symptoms of food poisoning

The delay between consumption of a contaminated food and the appearance of the first symptoms of illness is called the incubation period. This ranges from hours to days, depending on the agent, and on how much was consumed.

During the incubation period, microbes pass through the stomach into the intestine, attach to the cells lining the intestinal walls, and begin to multiply there. Some types of microbes stay in the intestine, some produce a toxin that is absorbed into the bloodstream, and some can directly invade the deeper body tissues. The symptoms produced depend on the type of microbe.

a deeper look at the causes

Bacterial infection is the most common cause of food poisoning. Symptoms for bacterial infections are delayed because the bacteria need time to multiply. They are usually not seen until 12-36 hours after eating contaminated food.

Campylobacter: A cause of mild food born illness. The infection features fever, watery diarrhea, headache, and muscle aches. Campylobacter is the most commonly identified food-borne bacterial infection encountered in the world. It is transmitted by raw poultry, raw milk, and water contaminated by animal waste.
Salmonellae: A cause of moderate food poisoning featuring nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, and headaches. Often, the infection reemerges a few weeks later as arthritis (joint pains). In people with impaired immune systems, salmonellae can become a life-threatening illness. Salmonellae is transmitted by under cooked foods such as eggs, poultry, dairy products, and seafood.
Shigella (travelers diarrhea): A cause of moderate to severe food born illness. Symptoms may include fever; diarrhea containing blood or mucus or both, and the constant urge to have bowel movements. Shigella is transmitted in water polluted with human wastes.
Clostridium botulinum (botulism): A cause of severe food poisoning. Botulism affects the nervous system. Symptoms of botulism start as blurred vision. The person then has problems talking and displays overall weakness. Symptoms then progress to breathing difficulty and inability to move arms or legs. Botulism is transmitted in foods such as home-packed canned goods, honey, sausages, and seafood.
Escherichia coli (E coli): A causes of moderate to severe food born illness. The infection begins with a large amount of watery diarrhea, and then turns into bloody diarrhea. E coli is transmitted by eating raw or under cooked hamburger, unpasteurized milk or juices, or contaminated well water.
Staphylococcus aureus: A cause of moderate to severe illness with rapid onset of nausea, severe vomiting, dizziness, and abdominal cramping. Staphylococcus aureus produces a toxin on foods such as cream-filled cakes and pies, creamy salads, and dairy products. Contaminated potato salad is a common example.
Bacillus cereus: A cause of mild illness which displays rapid onset of vomiting. Bacillus Cereus is most often found in rice, often fried rice, and other starchy foods such as pasta and/or potatoes.
Vibrio cholerae: A cause of mild to moderate illness. Vibrio cholerae symptoms include crimpy diarrhea, headache, nausea, vomiting, and fever with chills. It strikes mostly in the warmer months of the year and is transmitted by infected, under cooked, or raw seafood.

Viral infections make up perhaps one third of cases of food poisoning in developed countries. They are usually of intermediate (1-3 days) incubation period, cause illnesses which is self-limited in otherwise healthy individuals.

Norwalk virus: A causes of mild illness with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, and low-grade fever. The symptoms of norwalk virus usually resolve in 2-3 days. It is the most common viral cause of adult food poisoning. The Norwalk virus is transmitted from water, shellfish, and vegetables contaminated by feces, as well as from person to person.
Rotavirus: Causes moderate to severe illness with vomiting followed by watery diarrhea and fever. It is the most common cause of food poisoning in infants and children.
Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A ( also known as Hep A ) is a disease affecting the liver, and caused by the Hepatitis A virus (abbreviated HAV). Only 3 out of 4 people with hepatitis A have symptoms.
Hepatitis A symptoms may include; jaundice (showing up first as yellow eyes), dark urine, nausea, fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, stomach ache, and vomiting.

Several foods can naturally contain toxins which are not produced by bacteria and occur naturally in foods. The incubation period for this type of illness is 1-2 hours.

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative neuropsychiatric disease, which results in a progressive loss of first mental, then physical functioning. Dementia, which gets worse over time, not due to any external or psychological cause, is its primary and most pervasive symptom. Its causes are still unknown, but is considered to be physiological in nature.
]]> alzheimer's disease early symptoms

The usual first symptom noticed is memory loss which progresses from seemingly simple and often fluctuating forgetfulness to a more pervasive loss of recent memory.
Aphasia, disorientation and lack of inhibition usually accompany the loss of memory.

alzheimer's disease symptoms as they progress

Including the above mentioned loss of memory and aphasia, disorientation and lack of inhibition, Alzheimer's disease may also include behavioral changes, such as outbursts of violence or excessive passivity in people who have no previous history of such behavior. In even later stages the memory loss deteriorates farther to the point that familiar and well-known skills or objects or persons may be lost completely. Deterioration of musculature and mobility, leading to lack of mobility, inability to feed oneself, and incontinence also arrive at the later stages. The early stages begin in a seemingly innocent way, but as the disease progresses, and the memory of how to complete simple tasks, such as washing dishes or tieing one's shoes is lost, the family often seeks out medical aid.

