Janeen Sloan
Janeen has worked over eight years as a full-time medical transcriptionist, specializing in pain management and gynecologic oncology. She later began transcribing reports for hospital emergency rooms and acute care admissions. This background gave her a strong medical vocabulary as well as a heart for making medical information accessible to the average person, leading her to work as a medical writer. She began as a pre-veterinary medicine major at Texas State University.
- Coughing up blood may seem like an emergency. While coughing blood can be a sign of serious illness, there are also many common conditions that cause blood in your saliva that can be readily treated. Determining the severity will depend on associated symptoms, if any.
- If you notice bright, red blood right after a bowel movement, you may have rectal bleeding. A bleeding rectum can be commonly caused by anal fissures, hemorrhoids, or chronic constipation.
- Understand your breast lump symptoms, including 7 causes, common questions and must knows.breast
- Slurring your words can be commonly caused by exhaustion or alcohol consumption. More serious causes of dysarthria, or sudden slurred speech, include stroke, abnormal growth or injury to the airways, or brain damage. Read below for more causes and how to treat garbled speech.
- Sensitivity to light is a common symptom and sometimes the first symptom of trouble with your eyes. Aversion to light is actually the eye's way of protecting itself when it is injured or infected, because your eye has a better chance of healing itself when at rest. Learn more about the conditions that cause it.
- Understand throbbing headache symptoms, including 10 causes & common questions.
- Back pain that shoots down through the butt and to your leg is also called sciatica. It can be caused by damage to the disks, a narrowing of the spine, or other issues. Learn how to identify the causes and how to treat it.
- Arm weakness can limit the range of motion of your arm—affecting your daily activities. Causes include injury from trauma or repetitive strain injury, nerve damage or compression in the neck or upper back, or a blockage in the bloodstream. Left arm weakness with chest pain may need immediate medical attention.
- Understand your tailbone pain symptoms, including 5 causes & common questions.
- Understand trouble speaking symptoms, including 3 causes & common questions.
- Pain in the upper left abdomen can be caused by a stomach ulcer, acute gastritis, or indigestion.
- Friedreich's ataxia is a disease that causes progressive damage to the nervous system and affects nerve fibers leading from the spinal cord to the arms and legs.
- A chest lump or bump is most commonly caused by an allergic reaction which typically look like red bumps on the chest, or a skin condition like a pimple, boil, cyst, or wart. Unusual growths on the chest are nearly non-cancerous, however a painful lump on the chest should be treated by a medical provider. Read below for more causes and treatment options.
- The most common cause for frequent urination include urinary tract infections. Male frequent urination can be caused by enlargement of the prostate and women who have frequent urination may be pregnant or experiencing menopause. Read on for more information about causes and treatment options.
- When you have cold fingers, they may feel nearly frozen, with a sharp pins-and-needles sensation. You may notice swelling, color changes, and numbness. And you may not be able to feel anything with your fingertips. Learn about the 6 most common causes.
- Does your mind race when your head hits the pillow? Or you just can't relax enough for your body to fall asleep? Learn about underlying causes of insomnia and how to help them.
- Drooling, is when saliva runs out of your mouth & down your chin instead of being swallowed. The most common cause of drooling is too much saliva being produced.
- Common causes of dull pain in the lower back include trauma from an injury, muscle strains, or poor posture. A herniated disk, or arthritis in the lower back can also cause aching pains. Read below for more information on causes and relief options.
- It's normal for your elbow to pop once in a while. But if the clicking, popping, or snapping is persistent and it causes pain, when you bend or straighten your arm, you may have a treatable condition.
- Eye redness is almost never serious on its own but could be worrisome if accompanied by eye pain or vision disturbance. Read about 10 conditions that can cause eye redness, and how to treat them.
- The feeling of a loose knee cap is most commonly caused by an injury that has sprained or tore ligaments. A meniscal or anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury can also cause knee instability and pain.
- Sudden blurry vision in one eye can be caused from abnormally high blood pressure, abnormally low blood pressure within the eye, or trauma from an injury. Glaucoma, optic nerve disease, and a stroke can cause sudden vision loss in one eye and should be treated immediately.
- A nose bruise is usually caused by trauma from a direct injury to the face, a nose piercing, or rhinoplasty. Read now for more information on how to tell if your nose is broken and treatment options for a bruised nose.
- It's hard to ignore pain the eyes, as they are among the most sensitive of all our organs. Pain in one eye ranges in causes and severity, and has a variety of associated characteristics, such as swelling, fever, blurred vision, and more. Read more below to learn about pain in one eye.
- The "pelvis" refers to your hip bones and all of the organs contained within them. Women have pelvic pain symptoms more often than men. Learn more.
- If you have penis pain, it is important to pay attention to characteristics of the pain and whether location of the pain is in the top, middle, or bottom of the shaft. Pain in the penis can be caused by sexually transmitted infections, urethritis, a UTI, or trauma from a penis injury. Read below for more information causes and how to relieve penis pain.
- Understand personality change symptoms, including 9 causes & common questions.
- Lymphangitis is inflammation of the lymphatic channels at the site of an injury and affects the swelling of common lymph nodes areas.
- This article will review the symptoms, causes, management, and prevention of osteochondritis dissecans. Symptoms experienced in the affected joint include difficulty with range of motion, popping or snapping noises, buckling, pain on movement, as well as swelling.
- Most of the time, a bloody nose (epistaxis) is not serious and will stop quickly. However, frequent nosebleeds for no apparent reason should be treated.
- Are you experiencing index finger pain and swelling? This condition may occur after a traumatic injury to the hand, a nail infection, or arthritis. A fracture or dislocation can cause bruising and index finger joint pain that will need immediate medical care.
