September is Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) Awareness Month. This disorder happens as a result of very low platelets, which are the cells that help blood clot. This disorder causes the immune system to attack and destroy platelets. Because of the low platelets, there is usually easy bruising or excessive bleeding, being most common among young women.

The signs or symptoms are not always present, but when they are it can include symptoms such as easy or excessive bruising or bleeding, blood in urine or stools, and heavy menstrual flow. This disease can sometimes be caused as a result of infections, such as HIV or hepatitis. For some, especially children ITP can begin after a viral infection such as mumps.

Some of the ways to treat ITP include medications or surgery in a severe condition. If you or someone you know has ITP, it is important to avoid playing sports and watch out for infections. If you were given a specific treatment, such as surgery, SecondOpinions.com is available 24/7 to give you an opinion that will help find the best option for you.

According to the American Cancer Society, in 2019 about 11,060 children under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States. After car accidents, the leading cause of death in children is cancer.

Cancer in children is a big problem because it can’t be treated the same way as cancer in adults. The treatments contain toxins that can affect their development. Many of the survivors suffer from lifelong damage to their organs and mental health. The causes of cancer in children, such as Leukemia and Lymphoma are unknown. Some risk factors of cancer in children are radiation exposure or exposures by parents such as smoking. Most childhood cancers are DNA changes that happen in the child’s DNA, early in their lives, even before birth. There is really no way to prevent cancer in a child. To treat cancer some of the treatments include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Radiation can cause more serious side effects than chemotherapy.

Finding the right treatments at an affordable price is very important, that is why SecondOpinions.com offers a second opinion from one of our American Board Certified doctors to give you a professional second opinion at a reasonable and affordable price. Nothing is more important than a child’s health and with all the side effects and long term effects that cancer treatments can leave, a second opinion is vital to find the right treatment for a child.

According to the American Cancer Society, in 2019 about 22,530 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 13,980 will die from it in the United States. Ovarian cancer ranks fifth among cancers that cause death in women.

Ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries and if it is not detected at an early stage it can spread to the abdomen and pelvis, which can become fatal. There are different ovarian cancer types, such as epithelial tumors and germ cell tumors. Some of the symptoms someone with ovarian cancer may experience are abdominal bloating or swelling, weight loss and discomfort in the pelvis area. Though the causes are unknown, this cancer is most common in women between the ages of 50 and 60, and in women who inherited gene mutations and have a family history of ovarian cancer. Some of the treatments used to treat ovarian cancer are surgery and chemotherapy.

If you or someone you know suffers from ovarian cancer and would like a second opinion contact us at SecondOpinions.com to guide you towards the best, reasonable treatment for you. We understand your health is important, let us help you.

Sickle cell disease affects an estimated 100,000 Americans, mainly affecting 1 in 13 African Americans according to the CDC. Sickle cell disease is when the red blood cells get hard, sticky, and have a shape like a C. Sickle cells die early, which causes a shortage in red blood cells. They also travel through small blood vessels, sticking and clogging the blood flow which leads to complications such as infections, acute chest syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, and stroke.

Sickle cell is a genetic condition that is usually present at birth. It is caused by both parents passing on the sickle cell genes. It causes symptoms, such as anemia, swelling, vision problems, and delayed growth. Treatments are important and they usually include medications, bone marrow or stem cell transplant, and vaccinations to help prevent infections.

Fighting sickle cell disease is hard, that is why having the right treatment is important. SecondOpinions.com believes your health is important and that’s why a second opinion at an affordable price is a must in order to find what will help you feel better.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Atrial fibrillation affects an estimated 2.7-6.1 million people in the United States. Atrial Fibrillation is a condition where there is a rapid heart rate, which increases the risk of strokes or any heart related complications. Atrial fibrillation is when the heart’s two upper chambers beat rapidly and irregularly and have no coordination with the two lower chambers.

Some of the symptoms are fast irregular palpitations, weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath, and chest pain. This condition can be present occasionally, persistent, or permanent. Some of the causes include damage or abnormality in the heart’s structure, high blood pressure, heart attack, lung disease, overactive thyroid gland, exposure to stimulants, and viral infections. Some risk factors include heart disease, age, obesity, high blood pressure, or family history.

Prevention is important, that is why it is key to use the following steps: eat a healthy diet, increase physical activity, avoid smoking, reduce stress, and avoid caffeine and alcohol. Some of the treatments include cardioversion to reset the rhythm of the heart and medications to control the heart rate. SecondOpinions.com wants to help you find a treatment that will be best for your health. If you or someone you know suffers from atrial fibrillation, contact us.

According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, in 2019 about 176,200 people are expected to be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma- which are the three main types of blood cancer. Blood cancer, also known as hematologic cancer, starts in the bone marrow, which is where all the blood is produced.

