What Does Psychosomatic Mean?

The term “psychosomatic disorder” means “a physical disease that is thought to be caused, or made worse, by mental factors.” This term is also used when mental factors cause physical symptoms but where there is no physical disease. For example, chest pain may be caused by stress and no physical disease can be found. Some physical diseases are thought to be prone to be made worse by mental factors such as stress and anxiety. A person’s mental state can affect the degree of severity of a physical disease. Physical symptoms that are caused by mental factors are also called somatization or somatoform disorders. These symptoms are due to increased activity of nervous impulses sent from the brain to various parts of the body.


Source

Which diseases are psychosomatic?To an extent, most diseases are psychosomatic - including both mind and body. There is a mental aspect to every physical disease. How we react to disease and how we deal with disease vary greatly from person to person. For example, the rash of psoriasis may not bother some people very much. However, the rash covering the same parts of the body in someone else may make them feel depressed and, as a result, more ill.

TreatmentEach disease has its own treatment options. For physical diseases, physical treatments such as medication or operations are usually the most important. However, healthcare workers will usually try to treat a person as a whole and take into account mental and social factors which may be contributing to a disease. Therefore, treatments to ease stress, anxiety and depression may help if they are thought to be contributing to your physical disease.

Tay-Sachs Disease : Symptoms and Causes

Tay-Sach’s disease is a rare genetic disorder which results due to absence of an enzyme in the body that breaks down fatty substances.
The fatty substances accumulate in the body and affect child’s brain. As the disease develops the body loses its function gradually.
Gene therapy or enzyme replacement therapy are the only treatment option which may in increase the life the child.

Source

Symptoms
Symptoms of Tay-Sach’s disease include

• deafness,
• blindness,
• loss of muscle strength,
• delayed mental development,
• dementia,
• irritability,

Causes
Tay-Sachs disease a genetic disorder caused by mutation (alteration in genome) on chromosome no. 15 (a human organism consists of 23 pairs of chromosome).
It occurs due to absence of an enzyme hexosaminidase A, that breaks down fatty acids.
Without this enzyme, toxic products like gangliosides build up in the cells and affect the CNS resulting the symptoms.

What Is Lou Gehrig's Disease?: Causes and Symptoms

Lou Gehrig's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the brain and spinal cord. It is also called as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS. It is a progressive disorder that leads to the loss of voluntary muscle control in the body. This disorder often affects the nerves that control speech, swallowing function, and limb movements. There is still no known cure for this disease.



Source

Causes
This medical condition is classified into two types: sporadic and familial. Most ALS cases are sporadic, which means that anyone can be affected by the disorder. Around 5-10 percent of ALS cases are familial, which means that the disorder can be inherited.

Symptoms
The symptoms of ALS also depends on the affected areas of the nervous system. Thus, symptoms may vary from one person to another. The lower half of the brain stem is the medulla, which controls most of the body’s autonomic functions. These functions include the regulation of blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing.

What is Strattera: Side Effects

Strattera affects chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control. Strattera is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and may also be used for purposes not listed in numerous medication guides.

Source

When not to use Strattera?
You should not use Strattera if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, an adrenal gland tumor, heart disease or coronary artery disease. Do not use Strattera if you have taken a MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, including isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others. Strattera may cause new or worsening psychosis, unusual thoughts or behavior, especially if you have a history of depression, mental illness, or bipolar disorder.
Strattera has caused stroke, heart attack, and sudden death in people with high blood pressure, heart disease, or a heart defect. Many young people have thoughts about suicide when they first start taking this medicine, or whenever the dose is changed. Pay attention to changes in your mood or symptoms, especially if you have ever had suicidal thoughts.

How to take Strattera?

• Take Strattera exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
• Take the medicine at the same time each day, with a glass of water.

Strattera is usually taken once a day in the morning, or two times per day in the morning and late afternoon.

