Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 8-25-17

Health
If you have a sharp pain in the lower right part of your belly, are vomiting, and have a fever, it could be appendicitis. If you have these symptoms, go to the ER. An in- fected appendix may need surgery. If it bursts, it can spread the infec- tion inside your body. This can cause serious complications.
These grow on or in the wall of the uterus. While they’re some- times called fibroid tumors, they are not cancerous. Fibroids are common in women in their 30s and 40s. They usually don’t cause prob- lems. But some women may have pressure in the belly, low back pain, heavy periods, painful sex, or trou- ble getting pregnant. Talk with your doctor if you need treatments to shrink or remove them.
Do you have belly pain, cramps, bloating, and diarrhea or constipa- tion that keeps coming back? Talk to your doctor to figure out the problem. It could be IBS, some- times called spastic colon. Doctors aren’t sure what causes it. Diet changes, stress management, and medications may help.
These are globs of salt and min- erals that your body tries to get rid of in urine. They can be as tiny as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. And boy can they hurt! Your urine may turn pink or red from blood. See your doctor if you think you have a kidney stone. Most will pass out of your system on their own, but some need treatment. Even if they can pass on their own, your doctor can help with pain medication and will tell you to drink lots of water.
Do you have to pee often, or does it hurt when you do? Or do you feel like your bladder is full? It could be a UTI. This happens when germs get into your uri- nary tract. Treating it quickly can keep it from it getting seri- ous. But if it spreads to the kid- neys, it can cause serious damage. Signs of a kidney infec- tion include fever, nausea, vom- iting, and pain in one side of the lower back.
Pelvic pain is a warning sign of some STDs. Two of the most common are chlamydia and gon- orrhea (shown here through a microscope). You often get both at the same time. They don't al- ways cause symptoms. But when they do, you may have pain when you pee, bleeding between periods, and abnormal vaginal discharge. See your doctor. It’s also important to get partners checked and treated, too, so you don’t pass the infection back and forth.
PAGE 8-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 2017