A bursa is a small fluid-filled sac that is located near the joints and acts as a cushion for the bones, muscles, and tendons. When a bursa becomes inflamed, the condition is called bursitis – and it leads to a red, swollen, painful, and stiff joint. This is commonly diagnosed based on history and examination alone, and no further investigation is usually needed. Commonly this inflammation occurs in the elbows, knees, shoulders, and hips, but you can suffer bursitis in any joint area of the body. Bursitis can be managed at home and usually subsides within a few weeks, but it can reoccur again in the future.
A bunion (or hallux valgus to give it its medical name), is a deformity of the big toe where - instead of pointing straight forwards - the big toe angles towards the second toe, causing a bony lump to form at the base of the big toe. This lump can rub on footwear and cause pain, swelling and redness around the area. At first the bony lump will be small but it can increase in size over time. There are things you can do to prevent the bunion from getting bigger and causing pain and difficulty walking.
BPPV stands for ‘benign paroxysmal positional vertigo’ and literally means dizziness when changing position, and without any sinister underlying cause. So, ‘benign’ means harmless, ‘paroxysmal’ means it’s sudden and brief, and ‘positional’ because the vertigo (the feeling like you’ve just gotten off a fairground ride) is triggered by changes in your head position. The inner ear is a series of tubes that give us our sense of balance, as well as hearing, and in BPPV, tiny crystals collect in the tubes, disrupting this. It’s the most common cause of vertigo, the sensation of the room spinning around you. This gives brief episodes of dizziness lasting less than a minute, and usually triggered by certain head movements. BPPV can also cause a loss of balance and nausea or vomiting. BPPV is more common the older you get, and in most cases occurs as a result of age-related degeneration of the ear system. About a third of the population will have experienced BPPV by the time they’re 70, with the peak age being in the 50s and 60s. It’s rare in children and young adults. There’s no specific cure for BPPV, but it’s not usually a sign of anything serious, and will usually get better on its own after several weeks, although it can come and go.
A boil, known medically as a furuncle, is when a hair follicle becomes infected, causing a pus-filled lump. It is usually caused by bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus, which are often found on the skin or inside the nostrils, and usually cause no harm. However, if there is a break in the skin, the bacteria can get in and cause an infection that leads to a boil. A boil is a red lump that is painful and initially quite hard but, over the course of about four to seven days, gets softer as the amount of pus inside increases. You may see it progress to have a white or yellow head on the lump. The skin around the boil may also become red and sore. In a few cases, multiple boils can occur in the same area, known as a carbuncle. The pus may come out of the boil on its own or be reabsorbed by the body. Once the pus is released, it can take around four to five days for the boil to heal and may leave a scar. The advice is not to try and burst the boil yourself. Most small boils go away on their own without the need for treatment. They can be painful, especially as the amount of pus in the boil increases. They are usually found in places on the body that are warm and moist or where skin rubs against skin or clothes in areas such as the armpits, groin, butt, neck, or face. This is because bacteria like warm moist environments, and any friction may cause breaks in the skin, allowing bacteria to get in. Boils are more common in teenagers or young adult males, those with a lowered immune system or diabetes, if you are overweight, or already have a skin problem that may then make you itch or scratch your skin.
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that used to be called manic depression. It can lead to extreme changes in mood, energy, and ability to function. There are two distinct parts of the illness: periods of feeling depressed and low, and then huge emotional highs – called mania - where the person can be incredibly overactive. Unlike daily mood swings, people with bipolar may be in one state of either mania or depression for weeks or months at a time. In between these episodes, the person may feel normal and well. (Less commonly, some people with bipolar disorder can have what is known as a mixed bipolar episode, where they can alternate between depression and manic symptoms in a matter of hours). Bipolar symptoms can be severe and may affect your daily life, work, studies and relationships and is very different from the normal mood swings we can all have from time to time. If you have less severe mania symptoms, this is known as hypomania. There are two types of bipolar disorder – Type I and Type II. Type I usually starts with manic symptoms, often mixed with depression whereas Type II only involves hypomania. Around 2% of people develop bipolar disorder at some time in their life and it can occur at any age although it usually presents between the ages of 18 and 30. Men and women are equally affected. The average length of a manic episode is four months, and six months for the depressive phase. It’s impossible to predict how long each manic depressive cycle will last, and the average number of episodes you may experience in your life if you have bipolar disorder is ten. Three quarters of people who have an episode of bipolar disorder have another one within four years.