• You may take this medicine with or without food.
• Do not crush, chew, break, or open a Strattera capsule. Swallow the capsule whole..
• Use Strattera regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
• Do not use a capsule that has been opened or accidentally broken. The medicine from inside the capsule can be dangerous if it gets in your eyes. If this occurs, rinse your eyes with water. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to safely handle and dispose a broken capsule.
• While taking Strattera, your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits. Your heart rate, blood pressure, height and weight may also need to be checked often.

Strattera side effects
It’s important to get emergency help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Strattera. Some of them are: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:

• signs of heart problems - chest pain, trouble breathing, feeling like you might pass out;
• signs of psychosis - hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real), new behavior problems, aggression, hostility, paranoia;
• liver problems - stomach pain (upper right side), itching, flu-like symptoms, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• painful or difficult urination; or
• erection is painful or lasts longer than 4 hours (this is a rare side effect).

Common Strattera side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, constipation;
• dry mouth, loss of appetite;
• mood changes, feeling tired;
• dizziness;
• urination problems; or
• impotence, trouble having an erection.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.It’s extremely important to use this medication in the right way and regularly communicate with your doctor in order to have the full effect and stay healthy and safe!

Facts About MRSA: Causes and Symptoms

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body. However, it's much more complex to treat than most strains of staphylococcus aureus -- or staph -- because it's resistant to many antibiotics. The symptoms of MRSA depend on where exactly you're infected. Most often, it causes mild infections on the skin, like sores or boils. But it can also cause more serious skin infections or infect surgical wounds, the bloodstream, the lungs, or the urinary tract. Although most MRSA infections aren't serious, some can be very serious and life-threatening. Many public health experts are alarmed by the spread of tough strains of MRSA. Because it's hard to treat, MRSA is sometimes called a "super bug."

Source

Causes
Garden-variety staph are common bacteria that can live inside the body. Plenty of healthy people carry staph without being infected by it. In fact, one third of everybody has staph bacteria in their noses. But staph can be a problem if it manages to get into the body, often through a cut. Once there, it can cause an infection. Staph is one of the most common causes of skin infections in the U.S. Usually, these are minor and don't need special treatment. Less often, staph can cause serious problems like infected wounds or pneumonia.
Staph can usually be treated with antibiotics. But over the decades, some strains of staph, like MRSA, have become resistant to antibiotics that once destroyed it. MRSA was first discovered in 1961. It's now resistant to methicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin, oxacillin, and many other common antibiotics.

Symptoms
Staph skin infections, including MRSA, usually start as swollen, painful red bumps that might resemble pimples or spider bites. The affected area might be:

• Warm to the touch
• Full of pus or other drainage
• Accompanied by a fever

These can quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses that require surgical draining. Sometimes the bacteria remain confined to the skin. But, they can also go deep into the body, causing potentially life-threatening infections in bones, joints, surgical wounds, the bloodstream, heart valves and lungs.

Who Gets MRSA?
MRSA is spread by contact. So, you could get MRSA by touching another person who has it on the skin. Or you could get it by touching objects that have the bacteria on them. MRSA is carried by about 2% of the population (or 2 in 100 people), although most of them aren't infected.
MRSA infections are very common among people who have weak immune systems and are in hospitals, nursing homes, etc. Infections can appear around surgical wounds or invasive devices, like catheters or implanted feeding tubes.

Treatment
Both health care-associated and community-associated strains of MRSA still respond to certain antibiotics. In some cases, antibiotics may not be necessary. For example, doctors may drain a superficial abscess caused by MRSA rather than treat the infection with drugs.
In the hospital, people who are infected or colonized with MRSA are often placed in contact precautions as a measure to prevent the spread of MRSA. Health care workers and visitors caring for people in isolation are required to wear protective garments and must follow strict hand hygiene procedures. Contaminated surfaces and laundry items should be properly disinfected. So, make sure to notice the symptoms on time in order to prevent MRSA from spreading rapidly!

