Causes of Armpit Lumps other than Cancer
A lump in you armpit doesn’t necessarily mean cancer, because it more likely has a benign cause.
Have you recently discovered a lump in your armpit and immediately thought, “It’s cancer!”?
Relax, because chances are in your favor that the lump under your arm does not have a life-threatening cause.
It’s just that the discovery of a lump — whether visible or only detectable with probing fingers — is one of the warning signs that we’ve all learned can be caused by many different cancers.
Cancers that are infamous for causing lumps that are first detected by the patient include that of the breast, prostate, testicles, lymph nodes, bone and inside the mouth.
Origin of Most Underarm Lumps
“In general, armpit lumps are from lymph glands or sweat glands,” says Dr. Steven Lamm, MD of internal medicine, who appears regularly as the house doctor on ABC’s “The View,” and author of “No Guts, No Glory,” a book about digestive issues.
Dr. Lamm continues, “Lymph glands can swell from infections anywhere in the arm or from a generalized infection.
“Sweat glands, also, can get blocked and swollen. The most common condition is called hidradenitis.”
Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic skin inflammatory condition that can last for years, characterized by blackheads and at least one tender bump that can get bigger, break open and ooze pus.
The armpits and groin are common locations.
Finally, a cause of a “lump” under the arm can simply be your natural lymph node.
Some years ago while performing a self-breast exam I found a lump under my arm, and could not locate a mirror image of it on the other side—initially, that is.
Eventually I was able to feel around my other armpit and locate a similar lump in the same relative location.
Variations in sinew and muscle can account for why, on one side, there seems to be a “lump,” while on the other side, there’s none there.
On the clinical faculty in internal medicine at New York University Medical Center, Dr. Lamm has maintained a private practice in NYC for 30+ years.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Freepik/valuavitaly
Why Vomiting Can Be Triggered by Anxiety
Are you thinking that anxiety causes vomiting because it’s the body’s way of unloading something useless for the imminent “flight or fight” situation?
Anxiety can be chronic or acute. People will vomit upon seeing a mashed raccoon on the road (acute stress) or periodically upchuck from the stress caused by battling an ex for custody of the kids.
So it’s no secret that some people will vomit during intense episodes of anxiety, but what’s the mechanism behind this?
Have you ever known anyone who vomited as a result of a lot of anxiety?
Of course, people have been known to upchuck even upon smelling something horrible such as rotten fish.
Anxiety, Stress and the Gut
Freepik.com, Diana.grytsku
“Anxiety causes the brain to send a signal to the stomach through the vagus nerve, causing changes in the physiology of the gut,” says Dr. Steven Lamm, MD, of internal medicine, who appears regularly as the house doctor on ABC’s “The View,” and author of “No Guts, No Glory,” a book about digestive issues..
Dr. Lamm continues, “In addition, anxiety causes changes in the center of the brain involved with nausea as well.
“It’s not uncommon for an anxious person to feel they need to vomit. But this is with extreme anxiety.”
An exercise regimen can help combat the physical effects of chronic anxiety.
Ideally, an exercise program should consist of both aerobic activity and weight bearing activity.
Yoga is another form of exercise that can help a person manage anxiety and its fallout including nausea and vomiting.
On the clinical faculty in internal medicine at New York University Medical Center, Dr. Lamm has maintained a private practice in NYC for 30+ years.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: ©Lorra Garrick
Can Mononucleosis Cause Bleeding in the Throat?
Mononucleosis indeed can cause a bloody throat, says a physician.
What should you think if you look into your teenager’s throat and see blood?
Mononucleosis wouldn’t be the first thing that came to your mind if your child, or you yourself, had bleeding in the throat, unless you already suspected this viral infection.
My niece has mononucleosis and at one point, her mother peered into her throat and saw what was described as “bloody.”
So I asked a physician if this can be a consequence of this illness.
“Yes, mono is a viral fungus causing significant inflammation of the tonsils,” says Dr. Steven Lamm, MD, of internal medicine, who appears regularly as the house doctor on ABC’s “The View,” and author of “No Guts, No Glory,” a book about digestive issues.
Dr. Lamm adds, “Severe inflammation can actually cause inflammation to the point of bleeding. This, however, is very rare.”
According to mayoclinic.com, here are the more common symptoms of this infection (bleeding is not listed):
Sore throat, swollen tonsils, fatigue and weakness, fever, swollen lymph nodes in the armpits and neck, skin rash, headache, loss of appetite, swollen spleen and night sweats.
