An enlarged spleen is a common phenomenon. The spleen is the organ located just below the left rib cage. There are several conditions that may result in an enlarged spleen such as some forms of cancer, infections, and liver disease. The condition of an enlarged spleen is also called splenomegaly. An enlarged spleen may also be the result of viral infections, patristic infections, bacterial infections, cirrhosis, hemolytic anemia, blood cancers, metabolic disorders like Gaucher’s disease, pressure on the veins in the liver or the spleen, and a blood clot in these veins. Whatever be the case, it is essential to know the symptoms of the condition so that you can seek immediate treatment. Here are a few of the common symptoms of an enlarged spleen.

Enlarged Spleen Symptoms
An enlarged spleen may or may not provide early warning signs. If you do experience the symptoms mentioned below, visit a doctor immediately to confirm whether you suffer from the condition of an enlarged spleen. Here are a few of the most common enlarged spleen symptoms.

• You may experience mild to severe pain or fullness in the left upper abdomen. This feeling may spread to the left shoulder.
• You may feel full without eating anything or after eating a small portion of food. This happens as the enlarged spleen presses against your stomach and leads to this feeling of fullness.
• You may suffer from anemia.
• You may suffer from frequent bacterial, viral and parasitic infections. Visit a doctor immediately if you suffer from frequent infections as this is one of the most common enlarged spleen symptoms.
• You may feel extremely fatigued at the end of the day even if you have not done too much work.
• You may experience sharp pain in the left shoulder or shoulder blade when taking a deep breath.

The above-mentioned symptoms may cause an enlarged spleen. At times, an enlarged spleen may occur without displaying any symptoms at all. It may be discovered during a routine check-up. While a doctor cannot feel a normal-sized spleen, enlarged spleens can be easily felt. Your doctor may then order imaging tests and blood tests to determine the underlying cause of the disease so that it can be treated accordingly. There are several other treatment methods available, and surgery is generally the last resort.

Lymph node cancer or Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is one such disease that shows many symptoms. The symptoms depend on where it occurs in your body and the type of lymphoma you are suffering from. There are times when you might not see any symptoms until the node gets bigger. Also, you should remember that having one or more lymph node cancer symptoms do not portray that you are suffering from the disease. Many of the symptoms of lymphoma that you will learn about from this article may be caused by another, not too serious a disease. So, on identifying these symptoms in your body, you should consult a doctor for proper diagnosis.

Some of the symptoms of lymph node cancer include the following.

• Swollen abdomen (belly)
• Chest pain or pressure
• Severe or frequent infections
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Weight loss
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Lack of appetite
• Shortness of breath or a cough
• Fatigue
• Chills

Many people suffering from this disease are known to have B symptoms. Some B symptoms are as follows:

• Drenching night sweats
• Weight loss without even trying (at least 10% of the total body weight over 6 months)
• Fever (that can come and go over several days or weeks) without any infection

Abdominal symptoms of lymphoma
Abdominal pain is also one of the lymph node cancer symptoms. It can be caused due to the enlargement of the organs and because of this enlargement, you might feel swelling and pain in the abdominal section of your body. Also, there is a loss of appetite because of a large number of fluids deposited in the abdomen.

Symptoms of lymphoma on the chest
Some of the more common lymph node cancer symptoms in the chest are as follows:

• Coughing
• Chest pain
• Breathing trouble
• High pressure in the chest

Symptoms of lymphoma affecting the brain
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can affect the brain as well. Some of the lymph node cancer symptoms affecting the brain are given below:

• A headache
• Trouble in thinking
• Weakness in parts of the body
• Changes in the personality
• Double vision
• Facial numbness
• Trouble in speaking

In case you experience some or any of the above symptoms, without panicking, consult a doctor to ascertain the presence of lymphoma without a delay because early detection is the key to recovery and survival.

Hand numbness is one of the many conditions you do not want to suffer from. Imagine touching a chilled or extremely hot appliance and feeling no sensation in your fingers. Scary, right? This is exactly what happens in hand numbness. While some cases are mild and go away with time, other cases affect the nerves and blood vessels in the hands permanently. The damage caused to the nerve endings at the extremities of the fingers leads to the feeling of numbness and tingles. There are many underlying conditions which can lead to numbness in the hands of which diabetes and alcohol abuse are the most common. Here are a few popular causes of the hand numbness condition.