A carbuncle is when multiple boils (or furuncles form close together. It occurs because hair follicles next to each other become infected, causing pus-filled lumps that may converge into one larger lump. It is usually caused by bacteria known as Staphylococcus aureus, which is normally found on the skin or inside the nostrils in some people. It tends to cause no harm, although it can cause an infection, such as a boil, if it gets under the skin. Boils, or furuncles, look like red lumps that are painful and initially quite hard but, over the course of four to seven days, get softer as the amount of pus inside increases. The pus or infection can join together between each boil to become a carbuncle. You may see it progress to a white or yellow head on the lump. The skin around the boils may also become red and sore. The pus may come out of the boils on their own or be reabsorbed by the body. Once the pus is released, it can take around four to five days for the boil to heal, but it may leave a scar. The advice is not to try and burst the boil yourself, as it is not usually done cleanly and may lead to re-infection. While boils are quite common in male teenagers and young adults, carbuncles are mainly seen in middle-aged and elderly men, and you are more likely to develop them if you have diabetes or have a lowered immune system. They can be painful, especially as the amount of pus trapped inside increases. They are usually found in places on the body that are hairy while also being warm and moist, such as the neck or on the back. These conditions allow the bacteria to flourish, and any friction may cause small breaks in the skin, allowing the bacteria to get in.
Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain and causes seizures. These seizures happen because of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Epilepsy affects lots of people all over the world and can have a big impact on their lives. It doesn't just affect the person who has epilepsy, but also their families, friends, and the wider community. Living with epilepsy can be tough. People with epilepsy can have problems with their memory, mood, and daily activities. They might also have a hard time with school, work, and social activities. It's important to learn about epilepsy so you can understand what it is and how it affects people. It can also help people with epilepsy to feel more supported and valued. If you or someone you know has epilepsy, it's important to seek help from your doctor. There are treatments available that can help manage seizures and improve quality of life. Remember, you are not alone. With the right support, you can live a happy and fulfilling life, no matter what challenges you may face.
Gynecomastia, while it might sound intimidating, is a condition that many teenage boys experience during puberty. It's common and typically nothing to fret over. Let's delve deeper into gynecomastia, its potential causes, and what steps you can take if you suspect you're dealing with it.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome (herpes zoster oticus) is a type of shingles that affects the facial nerve. This causes several symptoms, including weakness or paralysis of one side of the face and one-sided hearing loss. It’s caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and implies that you had chickenpox – most likely as a child – and while that illness has cleared, the virus remains dormant in your nerves until it is reactivated. It’s important to get checked out, firstly because this can look very much like a stroke, and secondly because prompt treatment can help this improve more quickly.
Athlete's foot is a fungal skin infection that occurs in warm, moist areas such as the feet and between the toes. It’s very common, affecting up to a quarter of people at some time in their life. Known medically as tinea pedis, it produces symptoms of a rash that is usually red, sore and itchy, with clear edges that can form a ring-like pattern, giving it its other name of ringworm. It can be passed on from person to person, often from walking barefoot in gym showers or around swimming pools. The typical presentation of athlete’s foot is that the skin between the little toes is often affected first, with a very itchy rash that can split or crack the skin there. Larger splits can then occur between other toes which can be painful and the rash can progressively spread along the toes if it isn’t treated. Sometimes it can spread to the soles of the feet and even the sides of them in severe cases.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and mostly affects people over 65. It is believed to be caused by the build-up of abnormal proteins in the brain, reduced levels of neurological chemicals (neurotransmitters), and shrinkage of different parts of the brain over time. This leads to problems with memory, language and performing tasks that the person had previously been able to do.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that can affect your ability to focus on a task without getting distracted. It can make you feel restless and compelled to talk or move a lot when you’re expected to sit still. It can make you act on impulse rather than reasoning decisions through or foreseeing consequences. Tasks can be challenging, especially if they require prolonged concentration or you are required to multitask. Losing and forgetting things can be a feature, along with being careless or making mistakes. While we may all recognize these traits to varying degrees in ourselves, loved ones, or colleagues, ADHD means that these traits are so pronounced that they are having a significant impact on progress in work or studies, on your romantic or working relationships, and on maintaining a harmonious family life. They can also make you feel quite chaotic within yourself, you can feel on edge or overwhelmed, and it can be difficult to unwind and relax.