Friday, February 15, 2008

Health Tips for February 15

Health Tip: Painful Urination

Pain while urinating often indicates an infection -- usually in the urinary tract. However, it can also be caused by other conditions, and should always be diagnosed and treated by a doctor.

Here are possible causes of painful urination, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* A urinary tract infection (UTI).
* Gonorrhea or chlamydia, both of which can cause inflammation of the urethra.
* An inflamed prostate.
* Chronic inflammation of the wall of the bladder.
* Inflammation of the vagina.
* Inflammation of the vulva.

Health Tip: Causes for Jaundice

Jaundice occurs when excess bilirubin builds up in the liver, causing the skin and whites of the eyes to develop a yellowish tint. Bilirubin is produced when hemoglobin from red blood cells is broken down by the body.

The Cleveland Clinic offers these possible causes of jaundice:

* A tumor or gallstone obstructing a bile duct.
* Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).
* A narrowing of a bile duct.
* Cirrhosis of the liver.
* Pancreatic cancer.
* Insufficient blood supply to the liver.
* Congenital defects affecting bilirubin production.
* Malaria.

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