Diagnosing Alzheimer's disease is done using basic clinical tasks, but the true diagnosis is made postmortem, when the physicians can run an autopsy of the brain to see if the brain matter shows the classic signs of Alzheimer's disease.

alzheimer's disease and alternative medicine

One of the mysteries of Alzheimer's Disease is that upon examination of the brain postmortem, patients have elevated levels of Aluminium. While this is odd, it has pushed some physicians to consider the possibility that aluminum might be a key factor in triggering the onset of Alzheimer's. It is known that Alzheimer's is linked genetically, but what if aluminum plays a key role in triggering the diseases' manifesting symptoms?

We look forward to seeing how this may play into effect. We have heard of clinical results using several chelating products on the market, one of which is NDF by BioRay. We look forward to seeing more clinical results and will update as we discover more answers to helping cure this mysterious disease.

Autism

Autism is classically defined as a disorder of the neurological system which begins showing signs during early development. According to the DSM, autism is one of the five types of pervasive developmental disorders (otherwise known as autism spectrum disorder). The causes and physiology of autism are unknown, and the psychiatric symptoms are behavioral in nature rather than clinical. It is actually believed now that there are several types of distinct conditions that manifest themselves in similar ways rather than a single diagnosis. In alternative medicine, many are indicating that autism itself is caused by mercury, either pre-natal or introduced with certain types of immunizations. If this is the case, then it is possible that what some think of as genuine autism symptoms, may in itself be mercury toxicity.
]]> Typically, autism symptoms appear during the first three years of life. There are strong indications that the incidence is growing, and it is now estimated that it occurs in as many as 1 in 150 individuals, and is 4 times more prevalent in males than females. There are reports that children have recovered from autism to the point that they can fully participate in "mainstream" education and social events. Still, as autism's diagnosis is behavioral in scope and not clinical, what some consider autism may in fact be heavy metal poisoning.

autism symptoms: the autism symptoms check list

DSM-IV criteria for autism are based on the absence or delay of certain developmental milestones. There are many differences in the individuals skills and behaviors of those diagnosed as autistic, and physicians will often arrive at different conclusions about the appropriate diagnosis. Still, professionals within pediatric care and development often look for early indicators of autism in order to initiate treatment as early as possible.

early autism symptoms include:

by 1 year of age

does not make babble, point, or demonstrate meaningful gestures
does not have the ability to attend to something at the request of another individual

by 16 months

does not speak single words

by 2 years

does not combine multiple words
does not respond to name

other autism symptoms may include:

may lack or avoid eye contact
unlike other children, does not play with toys functionally
may engage in obsessive/compulsive type behaviors
is attached to one particular toy or object
does not smile (socially, but may smile during periods of self-stimulatory behavior)
engages in self-stimulatory behaviors
has a dislike of touch, which manifests as tactile defensiveness

sensory integration dysfunction (SID) - clinical autism symptoms

The main indicator for clinicians making a proper assessment for autism includes looking for sensory integration disorder. Children with SID will exhibit difficulties coping with the normal sensory input.
Symptoms of SID may include:

over sensitivity to sensory input including: touch, movement, sights, and/or sounds
under reactivity to sensory input including: touch, movement, sights, and/or sounds
specific learning difficulties/delays in academic achievement
inability to unwind or self calm
difficulty in making transitions from one situation to another
tendency to be easily distracted and/or attention deficit
physical clumsiness and/or apparent carelessness
out of ballan ce energy level that is either unusually high or low
social and/or emotional dysfunction
poor self conceptualized awareness
difficulty learning new movements
delays in speech, language, or motor skills
impulsive, lacking in self-control

social development symptoms of autism

From the start, typically developing infants are social beings. Early in life, they gaze at people, turn toward voices, grasp a finger, and even smile. In contrast, most autistic children prefer objects to faces and seem to have tremendous difficulty learning to engage in everyday human interaction. Even in the first few months of life, many do not interact and will avoid eye contact, seeming indifferent to other people.

Autistic children often appear to prefer being alone rather than in the company of others, may resist attention or passively accept such things as hugs and cuddling without caring. Later, they seldom seek comfort or respond to parents' displays of anger or affection in a typical way.

mercury toxicity and autism

Mercury toxicity looks very similar to autism, and is often confused clinically. If a child is displaying the symptoms of autism, certain questions should be investigated including but not limited to:

does the mother have large quantities of silver amalgam fillings
did the mother eat large quantities of ocean fish during pregnancy
did the symptoms of autism begin directly after a round of immunizations that may have contained mercury

If the answer is yes to any one of these questions, a complete urine challenge test should be conducted to see if the child is excess in mercury and/or any other heavy metal. If the child is high in mercury, a form of chelation that is approved by their health care practitioner may be indicated including oral NDF, DMSA, or other indicated chelation measure.

Eczema

Eczema, is a red, flaky skin irritation, sometimes with cracking or patchy small blistering. In eczema, skin symptoms may develop as a rash, typically known as dermatitis, or inflammation of the skin (dermis). The rash is typically patchy and starts out as flaky and/or scaly dry skin on top of a red foundation of inflamed skin.
]]> types of eczema
Atopic dermatitis, the most common, is caused by general systemic allergic reactions, as opposed to contact with an irritant. It is very common in people with related allergic conditions, including asthma or chronic hay fever.