- Mouth swelling can happen in or around the mouth, such as the roof of the mouth, tongue, and lips. Causes range in severity, including temporary irritation from food to sudden swelling that may tighten the throat and restrict breathing.
- A mild swollen testicle after an injury is common and often goes away after a few days. However, large, or sudden swelling should be immediately treated, as it may point to a more serious underlying condition.
- Spondylolysis involves defect or damage at the rear of each vertebra caused by bone defects, spinal wear and tear, hereditary traits, or overuse of the lower back.
- An armpit lump, or axillary lump, is often caused by swollen lymph nodes in the armpit. This condition can also be associated with tenderness or pain in the lump under the arm. A small or pea-sized lump in the armpit can also be caused by a skin infection, like a cyst, or ingrown hair. Read below for more causes and treatments options.
- Understand entry of food and liquids in the airways symptoms, including 6 causes & common questions.
- A runny nose with clear discharge can be caused from a viral or bacterial infection, allergies, or in very rare cases, a sign of a severe brain injury. Fortunately, the most common cause of a runny nose is the common cold.
- Understand your cold feet symptoms with Buoy, including 6 causes and common questions concerning your cold feet.
- Cold hands, especially if persistent for longer than usual, are caused by poor circulation due to the hardening of blood vessels over time, hypothyroidism, anxiety, or infections. Often blood circulation causes both cold hands and feet. In this article, we will cover a few cold hands causes, besides being in a cold environment, and potential treatments.
- Dark brown stool is normal for a bowel movement, however when it's very dark brown, it can come from certain foods or iron supplements, or mild internal bleeding. It can also indicate dehydration or infection.
- Understand decreased sex drive symptoms, including 8 causes & common questions.
- Double vision is when you see two overlapping images instead of a single normal image. Double vision can be sudden and cause nausea, dizziness and headaches. Learn more about the causes.
- Dry skin symptoms cause the skin to become scaly, rough & flaky. Every part of the body can be affected by dry skin including the penis, eyes & face. Learn more.
- An infection of your ear canal is called otitis externa or swimmer's ear. Learn about the symptoms of ear canal pain and why the inside of your ear hurts.
- Facial redness can be characterized by spidery blood vessels, thickened uneven skin around the nose, or flushed skin across the cheeks. These appearances are caused by dilated facial blood vessels due to an allergic reaction, aging, sun damage, long term dry skin, or infection.
- Female urethral discharge is usually the first sign of an infection known as urethritis. The causes of white particles in urine, or mucus in urine, is known as gonococcal urethritis, which can also cause pain and burning in the urethra. Read below for more related symptoms, causes, and treatment options.
- When only one hand is tingling it is usually a sign of a pinched nerve. If the hand is under stress or repeatedly being used in the same position, carpal tunnel syndrome is a likely cause. But tingling in the left hand that suddenly extends to the arm and jaw could be a sign of a heart attack.
- Understand your hearing loss in one ear symptoms, including 9 causes and common questions.
- What causes painful hiccups? Why do I have hiccups for no reason? Learn about the causes of hiccups, hiccup symptoms and why hiccups are common in infants.
- Understand hip joint stiffness symptoms, including 6 causes & common questions.
- Understand your involuntary movements symptoms, including 7 causes and common questions.
- Irritability is defined as reacting strongly to stimuli that aren't worthy of that reaction. Characteristics include being easily annoyed & outbursts of rage.
- An itchy mouth is also known as oral allergy syndrome and is often associated with a mouth tingling sensation, along with an itchy throat and tongue. An itchy roof of mouth is commonly caused by eating certain foods that contain pollen that may cause an allergic reaction. Read below for a list of foods that can cause an itchy mouth and treatment options.
- Jaw clicking is almost always a sign of a misalignment of your teeth, your jawbones, or your jaw muscles. The temporomandibular joints TMJ is the jaw joint that is affected by teeth grinding, uneven stretching of facial muscles or misalignment of the temporal bones with the jaw bone. Read below on three categories of jaw clicking causes - muscular, skeletal, and dental - and at-home treatments you can take.
- Jaw pain, an aching pain in your jaw, ear, and/or face when chewing or attempting to open and close your mouth, can occur on the right or left side. Learn more.
- Jaw spasms, also known as trismus, is a common condition that can be caused by dental infection, dental damage, or trauma from an injury to the face, neck, or head. Locked jaw causes derive from temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ). Other causes for jaw twitching and cramping can come from taking certain medication. Learn more about this condition and treatment options below.
- Understand your joint swelling symptoms, including 10 causes & common questions.
- Understand your lightheadedness symptoms, including 8 causes & common questions.
- If your lips start tingling, you may be experiencing lip numbness. Numb lips are most commonly caused by contact allergies from certain foods or chemicals, or cold weather. Other causes include cosmetic injections to the lips, drinking alcohol, smoking, or lip nerve damage.
- Understand your loss of smell symptoms, including 7 causes & common questions.
- Read about the top ten causes of lower right sided back pain, including kidney stones, herniated disks, UTIs, pelvic inflammatory disease and arthritis.
- Poor posture, overuse, and injury can cause pain in both shoulders. You may notice it in your neck, too. Shoulder joints are very versatile, flexible, and mobile. This makes it easy for them to get strained. Pain can even be from another part of your body.
- Pain in one testicle can be rare and serious if not treated promptly. The pain can reside in either the right or left testicle and be associated with testicular swelling, lower abdomen pain, and burning when urinating. Sharp pain in one testicle can be caused by testicular torsion, an injury to the groin, a bacterial infection, or prostatitis.
- Understand your painful periods symptoms, including 4 causes & common questions.
- Understand your pop in the knee symptoms, including 9 causes & common questions.
- Vasovagal syncope is sudden fainting caused by a drop in heart rate and blood pressure when your body overreacts to certain emotional or neurologic triggers.
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