Diseases & conditions A-Z List
Diseases & Conditions A-Z List - «S»:
-
Snake bites
Snake bites occur when a snake bites the skin, and are medical emergencies if the snake is poisonous.
Considerations
Snake bites can be deadly if not treated quickly. Children are at higher risk for death or serious complications due to snake bites because of their smaller body size.
The right anti...
-
Sneezing
A sneeze is a sudden, forceful, involuntary burst of air through the nose and mouth.
See also:
Allergen
Allergic rhinitis
Allergy to mold, dander, dust
Allergy and asthma resources
Common cold
Vasomotor rhinitis
Considerations
Sneezing is caused by irritation to the mucous membrane...
-
Snoring
Snoring is a loud, hoarse, or harsh breathing sound that occurs during sleep.
Considerations
Snoring is common in adults and is not necessarily a sign of an underlying disorder.
Sometimes, however, snoring can be a sign of a sleep disorder called sleep apnea. This means you have periods when you com...
-
Social phobia
Social phobia is a persistent and irrational fear of situations that may involve scrutiny or judgment by others, such as parties and other social events.
Causes
People with social phobias fear and avoid situations in which they may be subject to the scrutiny of others. It may begin in adolescence a...
-
Sodium - blood
This test measures the concentration of sodium in the blood.
How the Test is Performed
Blood is drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The site is cleaned with germ-killing medicine (antiseptic). The health care provider wraps an elastic band around the upp...
-
Sodium - urine
The sodium urine test measures the amount of salt (sodium) in a urine sample.
Sodium can also be measured in a blood sample.
See also: Sodium - blood test
How the Test is Performed
This test may be done using a random urine sample or a 24-hour urine collection.
If a 24-hour urine sample is needed:...
-
Sodium in diet
Sodium is an element that the body needs to function properly.
Function
The body uses sodium to regulate blood pressure and blood volume. Sodium is also critical for the functioning of muscles and nerves.
Food Sources
Sodium occurs naturally in most foods. The most common form of sodium is sodium c...
-
Solitary pulmonary nodule
A solitary pulmonary nodule is a round or oval spot (lesion) in the lungs that is seen with a chest x-ray or CT scan.
Causes
More than half of all solitary pulmonary are noncancerous (benign). Benign nodules have many causes, including old scars and infections.
Infectious granulomas are the cause o...
-
Soluble vs. insoluble fiber
There are two different types of fiber -- soluble and insoluble. Both are important for health, digestion, and preventing diseases.
Soluble fiber attracts water and turns to gel during digestion. This slows digestion. Soluble fiber is found in oat bran, barley, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, peas, a...
-
Somatization disorder
Somatization disorder is a long-term (chronic) condition in which a person has physical symptoms that involve more than one part of the body, but no physical cause can be found.
The pain and other symptoms people with this disorder feel are real, and are not created or faked on purpose (malingering)...
-
Somatoform pain disorder
Somatoform pain disorder is pain that is severe enough to disrupt a person's everyday life.
The pain is like that of a physical disorder, but no physical cause is found. The pain is thought to be due to psychological problems.
The pain that people with this disorder feel is real. It is not created o...
-
Sore throat
A sore throat is discomfort, pain, or scratchiness in the throat. A sore throat often makes it painful to swallow.
Considerations
Sore throats are common. Most of the time the soreness is worse in the morning and improves as the day progresses.
Like colds, the vast majority of sore throats are caus...
-
Soy
The soybean has been a part of the human diet for almost 5,000 years. Unlike most plant foods, the soybean is high in protein and is considered equivalent to animal foods in terms of the quality of the protein it contains.
Function
Soy in your diet can lower cholesterol. There are many scientific s...
-
Spasmodic dysphonia
Spasmodic dysphonia is difficulty speaking due to spasms (dystonia) of the muscles that control the vocal cords.
Causes
In the past, spasmodic dysphonia was thought to be caused by a psychological, instead of a physical problem. However, many people now believe that it stems from a problem in the b...
-
Spasmus nutans
Spasmus nutans is a disorder affecting infants and young children. It involves rapid, uncontrolled eye movements, head bobbing, and occasionally, abnormal positioning of the neck.
See also: Nystagmus
Causes
Most cases of spasmus nutans begin between age 4 months and 1 year. It usually goes away by...