Infantile seborrhoeic eczema (infantile eczema or baby eczema), also known as cradle cap, forms on the head and quickly spreads. It looks like normal dermatitis, but does not itch. Over time, baby eczema goes away on its own.

Adult seborrhoeic dermatitis usually affects individuals between the ages of 20 and 40 years. It affects the scalp, face, and upper body.

eczema symptoms

early symptom of eczema may include intense itching of the skin
in eczema, skin symptoms may develop as a rash typically appears known as dermatitis, or inflammation of the skin (dermis). The rash is typically patchy and starts out as flaky and/or scaly dry skin on top of a red foundation of inflamed skin.
as the rash develops and grows, the itching and burning may intensify
often when scratched, the wound will ooze and become crusty
some cases develop with red bumps that may include clear fluid-filled
as the skin becomes less elastic and more tight, painful cracks can develop over time often with blood when located in the inside of joints and on the torso or neck.
the itching may be so intense that insomnia can develop

eczema treatment

Although western medicine recommends the use of steroids for the main treatment of eczema, this is a very short sighted approach. We have seen cases of eczema that were confirmed as most likely chronic life long cases reverse and clear up completely. For this to be affective, we would point out several key components.

Diet: diet is the number one key to long term eczema management. Start with the removal of all allergens. If you do not know the individual's allergens that is suffering from eczema, find them out and remove them. All of them. We have seen fairly good results with tests such as the Great Smokies labs allergy panel. Remove all sugar, coffee, alcohol, chocolate.

Candida is a key hurdle in eczema treatment. Clear up the body of Candida, and the body will be that much closer to healing itself of eczema. There are many good resources online. Remember that when working with Candida, as the diet clears up, there may be flair ups of symptoms. If you cut food out of the diet, and symptoms flair up, it is a good thing as the Candida is dying, and when it is processed out of the body, the body will be at a greater level of health. For this reason, many people find it easier to slowly remove items from the diet in stead of changing all at once.

Supplements: Omega 3 oils, vitamin E, Milk Thistle, Spirolina, and body specific formulas via either naturopathic or herbal means.

Remember that when you are working with eczema, it is a gift. For so many illnesses, there is no way of knowing if the disease is getting better or worse. With eczema, it is right there on the surface. Feedback about diet is instantaneous in many cases. The symptoms of eczema are easy to see, and thus your body can become the healer as you listen and try and do what it says.

Stroke

The term "Stroke" corresponds to four possible western medical conditions,... cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral thrombosis, cerebral embolism, and spasm of a cerebral vessel. Typically all four of these conditions fall under the greater classification of "Cerebrovascular Accident," which is a pathologic state of the blood vessels in the brain.
]]> The sudden neurological impairment caused by a cerebrovascular accident is technically called "apoplexy" and is what we think of when we imagine the terms true meaning of stroke.

Defining stroke symptoms further, it helps to investigate the meaning of the four variations of stroke.

Cerebral Hemorrhage: bleeding from an intracerebral artery into the subarachnoid space.
Cerebral Thrombosis: total or partial obstruction of a cerebral artery by a thrombus with consequent infarction and anoxia of the surrounding tissue. A thrombus is a blood clot that forms in the lining of an artery and remains attached to its place of origin.
Cerebral Embolism: occurs when an embolus detaches from a thrombus and occludes a cerebral artery with consequent infarction and anoxia of the surrounding cerebral tissue. An embolus is a bubble of air or a piece of a thrombus that detaches from it, and travels along the arterial system, eventually occluding an artery.
Spasm of a cerebral vessel: occurs when it temporarily contracts. This may also be due to a passing embolus which causes a temporary narrowing or obstruction of it's lumen and therefore temporary anoxia of the surrounding cerebral tissue.

stroke symptoms

There are two main types of stroke symptoms as defined by Chinese medicine which can be caused by any one of the above types of Cerebral Vascular Accident. The first is considered the tense, or closed type, and is referred to a "collapse of Yin." The symptoms of stroke in this category include:

sudden collapse
loss of consciousness
coma
clenched teeth
closed fists
lock-jaw
red face and ears
profuse sputum
rattling sound in the throat
coarse breathing
constipation
retention of urine

The sequelae of the attack if the patient survives consists mainly of:

hemiplegia: paralysis of one side of the body, either complete or partial
facial paralysis: deviation of eye and mouth
slurred speech
numbness of limbs

Stroke symptoms of the "mild type" or defined in Chinese medicine as "attack of the channels alone." Here the symptoms get broken down into two sub categories.