Benefits of Alkaline Diet foods

There are all various types of diets— some good, some bad — but there is no diet better for longevity and shaking off disease than an alkaline diet.How do alkaline diets work? Research shows that diets consisting of highly alkaline foods — fresh vegetables, fruits and unprocessed plant-based sources of protein result in a more alkaline urine pH level, which helps protect healthy cells and balance essential mineral levels. Alkaline diets have been shown to help prevent plaque formation in blood vessels, stop calcium from accumulating in urine, prevent kidney stones, build stronger bones, reduce muscle wasting or spasms, and much more.


Source

What Is an Alkaline Diet?

An alkaline diet is one that helps balance the pH level of the fluids in the body, including blood and urine. pH is partially determined by the mineral density of the foods you eat. All living organisms on earth depend on maintaining appropriate pH levels, and it’s often said that disease cannot take place in a body that has a balanced pH.
Human life requires a very tightly controlled pH level of the blood of about 7.365–7.4. As Forbe’s Magazine puts it, “Our bodies go to extraordinary lengths to maintain safe pH levels.” Your pH can range between 7.35 to 7.45 depending on the time of day, your diet, what you last ate and when you last went to the bathroom. If you develop electrolyte imbalances and frequently consume too many acidic foods, your body’s changing pH level can result in increased “acidosis.”

Alkaline Diet Benefits

1. Protects Bone Density and Muscle Mass

Your intake of minerals plays an important role in the development and maintenance of bone structures. Research shows that the more alkalizing fruits and vegetables you eat, the better protection you might have from experiencing decreased bone strength and muscle wasting asyou age, known as sarcopenia. An alkaline diet can help balance ratios of minerals that are important for building bones and maintaining lean muscle mass, including calcium, magnesium and phosphate. Alkaline diet also helps improve production of growth hormones and vitamin D absorption, which further protects bones.

2. Lowers Risk for Hypertension and Heart Attack

One of the anti-aging effects of an alkaline diet is that it decreases inflammation and causes an increase in growth hormone production. This improves cardiovascular health and offers protection against common problems like high cholesterol, hypertension, kidney stones, stroke and even memory loss.

3. Lowers Chronic Pain and Inflammation

Researchers have found a connection between an alkaline diet and reduced levels of chronic pain. Chronic acidosis contributes to chronic back pain, headaches, muscle spasms, menstrual symptoms, inflammation and joint pain. One study conducted by the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements in Germany found that when patients with chronic back pain were given an alkaline supplement daily for four weeks, 76 of 82 patients reported significant decreases in pain as measured by the “Arhus low back pain rating scale.”

4. Boosts Vitamin Absorption and Prevents Magnesium Deficiency

An increase in magnesium is required for the function of enzyme systems and bodily processes. Many people are deficient in magnesium and as a result experience heart complications, muscle pains, headaches, sleep troubles and anxiety. Available magnesium is also required to activate vitamin D and prevent vitamin D deficiency, which is important for overall immune and endocrine functioning.
Unlike many other complex and strange diets, the alkaline diet is actually quite healthy. It encourages a high consumption of fruits, vegetables and healthy plant foods, while restricting processed junk foods. It should help you lead a healthy and good life!

What is Condyloma? : Causes and Treatment

Genital warts are a sexually transmitted disease that appears externally on the genitalia, in the anal area, internally in the upper vagina or cervix, and in the male urethra. The lesion is typically raised and pinkish. This condition may produce no symptoms at all, or cause itching, burning, tenderness, pain during intercourse, or frequent urination.

Source

Some half a million new cases of genital warts are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Technically known as condylomaacuminata, genital warts are small growths, sometimes resembling cauliflower, that occur on or near the genitals. Like other warts, the genital variety is caused by by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Worldwide, HPV is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted disease (STD).

The wart itself is actually the “tip of an iceberg” in that the virus lurks in cells of the normal-appearing skin around the visible wart, and possibly also in other uro-genital areas.
The viral nature of the condition also has important implications for transmission and treatment. Many if not most people who harbor the virus do not know it. The virus may infect cells but not cause warts for many years, erupting into visible lesions when the immune system is suppressed.
Because of a wart’s location and sexual mode of transmission, it may cause emotional and social problems. Genital warts can inflict extreme psychological turmoil, and those who have them often feel embarrassed, angry, and even guilty.

