Kidney Cancer : Symptoms

Abdominal pain; Abnormal urine color (dark, rusty, or brown; Back pain; Blood in the urine; Emaciated, thin, malnourished appearance; Enlargement of the veins around a testicle (varicocele; Flank pain; Swelling or enlargement of the abdomen; Unint...

The causes of kidney cancer are unknown, but there are many risk factors associated with kidney cancer. The risk factors listed from greatest to smallest include: von Hippel-Lindau disease (> 100) An extracted cancerous kidney. ( Photo by Rober...

The causes of kidney cancer are unknown, but men seem to have twice the risk of contracting the disease. There is a strong association between cigarette smoking and kidney cancer. Cigarette smokers are twice as likely as non-smokers to develop kid...

Question: Why does it get harder to lose weight with age? Answer: One must burn more calories than one takes in to lose weight at any age. This can be done either with caloric restriction or with exercise. Although metabolism slows down somewhat as we age, increasing weight with age is usually due to a drop-off in activity while dietary habits stay the same or get worse. See also: Intentional weight loss; Physical activity.

Weight loss is a reduction in body mass characterized by a loss of adipose tissue (body fat) and skeletal muscle.

Weigh Less, Live Longer helps you determine the cause of your excess weight and tailor a plan to your particular needs. Even a modest reduction of 7%-10% of your starting weight can lead to significant improvements in health.

The not-so-secret secret to weight loss is to burn more calories than you eat. This can be done safely and effectively by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

The latest studies conclude that a successful weight-loss plan is a mind/body undertaking that not only involves monitoring calorie intake and expenditure, but dealing with the psychological side of weight loss and habit change.

Out of the millions Americans who are overweight and go on a diet each year, many regain all or a part of the weight they lose within five years.

Moderately intense activities, such as walking briskly from your parked car to the mall entrance and taking your dog for a quick jog after dinner, won't help you train for a sport. But they can help you achieve and maintain a healthful weight and improve your overall fitness level.

The balance of diet studies shows it's not carbohydrates specifically that count, but the total calories and fat consumed.

Walking is a great form of exercise that can be done just about anywhere. If you're trying to lose weight, though, you'll need to do more than a leisurely stroll.

Most people want to lose weight in a hurry, so they go on a fad diet, lose some weight, go off the diet and go back to eating as they always have.

Some diet advice is just plain wrong—and some can be dangerous to your health.You don't have to look far to find diet advice. It's as close as your Web browser, your local bookstore, or that pop culture magazine you leafed through. But how accurate is the information? Some diet advice is just plain wrong—and some can be dangerous to your health.

If you’re starving most of the time or can’t imagine staying on a particular diet past a perceived deadline, you’re on the wrong track.

Experts say the long-term success at weight loss requires a balance between diet and physical activity.

Experts say the long-term success at weight loss requires a balance between diet and physical activity.

Here are strategies that can help you troubleshoot and personalize your weight-loss plan to manage common workplace weight-loss roadblocks.

New types of weight-loss medications may help those who struggle with obesity, but there are some potentially serious side effects. Also, use of such a drug requires a significant adjustment in one's diet and level of physical activity.

The majority of dieters regain the weight they lose within five years. But they could avoid doing so by gradually changing their eating and exercise habits. Your approach to weight loss should be to make changes you can keep up for the rest of your life.

Doctors become most concerned about unintentional weight loss if it reaches more than five percent of the usual body weight (about ten pounds), especially if your weight has not stabilized and continues to go down.

Out of the 90 million Americans who are overweight, 50 million go on a diet each year, according to the National Women's Health Resource Center.