Stroke symptoms of the main channels

Facial paralysis
hemiplegia
numbness of limbs
limitation of movement
slurred speech (not always present)

Stroke symptoms of the connecting channels, also known as mini stroke is the final category. Symptoms of mini stroke include:

unilateral numbness of face and limbs
slurred speech (this is not always present)

Bladder Infection

A bladder infection is an infection of the urinary bladder with microorganisms. The condition may be asymptomatic, especially during pregnancy which can be a major contributing factor to maternal and fetal morbidity.
]]> bladder infection symptoms:
The most common symptoms of urinary tract infection include:

painful urination
frequent urination (a strong desire to urinate often)
cloudy urination

In some cases, women also complain of a feeling of not emptying the bladder and heaviness in the lower abdomen.

bladder infection symptoms from an alternative perspective

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, these symptoms are broken down even further. Bladder Infections, and Urinary Tract Infections fall under the category of "Lin" or "Painful Urinary Syndrome." There are over 17 classifications of "Lin" based on the way the symptoms of bladder infection present. Just looking at the above western symptoms we can say that:

Painful Urination: Burning pain in the urethra during urination is due to "Heat" or "Damp-Heat." Pain before urination indicates stagnation of Qi, while pain after urination indicates deficiency of Qi.
Frequent Urination: If the urine is pail, frequent urination indicates either a deficiency of "Kidney Yang" or a sinking of "Spleen Qi." If the urine is dark and urination painful, then the diagnosis is "Damp Heat." Scanty urination with dark urine indicates a deficiency of "Kidney Yang."
Cloudy Urination: While not the only way to identify a bladder infection (above it was stated that many infections are asymptomatic), the color of ones urine does give great insight into the internal condition. Looking closer:

Pail Urine: indicates deficiency of "Kidney Yang."
Dark Urine: indicates deficiency of "Kidney Yin."
Cloudy Urine: indicates "Dampness" which is almost always indicates a bladder infection.
Rust Colored and Blood in the Urine: indicates either "Blood Heat" or "Qi Deficiency" while small clots of blood in the urine indicate "Blood Stasis"

Whooping Cough

Whooping cough (Pertussis), is a highly contagious disease caused by the bacterium "Bordetella", most often B. Pertussis. There are 30–50 million cases per year, and about 300,000 deaths per year. Virtually all deaths occur in children under one year of age. Ninety percent of all cases occur in developing countries. The disease is spread by contact with airborne discharges from the mucous membranes of infected people.
]]> whooping cough symptoms
The early symptoms of whooping cough are characterized by a mild respiratory infection such as:

cough
sneezing
runny nose.

After one to two weeks whooping cough symptoms become more clearly unique to Pertussis, as the cough changes character, with paroxysms of coughing followed by an inspiratory "whooping" sound. This characteristic sound is very unique, and can easily be identified by most physicians.

Coughing fits may be followed by vomiting, which in severe cases leads to malnutrition and dehydration. Coughing fits gradually diminish over one to two months. Other complications of the disease include:

pneumonia
encephalitis
pulmonary hypertension
secondary bacterial super-infections

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease, often debilitating, defined solely as a constellation of signs and symptoms characterized by diffuse pain, and fatigue. It is not contagious.
]]> Fibromyalgia is seen in 3-10% of the general population, and is mostly found between the ages 20 and 50, in women more often than men. The nature of fibromyalgia is not well understood, and there is no western medical cure, though it can be managed. There are many complimentary and alternative therapies available including acupuncture, herbal medicine, and dietary therapies.

fibromyalgia symptoms

Not all patients display all symptoms of fibromyalgia. The primary symptoms include:

Widespread, diffuse pain, often including heightened sensitivity of the skin

This pain is seen both in the skin and muscles.
It is described as both aching and soreness.
Often times subtle stimulation to the skin such as the act of wearing clothing can cause extreme pain.

Achiness around joints

Unlike arthritis, fibromyalgia does not cause swelling.
Deformity in the joints is also not a sign of fibromyalgia. Rather, deformity of the joints would be indicative of osteoarthritis.

Nerve pain

Other possible fibromyalgia symptoms

These symptoms are often associated with fibromyalgia but may be due to other comorbid disorders. These symptoms include:

fatigue
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
genitourinary symptoms
dermatological disorders
headaches
symptomatic hypoglycemia

Although it is common in people with fibromyalgia for pain to be widespread, it may also be localized in areas such as the shoulders, neck, back, and hips.

Fibromyalgia symptoms may start as a result of trauma (such as a traffic accident) or illness, but there are no strong correlation between any specific type of trigger and the subsequent initiation of fibromyalgia.

Symptoms can have a slow onset, and many patients have mild symptoms beginning in childhood such as growing pains. Signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia are often aggravated by unrelated illness, or changes in the weather. They can become more tolerable or less tolerable throughout daily or yearly cycles.

Many people with fibromyalgia find that, at least some of the time, the disease prevents them from performing normal activities such as driving a car or walking up stairs. The syndrome does not cause inflammation as is presented in arthritis, nor are there any diagnostically abnormal laboratory findings.

Symptoms of fibromyalgia may present periodically or may be continual.

fibromyalgia diagnosis

When making a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, a practitioner would take into consideration the patients case history and the exclusion of other conditions such as endocrine disorders, arthritis, and polymyalgia rheumatica. There are also two criteria established by the American College of Rheumatology for diagnosis:

A history of widespread pain lasting more than three months. Widespread, as in all four quadrants of the body, i.e., both sides, and above and below the waist.
Tender points. There are eighteen designated possible tender points (although a person with the syndrome may feel pain in other areas as well). During diagnosis, four kilograms of pressure is exerted at each of the eighteen points; the patient must feel pain at eleven or more of these points for fibromyalgia to be considered. This technique was developed by the American College of Rheumatology as a means of confirming the diagnosis for clinical studies. It is also used in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, while the vast majority of fibromyalgia patients express pain when these points are pressed, a few patients with a high pain tolerance may not feel exceptional pain during the test.

