Diseases & conditions A-Z List
Diseases & Conditions A-Z List - «B»:
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Becker muscular dystrophy
Becker muscular dystrophy is an inherited disorder that involves slowly worsening muscle weakness of the legs and pelvis.
Causes
Becker muscular dystrophy is very similar to Duchenne muscular dystrophy, except that it gets worse at a much slower rate.
The disorder is passed down through families (i...
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Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome is a congenital (present from birth) growth disorder that causes large body size, large organs, and other symptoms.
Causes
The cause of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome is unknown, but it may be genetic. Most cases are associated with a defect in chromosome number 11.
Infancy...
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Bedwetting
Bedwetting is involuntary urination in children over 5 to 6 years old. It may occur at any time of the day or night. This article focuses on nighttime bedwetting.
See also: Incontinence
Causes
Children develop complete control over their bladders at different ages. Nighttime dryness is usually th...
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Bee poison
Bee poisoning is caused by a sting from a bee, wasp, or yellow jacket.
This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or the National Poison Control Center at...
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Behavior - unusual or strange
Unusual or strange behavior involves performing actions that are not normal for the person.
Considerations
Unusual or strange behavior may include:
Loss of memory that continues over time or gets worse
Loss of the ability to concentrate and perform other mental tasks
Causes
There are many causes ...
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Being active after your heart attack
You had a heart attack and were in the hospital. You may have had angioplasty and had a stent placed in an artery to open a blocked artery in your heart.
See also:
Angina - discharge
Heart attack - discharge
What to Expect at Home
While you were in the hospital, you should have learned:
How ...
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Being active when you have heart disease
Getting regular exercise when you have heart disease is important. It can help you in these ways:
Exercise can make your heart muscle stronger, just like it makes other muscles stronger. It may also help you be more active without chest pain or other symptoms.
Exercise may help lower your blood pre...
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Belching
Belching is the act of bringing up air from the stomach. It produces a characteristic (typical) sound.
Considerations
Belching is most often a normal process. The purpose of belching is to release air from the stomach. Every time you swallow, you also swallow air, along with fluid or food.
As the a...
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Bell's palsy
Bell's palsy is a disorder of the nerve that controls movement of the muscles in the face.
Damage to this nerve causes weakness or paralysis of these muscles. Paralysis means that you cannot use the muscles at all.
Causes
Bell's palsy affects about 30,000 - 40,000 people a year in the United States...
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Bence-Jones protein - quantitative
A quantitative Bence-Jones protein test measures the specific level of abnormal proteins (Bence-Jones proteins) in your urine.
How the Test is Performed
A clean-catch (midstream) urine sample is needed.
Men or boys should first wipe clean the head of the penis. Women or girls need to wash the area ...
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Benign
The term "benign" refers to a condition, tumor, or growth that is NOT cancerous. This means that it does not spread to other parts of the body or destroy nearby tissue. Benign tumors usually grow slowly.
In general, a benign tumor or condition is not harmful. However, this is not always the case. If...
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Benign ear cyst or tumor
Benign ear cysts are noncancerous lumps or growths in the ear.
Causes
Sebaceous cysts are the most common type of cysts seen in the ear. They are bulging, sac-like collections of dead skin cells and oils produced by oil glands in the skin.
They commonly occur:
Behind the ear
In the ear canal
In t...
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Benign positional vertigo
Benign positional vertigo is a condition in which a person develops a sudden sensation of spinning, usually when moving the head. It is the most common cause of vertigo.
Causes
Benign positional vertigo is due to a disturbance within the inner ear. The inner ear has fluid-filled tubes called semici...
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Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) - resources
The following organizations provide information on benign prostate hyperplasia (prostate enlargement):
American Urological Association Foundation - www.auafoundation.org
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse - www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov
Alternative Names
Resources - beni...
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Beriberi
Beriberi is a disease in which the body does not have enough thiamine (vitamin B1).
Causes
There are two major types of beriberi:
Wet beriberi affects the cardiovascular system.
Dry beriberi and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome affect the nervous system.
Beriberi is rare in the United States because m...