Hypertension is the term used to describe high blood pressure. Blood pressure readings are measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and usually given as two numbers. For example, 120 over 80 (written as 120/80 mmHg. The top number is your systolic pressure, the pressure created when your heart beats. It is considered high if it is consistently over 140; The bottom number is your diastolic pressure, the pressure inside blood vessels when the heart is at rest. It is considered high if it is consistently over 90. Either or both of these numbers may be too high. Pre-hypertension is when your systolic blood pressure is between 120 and 139 or your diastolic blood pressure is between 80 and 89 on multiple readings. If you have pre-hypertension, you are more likely to develop high blood pressure. See also: Blood pressure

Blood pressure is the force with which blood pushes against the artery walls as it travels through the body. Like air in a balloon, blood fills arteries to a certain capacity—and just as too much air pressure can cause damage to a balloon, too much blood pressure can harm healthy arteries. Blood pressure is measured by two numbers—systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure measures cardiac output and refers to the pressure in the arterial system at its highest. Diastolic pressure measures peripheral resistance and refers to arterial pressure at its lowest. Blood pressure is normally measured at the brachial artery with a sphygmomanometer (pressure cuff) in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and given as systolic over diastolic pressure. A blood pressure reading thus appears as two numbers. The upper number is the systolic pressure, which is the peak force of blood as the heart pumps it. The lower number is the diastolic pressure, which is the pressure when the heart is filling or relaxing before the next beat. Normal blood pressure for an adult is 120/70 (on average), but normal for an individual varies with the height, weight, fitness level, age, and health of a person.

Detailed information on high blood pressure, also called hypertension, including symptoms, diagnostic, and treatment information

Also known as high blood pressure, a condition in which too much force is exerted by the blood as it travels through the body's arteries. There are two types of hypertension: primary and secondary. Primary, or essential, hypertension is caused by external factors; secondary hypertension is related to an underlying disorder, such as a congenital heart defect or kidney disease. Factors that increase the risk of high blood pressure include age (the likelihood of hypertension increases with age), race (hypertension is two to three times more common in blacks than in whites), heredity, and being overweight. About 60 million Americans have high blood pressure. Of this number roughly 2.7 million are children between the ages of six and 17. Secondary hypertension occurs in only about 10% of the diagnoses—in the majority of cases the condition has no known cause. However, serious hypertension in infants and young children is usually of the secondary variety. Secondary hypertension also occurs (although less frequently) in adolescents, in whom it can signal a hormonal imbalance, kidney disorder, or other condition. In contrast, primary hypertension is not unusual among adolescents and is also found, though infrequently, in children. Of the two types, secondary hypertension is easier to detect because the symptoms of the underlying condition alert the child and parents that something is wrong. Primary hypertension usually produces no symptoms, a fact that makes it important for children to have their blood pressure tested regularly starting at the age of three. Children and adolescents with high blood pressure have an increased risk of developing hypertension in adulthood. Blood pressure in children is measured the same way as in adults—with the familiar inflatable cuff and meter known as a sphygmomanometer (although a special smaller cuff is used for children). Two figures are used to describe blood pressure. The top figure—known as systolic blood pressure—refers to the level of pressure when the heart contracts to circulate the blood. The lower number—called the diastolic pressure—is based on the reading when the heart is resting. The total pressure is the systolic over the diastolic pressure, expressed in millimeters of mercury (a typical blood pressure reading might be 120 over 80). High blood pressure in adults is defined as a reading higher than 140 over 90. The blood pressure of children is lower than of adults and steadily increases as the child grows older. For example, a normal reading for a three-year-old would be 98 over 64. High blood pressure is diagnosed in children if the average of three readings is higher than that for 90% of children in the same age group. Aside from age, size itself is a factor—larger children have higher blood pressure than smaller ones, whatever their age (a fact taken in account when their blood pressure is assessed). Children should not have their blood pressure taken when they are nervous or agitated. Adolescents should be careful not to ingest any stimulants, such as caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol, in the hours preceding a blood pressure reading. When a child is found to have elevated blood pressure, blood and urine tests and kidney χ rays are commonly taken to rule out any underlying disorder. If the diagnosis is primary hypertension, common treatment measures include a program of increased exercise and dietary modifications to cut down on sodium, especially salt, which is abundant in many foods favored by young people, such as french fries, pizza, potato chips, hot dogs, and hamburgers. Some substitution of healthy snacks such as fruit can help reduce the amount of salt in the diet. If the child is overweight, dietary changes may focus on weight loss. Even a modest reduction in weight can help reduce blood pressure. If other measures do not sufficiently alleviate the hypertension, a medication may be prescribed, usually a diuretic which cuts down

High blood pressure is a sneaky ailment. The condition has no symptoms that you can see or feel. Having your blood pressure checked is the only way to know if it is high.