Hiatal Hernia

Hiatal hernia (often referred to as hiatus hernia) is the protrusion (or hernia) of the upper part of the stomach into the thorax through a tear or weakness in the diaphragm. Symptoms may begin as reflux and dysphagia, but over time the acid returning moving up the esophagus may create a life threatening situation if not treated.
]]> The following are possible causes or contributing factors for having an hiatal hernia:

obesity
poor posture when sitting
coughing frequently
constipation with strain upon deffication
frequent bending over or heavy lifting
heredity
smoking
congenital defects

hiatal hernia symptoms include

reflux
acidic taste in the mouth
sore throat with sores in the mouth ( in severe cases )
pains similar to heartburn, located in the chest and upper stomach. The sensation is of a burning pain in the chest moving upward towards the mouth.

Hiatal hernias affect anywhere from 1 to 20% of the population. Ninety five percent of these reported cases are "sliding" hiatal hernias, in which the LES protrudes above the diaphragm along with the stomach, and only 5% are the "rolling" type, in which the LES remains stationary but the stomach protrudes above the diaphragm.

Besides discomfort from reflux and dysphagia, hiatal hernias can have severe consequences for patients if not treated. While sliding hernias are primarily associated with gastro-esophageal acid reflux (GERD), rolling hernias can strangulate a portion of the stomach above the diaphragm. This strangulation can result in esophageal or GI tract obstruction and even become ischemic and necrotic.

Ketoacidosis

Ketoacidosis is a type of metabolic acidosis which is caused by high concentrations of keto acids most commonly formed by the break down of amino acids, and of ketone bodies traditionally formed by the metabolism of fatty acids. This type of internal environment is most common in untreated type one diabetes mellitus, when the liver lacks glucose, but needs metabolic fuel. The body metabolizes fat and proteins to create a solution for the deficit, and ketoacidosis begins.
]]> The acidity results from the dissociation of the H+ ion from the ketone bodies acetoacetate and B-hydroxybutyrate, produced by ketogenesis in fatty acid breakdown. Since this Hydrogen ion dissociation means a higher concentration of H+ in the body, the physiological pH (normally around 7.4) is lowered to acidic levels. Normally, when ketone bodies are produced, they do not accumulate enough to change the body's pH. When "abnormal" levels of these ketone bodies are made, the body is in ketosis, and when the levels become so high that the pH is changed, this is when ketoacidosis occurs. The acid concentration is further increased by dehydration.

Although many low-carb diets (such as the Atkins diet) are accused of causing ketoacidosis, the condition can only be caused by more extreme conditions, such as in excessive alcohol consumption or in insulin impairment (as in diabetes).

ketoacidosis symptoms

Although not indicative of ketoacidosis alone (these symptoms are associated with many potential disharmonies), these symptoms of ketoacidosis are often found as the environment develops:

thirst with a desire to drink
frequent micturition (urination)
lack of strength
disorientation
shortness of breath
dry skin
dry mouth
increased heart rate (tachycardia)
low blood pressure
increased rate of breathing

ketoacidosis solutions

Short of treating the diabetes, which is a requirement if this is found to be the cause of the acidic state, there are many therapies available to help lower internal acid levels. Of course, removing the cause, be it sugar or alcohol, is the first step. For most situations, you can try solutions such as those offered at: Snyder Health. There are many positive reports on those following both dietary protocols and utilizing the micro-clustered water systems.

looking at the causes of ketosis

Diabetic ketoacidosis is the result of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia. In a diabetes sufferer, the spiral begins with a physiologic stress that causes release of catecholamines, glucagon, and cortisol. This stress may be emotional or physical, although the most common cause by far is infection (e.g., pneumonia or urinary tract infection). Simply having uncontrolled hyperglycemia may be sufficient to trigger an attack if significant dehydration occurs.

This process is vastly more common in diabetes mellitus type 1 than in type 2. A key component of Diabetic Ketoacidosis is that there is essentially no circulating insulin. Normally, the balance between storing and releasing energy in the body is controlled by the insulin to glucagon ratio.

Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF), also called mucoviscidosis, is an auto-somal hereditary disease that affects the lungs, sweat glands and the digestive system. At the genetic level, cystic fibrosis is the result of an in-frame deletion of three base pairs in the DNA. Cystic fibrosis results from the production of an abnormal form of a protein called cystic fibrosis trans-membrane conductance regulator (CFTR). CFTR functions in transporting chloride ions across epithelial cells found in the lung and intestinal tract. In cystic fibrosis patients, CFTR does not function properly, causing accumulation of ions inside epithelial cells. Since water follows ions by osmosis, this results in water depletion and viscous mucus on the surface of alveolus.
]]> Recent medical research is beginning to show an imbalance of essential fatty acids may play a role in cystic fibrosis. Tissue samples from with cystic fibrosis show an excess of arachidonic acid (AA) and a deficiency of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Research has also indicated that healthy individuals with one copy of the cystic fibrosis gene and one copy of the normal gene have fatty acid levels in between those of cystic fibrosis patients and people with no CFTR gene mutations. Further research is needed to show how this is linked to the CFTR gene defect and what implications this may have on treatment of cystic fibrosis.

cystic fibrosis symptoms

The symptoms of cystic fibrosis usually develop during early childhood. Both lungs and pancreas produce abnormally viscous mucus. This mucus begins to build up and starts to clog the opening to the pancreas and the lungs. The mucus in the lungs can become a growth medium for bacteria, resulting in chronic respiratory infections and eventual permanent damage to the lung tissue. As lung function deteriorates, cystic fibrosis patients develop pulmonary hypertension and eventually Cor Pulmonale. Death usually occurs from severe infection or heart failure. These thick secretions also obstruct the pancreas, preventing digestive enzymes from reaching the intestines to help break down and absorb food.

