Cirrhosis of the liver, or hepatic cirrhosis, is a degenerative late-stage disease of the liver and its complications resulting in scarring(fibrosis) and liver failure.

Cirrhosis is caused by diseases of the liver, such as viral hepatitis(B or C), excessive alcohol consumption, & fatty liver. Every time your liver is injured, by disease or another cause, it repairs itself causing scarring. As the cirrhosis progresses, more scar tissue builds inhibiting liver function which can lead to liver failure, if left untreated.

This disease is most common in adults 50 years of age or older and many times, there aren’t any noticeable symptoms until the condition has progressed to the late stages. Symptoms & treatment options depend on which stage of cirrhosis you are in. Symptoms include fatigue, loss of appetite and/or weight, abdominal pain, weakness, swelling in the legs & ankles, jaundice, dark colored urine & stools, shortness of breath, and blood in vomit.

There are 4 stages of cirrhosis:

Stage I: Steatosis – Inflammation of the bile duct or liver.

Stage II: Fibrosis(Scarring) – Inflammation or scarring begin to obstruct the flow of blood to the liver.

Stage III: Cirrhosis – Due to lack of treatment, scar tissue starts to replace the good tissue in the liver making it hard & lumpy and difficult for blood to flow to the liver.

Stage IV: Liver Failure – Left untreated, will lead to liver failure & death.

Although there is no cure for Cirrhosis, there are medicinal & surgical treatments, as well as lifestyle changes that can be made, depending on the stage of diagnosis.

If you think you’ve been misdiagnosed or would just like a second opinion, reach out to the many doctors online now at www.secondopinions.com to ease your mind.

A migraine is a severe pulsating or throbbing headache that can last for hours or days, and causes sound & light sensitivity and vomiting. It is often located on one side of the head.

Migraines can start at any age, but typically start in adolescence and affect women 3 times more than men. There are four stages to migraines: prodrome, aura, attack and post-drome, although not everyone goes through all stages. About one third of the people affected by migraines experience auras, or visual disturbances, such as flashes of light, bright spots, or temporary vision loss.

Although most migraines go untreated & undiagnosed, you should see a doctor immediately if you have one after a head injury, a severe one like a thunderclap, experience stiffness in your neck, fever, weakness or numbness in your body, double vision, & seizures or if it worsens after a cough, with exertion, or sudden movement. If you experience any of these symptoms an MRI or CT can help a doctor diagnose it.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for migraines, but there are pain relieving & preventative medications.

If you’re experiencing migraines & would like a second opinion, we have doctors online now to help you.

Your health is too important. Don’t get burned by doctors who dismiss symptoms, deny tests or treatment and potentially misdiagnose medical conditions.

Medical gaslighting is undeniably on the rise:

The New York Times recently reported research showing that diagnostic errors occur in 1 out of 7 doctor-patient encounters.
Recently a Today Show segment featured a woman whose symptoms were downplayed by physicians and eventually was found to have a 25-pound ovarian tumor. Doctors told her that her stomach and back pain, vomiting, weakness and hair loss were due to excess weight and depression—her treatment was significantly delayed.

Insider reported on the case of an obese patient who was originally diagnosed with weight-related arthritis, but a second opinion found Lyme disease.

Women are particularly prone to missed diagnoses because medical professionals often view their complaints as overdramatic or exaggerated. People of color and obese patients also face care disparities.

Mistakes may result from a physician’s knowledge gap as well as less than ideal working conditions, with time stretched thin and too little spent with patients. Given that, medical errors are bound to happen.

What can be done to avoid weeks, months or even years of suffering and delayed treatment for an undiagnosed medical condition? Experts recommend getting a second – or even third – opinion. After all, even for simple household repairs, most people get several estimates. But for major medical conditions, they often do not.

SecondOpinions.com offers straightforward online medical consultations with physician experts in dozens of specialties. You can use your existing lab tests, medical images and other data to avoid duplicated costs and the hassle of complicated health insurance claims.
To learn more about advocating for your own health and getting important peace-of-mind, click here to connect with one of our specialists.

Strokes are unfortunately very common, and can be caused by a variety of factors. Strokes occur when blood supply to the brain is blocked or interrupted, which can be caused by blocked or narrowed arteries, or a blood clot. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke, as well as smoking, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Strokes can also be caused by a ruptured aneurysm, or bleeding in the brain. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to prevent a stroke, but it is important to be aware of the risk factors and try to reduce them to lower the risk.

Second Opinions wanted to share with you “Signs of a possible Stroke:”

F – Face drooping

Is one side of the face drooping or numb? Ask the person to smile and look to see if one side of their mouth is drooping.

A – Arm weakness

Is one arm weak or numb? Can the person raise both arms at the same time? If both arms are raised, does one slouch or sag below the other?

S – Speech difficulty

Is speech slurred or hard to understand? Is the person confused?

T – Time to call 911

If someone is experiencing one or more of these stroke symptoms, it’s time to call 911.

IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, can comprise a wide range of gastrointestinal symptoms including abdominal pain and cramps, diarrhea and constipation, among others.