Knowing the definitions of terms your doctor may use when talking with you about your blood pressure is important.

Each day that your blood pressure is too high, your chances of having a stroke are increased.

This report explains what your blood pressure numbers mean and how hypertension can be prevented and treated by making diet and lifestyle changes. Also includes information on medications.

Detailed information on high blood pressure, also called hypertension, including symptoms, diagnostic, and treatment information

Detailed information on high blood pressure, also called hypertension, including symptoms, diagnostic, and treatment information

Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries as it flows through them. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the body's tissues.

High blood pressure is more common among African Americans than other ethnic groups. Nearly 40 percent of non-Hispanic blacks have hypertension.

Prehypertension is a new term that alerts people to the risk of developing chronic high blood pressure if they don’t take timely steps to improve their lifestyle habits.

When I get up in the morning, my systolic blood pressure is 30 to 50 points higher than it is later in the day (about 110). I am taking three different blood pressure medications. Is this unusual?

High blood pressure has joined type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol on a list of ailments that once struck only adults but now afflict children.

The National High Blood Pressure Education Program (NHBPEP) was established in 1972 by the National Institute of Health to translate research results on the health hazards of high blood pressure into clinical and public health practice. Before 1900, high blood pressure, or hypertension, was not generally recognized as a health problem. Only when a practical method of clinical blood pressure measurement emerged in the early 1900s were associations made between hypertension and subsequent morbidity and mortality. Those associations were confirmed by actuarial statistics, correlating blood pressure levels of life insurance policy holders with subsequent death rates. The associations were also confirmed by observation studies such as the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, which routinely collected information regarding the health status of an entire community. These data showed that as blood pressure rose, deaths from stroke, heart disease, and all causes began to increase. The higher the blood pressure, the greater the chance of dying from a heart attack or stroke. The first controlled clinical trial to test the efficacy of blood-pressure–lowering drugs was designed to occur during a five-year period. The results were so successful that the study was stopped at eighteen months. Those receiving blood-pressure–lowering drugs had fewer cardiovascular events than those taking a placebo. Lowering blood pressure saved lives. The goal of the NHBPEP is to reduce death and disability through programs of professional, patient, and public education. The aim is to raise public awareness about hypertension, to urge hypertensive patients to follow their doctor's advice, and to have clinicians use the available scientific information. The strategies include developing and disseminating educational materials and programs that are grounded in a strong science base and developing partnerships among the program participants. Throughout its history, the NHBPEP has worked to mobilize and coordinate the resources of organizations. The NHBPEP is a network of federal agencies, voluntary and professional organizations, all state health departments, and numerous community-based programs. At the hub of the program is the NHBPEP Coordinating committee, composed of representatives from thirty-eight national professional, public, and voluntary health organizations and seven federal agencies. The program follows a consensus-building process to identify major issues of concern among the participants and to develop program activities. Representatives from the member organizations work together to provide guidance to the program and each other, as well as to develop and promote activities to their own constituencies. This multidisciplinary committee also defines national priorities, examines critical issues, explores future opportunities, sponsors national activities, and promotes collaboration among the program partners. The Coordinating Committee agencies encompass a wide distribution network, supporting a mass media campaign and distribution of educational materials and documents. Among their publications are posters, public service announcements, patient education brochures, and clinical guidelines. Additional activities include designing public health interventions to address the excessive stroke mortality in the Southeast United States; publishing reports describing best treatment practices to control hypertension; conducting demonstration projects at the work site and in urban and rural settings; developing reports and intervention programs regarding hypertension among special populations or situations (e.g., African Americans, hypertensive patients with renal disease or diabetes, children and older Americans); and promoting population strategies for the primary prevention of hypertension. The effectiveness of the NHBPEP can be measured in several ways. In 1972, the year the program began, less than one-fourth o

Did you know you can purchase your own blood pressure monitor and check the reading yourself at home?