Causes of hand numbness

• Raynaud’s Disease – The small arteries in your fingers tend to spasm when you are suffering from this disease. They may also open or close very fast. This leads to extreme pain and numbness in the fingers and the hands as the circulation of blood to the hands and fingers is cut out.
• Diabetes – Diabetes is one of the most popular causes of hand numbness. Diabetic neuropathy is a condition which leads to significant damage to the nerve endings present in the fingers. Generally, though, this condition originates in the feet and spreads to the rest of the body. Its onset leads to numbness.
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – The nerves that allow your hand the sensation of feeling become pinched or obstructed due to this condition. This results in the feeling of numbness in the thumbs, index fingers and the middle fingers of both hands.
• Cervical Radiculopathy – The inflammation or compression of the nerve leaving the neck leads to this condition. It results in numbness in the hands. Also known as a pinched nerve, this condition often causes hand numbness among the masses.

Some of the other popular causes of hand numbness include vascular diseases, stroke, and multiple sclerosis. If you are feeling tingly or a numbness in your hands, make sure to visit a doctor. While the condition may be temporary, it does not take long for it to develop into a permanent condition if an underlying condition is causing it. Certain lifestyle changes can go a long way in preventing you from the risk of its onset or further development. Not drinking too much alcohol and limiting your sugar intake can be a head start in this.

Other than your bones and muscles, your ligaments and tendons also play an equally important role in the functioning of your body. These parts of your legs carry your entire body weight throughout the day. Leg pain has become a common phenomenon these days. Many times people complain of pain on top of the foot which can make walking or even standing a difficult task. However, the severity of pain differs from person to person. The level of pain depends on the causes of this pain and the severity of any injuries. Let’s have a look at these causes of foot pain.

Causes of pain on the top of the foot
There can be many reasons for pain on the top of the foot. Activities such as running, kicking, and jumping are some of the more common causes of such pain. Here are some of the reasons for this pain.

Extensor tendonitis
One of the principal causes of extensor tendonitis is wearing and overusing tight-fitting shoes. The inflammation happens on the tendons that are on the top of the foot and are responsible for lifting the foot upwards.

Sinus tarsi syndrome
The channel between the ankle bone and the heel is known as sinus tarsi. Sinus tarsi syndrome happens when there is an inflammation of the sinus tarsi. Patients with this syndrome experience severe pain on the top of the foot.

Stress fractures of bones in the feet
If you have a fracture in your metatarsal bones, you will experience pain on the top of your foot. These bones are located at the top your feet. Swelling is the first symptom that patients with fractured metatarsal bones face.

Other causes

• Gout is one of the causes of foot pain. Patients with gout feel pain in the joints at the base of their big toe.
• Bone spurs are a painful condition that patients face near their toes.
• Peripheral neuropathy is a condition where you will feel numbness, pain or a prickling sensation that spreads from your feet to your toe.

You can follow some home remedies to get relief from this pain on the top of your feet. However, if these home remedies don’t work, then you should consult a doctor. They will clarify whether you have an underlying medical issue or not.

Metastatic cancer is a tumor which spreads from an initial site to different locations within the body. Cancer cells can spread to closer lymph nodes, tissues, and organs. This is how metastatic cancer occurs and it generally happens at stage IV of cancer. Metastatic cancer is identified by the primary cancer name. For example, breast cancer that has been spread to the lungs is called metastatic breast cancer. The cancer cells in the lungs will have the same features as that of breast cancer.

How it spreads
The disease is dangerous because of its ability to spread to different parts of the body. The cancer cell multiplies at the primary location and invades nearby tissues and moves through blood vessels or lymph nodes to the other parts. The most common parts where cancer is spread are the lungs, liver, and brain. Breast cancer is spread to the bone, brain, liver, or lung where it reflects the metastasis breast cancer signs.

Sign and symptoms of metastatic cancer
There are no early signs of metastatic cancer. However, when they do appear, they depend on the location of the tumor. Some of the most common symptoms that are related to the lungs, liver, brain, and bones are:

• Lungs – Individuals experience a chronic cough and breathlessness.
• Liver – Affected people may experience nausea, jaundice, and the possibility of an enlarged liver. This condition may also cause itchy skin, abdominal pain, or a loss of appetite.
• Bones – When it affects the bones, people experience severe pain and swelling in the bones and joints. Also, the bones may be susceptible to fractures.
• Brain – When cancer metastases to the brain, neurological disorders such as severe headaches, seizures, or vertigo may be considered as some of the symptoms. Individuals may also experience vision disturbance, nausea, or behavioral changes.

