In an effort to procrastinate doing everything...okay, really simply to revise my material for next semester when I start working at hospitals (but the first one sounds less dorky D
...anyway...
In an effort to revise my material, I'm inviting each and every one of you to ask any questions you had on the human body (and mind). As long as it's medical, it can be pretty much anything- and I'll attempt to answer it as quickly as possible, hopefully off the top of my head.
Random itches not apparently caused by anything are most likely attributed to idiopathic nerve activation (particularly the nociceptors). It's like when a muscle randomly spasms. Though the mechanism isn't entirely clear, because the itch is in fact quite a mysterious thing indeed!
Actually Strop, it has been recently research that itching has in some part to do with the lack of stimulation of skin cells, and thus a signal is released to the brain that stimulation is necessary.
Besides studying to become a doctor, and ending his.. 8th, I think, semester this year, yes, Strop is awesome at googling, but I am better. Or, I will be, when I finish the Information Science line.
Lava, are you a little angry?
Anyway, Strop, wrist is still hurting, as well as my entire hand.
I don't really care whether people believe that I'm in med school or not. Others shouldn't either, unless they care about what I think about them. The important thing is, this thread is not a substitute for a professional consult with an MD. I cannot be held accountable for any information posted in this thread. It's just for fun, and it's over the internet.
Cen: Actually that'd be 10th semester. And saying somebody is better at Googling than I am...isn't saying much because I suck at search engines.
...has been recently research that itching has in some part to do with the lack of stimulation of skin cells
Possibly, but I don't know what level of evidence supports this theory.
Every time I defecate my phallus gets hard. Discuss.
Since I can't think of any common physiological (or neurological) mechanism for this to happen, current practical guidelines would have me recommending you a psych consult as the issue is most likely functional.
Then if you did go to see a psychiatrist, most likely they would ask you whether this is concerning to you in any way. If it is, then they might go about discussing whether to term this a pathology, what behaviors it might be rooted in (e.g. is it related to some kind of copraphilia), and what to do about it (if anything). As long as you aren't doing anything a) distressing to yourself b) illegal c) harmful, psychiatrists don't really mind what your penis does when you go to the toilet.
...try Googling that one!
Back to Cenere:
wrist is still hurting, as well as my entire hand.
Presentations like this would be much easier to address if I could take a history directly and examine, which I obviously can't. Best I can do is to ask for more detail but since you have my MSN, it'd be best to do it there.
Off-the-cuff possibility: query repetitive strain injury or carpal tunnel syndrome.
What causes canker sores? Have people found out yet?
Not being American, I don't use the term canker sore...and aphthous ulcer (which is presumably what you mean) isn't exactly widespread in usage. I also assume you're talking about the sort distinct from the viral ulcers (e.g. herpes simplex).
As far as I know the exact causative mechanism is unknown but there are plenty of commonly known associations with, say, acidic foods, stress, fatigue, trauma, certain nutritional deficiencies and chemotherapy, some of which are in turn linked with each other I imagine. I know many of the above factors are relevant to myself, as I get these ulcers from time to time.
"Cold sores" also appear on your face, those are the ones caused by the virus herpes simplex. Should be considered distinct from aphthous ulcers despite similar appearances.
No. Hair is composed of keratin, there are no dividing cells within hair itself.
Similarly it's impossible to get cancer of the whites of your nail. However it is possible to get a "cancer" that has hair, or nails, or even teeth in it. Known as a teratoma, these cancers are known for the cells in them differentiating into any kind of tissue in the body, so (as I have seen), you can even get a combination of the above in one!
@Strop: I've heard of teratomas before! During a lengthy (8 week) ptoject on why stem cell research should be funded by the US government. -------- Today in PE, after a bunch of running, I had asthma problems, and rested. When I inhaled, there was a twinging pain right above my shoulder blade when I inhaled. WTF?