Some facts about IBS:

– The causes of IBS are somewhat mysterious. Some are physical – abnormal intestinal muscle contractions, infections and bacterial overgrowth – while other causes stem from stress and nerves.

-IBS is often diagnosed by process of elimination after ruling out more serious gastrointestinal conditions such as colitis or Crohn’s disease.

-The prevalence of IBS is estimated at 10% to 15% of the population.

So if you’re suffering from IBS symptoms, you’re far from alone. Many would-be patients haven’t yet been diagnosed and might think, “I have a weak stomach” or “I just ate too much of the wrong food” instead of seeking treatment for a medically recognized disorder.
The stress of dealing with this chronic condition can build on itself, causing anxiety about being out in public without reliable bathroom access. Physical symptoms often have a psychological cause, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t real or don’t affect patients’ quality of life.

IBS symptoms range in severity and frequency, with varied effects on physical and mental well-being. As with many conditions, symptoms can also differ between men and women. If you think you may have had an overlooked IBS diagnosis because you don’t fit the classic diagnostic criteria, consider seeking a second opinion. Whether your brain is the cause or not, the physical symptoms in your gut are real, and there are treatment options that may help. Reach out to SecondOpinions.com for a straightforward assessment of your GI symptoms.

Stop what you are doing at this very moment and breathe, thank you for taking a moment to decompress. Did you know that stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension, that presents itself through any event where you may feel frustrated but let us not forget stress is a natural human reaction to changes and challenges that are happening to us and around us. Stress a lot of the time presents itself a lot of them times through our body such as headaches, dizziness or shaking are few of the many ways stress presents itself in the body. Stress is something that cannot be diagnosed with a test, it is the person who is experiencing the stress that can determine how severe it may feel, but do not worry Second Opinions has a solution for your peace of mind.

Physical Symptoms of Stress

• • Aches and Pains
  • Chest Pain or a racing heart
  • Exhaustion or trouble sleeping
  • Stomach problems
  • Trouble having sex
  • Weak immune systems

Even though you cannot avoid stress, here a several ways to help stress from becoming overwhelming by implementing these strategies:

• A short walk can boost your mood.
• Celebrate the Goals you accomplished and what you did not finish.
• Set new weekly and daily goals.
• Consider speaking with a therapist or healthcare provider.

If you need a mental health professional to talk to, Second Opinions can help connect you with a psychologist for your peace of mind.

Thyroid Eye Disease, or TED, is an autoimmune eye disorder that causes swelling and damage to the muscles & other tissues surrounding the eye and is often associated with thyroid and Graves disease.

There are 2 phases of TED: active & stable. The active, or inflammatory, phase can last for up to 3 years, followed by the stable phase which occurs when the swelling has subsided.

TED affects women more often than men & usually occurs around middle age. People with thyroid disease, Graves disease, family history of thyroid issues, & people with low levels of selenium in their blood are more likely to experience Thyroid Eye Disease.

Symptoms of TED range from dry, itchy, red, watery, or gritty feeling eyes, & bulging eyes to double vision, pain behind the eyes, painful eye movements, difficulty closing, & possibly vision loss.

As with the symptoms for Thyroid Eye Disease, the treatments range, as well, depending upon phase & severity. Treatments include lifestyle changes, over-the-counter medication such as selenium supplements & eye drops, & prescription medications to surgery & radiation.

If you or a loved one think you have TED or would like a second opinion, please reach out to the many doctors online now at www.secondopinions.com for peace of mind.

According (National Cervical Cancer Coalition) over 13,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. Most cases can be prevented with the HPV vaccination and annual PAP screenings. We encourage women to learn about cervical cancer prevention.

Cervical cancer starts in the cervix, and it’s the fourth most common type of cancer for women worldwide. Cervical cancer  is one of the most preventable types of cancer and  over the years, it has declined by approximately 2 percent a year. The decline is due to the Pap screening that detects cervical abnormalities and allows for early treatment. According to the NCCC ‘’Most women who have abnormal cervical cell changes that progress to cervical cancer have never had a Pap test or have not had one in the previous three to five years.’’ Cervical cancer is most frequently diagnosed in women between the ages of 35 and 44.

What causes cervical cancer?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is found in about 99% of cervical cancers. Although there are over 100 different types of HPV, most considered low-risk, high-risk HPV types may cause cervical cell abnormalities or cancer.

It is estimated that HPV is  now the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Approximately 80% of women in their 50s, have been infected with some type of HPV. The majority do NOT develop cervical cancer. For most women the HPV infection does not last long; 90% of HPV infections resolve on their own within 2 years.

Screening Tests

Two tests help prevent cervical cancer or find it early

• The Pap test (or Pap smear) detects cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer.
• The human papillomavirus (HPV) test looks for the virus that can cause these cell changes.

HPV Vaccine

The HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that most often cause cervical cancers. HPV can also cause other kinds of cancer in both men and women.

If you or a loved one have concerns about cervical cancer please contact a healthcare professional or get a second opinion for peace of mind