While people with high blood pressure are typically told to abstain from alcohol, a study suggests that moderate alcohol consumption may help prevent them from having a heart attack.

A Harvard Medical School doctor discusses possible causes of low blood pressure.

Is it absolutely necessary for a diabetic who does not have high blood pressure to take a blood pressure pill anyway?

Detailed information on high blood pressure, also called hypertension, including symptoms, diagnostic, and treatment information

A healthy blood pressure level can reduce your risk for many serious diseases and increase your longevity.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the most common chronic adult illness in the United States. There is no cure for high blood pressure, but it can be controlled.

High blood pressure (hypertension) is called the silent killer. This is because many people who have it don’t know it. You can take an easy test to see if your blood pressure is too high. If it is high, you can take steps to lower it. Doing so could save your life.

Risk factors are things that make you more likely to have a disease or condition. Do you know your risk factors for high blood pressure?

The FDA has approved a new blood pressure drug that works by inhibiting hte production of renin, a substance made by the kidneys that is the first step in the body's system of regulating blood pressure.

What causes high blood pressure in a 4-year-old? Claire McCarthy, M.D., is a senior medical editor for Harvard Health Publications. She is an instructor in pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, an attending physician at Children's Hospital of Boston, and co-director of the pediatrics department at Martha Eliot Health Center, a neighborhood health service of Children's Hospital. The author of two books, "Learning How the Heart Beats" and "Everyone's Children", Dr. McCarthy was a regular columnist for "Sesame Street Parents Magazine" from 1995 to 1998 and is currently a contributing editor for "Parenting Magazine".

Even if your blood pressure is normal or high-normal, you're still at increased risk for hypertension (high blood pressure), the condition in which your heart works too hard and the resulting forceful blood flow harms arteries.

Prehypertension is a new term that alerts people to the very real risk of developing chronic high blood pressure if they don't take timely steps to improve their lifestyle habits.

In most cases, high blood pressure responds to treatment, but the success of the treatment is up to you.

For those living with high blood pressure, lifestyle changes such as eating a healthier diet, exercising regularly, and losing weight will likely have a positive effect not just on blood pressure, but on overall health.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, isn't limited to those 18 and older.

If you have high blood pressure, you need to know, so you can control it. If you don't, you increase your risk for serious illness.

The number of Americans with high blood pressure has risen steadily since the 1960s, and now tops 65 million.

Is it possible for a blockage in the kidneys to cause high blood pressure? What type of blockage would there be in a kidney?

High blood pressure can contribute to sexual problems, as can some treatments for it.

Hypertension is high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the body's tissues.

Isolated systolic hypertension, when the systolic blood pressure is above 140 while the diastolic pressure is below 90, is caused by stiffening of large arteries. Medication may be prescribed, but lifestyle changes will have more impact on overall health.

A study reports that if the vertebra that supports the skull is misaligned, careful manipulation of it may result in a significant drop in blood pressure.

Hypertension is high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries as it flows through them. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the body's tissues.

The category of prehypertension was established to serve as a warning. Those whose blood pressure reading falls in it should work to lower their pressure through diet, exercise, and weight control, though in some cases medication may be prescribed.

An old theory about the connection between headache and high blood pressure makes a comeback.

Hypertension is high blood pressure . Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries as it flows through them.

Abdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.

New and severe abdominal pain always needs to be closely evaluated by a doctor. It is frequently a sign of serious illness.

Repeated episodes of abdominal pain can arise from a variety of medical causes, including some serious conditions. Everyone who has unexplained abdominal pain requires a medical evaluation by a doctor.

Most of the time, children with mild abdominal pain are not seriously ill; the symptoms go away in a day or two and can be managed at home. However, if your child has severe abdominal pain or has a bellyache along with frequent vomiting, you should contact your child's pediatrician.