Concern about genital warts has increased because of an association between HPV and genital cancers. Anyone who has ever had sex is at risk for harboring HPV. The virus seems to cause visible lesions when a person’s immune system is suppressed, but many flare up even without an obvious trigger. This may occur because of illness (particularly other sexually transmitted diseases), or from taking certain drugs, such as cancer chemotherapy or drugs to prevent rejection of an organ transplant. Deficiencies of folic acid and vitamin A also may trigger genital warts. Smoking raises risk twofold, partly because nicotine byproducts attack immune system cells in the cervix.

Causes

Genital warts are spread by sexual contact with an infected partner and are very contagious. They often appear within three months of contact. Condoms can help, but do not assure, prevention.
Although much remains to be learned about how the papilloma virus progresses, doctors have observed that the warm, moist environment in the genital area seems to favor wart growth. Outbreaks appear to be exacerbated during pregnancy and in patients with defective immune systems.
Patients with a history of genital warts may be at increased risk for certain types of cancer. The human papilloma virus is associated with up to 90 percent of all cervical malignancies and is also thought may play a role in cancers of the vagina, anus, vulva and penis.Cervical warts may be transmitted to the newborn via passage through the infected birth canal.

Treatment

People with genital warts have a variety of treatments to choose from, but none is a perfect cure. The treatments vary widely in cost. Genital wart treatments fall into three categories: prescription topical preparations that destroy wart tissue; surgical methods that remove wart tissue; and biological-based approaches that target the virus causing the underlying condition. Each treatment must be applied to individual warts - none is taken systematically.
Home remedies and naturopathic/homeopathic treatments don't work! Talk to all sex partner(s) who may have been exposed. Encourage them to get tested. Both partners need to be treated to avoid reinfection. Avoid vaginal, anal and oral sex until your physician says it's okay so you don't get reinfected, or spread the disease to others. Typically this is during your treatment and for seven days following antibiotic therapy – your physician will advise you accordingly. Follow your treatment plan and finish all medications, even if you feel well. Follow up exams can make sure treatment was effective.

What is a Lipoma: Symptoms

A lipoma is a growth of fatty tissue that slowly develops under your skin. People of any age can develop a lipoma, but children rarely develop them. A lipoma can form on any part of the body, but they typically appear on the: neck, shoulders, back, abdomen, arms and thighs. They’re classified as benign growths, or tumors, of fatty tissue. This means a lipoma isn’t cancerous and is rarely harmful.

Source

Symptoms

There are many types of skin tumors, but a lipoma usually has distinct characteristics. If you suspect that you have a lipoma it will generally:

• be soft to the touch
• move easily if prodded with your finger
• be just under the skin
• be pale
• be colorless
• grow slowly

Risk Factors

• adiposis dolorosa (a rare disorder characterized by multiple, painful lipomas)
• Cowden syndrome
• Gardner’s syndrome
• Madelung’s disease

Diagnosis

Doctors can often diagnose a lipoma by performing a physical exam. It feels soft and isn’t painful. Also, since it’s made up of fatty tissues, the lipoma moves easily when touched.

Treatment

A lipoma that’s left alone usually doesn’t cause any problems. However, your dermatologist can treat the lump if it bothers you. Your dermatologist will make the best treatment recommendation based on a variety of factors including:

• the size of the lipoma
• the number of skin tumors you have
• your personal history of skin cancer
• your family history of skin cancer
• whether the lipoma is painful

What Is Hyperalgesia: Causes and Symptoms

Hyperalgesia is a condition where a person develops an increased sensitivity to pain. What may not hurt most people can cause significant pain in an individual with hyperalgesia. Although there are many potential causes associated with hyperalgesia, the condition is thought to be the result of changes to nerve pathways, which cause a person's nerves to have an overactive response to pain. Medications are available to prevent a person's symptoms from worsening.

