The liver is the largest solid organ in the body, weighing on average about 3.5 pounds. This organ is responsible for many vital functions. It produces proteins, factors that aid in blood clotting, synthesis glycogen, produces bile and manufactures cholesterol and

triglycerides. The liver also metabolizes many of the toxins that are ingested, such as chemicals, medications, and drugs, as well as substances that occur naturally, such as insulin. Once these substances are metabolized by the liver, they are excreted by the kidneys in the form of urine. Further, the liver is organized strategically to coordinate its structure, including its blood circulation, with its functions. The most common liver diseases are various types of acute (sudden) hepatitis (inflammation), chronic (long duration) hepatitis, fatty liver disease, cirrhosis (scarring), and cancer. Common causes of liver disease include: viruses; drugs – prescription, over-the-counter (OTC), herbal supplements, vitamins, and dietary supplements (for example, acetaminophen [Tylenol and others]; alcohol; metabolic problems; immune (defense) system; and genetic (hereditary) abnormalities. If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment, please contact us at secondopinions.com for your peace of mind.

Leg pain is one of those particularly irritating types of pain. Leg cramps or charley horses can be excruciating. The leg muscles cramp when they involuntarily contract. This usually feels like a painful knot on the leg muscle and renders it momentarily immobile. There are certain activities that make a person more prone to leg cramps. These include exercises that rely heavily on the leg muscles, such as recreational running, weight training the legs, and sports that require a lot of running, such as soccer or basketball. Muscle fatigue is the leading cause of leg cramps. The risks are even higher when these muscles are fatigued in hot weather or when a person doesn’t stay hydrated. A doctor will want to rule out other disorders with similar symptoms first and then test for other possible causes. If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment, please contact us at secondopinions.com.

Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans by a bite from an infected black-legged or deer tick. The tick becomes infected after feeding on infected deer, birds, or mice. Infected ticks thrive in forested areas. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms and physical findings (e.g., rash). Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans (a flat, circular rash that looks like a red oval or bull’s-eye anywhere on your body). Symptoms can occur anywhere from 3 to 30 days after the bite and can be wide-ranging, depending on the stage of the infection. The chances a person might get Lyme disease from a tick bite depend on the kind of tick, where the person was when the bite occurred, and how long the tick was attached to the person. Black-legged ticks must be attached for 36 to 48 hours to transmit Lyme disease. If the tick or ticks are removed within 48 hours, a person isn’t likely to get infected. If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment, please contact us at secondopinions.com, for your peace of mind.

Emphysema is a lung condition that causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the air sacs in the lungs are damaged. Over time, the inner walls of the air sacs weaken and rupture creating larger air spaces instead of many small ones.
You can have emphysema for many years without noticing any signs or symptoms. The main symptom of emphysema is shortness of breath, which usually begins gradually. You may start avoiding activities that cause you to be short of breath, so the symptom doesn’t become a problem until it starts interfering with daily tasks. Emphysema eventually causes shortness of breath even while you’re at rest. Emphysema is a progressive disease, which means it continues to get worse.
The major cause of emphysema is smoking cigarettes and marijuana, also longtime exposure to dust or chemical fumes and aging. Regardless of the cause, lung damage in emphysema cannot be reversed.
Emphysema patients may develop pneumothorax, heart problems and bullae.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Emphysema and you would like a second opinion on an Xray or CT by a board certified radiologist please visit secondopinions.com for your peace of mind.

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune condition that can cause inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems — including the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs. Autoimmune diseases are any conditions that cause the immune system to believe that the body’s tissues are foreign pathogens, and as such, attack the tissues. Lupus can be difficult to diagnose because its signs and symptoms often mimic those of other disorders. The most distinctive sign of lupus, a facial rash that resembles the wings of a butterfly unfolding across both cheeks, occurs in many but not all cases of lupus. Some people are born with a tendency toward developing lupus, which may be triggered by infections, certain drugs or even sunlight. While there’s no cure for lupus, treatments can help control symptoms. If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment, please contact us at secondopinions.com.

Lactose Intolerance is a condition of the digestive system in the small intestines with symptoms, such as bloating, diarrhea, and gas, after consuming foods or drinks that contain lactose. The condition, which is also called lactose malabsorption, is usually harmless, but its symptoms can be very uncomfortable and embarrassing. Lactose malabsorption occurs when your small intestine doesn’t produce enough of an enzyme (lactase) to digest milk sugar (lactose). Being lactase deficient, the lactose in food moves into the colon instead of being processed and absorbed. In the colon, normal bacteria interact with undigested lactose, causing the signs and symptoms of lactose intolerance. Symptoms may include bloating, diarrhea, gas, nausea, and pain in your abdomen. If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment, please contact us at secondopinions.com.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease of the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord, that disrupts the flow of information between the brain and the body. Some signs and symptoms include numbness and weakness in one or more limbs, electric shock sensations that occur with certain neck movements, involuntary shaking of the body or limbs, partial or complete vision loss, prolonged double vision, blurry vision, slurred speech, dizziness, fatigue, tingling or pain in parts of the body, and problems with sexual, bladder, and bowel functions. There is no cure for MS; however, there are treatments to help speed the recovery from attacks of the nerves. There are many different options for treatment whether it be through injections or oral medication that decrease the frequency of relapses and to delay disease progression. Research has shown that Multiple Sclerosis does more damage in the first year than in later years. If you would like a second opinion on your treatment and diagnosis contact us at secondopinions.com for your peace of mind.

Laryngitis is when your larynx is swollen and inflamed from overuse, irritation or infection. This swelling and inflammation causes distortion of the sounds produced by air passing over them. As a result, the voice sounds hoarse or even undetectable. Many conditions can cause the inflammation that results in laryngitis such as viral infections, environmental factors, and bacterial infections. Symptoms of laryngitis include: a breathy, raspy, and hoarse voice; a cough; feeling of tightness or of something stuck in the throat; a headache; nasal congestion or runny nose; sore throat or clearing of the throat often; and/or trouble swallowing. If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment, please contact us at secondopinions.com.

October marks National Physical Therapy month, which draws awareness to the ever important field of physical therapy. Physical therapy is the treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by physical methods such as massage, heat treatment, and exercise rather than by drugs or surgery. In the United States every year, about 500,000 people undergo surgery for lower back pain alone. On average when a diagnosis is reviewed, 88% of initial diagnoses are changed or revised. As a common alternative, physical therapy can save a person from having to undergo unnecessary and expensive surgery.

If you or a loved one has recently received a diagnosis for surgery, it may be advisable to have the diagnosis, MRI, X-Ray, CT scan or other reports reviewed by a third-party expert online at SecondOpinions.com. American Board Certified physicians review your file and can give you peace of mind in minutes.

Kidney stones are mineral deposits that form in the kidneys and vary in size, with some being as small as a grain of sand, and others being as large as a pebble. They usually originate in the kidneys; however, they can develop anywhere along the urinary tract, which consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Small kidney stones pass through the urinary tract without causing any symptoms, but larger stones may become stuck in the urinary tract at which point a person will experience the first signs and symptoms of a kidney stone. Some signs and symptoms include: severe, sharp pain in the side and back, below the ribs; pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and groin; pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity; pain or burning sensation while urinating; pink, red or brown urine; cloudy or foul-smelling urine; a persistent need to urinate, urinating more often than usual or urinating in small amounts; nausea and vomiting; and/or fever and chills if an infection is present. Diet, excess body weight, some medical conditions, and certain supplements and medications are among the many causes of kidney stones. If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment, please contact us at secondopinions.com.