DEFINITION Nosebleeds involve bleeding from the inside of your nose. Many people have occasional nosebleeds, also known as epistaxis (ep-ih-STAK-sis). Nosebleeds may be scary, but generally are a minor annoyance. Frequent nosebleeds are those that occur more than once…
DEFINITION Numbness in one or both hands describes a loss of sensation or feeling in your hand or fingers. Often, numbness in hands may be accompanied by other changes, such as a pins-and-needles sensation, burning or tingling. The arm,…
DEFINITION Runny nose is excess drainage, which may range from a clear fluid to thick mucus, produced by the nasal and adjacent tissues and blood vessels in the nose. The drainage of runny nose may run out of your…
DEFINITION Pelvic pain is pain in the lowest part of your abdomen and pelvis. In women, pelvic pain may refer to symptoms arising from the reproductive or urinary systems or from musculoskeletal sources. Depending on its…
DEFINITION Neutropenia (noo-troe-PEE-nee-uh) is an abnormally low count of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that helps fight off infections, particularly those caused by bacteria and fungi. The threshold for defining neutropenia varies slightly from…
DEFINITION Heel pain is usually focused on the underside or the back of your heel. If your pain is on the underside of your heel, its likely cause is plantar fasciitis. Pain on the back of your heel, where…
DEFINITION Night leg cramps, also called nocturnal leg cramps, are painful, involuntary spasms, aching or contractions of muscles in your legs. In most cases, night leg cramps involve your calf muscles, but muscles in your feet or thighs may…
DEFINITION Peeling skin is damage to and loss of the upper layer of your skin (epidermis). Peeling skin may occur because of direct damage to the skin, such as sunburn or infection. However, peeling skin may also be a…
DEFINITION Numbness describes a loss of sensation or feeling in a part of your body. Numbness often is accompanied by other changes in sensation, such as a pins-and-needles feeling, burning or tingling. Numbness can occur along a single nerve,…
DEFINITION Nipple discharge refers to any fluid that seeps out of the nipple of the breast. Nipple discharge in a woman who’s not pregnant or breast-feeding isn’t necessarily abnormal, but it should be evaluated by a doctor. Nipple discharge…
DEFINITION Almost everyone has sore, aching muscles now and then. Muscle pain (myalgia) can range from mild to excruciating. Though it often goes away in a few days, sometimes muscle pain can linger for months. Muscle pain can develop almost…
DEFINITION Vaginal odor is any odor that originates from the vagina. It’s normal for your vagina to have a slight odor. But, a strong vaginal odor — for instance, a “fishy” smell — might be abnormal and could indicate a…