The disease can be diagnosed by common cystic fibrosis symptoms such as a high salt concentration in a baby's sweat or by genetic testing. Males are also frequently sterile because of the obstruction or absence of the vas deferens.

In addition to pulmonary infections, most people with cystic fibrosis also have problems with digestion, particularly the digestion of fats. This leads to malabsorption and difficulty gaining and maintaining weight, which in turn affects overall health. This is due to the abnormally sticky mucus that blocks the release of digestive enzymes from the pancreas. Pancreatic insufficiency is treated with supplemental enzymes. Usually water-soluble forms of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K are required as the decreased fat absorption can lead to deficiencies of these vitamins.

Cystic fibrosis patients often cannot interact with each other, due to worries of cross-infection of MRSA, Pseudomonas, and other bacteria. These infections thrive in the thick mucus of cystic fibrosis patients' lungs and cause complications and possibly even death. Cystic fibrosis patients, thus, should not meet other CF patients with infections other than their own. Because of the risk cystic fibrosis patients face, they must remain in isolation during hospital stays, and special precautions must be taken. This risk previously caused many cystic fibrosis clinics to recommend that cystic fibrosis patients live in isolation and never meet. However recently these views have been changed because of the possible psychological problems this may cause; instead cystic fibrosis patients are encouraged to exercise caution, avoid direct physical contact, and possibly wear surgical masks.

Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer (also called cancer of the pancreas) is represented by the growth of a malignant tumor within the pancreas organ proper. The most common form of this disease is known as adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. A less common, and typically far less virulent form of pancreatic cancer, is called islet-cell tumor (and is sometimes also known by the term neuro-endocrine tumor).
]]> pancreatic cancer symptoms and diagnosis
Pancreatic cancer is difficult because the symptoms are non-specific and vary often. Common symptoms of pancreatic cancer include:

abdominal pain
loss of appetite
significant weight loss
jaundice
digestive difficulties
depression
sudden onset adult diabetes
swelling in the area to the lower left of the front rib cage

It is important to note that all of these symptoms are not necessarily exclusive to pancreatic cancer. Each can be a sign of many varying diseases. However, if you suspect these signs as pancreatic cancer symptoms, it would be pertinent to contact a health care physician.

Patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer typically have a poor prognosis. This is not a result of the cancer being more virulent than other cancers, but rather because pancreatic cancer symptoms do not tent to present until later in the progress of the disease. Usually pancreatic cancer causes no symptoms early on and patients thus do not seek early medical intervention.

Bone Cancer

Bone Cancer (Osteosarcoma) is the most common primary malignant bone tumour, excluding myeloma and lymphoma. There is a predilection for the metaphyseal region of tubular long bones. 50% of cases occur around the knee. Bone Cancer (osteogenic sarcoma) is a malignant connective (soft) tissue tumor whose neoplastic cells present osteoblastic differentiation and form tumoral bone.
]]> In children, 5% of all cancers are seen as bone cancer. 75% of all cases occur in patients below the age of 20. Looking at the distribution of cases by age from here, a second peak in incidence occurs in the elderly, usually associated with an underlying bone pathology such as Paget's disease, medullary infarct, or prior irradiation.

In all cases, the tumor may be localized at the metaphyseal end of the long bones. Most often it affects the upper end of tibia or humerus, of lower end of femurus. The tumor is solid, hard, irregular ("fir-tree" aspect on X-ray examination) due to the tumor spicules of calcified bone radiating in right angles. Surrounding tissues are infiltrated. Microscopically: Tumor cells are very pleomorphic (anaplastic), some are giant, numerous atypical mitoses. These cells produce osteoid describing irregular trabeculae (amorphous, eosinophilic/pink) with or without central calcification (hematoxylinophilic/blue, granular) - tumor bone. Tumor cells are included in the osteoid matrix. Cartilage may be present. Presence of immature blood vessels (sarcomatous vessels lacking endothelial cells) favors the bloodstream metastasizing.

bone cancer symptoms

Symptoms of bone cancer will first appears as a lump in long bones. Muscles in the area will start to become weaker and may appear to "shorten" or feel tight. some individuals report the sensation upon palpation that the muscles themselves actually detach from the cancering area. Although more of a sign than a symptom, the affected bone portion is not as strong as normal bone matter.

