A cough is basically a reflex action so the airways can be cleared of phlegm, mucus and other irritants like dust and smoke. An inflammation of the upper respiratory tract due to a virus could also cause a cough.

Coughing can be symptomatic of many conditions including bronchitis, asthma, the common cold, flu, whooping cough or smoking. There are even some prescribed medicines that can cause coughing such as ACE-inhibitors which are used to treat heart failure.

Sometimes a cough can be a symptom of an underlying serious medical condition such as heart failure, lung cancer, tuberculosis, pneumonia or a pulmonary embolism (which is a clot on the lung). Coughs that have been caused by things like flu or the common cold normally disappear after a few days, but coughs that have been caused by an infection of the lung, such as bronchitis, could persist for several weeks, even after the infection has cleared up and this is due to the inflammation of the airways which usually take a while to clear up.

Cough Mechanism and Receptors

If someone has been suffering from a cough for more than a couple of weeks after having a viral infection, they should go to their doctor for medical advice.

Kidney stones are described as stone-like lumps which can form in either one, or both kidneys. They are quite common, but to understand what they are, we have to discuss the function of the kidneys.

First of all, the kidneys are approximately four inches long and are shaped like a bean. There are two of them in the body and they are located near the back of the abdomen area, one on each side of the spine. The job of a kidney is to remove waste products from our blood and then pass this waste into the bladder along with excess fluids to be disposed of in the urine.

Kidney stones can be categorized into four main types. Calcium stones which are made up of calcium and phosphate or oxalate; struvite stones which are made of ammonia and magnesium (these ones can often be quite large); uric acid stones (the smallest and softest type of kidney stone); and cystine stones which are normally yellowish in color and look like crystals as opposed to stones. All kidney stones can come in different shapes, colors and sizes – from the size of a grain of sand to (in some extreme cases) the size of a golf ball.

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are formed when the waste products collected by the kidney do not dissolve properly in the fluid that will make up the urine, which then forms little crystal-like substances that can accumulate in the kidney. Over time these can form a hard lump that looks like a stone – the kidney stone.

When kidney stones are formed, they will very often try to leave the body via the urinary system, which can create problems, especially if they become blocked.

Vaginitis is the name given to an infection of the vagina.  Symptoms of vaginitis include a sore itching vagina with possible abnormal discharge.  There are various types of vaginitis and each type has its own cause and symptoms.  These different types are yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, non-infectious vaginitis, and trichomoniasis.

Yeast or Candida infections are the most common type of vaginitis and are caused by an excess of the fungus Candida growing in the vagina.  Symptoms of yeast infections include a thick white discharge which causes the vagina to become itchy and red.

Vaginitis

Bacterial vaginosis is a frequent infection which affects women of reproductive age and is caused by bacteria in the vagina.  Symptoms of bacterial vaginosis can include a thin smelly vaginal discharge although some women find they have no symptoms at all and only become aware of the infection during a visit to the gynecologist.

Non-infectious vaginitis can be caused by a reaction to products used such as soaps, fabric softeners, douches, vaginal sprays or spermicidal products.  It can cause the vagina to become itchy or burn and is accompanied by a vaginal discharge.

Trichomoniasis is an infection of the vagina which is caused by a single cell parasite.  This form of vaginitis is a sexually transmitted disease and will cause soreness, itching, and burning of the vagina.  It can also cause a burning feeling when urinating.

Each type of vaginitis has its own treatment.  An anti-yeast infection is used to treat yeast infection.  An antibiotic is used to treat bacterial vaginosis as there is no remedy which can be purchased over the counter.  In order to treat non-infectious vaginitis it is necessary to cease using the product which caused the reaction and a cream can be used to relieve symptoms. Trichomoniasis is treated with an antibiotic but it is important to avoid any sexual contact until it has been treated.