Abdominal pain is very common in children, and in many cases there’s no serious cause. But stomach pain can sometimes point to a serious problem, such as appendicitis, so it is important to know when to seek help.

Weakness is a reduction in the strength of one or more muscles.

Pain felt in your lower back may come from the spine, muscles, nerves, or other structures in that region. It may also radiate from other areas like your mid or upper back, a hernia in the groin, or a problem in the testicles or ovaries. You may feel a variety of symptoms if you've hurt your back. You may have a tingling or burning sensation, a dull aching, or sharp pain. You also may experience weakness in your legs or feet. It won't necessarily be one event that actually causes your pain. You may have been doing many things improperly - like standing, sitting, or lifting - for a long time. Then suddenly, one simple movement, like reaching for something in the shower or bending from your waist, leads to the feeling of pain.

Low back pain (LBP) is a common complaint—second only to cold and flu as a reason why patients seek care from their family doctor. It may be a limited musculoskeletal symptom or caused by a variety of diseases and disorders that affect or extend from the lumbar spine. Low back pain is sometimes accompanied by sciatica, which is pain that involves the sciatic nerve and is felt in the lower back, the buttocks, the backs and sides of the thighs, and possibly the calves. More serious causes of LBP may be accompanied by fever , night pain that awakens a person from sleep, loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness, burning urination, swelling or sharp pain.

Sometimes back pain can be caused by a condition that needs immediate medical evolution.

Detailed information on low back pain, including causes, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation

Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal symptom that may be either acute or chronic. It may be caused by a variety of diseases and disorders that affect the lumbar spine. Low back pain is often accompanied by sciatica , which is pain that involves the sciatic nerve and is felt in the lower back, the buttocks, and the backs of the thighs.

Most back pain occurs in the lower back because that's the part of the spine that bears the most weight.

Detailed information on low back pain, including cause, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment

Detailed information on low back pain, including causes, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation

Detailed information on low back pain, including causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment

Back pain is a common complaint: Nearly everyone will have low back pain that interferes with work or daily activities at some point in his or her life.

You likely position yourself differently now than you did before you were pregnant. Did you know that standing, sitting, or lying in certain ways can lead to back pain? To ease pain, use positions that support your body comfortably.

Think through each move before you make it, so you'll use the right muscles for the job. If you practice these safe moves now, they may come naturally to you by the time your baby's born.

The cause of most back pain cannot be identified specifically, and is likely due to a conbination of factors. Imaging tests are not very useful and do not improve the outcome of treatment.

Can you tell me the purpose and basis of VAX-D treatment for spinal problems?

Detailed information on lumbar strain, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

Detailed information on lumbar strain, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

This report details the latest diagnostic techniques and describes treatments, including exercise, home-based therapies, and surgery.

Detailed information on lumbar strain, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

As your body changes during pregnancy, your back must work in new ways. This can be painful if your back isn’t prepared.

If the pain occurs because of an accident or injury, or fever is present, you should see your health care provider immediately. Pain not accompanied by fever or not associated with an accident or injury may not need immediate treatment.

The symptoms in your back or leg may be due to pressure on a nerve. This pressure may be caused by a damaged disk or by abnormal bone growth. Either way, you may feel pain, burning, tingling, or numbness. If you have pressure on a nerve that connects to the sciatic nerve, pain may shoot down your leg.

Low back pain can be caused by problems with any part of the lumbar spine.

Some men are able to successfully treat their lower back pain with medication, but some require additional treatment such as physical therapy, steroid injections, or surgery.

Although back pain tends to be a universal complaint, middle-aged people are more likely than younger and older folks to have back pain that’s related to lifestyle.

Blood in your urine, or hematuria, can be classified as microscopic or gross. Microscopic hematuria is when there is very little blood in the urine and it can only be seen with a microscope; Gross hematuria is when there is enough blood in the urine that you can see it with the naked eye. Uusually it turns toilet water pale pink or bright red, or you may just see spots of blood in the water after urinating.

What Is Hematuria?Blood in your urine is a condition known ashematuria. 

