Massage therapy has a long history in cultures around the world. Today, people use many different types of massage therapy for a variety of health-related purposes. In the United States, massage therapy is often considered part of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), although it does have some conventional uses. This fact sheet provides a general overview of massage therapy and...
Post-Polio Syndrome: Read About Pain and Physical Therapy
What is post-polio syndrome? Post-polio syndrome (PPS) is a condition that affects polio survivors years after recovery from an initial acute attack of the poliomyelitis virus. Post-polio syndrome is mainly characterized by new weakening in muscles that were previously affected by the polio infection and in muscles that seemingly were unaffected. What are the symptoms of post-polio syndrome? Readers Comments...
Nerve Disease and Bladder Control: Get Facts on Treatments
For the urinary system to do its job, muscles and nerves must work together to hold urine in the bladder and then release it at the right time. Nerves carry messages from the bladder to the brain to let it know when the bladder is full. They also carry messages from the brain to the bladder, telling muscles either to...
Leigh’s Disease (Leigh’s Syndrome): Read About Treatments
What is Leigh’s Disease? Leigh’s disease is a rare inherited neurometabolic disorder that affects the central nervous system. This progressive disorder begins in infants between the ages of three months and two years. Rarely, it occurs in teenagers and adults. What causes Leigh’s disease? Leigh’s disease can be caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA or by deficiencies of an enzyme...
Pseudotumor Cerebri: Get the Facts on Symptoms and Causes
What is pseudotumor cerebri? Pseudotumor cerebri literally means “false brain tumor.” It is likely due to high pressure within the skull caused by the buildup or poor absorption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The disorder is most common in women between the ages of 20 and 50. What are the symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri? Readers Comments 12 Share Your Story Symptoms...
Learning Disabilities: Read About Tests, Symptoms and Types
What are learning disabilities? Readers Comments 2 Share Your Story Learning disability is a general term that describes specific kinds of learning problems. A learning disability can cause a person to have trouble learning and using certain skills. The skills most often affected are: reading, writing, listening, speaking, reasoning, and doing math. Learning disabilities (LD) vary from person to person....
Smell Disorders: Parosmia, Anosmia, Phantosmia & Hyposmia
Smell disorder facts* *Smell disorder facts by John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP People who experience smell disorders experience either a loss in their ability to smell or changes in the way they perceive odors. Hyposmia is when the ability to detect odor is reduced. Anosmia is when a person can't detect odor at all. Some people experience change in the...
Alpha Thalassemia: Read About This Trait
Alpha Thalassemia Facts* *Alpha thalassemia facts medical author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Alpha thalassemia is a blood disorder that reduces the production of normal hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to cells throughout the body. There are four types of alpha thalassemia, hemoglobin Bart hydrops fetalis syndrome or Hb Bart syndrome (the more severe form), HbH...
Fungal Meningitis Symptoms, Treatment, and Causes
Fungal meningitis facts* *Fungal meningitis facts medical author: Charles P. Davis, MD, PhD Fungal meningitis is rare; the most common cause is Cryptococcus spp. infection, but many other fungi may occasionally cause meningitis. Fungal meningitis is not transmitted from person to person. The fungi are usually inhaled and then spread by the blood to the central nervous system; fungi may...
Alpha Thalassemia: Read About This Trait
Alpha Thalassemia Facts* *Alpha thalassemia facts medical author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Alpha thalassemia is a blood disorder that reduces the production of normal hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to cells throughout the body. There are four types of alpha thalassemia, hemoglobin Bart hydrops fetalis syndrome or Hb Bart syndrome (the more severe form), HbH...