Dehydration

Dehydration is the removal of water (hydor in ancient Greek) from an object. Medically, dehydration is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition in which the body contains an insufficient volume of water for normal functioning.
]]> There are many ways in which and individual may become dehydrated, with the most common being the application of dry heated air. This causes evaporation of the surface water, which is replaced by water internally. Dehydration can be caused by a wide range of diseases and states that impair water homeostasis in the body. These include:

external or stress-related causes
bleeding or loss of fluids due to trauma
loose stools and/or vomiting
hyperthermia
shock
prolonged physical activity without consumption of adequate water, especially in hot environments
infectious diseases
cholera
gastroenteritis
shigellosis
malnutrition
electrolyte imbalance
excessive consumption of alcohol
fasting
severe hyperglycemia, especially in diabetes
glucosuria

dehydration symptoms

Symptoms of dehydration may include:

headaches similar to those caused durring a hangover
low blood pressure
dizziness or fainting when standing up due to orthostatic hypotension

Untreated dehydration generally results in:

delirium
unconsciousness
death

When looking at advanced stages of prolonged dehydration, one might see the symptoms and signs as follows:

The mouth may dry out and become caked or coated with thick material.
The lips may become parched and cracked.
The tongue would begin to swell, and crack.
The eyes may recede back into the orbits and the cheeks may become hollow.
The lining of the nose may crack and cause the nose to bleed.
The skin may hang loose on the body and become dry and scaly.
The urine may become highly concentrated, leading to burning of the bladder.
The lining of the stomach would dry out and the sufferer would experience dry heaves and vomiting.
The body temperature would become very high.
The brain cells would dry out, causing convulsions.
The respiratory tract would dry out, and the thick secretions that would result could plug the lungs and cause death.
At some point within five days to three weeks, the major organs, including the lungs, heart, and brain, would give out and the individual would die.

Liver Cancer

Liver cancer (also known as hepatoma) is a malignancy of the liver. Most cases are secondary to either hepatitis infection (usually hepatitis B or C) or cirrhosis (alcoholism being the most common cause of hepatic cirrhosis).
]]> Most malignant tumors of the liver discovered in Western patients are metastases (spread) from tumors elsewhere. In the West, HCC is generally seen as rare cancer, normally of those with pre-existing liver disease. It is often detected by ultrasound screening, and so presents to health-care facilities much earlier than in Sub-Saharan Africa, for example. Diagnosis, screening and monitoring.

In the western world, liver cancer (HCC) most commonly appears in a patient with chronic viral hepatitis (hepatitis B or hepatitis C, 20%) or with cirrhosis (about 80%). These patients commonly undergo surveillance with ultrasound due to the cost-effectiveness.

In patients with a higher suspicion of HCC (such as rising alpha-fetoprotein levels), the best method of diagnosis involves a CT scan of the abdomen using intravenous contrast agent and three-phase scanning (before contrast administration, immediately after contrast administration, and again after a delay) to increase the ability of the radiologist to detect small or subtle tumors. It is important to optimize the parameters of the CT examination, because the underlying liver disease that most HCC patients have can make the findings more difficult to appreciate.

Liver Cancer Symptoms

Symptoms of Liver Cancer are very rarely seen in the early stages. This is due mainly to the fact that Liver cancer, by itself, rarely appears with out the signs and symptoms of the associated disease listed above, that being hepatitis, cirrhosis, and/or a metastases from another cancer. So, liver cancer symptoms could be, but are by no means effective in diagnosis:

Swelling and tention below the right ribs
Jaundice
Light Colored Stools
Distention and Bloating
Polyuria and polydypsia

Other even more vague symptoms include:

Headaches
Skin problems and disorders
Allergies
Dizziness
Tinnitus
Tremors, Spasms, Ticks
Seizures
Strokes
Red, itchy eyes
Irritability, easy to anger
Hypochondriac pain and mid back tension
Tight, inflexible tendons and ligaments
Depression and mood swings

diagnosing liver cancer

On a CAT scan, HCC can have three distinct patterns of growth:

A single large tumor
Multiple tumors
Poorly defined tumor with an infiltrative growth pattern
Both calcifications and intralesional fat may be appreciated.

In patients who have a contrast agent allergy or poor renal function, an MRI scan of the abdomen is a more costly but effective substitute.

Once imaged, diagnosis is confirmed by percutaneous biopsy and histopathologic analysis.

Microscopically, there are four architectural and cytological types (patterns) of liver cancer: fibrolamellar, pseudoglandular (adenoid), pleomorphic (giant cell) and clear cell. In well differentiated forms, tumor cells resemble hepatocytes, form trabeculae,cords and nests, and may contain bile pigment in cytoplasm. In poorly differentiated forms, malignant epithelial cells are discohesive, pleomorphic, anaplastic, giant. The tumor has a scant stroma and central necrosis because of the poor vascularization.