Detailed information on hematuria, including cause, diagnosis, and treatment

A wide range of problems can lead to blood in the urine. Some of the most common causes—such as kidney or bladder stones, enlargement of the prostate, and infection—are often easily treated.

I have been running for 10 years. Just recently, I started seeing blood in my urine just after running. What could cause this?

Urinary tract infections, kidney stones and prostate problems are common reasons for this symptom. Less commonly, blood in the urine can indicate a more serious condition.

Seeing blood in your urine can be a scary thing. This guide will walk you through several questions about your symptoms. Based on your answers, you will learn about the causes of the blood in your urine and what actions you should take.

Painful urination describes any pain, discomfort, or burning sensation during urination.

Fatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.

Fatigue is physical and/or mental exhaustion that can be triggered by stress , medication, overwork, or mental and physical illness or disease.

Boosting Your Energy provides information on the causes and treatments of persistent fatigue. Includes information on aging and energy, eating for energy, and boosting your energy.

Fatigue may be defined as a subjective state in which one feels tired or exhausted, and in which the capacity for normal work or activity is reduced. There is, however, no commonly accepted definition of fatigue when it is considered in the context of health and illness. This lack of definition results from the fact that a person's experience of fatigue depends on a variety of factors. These factors include culture, personality, the physical environment (light, noise, vibration), availability of social support through networks of family members and friends, the nature of a particular fatiguing disease or disorder, and the type and duration of work or exercise . The experience of fatigue associated with disease will be different for someone who is clinically depressed, is socially isolated, and is out of shape, as compared to another person who is not depressed, has many friends, and is aerobically fit.

If you regularly feel weary after waking from a good night’s sleep or for no apparent reason, it’s time to find out why.

Fatigue: TreatmentIf the fatigue is related to a decrease in hemoglobin, or oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, then replacing the red blood cells by transfusion or taking erythropoietin can help reduce fatigue. If the fatigue is not related to...

Fatigue may be defined as a subjective state in which one feels tired or exhausted, and in which the capacity for normal work or activity is reduced. There is, however, no commonly accepted definition of fatigue when it is considered in the context of health and illness. This lack of definition results from the fact that a person's experience of fatigue depends on a variety of factors. These factors include culture; personality; the physical environment (light, noise, vibration); availability of social support through networks of family members and friends; the nature of a particular fatiguing disease or disorder; and the type and duration of work or exercise. For example, the experience of fatigue associated with disease will be different for someone who is clinically depressed, is socially isolated, and is out of shape, as compared to another person who is not depressed, has many friends, and is aerobically fit. Fatigue is sometimes characterized as normal or abnormal. For example, the feeling of tiredness or even exhaustion after exercising is a normal response and is relieved by resting; many people report that the experience of ordinary tiredness after exercise is pleasant. Moreover, this type of fatigue is called acute since the onset is sudden and the desired activity level returns after resting. On the other hand, there is a kind of fatigue that is not perceived as ordinary; that may develop insidiously over time; is unpleasant or seriously distressing; and is not resolved by rest. This kind of fatigue is abnormal and is called chronic . Some researchers regard fatigue as a defense mechanism that promotes the effective regulation of energy expenditures. According to this theory, when people feel tired they take steps to avoid further stress (physical or emotional) by resting or by avoiding the stressor. They are then conserving energy. Since chronic fatigue is not normal, however, it is an important symptom of some mental disorders; of a variety of physical diseases with known etiologies (causes); and of medical conditions that have no biological markers although they have recognizable syndromes (patterns of symptoms and signs). Fatigue is sometimes described as being primary or secondary. Primary fatigue is a symptom of a disease or mental disorder, and may be part of a cluster of such symptoms as pain, fever, or nausea. As the disease or disorder progresses, however, the fatigue may be intensified by the patient's worsening condition, by the other disease symptoms, or by the surgical or medical treatment given to the patient. This subsequent fatigue is called secondary.

Fatigue is physical and/or mental exhaustion that can be triggered by stress , medication, overwork, or mental and physical illness or disease.