Source

Causes
There are several nerve or "pain" pathways in the body where signals can start to miscommunicate with each other, resulting in hyperalgesia. Some scientists think that hyperalgesia occurs when chemicals known to reduce pain are disrupted; others propose that hyperalgesia happens when "crossed wires" in the nervous system prevent pain signals from transmitting accurately.

Types
Doctors usually divide hyperalgesia into primary and secondary categories. Both of these conditions are due to initial tissue trauma and inflammation.

Primary hyperalgesia
This type of hyperalgesia is when the increased pain occurs in the tissue where the injury took place. An example would be when a person has surgery on their elbow, and the pain starts to worsen over time instead of improving.

Secondary hyperalgesia
This type occurs when the pain seems to spread to non-injured tissue or tissues.
Another kind of hyperalgesia is opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH). OIH occurs when a person experiences worsening or new pain as a result of taking opioids, such as morphine, hydrocodone, or fentanyl for pain relief.

Treatment
If hyperalgesia is opioid induced, a doctor may reduce the dosage. While a person may experience an initial increase in pain due to these changes, this frequently gives way to a reduced pain experience in those with hyperalgesia. A doctor may also try to prescribe an alternative, non-opioid medication.
There are also different classes of opioids a doctor could prescribe. One example is methadone, a medication that relieves pain, yet has been shown to prevent or reduce OIH. However, it is still possible that a person could have hyperalgesia while taking methadone. Another medication is buprenorphine, which can help to reduce the incidence of hyperalgesia by blocking receptors in the brain and spinal cord.

Ketamine, which also blocks certain receptors, is another option. All of these medications, as well as methadone, require close medical supervision. Another option is a muscle or nerve block, which uses a local anesthetic to numb or delay painful nerve impulses. Sometimes, treating hyperalgesia requires a trial-and-error approach, with frequent adjustments to medication until a person achieves a reduced pain experience.

Symptoms
The chief symptom of hyperalgesia is an increasingly extreme reaction to painful stimuli without any new injuries or worsening of a medical condition. An example would be a surgical incision that becomes more painful over time, yet the wound is not infected, and a person has not experienced any further injury.Hyperalgesia is different from tolerance to medications although the two processes are similar.

If a person develops a tolerance to a particular drug, it usually means that their body has become accustomed to the presence of the drug at the current dosage, and the drug is no longer working properly. When a person has developed a tolerance to a drug, increasing the dosage will usually decrease a person's pain.
Drug tolerance is different from hyperalgesia, where increasing pain medication will not reduce the amount of pain a person feels. Sometimes, increasing the pain medication makes the person's pain worse.

Another similar medical condition is allodynia. This condition is where a person develops a significant pain response to non-painful stimuli. Even brushing against a person's skin can cause pain.In hyperalgesia, a person has experienced a painful stimulus, such as cancer pain or pain following surgery, but their response to the pain is greater than the expected level of pain.
A doctor may increase a person's pain medication to determine if hyperalgesia is the cause. If the additional pain medication does cause more pain, it is possible the condition is hyperalgesia. Currently, there are no definitive diagnostic tests for hyperalgesia.

What Causes Breathlessness?

Sudden shortness of breath, or breathing difficulty (dyspnoea), is the most common reason for visiting a hospital accident and emergency department.It's also one of the most common reasons people call 911 for an ambulance.It's normal to get out of breath when you've overexerted yourself, but when breathlessness comes on suddenly and unexpectedly, it's usually a warning sign of a medical condition.

Source

Causes

Sudden and unexpected breathlessness is most likely to be caused by one of the following health conditions. Click on the links below for more information about these conditions.

A problem with your lungs or airways

Sudden breathlessness could be an asthma attack. This means your airways have narrowed and you'll produce more sticky mucus (phlegm), which causes you to wheeze and cough.
You'll feel breathless because it's difficult to move air in and out of your airways.