Mayoclinic.com says that the incubation for the virus is four to eight weeks, but in kids it can be shorter.
The reason mononucleosis is dubbed “the kissing disease” is because it’s spread through saliva.
Though blood in the throat can be scary, this does not mean a serious complication.
On the clinical faculty in internal medicine at New York University Medical Center, Dr. Lamm has maintained a private practice in NYC for 30+ years.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Prostock-studio
How Long Can Chest Pain from a Panic Attack Last?
The chest pain that comes from a panic attack can last surprisingly long, tricking you into thinking you’re having a heart attack in progress.
On the other hand, a panic attack may cause chest pain that lasts only a very short period of time.
A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear or discomfort, often accompanied by physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat, pain in the chest, sweating, trembling and shortness of breath.
It can be overwhelming and may feel like you’re losing control or having a heart attack.
How long can chest pain from a panic attack actually last?
“Minutes to hours,” says Dr. Steven Lamm, MD, of internal medicine, who appears regularly as the house doctor on ABC’s “The View,” and author of “No Guts, No Glory,” a book about digestive issues.
“It can certainly be confused with heart attack,” adds Dr. Lamm.
Chest pain from coronary artery disease (in the absence of an imminent heart attack), as well as from severely blocked coronary arteries in which a heart attack is imminent, can last a few minutes to a few hours.
“From coronary disease, it’s generally initiated by exercise and relieved by rest,” says Dr. Lamm.
In the case of my mother, prior to her quintuple bypass surgery, chest discomfort would be triggered by a few minutes of housework, then relieved upon sitting down.
However, two days before her surgery, the chest pain occurred while she was sleeping. It had awakened her and persisted for two hours.
Something to consider: What if you’re having chest pain or some kind of discomfort in that region, but you do not feel panicky or are not behaving or thinking in a way that’s classic for a panic attack?
For instance, a sudden, intense feeling of being out of control and that death is moments away are a few classic features.
So if you’re minus these hallmark symptoms of a panic attack, you just might be having a problem with your heart.
Dr. Lamm continues, “Panic disorders often occur at rest and can theoretically diminish w/exercise.”
If you feel a panic event coming on, do some pushups or jumping jacks and see what happens. I can speak from experience.
I’ve had more than one panic attack (no trigger), and for one of the events, I did pushups and the episode quickly disappeared.
Dr. Lamm says that the chest pain with coronary artery disease has a crescendo pattern.
This means that the pain steadily gets worse and worse when it occurs. “With panic, it’s generally a steady pain that can come and go.”
On the clinical faculty in internal medicine at New York University Medical Center, Dr. Lamm has maintained a private practice in NYC for 30+ years.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: ©Lorra Garrick
Climbing Hand Pain & Cramps from Climbing: Solution
Did you hurt your fingers rock or wall climbing and now they’re too painful to crimp or grip hand-holds or even do any kind of pulling?
Other symptoms of this common climbing injury are that of awakening with stiff, crampy fingers, and also you feel cramping or pain when trying to grip something, or holding something heavy that has a handle where you curl your fingers around.
The remedy I’m about to describe is based on my own climbing experience, after diagnosing myself with annular flexor pulley injury.
I did hand grips for three weeks and also avoided climbing altogether, and after three weeks, there was NO improvement whatsoever.
I then found a rehab website that said the solution is eccentric exercise (the site then charged a fee for more details). Fortunately, as a personal trainer, I knew what eccentric exercise meant.
Remember that I said hand grips were useless? That’s because I used them the standard way. Use them eccentrically.
To heal painful fingers from climbing
Assume that your symptoms are as described in this article, and especially if you believe that the injury is the result of hanging too much body weight while supporting yourself with a two- or three-finger hold, or pulling yourself up on such a hold:
- Position your grip on a V-shaped hand gripper tool.
- With free hand, close your gripping hand while it holds the gripping tool. Do not squeeze the gripping tool closed with your injured fingers! Let your other hand do this.
- After closing your hand with your free hand, release your free hand, and keep the gripping tool closed.
- Now, VERY SLOWLY release the grip. Do this VERY SLOWLY. The release should take at least 7 seconds, up to 10, depending on the tool’s tension.
IMPORTANT: There should not be any pain. If you feel scary pain, STOP and consult with a physician. My fingers were not swollen and I had no reason to believe anything was torn.
The exercise did not cause me pain, and unless you have a serious injury, it should not cause you pain.