Stomach Cancer

In medicine, stomach cancer can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach to other organs. The cancer may grow along the stomach wall into the esophagus or into the small intestines.
]]> In many caces, stomach cancer may extend through the stomach wall and spread to nearby lymph nodes and to organs such as the liver, pancreas, and colon. Stomach cancer also may spread to distant organs, such as the lungs, the lymph nodes above the collar bone, and the ovaries.

stomach cancer symptoms

Symptoms of stomach cancer can be hard to find in their early stages. Often there are no symptoms in the early stages and, in many cases, the cancer has spread before it is found. When symptoms do occur, they are often so common to other diseases and so non-invasive that the person ignores them. Symptoms of stomach cancer can include:

heartburn
discomfort in the abdomen
pain in stomach and abdomen
nausea
vomiting
diarrhea and/or constipation
bloating of the stomach, especially after meals
loss of appetite
weakness
fatigue
bleeding (either via vomiting blood or via the bowel movements)

Any of these symptoms may be caused by cancer or by other, less serious health problems, such as a stomach virus or an ulcer. Only a doctor can tell the cause. People who have any of these symptoms should see their primary care physician. They may be referred to a gastroenterologist, a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating digestive problems. These doctors are sometimes called gastrointestinal (or GI) specialists.

diagnosind stomach cancer symptoms

To find the cause of symptoms, the doctor asks about the patient's medical history, does a physical exam, and may order laboratory tests. These tests include:

fecal occult blood test (FOBT)
upper GI series
gastroscopic exam

Abnormal tissue seen in a gastroscope examination will be biopsied by the surgeon or gastroenterologist. This tissue is then sent to a pathologist for histological examination under a microscope to check for the presence of cancerous cells. A biopsy, with subsequent histological analysis, is the only sure way to confirm the presence of cancer cells.

Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer is cancer of the esophagus. The esophagus is a hollow tube that carries food and liquids from the throat to the stomach. When a person swallows, the muscular walls of the esophagus contract to push food down into the stomach. Glands in the lining of the esophagus produce mucus, which keeps the passageway moist and makes swallowing easier. The esophagus is located just behind the trachea (windpipe). In an adult, the esophagus is about 10 inches (25 cm) long.
]]> Cancer is a disease that affects cells, the body's basic unit of life. To understand any type of cancer, it is helpful to know about normal cells and what happens when they become cancerous.

The body is made up of many types of cells. Normally, cells grow, divide, and produce more cells when they are needed. This process keeps the body healthy and functioning properly. Sometimes, however, cells keep dividing when new cells are not needed. The mass of extra cells forms a growth or tumor. Tumors can be benign or malignant.

Benign tumors are not cancer. They usually can be removed and, in most cases, they do not come back. Cells in benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body. Most important, benign tumors are rarely a threat to life.
Malignant tumors are cancer. Cells in malignant tumors are abnormal and divide without control or order. These cancer cells can invade and destroy the tissue around them. Cancer cells can also break away from a malignant tumor and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system (the tissues and organs that produce, store, and carry white blood cells that fight infection and other diseases). This process, called metastasis, is how cancer spreads from the original (primary) tumor to form new (secondary) tumors in other parts of the body.

Cancer that begins in the esophagus (also called esophageal cancer) is divided into two major types, squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, depending on the type of cells that are malignant. Squamous cell carcinomas arise in squamous cells that line the esophagus. These cancers usually occur in the upper and middle part of the esophagus. Adenocarcinomas usually develop in the glandular tissue in the lower part of the esophagus. The treatment is similar for both types of esophageal cancer.

If the cancer spreads outside the esophagus, it often goes to the lymph nodes first. (Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that are part of the body's immune system.) Esophageal cancer can also spread to almost any other part of the body, including the liver, lungs, brain, and bones.

Esophageal Cancer Symptoms

Early esophageal cancer symptoms usually are not apparent. However, as the cancer grows, symptoms of esophageal cancer may include:

difficulty in swallowing often including pain.
rapid and severe weight loss
pain in the throat or back, behind the breastbone or between the shoulder blades
hoarseness and/or chronic cough
bouts of vomiting
coughing up blood
aspiration Pneumonia
chest pain

These symptoms are not exlusive to esophageal cancer or any other condition. However, when they are apparent, it is important to contact your primary care physician.

Diagnosing Esophageal Cancer

To help find the cause of esophageal cancer symptoms, the doctor evaluates a person's medical history and performs a physical exam. The doctor usually orders a chest x-ray and other diagnostic tests. These tests may include the following:

An esophagram: A series of x-rays of the esophagus. The patient drinks a liquid containing barium, which coats the inside of the esophagus. The barium makes any changes in the shape of the esophagus show up on the x-rays.
An endoscopy: An examination of the inside of the esophagus using a thin lighted tube called an endoscope. An anesthetic (substance that causes loss of feeling or awareness) is usually used during this procedure. If an abnormal area is found, the doctor can collect cells and tissue through the endoscope for examination under a microscope. This is called a biopsy. A biopsy can show cancer, tissue changes that may lead to cancer, or other conditions.

esophageal cancer staging

If the diagnosis is esophageal cancer, the doctor needs to learn the stage of disease. Staging is a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to what parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment. Listed below are descriptions of the four stages of esophageal cancer.

Stage I. The cancer is found only in the top layers of cells lining the esophagus.
Stage II. The cancer involves deeper layers of the lining of the esophagus, or it has spread to nearby lymph nodes. The cancer has not spread to other parts of the body.
Stage III. The cancer has invaded more deeply into the wall of the esophagus or has spread to tissues or lymph nodes near the esophagus. It has not spread to other parts of the body.
Stage IV. The cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Esophageal cancer can spread almost anywhere in the body, including the liver, lungs, brain, and bones.