A heart problem

It's possible to have a "silent" heart attack without experiencing all the obvious symptoms, such as chest pain and overwhelming anxiety.In this case, shortness of breath may be the only warning sign you're having a heart attack. If you or your GP think this is the case, they'll give you aspirin and admit you to hospital straight away.

Heart failure can also cause breathing difficulties. This life-threatening condition means your heart is having trouble pumping enough blood around your body, usually because the heart muscle has become too weak or stiff to work properly. It leads to a build-up of water inside the lungs, which makes breathing more difficult.

Panic attack or anxiety

A panic attack or anxiety can cause you to take rapid or deep breaths, known as hyperventilating. Concentrating on slow breathing or breathing through a paper bag should bring your breathing back to normal.

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the likely cause of your breathlessness. You will be strongly encouraged to stop smoking if you are a smoker. It will also help if you lose weight if you are overweight.You will probably be referred to a heart specialist (a cardiologist) or to a lung (respiratory) specialist, for further tests, depending on the most likely underlying cause. Most cases will be managed by your GP but you may be referred for further investigation and treatment at a hospital.

Blood in Semen: Causes and Symptoms

Seeing blood in the semen can make a man anxious. Fortunately, it doesn't always signal a major medical problem. For men younger than 40 with no related symptoms and no risk factors for underlying medical conditions, blood in semen often disappears on its own. But for men 40 and over, chances are higher that blood in the semen needs evaluation and treatment.

Source

Causes

Blood in the semen can come from several different sources:

• Infection and inflammation. This is the most common cause of blood in the semen. Blood can come from an infection or inflammation, in any of the glands, tubes, or ducts that produce and move semen from the body. These include:
• Prostate (the gland that produces the fluid part of semen)
• Urethra (the tube that carries urine and semen from the penis)
• Epididymis and vas deferens (tiny tube-like structures where sperm mature before ejaculation)
• Seminal vesicles (which add more fluid to the semen)
• It can also come from an STI (sexually transmitted infection) such as gonorrhea or chlamydia, or from another viral or bacterial infection. Infection and inflammation are the culprits behind nearly four out of every ten cases of blood in the semen.
• Trauma or a medical procedure. Blood in the semen is common after medical procedures. For instance, as many as four out of five men may temporarily have blood in their semen following a prostate biopsy.

Symptoms

When looking for an underlying cause of blood in the semen, the doctor will ask about any related symptoms, including:

• Blood in the urine (called hematuria)
• Hot, burning urination or other symptoms of painful urination
• Difficulty emptying your bladder completely
• A painful bladder that feels distended
• Painful ejaculation
• Swollen or painful areas on the sex organs or obvious scrapes from injury
• Penis discharge or other signs of an STD
• Fever, racing pulse, and higher-than-normal blood pressure

Treatment

In younger men, blood in the semen that happens just once or twice without any additional symptoms or history of certain medical conditions can disappear on its own without treatment. If you have repeated episodes of blood in the semen along with painful urinary or ejaculatory symptoms, the doctor may refer you to a urologist.

Lump Under Armpit: Causes and Symptoms

Armpit lumps are very common and are normally caused by a swollen lymph node or gland under the armpit. However, there are many other causes for armpit lumps, some of which may require treatment. Fortunately, there are many treatments for lumps that appear under the arm, depending on what has caused them. A doctor can diagnose the underlying cause of an armpit lump and prescribe the proper treatment.



Source

Causes
There could be a number of potential causes of armpit lumps. Most armpit lumps are harmless and the direct result of abnormal tissue growth.However, armpit lumps may indicate a much more serious underlying health issue. If this is the case, it will most likely require medical intervention.Some of the most common causes of armpit lumps include:

• noncancerous, fibrous tissue growth (fibroadenoma)
• cysts or fluid filled sacs
• allergic reactions to deodorant, antiperspirant, or soap
• viral or bacterial infections
• infections that drain into the lump in the armpit
• fatty growths (lipomas)
• adverse reactions to vaccinations
• fungal infections
• lupus
• breast cancer
• lymphoma
• leukemia

Symptoms
The most obvious symptom of an armpit lump is the lump itself. The lumps can range in size from very tiny to quite large.The texture of the armpit lump may vary according to what is causing it. For example, a cyst, infection or fatty growth may feel soft to the touch. However, fibroadenomas and cancerous tumors may feel hard and immobile.Some people may experience pain with an armpit lump. Painful lumps are often associated with infections and allergic reactions, which cause softer lumps. Lymph node infections may also cause painful lumps in the armpit.

