Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be described as a functional disorder of the body’s gut. There are a few symptoms that could indicate IBS. Some of these include the following: discomfort or pain in the abdomen which tends to come and go but also seems to go away after passing stools; swelling or bloating of the abdomen with more than usual flatulence (passing wind); stools (or faeces) can differ from person to person. Some have diarrhea while some may have constipation, sometimes the stools are small and pellet like, while others they are watery or “ribbony”; nausea, headaches, loss of appetite, fatigue, backache and heartburn are all other symptoms.

The causes of IBS are not as yet very clear. Some doctors believe it has something to do with over-activity of one or many parts of the gut, and this over-activity could cause diarrhea or constipation. Over-activity could be caused by many things, including the nerves or muscles of the gut being overactive; intolerance to some foods; bacteria or infection in the gut; and, reaction to taking antibiotics.

IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Treatments can include eating more fiber in the diet; eating a healthy diet while eating regular meals or avoiding not eating for long periods of time; drinking at least eight cups of non-caffeinated fluids each day while restricting coffee and tea to two or three cups per day.

The testicles are found within the scrotum which is a loose sac of skin hanging down behind the penis.  The function of the testicles is to produce sperm and the male sex hormone testosterone.  Most of the time any lumps or swelling within the testicles are benign but it is natural for people to worry when they have found a lump.

Testicular torsion results in swelling of the testicles if the testicle has become twisted.  This interrupts blood flow and causes a large tender distension.  It often happens in developing boys who are experiencing puberty but has also been know to happen in men in their 20’s although it is quite rare.  Testicular torsion is a medical emergency due to the fact that it needs to be rectified by surgery within 6 hours or there is a risk that the testicle will be lost.

Symptoms of testicular torsion include nausea; vomiting; swelling of the scrotum; fever; abdominal pain; the need to urinate often; and, excruciating pain in one testicle.  The cause of testicular torsion results from a spermatic cord that is too long.  The spermatic cord is where the testicles hang from and in some boys this cord is too long leading to increased movement of the testicle which means the cord becoming twisted.  If it twists too much it will cut off the blood supply and the testicle will die.  Testicular torsion can sometimes just happen for no reason at all or it can be the result of strenuous exercise or other physical activity.

An ultrasound scan can be done to confirm suspicion of testicular torsion. Surgery needs to take place almost immediately to save the testicle.  The surgeon will have to cut the scrotum and untwist the cord.  He will then sew the cord to the scrotum to prevent this happening again.

Testicular Torsion

The common cold can be described as an infection of the higher reaches of the respiratory tract, or in other words the throat, the nasal passages and the nose. It is interesting to note that there are over two hundred different virus’ that can presently cause the common cold, but the main culprit in adults is the rhinoviruses, of which there are a hundred different strains and are classified as nose virus’.

When an individual becomes affected by a cold, the symptoms usually show up around two days later and these include a sore throat, a runny nose and sneezing. Later symptoms can consist of watery eyes, headache, muscle aches, stuffed nose, and a general feeling of being unwell. The symptoms of a cold can last anywhere from two to seven days but in some cases may even last up to two weeks.

Common Cold

People who have a common cold may find that is accompanied by bronchitis, laryngitis, an ear infection or with those who suffer from asthma, a worsening of the condition. Common cold infections are so prevalent that it is estimated that an adult will suffer between two and five colds each year. Because of this, the condition is the leading cause of people missing work days through illness.

Contrary to belief, colds are actually not very contagious when compared to other infections. Prolonged and close contact is required for the virus to spread and it must get into the nose for there to be infection.