Fatigue is a feeling of exhaustion or loss of strength. The duration of fatigue for a patient with cancer has been found to last from one to two times the length of time between diagnosis and completion of treatment, so it is common for fatigue to persist beyond a patient's treatment regimen.

Fatigue: ManagementIf the person on chemotherapy has decreased hemoglobin, or oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, and it seems like the low hemoglobin level will last for a while, then a medicine called PROCRIT® (Epoetin alfa) may be prescribed...

Fatigue: CausesWe currently understand some of the causes of fatigue but not all of them. Fatigue may be related to physical changes caused by cancer or its treatment (chemotherapy, biotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery).

Fatigue: DefinitionFatigue is a vague feeling of being tired, weak, or exhausted. It is often a symptom of cancer, when cancer is first diagnosed, or when cancer progresses (Ferrell et al, 1996).

Many people experience late-in-the-day energy lags, but you can take steps to prevent them.

Oncology: Managing FatigueFatigue is a common side effect of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It can be caused by worry, lack of sleep, and poor appetite.

Fever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature, in response to some disease or illness. A child has a fever when their temperature is at or above one of these levels: 100.4 F (38 C) measured in the bottom (rectally; 99.5 F(37.5 C) measured in their mouth (orally; 99 F (37.2 C) measured under their arm (axillary. An adult probably has a fever when their temperature is above 99 - 99.5 ?F (37.2 - 37.5 ?C), depending on what time of the day it is. See also: Temperature measurement; Heat emergencies.

A fever is any body temperature elevation over 100.4°F (38°C).

Detailed information on fevers in children

A fever is a special cause for concern in infants younger than 3 months of age. Parents and caregivers should be most concerned with changes in eating or sleeping habits, coughing, pain or other marked changes.

Normal body temperature varies somewhat from one individual to another but displays a general range and pattern around the "normal" temperature of 98.6°F. Early morning body temperature may be as low as 97°F, and as high as 99.3°F in the afternoon hours yet still be considered normal. Higher temperatures may be observed in healthy people, but an abnormal elevation (pyrexia) is classified as hyperthermia , or fever. Fever results from a failure in the body's ability to regulate and dissipate heat. Any fever presents an unpleasant and uncomfortable state for the patient. Fever may cause the patient to experience fatigue , chills, sweats, nausea, and—in some cases—life-threatening conditions. When fevers occur in the elderly or the very young, the effects can be more harmful than in individuals who fall between those two age groups. The elderly may experience poor blood circulation, heart failure, an irregular heartbeat, or mental episodes. Children may lapse into fever-induced seizures. It is possible to treat fever with lukewarm sponge baths or bathing, removing excess clothing or bedding, and increasing the patient's fluid intake; however an important treatment is medication that lowers the body temperature to its normal range.