Difference in men and women
Armpit lumps occur in both men and women of all ages and many of these are harmless. However, women should be particularly aware of armpit lumps as they may indicate breast cancer.Women should perform monthly breast self-exams and see a doctor for routine exams. If a woman finds a lump, she should report the lump to her doctor right away.
A man can generally wait to see a doctor unless they notice warning signs indicating the lump is serious. This is because men are far less likely to find a lump in the armpit that is due to breast cancer. However, although rare, men can also develop breast cancer.

How to tell if an armpit lump is serious
Any new or newly discovered lump on the body could cause concern. However, not all lumps are harmful or even painful. The seriousness of a lump can be best determined through medical examination and sometimes additional testing.Warning signs that may indicate a more serious armpit lump include:

• gradual enlargement
• no pain
• does not go away

If a person experiences or notices any of these symptoms, or has any doubts about the lump, they should see their doctor as soon as possible who can rule out more serious causes. Of course, any unusual lumps should be carefully evaluated.
When a person sees a doctor about an armpit lump, the doctor will generally start by asking them questions about the lump. The doctor may ask about any pain or discomfort the person is experiencing. In addition, the doctor will perform a physical examination. This examination should include a hand palpation or massage to determine the consistency and texture of the armpit lump. This procedure allows the doctor to thoroughly examine the lymph nodes.

Newborn Fever: Symptoms and Treatment

Kiss or touch your baby's forehead. If you think he feels hotter than normal, you're probably right. A higher-than-normal body temperature is called a fever. A fever is usually a sign that the body is waging a war against infection. Taking your baby's temperature can confirm your suspicions and help you and your child's doctor figure out the best way to get your baby back on the road to health. Most doctors – and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) — agree that a normal body temperature for a healthy baby is between 97 and 100.3 degrees Fahrenheit. If your baby's rectal temperature is 100.4 degrees or higher, he has a fever.

Source

Symptoms

• A temperature reading isn't the only indication of whether a fever is serious.
• Age is a factor: Fever is more serious in babies under 3 months.
• Behavior is another factor: A high fever that doesn't stop your baby from playing and feeding normally may not be cause for alarm.

When to call the doctor

You're the best judge of whether your baby is really ill – so do call if you're worried, no matter what his temperature is. Ask your baby's doctor for more specific advice, but generally:
If your baby is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C) or higher, call the doctor immediately. A baby this young needs to be checked for serious infection or disease.
If your baby is 3 months old or older, the most important thing is how he looks and acts. If he appears well and is taking fluids, there's no need to call the doctor unless the fever persists for more than 24 hours or is very high. Ask your doctor for additional guidance: For example, the doctor may suggest calling right away if your baby's fever reaches 104 degrees, regardless of symptoms.

Treatment

Since fever is part of the body's defense against bacteria and viruses, some researchers suggest that an elevated temperature may help the body fight infections more effectively. (Bacteria and viruses prefer an environment that's around 98.6 degrees F/ 37 degrees C.) A fever also tells the body to make more white blood cells and antibodies to fight the infection.
On the other hand, if your baby's temperature is too high, he'll be too uncomfortable to eat, drink, or sleep, making it harder for him to get better.
When a baby has a fever that isn't accompanied by a runny nose, a cough, vomiting, or diarrhea, figuring out what's wrong can be difficult. There are many viral infections that can cause a fever without any other symptoms. Some, such as roseola, cause three days of very high fever followed by a light pink rash on the trunk. Pay attention to all of these symptoms in order to keep your baby healthy and happy.