- Once it’s released, close your hand back up with your free hand, and repeat the SLOW release.
- Do this eight times, then switch hands if the other is also injured. Do three sets per hand…three times a day.
- After every session, soak your painful fingers in hot water for 15-20 minutes to increase blood circulation—something I decided to do at the onset of the eccentric program.
Thus, I don’t know what percentage the exercise contributed to healing my climbing injury, versus the hot water—but do BOTH.
You’ll need to replenish the water if it’s in a bowl to keep it hot. Keep fingers completely submerged.
The starting point for the water should be hot enough that you can barely tolerate the submersion. Warm is not good enough. It must be HOT. If you can’t maintain submersion, wait a few minutes.
Within a few days of doing this, I finally began feeling an improvement in my hurting fingers—and the situation resolved.
As you feel definite improvement, go up to 10 reps, then 12. Give it time; the cure to this climbing injury won’t be overnight.
This plan is well-worth the try to heal painful or cramping fingers from the typical climbing injury.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Burning, Sharp or Stabbing Pain Near the Vagina: It’s for Real
If you suffer from a stabbing or burning pain near your vagina, it has a name, and more women than you think have it.
According to one study (Reed et al, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology), over 25 percent of women have experienced stabbing, burning or sharp pain about their vagina.
“Causes are vulvodynia, vestibulitis, Bartholin cyst or abscess, any type of vaginitis, herpes simplex, round ligament pain during pregnancy,” says Dr. Vivika Joshi, OB/GYN at Dr. Felix Online Pharmacy.
“Vulvodynia is a poorly understood condition that produces burning and sharp pain around the vaginal opening or vulva,” explains Dr. Joshi.
“Other common symptoms are soreness, stinging, searing, throbbing, rawness, pain and fear of speculum insertion during pelvic exams.
“Pain with intercourse and subsequent relationship problems are commonplace.
“Most of these women avoid activities that aggravate the symptoms such as bike riding, wearing tight jeans or clothes, prolonged sitting; even walking can trigger the pain.”
You now know it has a name and is a well-documented medical condition: vulvodynia.
What’s really alarming about vulvodynia is that, according to the women in the AJOG study, it’s a very much misdiagnosed condition.
Only two percent of the women in the study sought medical attention for the symptoms, not knowing what they had.
Shutterstock/siam.pukkato
However, of these patients, only five percent were diagnosed with vulvodynia.
The misdiagnoses were those of estrogen deficiency or yeast infection. Not surprisingly, the treatments that ensued were useless—evidence supporting the misdiagnoses.
What is the cause of vulvodynia?
“Causes of vulvodynia is presumed to be allergens, history of bedwetting, early age of menarche, and a history of yeast vaginitis — either repeated episodes or one very severe case,” says Dr. Joshi.
“A history of sexual assault has been described as a risk factor, but this has not been substantiated.
“An underlying psychological cause has been disproven since studies show similar psychological profiles in women with vulvodynia.
“Subsequent psychological issues may ensue when a patient is dismissed and not taken seriously with their symptoms.”
Vulvodynia is not “all in the head.” How can anyone imagine stabbing, tearing, stinging pain?
A pain that’s described as burning, sharp or raw is not the product of imagination.
“This is a very real and complicated condition associated with chronic inflammation, increased vascularity and nerve overgrowth,” says Dr. Joshi.
How to Calm Down that Burning, Stabbing Vaginal Pain
“Systemic/oral drugs that target ove active nerves like Gabapentin are more effective than tropical agents that can aggravate the symptoms,” says Dr. Joshi.
“The fact that a ‘nerve calming’ drug like Gabapentin improves symptoms is further proof that this is a real medical condition.
“Avoidance of any chemicals, lotions, perfumed soaps and prolonged exposure to hot tubs is recommended.
“Cold packs for acute pain are a better choice than topical lidocaine.”
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Source: sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110914131354.htm
How Likely Is Rectal Bleeding Caused by Colon Cancer?
The rectum is the lower portion of the colon. What are the odds that any rectal bleeding is a sign of colon cancer?
“Most often there are no symptoms in early stages,” says Dr. Maxwell Chait, MD, gastroenterologist at ColumbiaDoctors Medical Group in Westchester County, NY. By the time a person begins having signs of CC, it’s almost always in an advanced stage.
“Rectal bleeding is only one symptom of colon cancer,” continues Dr. Chait.
“Rectal bleeding is most often microscopic in colon cancer shown by an occult blood test of the stool.