Metastasis breast cancer occurs after several years of primary cancer and may be diagnosed at the initial stage. There are no major metastatic breast cancer signs. Some common symptoms include:

• Severe pain in the breast and discharge from nipples
• One of the most common metastasis breast cancer signs is a lump or thickening on the breast and near the underarm
• It may cause pain in the bones and the bones may be vulnerable to fractures

The treatment is determined by whether the cancer is localized or metastasized. If cancer has metastasized, it increases the probability of a patient’s death. There are malignant cancers that kill persons with metastasis. Metastasized cancer can be treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy, hormone therapy, surgery, or a combination of these.

Arthritis is a degenerative and painful condition usually marked by an inflammation of the joints, which causes pain and stiffness. Traditionally, with various anti-inflammatory medications, the arthritis pain can be dealt with. However, such medications can cause several side effects as well. Hence, it is always advisable to consult a medical expert before taking any medication. Here is a list of a few effective and natural ways to get chronic arthritis pain relief.

Stay active
If you exercise on a regular basis, your muscles will strengthen and provide better support to the joints along with improving the balance and flexibility. The habit of walking for 20 to 30 minutes on a daily basis will be good for the health.

Follow a healthy diet
For optimum health, including omega-3 fatty acids in your diet is important. According to various medical studies, these fats help in getting chronic arthritis pain relief. The different fish oil supplements that are currently available in the market are high in this kind of fat and help to deal with joint pain and stiffness. Plants like black currants, hemp, borage, and evening primrose contain gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is also helpful in treating chronic arthritis pain. Plus, adding turmeric to your dishes is a great idea.

Try hot and cold therapy
If you take a warm and long shower in the morning, it will help to ease the joint stiffness. To keep the joints loose at night, you can use a moist heating pad or an electric blanket. To deal with swelling, inflammation, and joint pain, you can use cold treatments. For a quick relief, simply wrap a gel ice pack in a towel, and then apply this to the painful joints.

Maintain your body weight
The more weight you gain, the more pressure there will be on the joints of your hips, feet, and knee area. Hence, losing weight is one of the most common ways to get chronic arthritis pain relief.

Meditate and calm your mind
Different relaxation techniques and meditation help in reducing the stress level, resulting in relief from joint pain. Through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), biofeedback etc., you can keep your mind calm and that is very effective in dealing with chronic arthritis pain.

Go for regular massages
For relaxation and stress relief, you can get a massage. Deep-tissue massage, Swedish massage etc., help in keeping your body fit by relieving tension around all the muscle connective tissues.

Well, along with these aforementioned home remedies, taking medications under the guidance of a healthcare professional is the best way to get chronic arthritis pain relief.

The pain in the rib cage of your body may be due to many reasons such as pulling a muscle or a rib fracture. It may also develop after an injury or without any explanation. This pain will be achy, sharp or dull and is felt just above the navel or below the chest. Moreover, this pain could be an indication of an underlying serious medical issue. Therefore, whenever you feel any such pain in and around your rib cage, immediate medical consultation is strongly recommended as you may need a thorough treatment for rib pain.

Causes of rib pain
Before knowing the exact treatment method for rib pain, it is ideal to know its subsequent causes. Now, the more common causes are pulled muscles around the rib cage or bruised ribs. Apart from these two, there are other causes of rib cage pain. Let’s have a look at them:

• Rib fractures
• Inflammation of the lungs lining
• Inflamed rib cartilage
• Serious injuries to the chest
• Muscle spasms
• Broken ribs
• Diseases that have an adverse effect on the bones, such as osteoporosis

Diagnosis of the rib cage Pain
In the primary stage of the treatment for rib pain, the doctors will diagnose your condition. You should explain to the doctor about the pain and the movements that are making the pain worse. Knowing the type of pain you are having and the area where you are experiencing the pain will help the doctors to determine what tests would be better for your condition.

Treatment options for rib cage pain

The treatment for rib pain will depend on the cause of the pain. If it is due to a pulled muscle or bruise or a minor injury, you can use a cold compress on the area of the pain in order to reduce swelling. If your pain is unbearable then you can use a pain reliever to reduce the pain to a certain extent. Even after using the pill, if the pain sustains, then you should consult the doctor because your doctor will be able to prescribe other medications that might help you.

If you experience pain while breathing or moving your body in certain positions, you should contact your doctor immediately without any delay. However, if the pain is due to a muscle strain then you can try some exercises by using the right exercising equipment and maintaining the right exercise posture. This will help in reducing the pain without any medication.