An elevated body temperature. While the standard for normal body temperature is 98.6°F (37°C), normal body temperatures actually fluctuate within a range of one to two degrees, making it impossible to formulate a precise definition of fever based on a specific temperature. Children's temperatures are generally higher than those of adults and fluctuate more widely. They may vary depending on the time of day, the child's emotional state or level of physical activity, the amount of clothing worn, or the surrounding room temperature. In general, temperatures under 100°F (37.7°C) are considered "subfebrile" (i.e., not indicating fever). Rectal temperatures of up to 100.4°F (38°C) may be considered normal. A part of the brain called the hypothalamus acts as the body's thermostat, keeping its temperature at or close to 98.6°F (37°C). When there is an infection (or certain other types of disease), the body's white blood cells produce specific proteins (endogenous pyrogens) that reach the brain through the bloodstream and stimulate the hypothalamus, which signals the body to increase its metabolic rate and consume oxygen faster, resulting in a higher body temperature. Fever is one of the ways the body defends itself against infections. It is commonly caused by viral and bacterial infections, including colds, earaches, and flu. When fever is present, the production of infection-fighting white blood cells is increased, and their effectiveness is enhanced. More serious potential causes of fever include pneumonia, urinary tract infections, appendicitis, and meningitis. Fever can also be caused by non-infectious conditions that produce inflammation—such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and lupus—as well as overexertion, dehydration, allergic reactions, insect bites and stings, and toxic reactions. A child's temperature can be taken in several ways. Rectal temperatures are about half a degree higher than oral ones. A rectal reading is considered more accurate than an oral one, which may be affected by previously eaten hot or cold foods or by a child's breathing. Underarm temperatures are considered reliable for young infants, and new electronic thermometers can measure temperature through the ear. Although fever is generally a cause for concern among parents, high fevers are not necessarily a sign of serious illness. Unlike adult temperatures, the level of a child's temperature does not necessarily indicate the severity of an illness. A mild cold may produce a fever as high as 105°F (40.5°C), while the fever accompanying pneumonia may only be 100°F (37.7°C). The temperatures of newborn infants are particularly unreliable because the baby's temperature control mechanism is not yet adequately developed. Although fevers are generally not dangerous, they are treated because they cause discomfort and can prevent children from getting the sleep and nourishment they need in order to get well. Aspirin was the medication most commonly used to lower fevers until 1980, when researchers found that the use of aspirin to treat children's fevers caused by influenza and chicken pox was associated with Reye's syndrome, a dangerous condition that causes liver impairment and brain damage and can result in coma and eventual death. Since then, acetaminophens (sold under such brand names as Tylenol) have become the most widely recommended drugs for treating fever in children. Acetaminophens, which are available in liquid form, tablets and capsules for oral use, and as suppositories, are effective in treating fever but do not share aspirin's inflammation-reducing properties. Ibuprophen (Advil, Nuprin, etc.) is an effective fever reducer that is also an anti-inflammatory. However, it has not been on the market as long as acetaminophens and has been known to produce allergic and gastrointestinal side effects. A fever can also be reduced one or two degrees by sponging a child wi

Fever is defined as an abnormally high body temperature or a regulated rise to a new set point of body temperature. While a body temperature above 100°F(37.8°C) is considered to be a fever by some clinicians, a significant fever is usually defined as an oral temperature of 102°F (39°C) or a rectal temperature of 103°F(39.5°C). Fever is a sign of inflammation and represents the body's response to microbial invasion or to a disease process. Hyperthermia is defined as abnormally high body temperature caused by disruption of the body's thermoregulatory mechanisms. Hyperthermia occurs when the body's metabolic heat production or environmental heat load exceeds the normal heat loss capacity (or when normal heat loss is impaired).

A fever is any body temperature elevation over 100°F (37.8°C).

One minute you're hot; the next, you're chilled and your teeth chatter. You've got a fever. But look on the bright side: Fever seems to serve a helpful function in the body.

Buying a thermometer isn't as easy as it used to be. You face an array of choices. But the decision doesn't have to be hard. Like temperature, it's a matter of degrees.

Most medical professionals agree a fever by itself is not an illness; it is a symptom of an underlying problem. Fevers actually can be a positive sign the body is fighting an infection. However, a fever can cause discomfort for a child.

A fever is a way for the body to fight infection. But it may also be a sign of a serious illness, especially in children younger than 3 months and children who haven't been immunized. Know when to seek medical care for your child.

Detailed information on fever, including when to call your physician

Use a digital thermometer to take your child's temperature; never use a glass mercury thermometer. Most children aged three years and older can hold a thermometer under their tongue. If your child is younger than that, or you're having difficulty with the oral method, talk to your doctor about the best way to take his temperature.

The best way to take an infant's temperature is rectally with a digital thermometer (never use a glass mercury thermometer). Taking the temperature under the arm, or using an ear thermometer, is less exact.

Detailed information on children and fever, including symptoms and treatment

Hyperthermia involves raising the body's core temperature as a means of eradicating tumors. The treatment simulates fever . Some therapies actually bring on fever through the introduction of fever-causing organisms, while others raise body temperature by directly heating the blood.

Hyperthermia is the use of therapeutic heat to treat various cancers on and inside the body.

Children can become cranky, fussy or irritable for many reasons. Often it's because they're hungry or just tired. But sometimes irritability can be a sign of illness in children.