“Less than 20 percent of rectal bleeding cases are due to colon cancer.”
What is this disturbing rectal sign usually more indicative of, then? Dr. Chait says that it’s “more often associated with hemorrhoids, rectal fissure, bleeding from a colon diverticulum,” and the following additional problems can cause the symptom:
A vascular malformation of the colon called angiodysplasia
A saccular out-pouching of the structure
Other common indications of CC include: “Abdominal pain, weight loss and a change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation, narrowing caliber of the stool, depending on the part of the colon where the cancer occurs.”
More colon cancer symptoms occur when the malignancy is on the left rather than right colon.
Dr. Chait urges that people get screening for this disease.
This is done by a colonoscopy, during which the precursor to a malignant tumor, called a polyp, can be removed, thus preventing the disease.
Cancer Research UK
For average people, the time to get the first colonoscopy is at age 45, and then every 10 years after that.
If there is a family history of colon cancer under the age of 65, then a person should begin screening at an earlier age.
Your doctor can recommend what age this should be, based on your and your family member’s medical history.
During a colonoscopy, the patient is comfortably sedated and will often sleep through the procedure, which typically lasts around 30 minutes to up to 45 minutes.
Dr. Chait’s practice interests include digestive conditions such as colon cancer, gastrointestinal endoscopy and internal medicine. He has authored numerous publications in reputed journals.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Ovarian Cancer vs. Colon Cancer: Symptom Comparison
Because symptoms of ovarian and colon cancer overlap quite a bit, women need to be extremely vigilant about what’s going on in their bodies.
Is there a way to tell the difference between ovarian cancer symptoms and those of colon malignancy?
In ovarian cancer, “GI symptoms are common because the ovaries are so close in contact with the GI tract,” says Dr. Maxwell Chait, MD, gastroenterologist at ColumbiaDoctors Medical Group in Westchester County, NY.
“There can be warning symptoms of ovarian cancer and can be present for up to one year before diagnosis.
“They may include intermittent abdominal bloating and distention, change in bowel habits — either diarrhea or constipation often unrelated to meals or specific foods, and lower abdominal pain.”
It’s not uncommon for women with these symptoms to repeatedly visit gastroenterologists to find out what’s wrong, and not even consider seeing a gynecologist.
They may even end up undergoing a colonoscopy (which turns out normal), having no idea that ovarian cancer has brewing all along.
Colon malignancy gets ruled out, and the patient may end up trying all sorts of medications to relieve what she still believes are GI symptoms.
As ovarian cancer becomes more advanced, the symptoms become more persistent and may include unexplained weight loss and urinary problems, adds Dr. Chait.
In ovarian cancer, there are no bloody stools, but this can be a colon tumor symptom.
However, not all CC cases produce visible blood in the stools!
Malignant colon disease can result in very skinny or ribbon-like stools, whereas ovarian malignancy won’t cause this; however, not all colon cancers cause skinny stools!
Both of these diseases can produce the symptoms of:
Alternating Diarrhea with Constipation
Abdominal Pain/Cramping
Unexplained Weight Loss and Fatigue
Appetite Suppression
Bloating
Gas
Nausea
Both can also cause back pain, though OC can cause leg pain and pelvic heaviness that are not part of the symptom repertoire of CC.
Dr. Chait adds the following information:
“If symptoms persist for more than 2-3 weeks, they should see their doctor.
“May first be interpreted as irritable bowel syndrome
“Colon cancer screening is as important for women as for men since no sex difference.” (Screening should begin at age 45 for those at average risk, male or female.)
“You want to find a premalignant lesion as a colon polyp that has no symptoms before a cancer develops.
“GYN exam screening for women with persistent lower GI symptoms.
“You want to find an ovarian cyst or other premalignant lesion before cancer develops.
“Colon and ovarian cancer have an association in the genetic colon cancer disorder HNPCC; 10% of women can also have ovarian cancer.”
Dr. Chait’s practice interests include digestive conditions such as colon cancer, gastrointestinal endoscopy and internal medicine. He has authored numerous publications in reputed journals.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Freepik/gpointstudio
Source: mayoclinic.com/health/ovarian-cancer/DS00293/DSECTION=symptoms
Can Excessive Burping Mean Cancer?
Believe it or not, frequent burping can be caused by several different cancers.
A symptom as seemingly harmless as burping can actually be a sign of cancer.
“Cancer can affect motility of the GI tract, increasing gas and belching either directly by invading the stomach, or by distal and hormonal effects affecting the motility of the upper GI tract,” says Dr. Maxwell Chait, MD, gastroenterologist at ColumbiaDoctors Medical Group in Westchester County, NY.
