Hair Loss (Alopecia) — Full Text

โ€œAlopeciaโ€ means โ€œhair lossโ€ in Latin & medical-speak; when it occurs, patients often come to see us.ย  Itโ€™s usually not serious, sometimes it is, and itโ€™s invariably distressing.ย  Even if the loss is minimal, people are afraid theyโ€™ll go bald.ย  The list of possibilities is full of obscure ones that only a dermatologist can diagnose,Continue reading “Hair Loss (Alopecia) — Full Text”

Passing Out / Amnesia — Full Text

What do we when a patient comes to us saying they โ€œpassed out,โ€ usually sometime recently? Or the “lost time,” a period which they can’t recall anything? Today they look perfectly well, act completely normally.ย  We perform a good physical exam, focusing on the heart and the neurologic system (for the brain), but if theyโ€™reContinue reading “Passing Out / Amnesia — Full Text”

Passing Out / Amnesia

This topic addresses a patient who says they โ€œpassed out,โ€ or had amnesia for a period of time, usually somewhat recently, but now they feel and look completely fine.  Exam is normal.  We have possible causes to sort through (see table below). For patients with Memory Loss, see that topic. For the E.R. diagnostic work-upContinue reading “Passing Out / Amnesia”

Palpitations

Defined as sensation of heart pounding or fluttering, oftentimes rapidly but not necessarily ………………..Causes **  Anxiety (including Panic Attack)  —  most common cause **  Heart Arrhythmia (abnormal rhythm) Not Serious  —  Common Serious  —  Uncommon See link for explanations **  Medical Conditions  (uncommon causes) Hyperthyroidism Anemia Pheochromocytoma Low Blood Glucose (only if on insulin orContinue reading “Palpitations”

Myelodysplasia

A rare form of “pre-cancer” of the bone marrow, interfering with its ability to produce blood cells.ย  Sometimes it produces defective cells, sometimes it just doesn’t produce enough.ย  This can leave a patient at risk of infection, cause Anemia, or bruising; the danger is if it turns into Leukemia.ย  Myelodysplasia is almost always a diseaseContinue reading “Myelodysplasia”

Tinnitus

Tinnitus is pronounced โ€œTIN-ih-tuss,โ€ not โ€œtin-EYE-tisโ€ since thereโ€™s no โ€œ-itisโ€ on the end, which would mean inflammation or infection.ย  It means โ€œringing in the earsโ€ (from Latin), but can be any type of noise or clicking; itโ€™s a symptom, not a disease.ย  It amuses me no end when a patient tells how they sought careContinue reading “Tinnitus”

Chronic Pelvic Pain

Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP) is defined (somewhat arbitrarily) as pain in a womanโ€™s pelvic area for at least 3-6 months, that isnโ€™t cyclical.ย  The latter means that it isnโ€™t clearly related to menstrual periods; it may come and go, but not in a regular pattern.ย  CPP is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning that no otherContinue reading “Chronic Pelvic Pain”

Musculoskeletal Pain — Full Text

This topic discusses pain in one arm or leg.  It could be from an injury, or start on its own.  Here we donโ€™t describe specific body parts (knee, forearm, etc.), but rather illustrate how we can identify the body structure involved (e.g. bone, tendon, etc.), wherever it might be.  For generalized pain all over, seeContinue reading “Musculoskeletal Pain — Full Text”

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