Leukemia develops in the bone marrow creating many abnormal white blood cells. Lymphoma develops in the lymphatic system from cells called lymphocytes. There are two types of lymphoma, Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s. Hodgkin’s starts in immune cells called B cells, which make antibodies to fight off germs and have large lymphocytes called Reed-Sternberg cells in the lymph nodes. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can start in B or T cells. Myeloma begins in the blood’s plasma cells, a type of white blood cells made in the bone marrow.

Depending on the type of cancer you have, such as how fast is spreading, where it has spread, the treatment will vary. Some of the treatments include stem cell transplant, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. SecondOpinions.com wants to help you find Peace of Mind at an affordable price.

According to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Foundation Disorders, in the United States, about 5 million people suffer from gastroparesis. Gastroparesis is a condition in which the normal movement of the muscles in your stomach are affected, making it hard to empty itself of food. This interferes with your body’s normal digestion causing you to experience nausea, vomiting, high blood sugar levels, heartburn and nutrition problems.

The cause of this disease is unknown, without a clear explanation of what leads to gastroparesis, it is believed that one of the causes can be damage to the vagus nerve, which is a nerve that controls the stomach muscles. Without a cure, there are some ways to get relief by changing your diet and medication.

Your risk of developing gastroparesis becomes higher if you have diabetes, stomach surgeries, or nervous system diseases. The treatment for gastroparesis includes medications and in some cases surgeries. If you would like a second opinion on the treatment you are being prescribed, contact us to get an opinion from one of our American board-certified doctors at SecondOpinions.com.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that affects over 7.5 million people in the United States. This skin condition speeds up the life cycle of skin cells. First, it begins with the cells building up fast on the skin’s surface from which extra skin forms into scales or red patches that are itchy and painful. This chronic disease does not have a cure but to stop the rapid skin cell growth there are treatments available.

If you suffer from psoriasis, some of the symptoms you might experience are red patches of skin that have thick, silvery scales, scaling spots, dry skin that could bleed, swollen and stiff joints. There are ways to help you manage the symptoms for psoriasis, such as the lifestyle choices you make by moisturizing, quitting smoking, and managing stress. The following are some different types of psoriasis:

• Inverse psoriasis causes smooth patches of red, inflamed skin in body parts such as armpits, under the breasts, and around the genitals.
• Nail psoriasis causes abnormal nail growth, discoloration, and pitting.
• Plaque is the most common form of psoriasis, which is dry, raised, red skin lesions covered with silvery scales.

The pain, discomfort, the appearance of the skin, and all the other symptoms are not easy to deal with, that’s why we are here to help. If you would like a second opinion on the right treatment option to deal with psoriasis, please contact us at SecondOpinions.com or call us at 855-573-2663.

Hepatitis is a group of infectious diseases that cause both short term and long term liver disease. There are different types of hepatitis, such as A, B, and C. According to the CDC and World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 325 million people in the world who suffer from hepatitis B or C.

July 28th is World Hepatitis Day, during this time it is important to learn more about this disease. As mentioned above, there are different types of hepatitis:

• Hepatitis A which is a contagious infection on the liver, causes inflammation and affects
  the liver’s ability to function properly. Most people recover without any damage to the
  liver. Type A spreads through food, water, or someone who is infected.
  ○ Prevent by having good hygiene and getting vaccinated.
• Hepatitis B can become chronic, which increases the risk of developing liver failure, liver
  cancer, or cirrhosis. Type B spreads through bodily fluids.
  ○ Prevent by getting vaccinated. Treatments are available but not a cure.
• Hepatitis C can be silent for years, until it causes damage to the liver. It is believed to be
  the most serious of all. It can spread through contaminated blood.

In order to prevent, it is important to not use not share needles, avoid direct contact with blood, and protect from bodily fluids. There are different forms of treatment, such as medications, liver transplant, and vaccinations. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with any type of hepatitis, please contact SecondOpinions.com to get an opinion that will give you and your loved ones peace of mind to help you find the best treatment option.

In the United States, about 300,000 children have been diagnosed with some type of juvenile arthritis. Juvenile Arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which there is swelling in the tissues that line the inside of your joints. The cause of this disease is unknown but some of the factors could be genetics, infections, and the environment.

The symptoms differ based on the type of juvenile arthritis you suffer from. The common symptoms among the different types of juvenile arthritis are pain, joint swelling, redness, and warmth. The most common types of juvenile arthritis are idiopathic arthritis, juvenile-onset scleroderma, and juvenile myositis.

Treatments to help are physical therapies, medications, and in severe cases, surgery. To help you, your child, or anyone you know find the right treatment contact us. We will connect you with an American Board Certified doctor who will give you a second opinion for your peace of mind.