What cancers can lead to excessive burping?
“Cancers of the organs adjacent to the stomach such as stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, cancer of the liver and biliary tract and pancreas cancer all can do this,” says Dr. Chait.
If stomach cancer is present, burping may be accompanied by other symptoms like persistent nausea, abdominal pain and unexplained weight loss.
Burping can occasionally be a sign of esophageal cancer, especially if it’s accompanied by difficulty swallowing down food, forcing a transition to soft foods and eventually regurgitating food because it can’t go down.
Burping may rarely occur with liver cancer, but if it does, there’ll probably be other symptoms such as suppressed appetite, yellowing of the skin, upper right abdominal pain and fatigue.
Biliary tract cancer blocks bile flow which can lead to buildup of stomach gases: burping.
Pancreatic cancer can lead to gas buildup as well, leading to increased burping.
But burping without other concerning symptoms such as unintentional weight loss or grey bowel movements will not put cancer on the radar for your doctor.
“GERD is one of the most common causes of belching (burping) in the U.S. as well as Western Europe,” adds Dr. Chait.
GERD stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease.
“It is associated with a condition called Barrett’s esophagus,” continues Dr. Chait.
“This is a premalignant disorder of the lower esophagus that is associated with cancer of the esophagus.
“This is one the fastest growing cancers by incidence in the U.S. Remarkably, its highest incidence is in older white males.”
In other words, if you’ve been diagnosed with GERD, it’s absolutely mandatory that you take this seriously and don’t dismiss it as some harmless condition just because you’ve seen goofy TV commercials about “acid reflux.”
Dr. Chait adds, “GERD can be silent, especially in the older population who have reduced symptoms but often more severe disease.
“It can present with only upper abdominal pain or spasm.
“Nighttime GERD may go unnoticed except for poor sleeping and be associated with sleep apnea.
“Other important symptoms are difficulty swallowing, painful swallowing, chest pain, anemia, weight loss or intestinal bleeding. One should see their doctor if any of these symptoms occur.”
Excess burping can also be caused by a hiatal hernia.
A lot of burping may seem funny, but now you know that it can be a sign of cancer and thus warrants a medical checkup.
Dr. Chait’s practice interests include digestive conditions such as colon cancer, gastrointestinal endoscopy and internal medicine. He has authored numerous publications in reputed journals.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Top image: Shutterstock/TunedIn by Westend61
Source: mayoclinic.com/health/hiatal-hernia/DS00099/DSECTION=symptoms
How Are Fibromyalgia Symptoms Similar to Depression’s?
Fibromyalgia symptoms vs. depression symptoms: Just how similar are the symptoms of these conditions anyways?
After all, both cause pain, and both can cause brain fog and fatigue.
Fibromyalgia can leave a person feeling very depressed — after the fact.
And it’s possible to have both these conditions, independent of each other.
“These are two very different conditions,” says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers nationally, and author of “The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution.”
Depression can be primary, or secondary, i.e., the result of a disabling illness.
One in eight people with fibromyalgia have secondary depression, says Dr. Teitelbaum.
“But they are two separate processes, and therefore do need to be addressed separately,” he further explains.
“The problem usually occurs when physicians mistakenly blame the fibromyalgia symptoms on depression, trying to invalidate the person’s illness.
“This is the same as telling somebody with metastatic cancer that they’re just depressed – and then trying to convince the family that the person is crazy and denying them health and disability benefits because of this. It is not only incorrect and unethical, but it is also abusive.”
Symptoms of fibromyalgia
Body-wide pain, sleeping difficulties, considerable exhaustion and even some compromise of mental function.
These symptoms can also describe severe primary depression. In fact, they can also describe low thyroid!
However, a diagnosis of low thyroid can easily be made or ruled out with a blood test.
Can you tell the difference between depression and fibromyalgia?
“Depression is usually associated with sadness and lack of interests,” says Dr. Teitelbaum.
“Fibromyalgia is usually associated with many interests, but with frustration over lack of ability to do them,” he continues.
“Biochemically, they are also very different.” An example is that “cortisol levels are usually high in depression, but tend to be low in fibromyalgia.”
Cortisol is a stress hormone.
“Overall, they are very different conditions, but which may both be present in the same person.”
Dr. Teitelbaum
is a board certified internist and nationally known expert in the fields of fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep and pain.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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