Comprehensive Symptom Navigator

Premature Atrial Contractions (PACs)

Specialty: Cardiovascular

Category: Heart Diseases

Sub-category: Arrhythmias (Heart Rhythm Disorders)

Symptoms:
heart palpitations; irregular heartbeat; skipped beats; mild chest discomfort; anxiety

Root Cause:
Early electrical impulses in the atria disrupt the normal heart rhythm.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG), Holter monitor, or event monitor.

Treatment:
Usually benign and requires no treatment; lifestyle changes or beta-blockers for symptomatic cases.

Medications:
Beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol ) are sometimes used to reduce symptoms in symptomatic patients.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common and often asymptomatic; prevalence increases with age and in individuals with heart disease.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Stress, caffeine, alcohol, smoking, electrolyte imbalances, and structural heart disease.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Benign in most cases but may precede more significant arrhythmias like AFib.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Rare; may progress to atrial fibrillation or cause significant symptoms in predisposed individuals.

Cardiac Amyloidosis

Specialty: Cardiovascular

Category: Other Cardiovascular Conditions

Sub-category: Metabolic and Genetic Cardiovascular Disorders

Symptoms:
shortness of breath; swelling in legs and feet (edema); fatigue; irregular heartbeat; difficulty exercising; low blood pressure; chest pain

Root Cause:
Deposition of amyloid protein in the heart, leading to stiffened heart walls and impaired heart function.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Echocardiography, cardiac MRI, endomyocardial biopsy, blood tests (e.g., serum free light chain assay), and imaging with technetium-labeled radiotracers. Genetic testing may be performed for hereditary forms.

Treatment:
Includes addressing heart failure symptoms, halting amyloid protein deposition, and organ transplantation in advanced cases.

Medications:
Tafamidis (stabilizes transthyretin amyloid proteins), diuretics (e.g., furosemide , to manage fluid buildup), and anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin , if atrial fibrillation is present). Tafamidis is a transthyretin stabilizer; diuretics are used for symptom management, and anticoagulants prevent blood clots.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) affects approximately 1 in 100,000 people, with higher prevalence in older adults and certain populations.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Advanced age, male sex, African or Mediterranean ancestry, family history of amyloidosis, chronic inflammatory diseases.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; depends on the type and extent of amyloidosis. Prognosis improves with early diagnosis and treatment. Without treatment, progression leads to heart failure and poor outcomes.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Heart failure, arrhythmias, thromboembolism, sudden cardiac death.

Hemochromatosis-Related Cardiomyopathy

Specialty: Cardiovascular

Category: Other Cardiovascular Conditions

Sub-category: Metabolic and Genetic Cardiovascular Disorders

Symptoms:
fatigue; shortness of breath; chest pain; palpitations; edema in legs; irregular heartbeat; signs of heart failure

Root Cause:
Excessive iron deposition in the heart muscle, leading to oxidative damage, fibrosis, and impaired heart function.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests (serum ferritin, transferrin saturation), genetic testing (HFE gene mutations), cardiac MRI (to assess iron overload), echocardiography, and liver biopsy (to confirm systemic iron overload).

Treatment:
Iron removal through phlebotomy or chelation therapy, and management of heart failure symptoms.

Medications:
Deferoxamine , deferasirox , or deferiprone (iron chelators). These are used to reduce iron overload in patients who cannot undergo phlebotomy. Diuretics and beta-blockers may also be used to manage heart failure symptoms.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Hemochromatosis affects approximately 1 in 200–300 individuals of European descent; cardiomyopathy develops in a subset of untreated cases.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Genetic predisposition (HFE gene mutations), male sex, excessive alcohol consumption, metabolic syndrome.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good if diagnosed and treated early; untreated cases can lead to severe heart failure and other organ damage.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Heart failure, arrhythmias, liver cirrhosis, diabetes, hypogonadism.

Hemochromatosis

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Liver Disorders

Sub-category: Metabolic and Genetic Liver Disorders

Symptoms:
fatigue; joint pain; abdominal pain; bronze or gray skin discoloration; weakness; diabetes; irregular heartbeat; liver dysfunction

Root Cause:
Excessive iron absorption and accumulation in tissues due to a genetic mutation, typically in the HFE gene.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests (serum ferritin, transferrin saturation), genetic testing, liver biopsy, MRI for iron quantification.

Treatment:
Regular therapeutic phlebotomy to remove excess iron, iron chelation therapy in cases where phlebotomy is not possible.

Medications:
Iron chelators such as deferoxamine , deferiprone , and deferasirox ; these are used to bind excess iron and promote its excretion in severe cases or when phlebotomy is not feasible.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 1 in 200-500 individuals of Northern European descent; more common in men than women.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history, genetic mutations (e.g., HFE C282Y and H63D mutations), being male (symptoms often manifest earlier in men).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with early diagnosis and management; untreated, it can lead to serious complications like liver cirrhosis, heart disease, and diabetes.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, arthritis, hypothyroidism, and chronic fatigue.

Tumor Lysis Syndrome (leading to AKI)

Specialty: Nephrology

Category: Oncological Renal Complications

Symptoms:
nausea and vomiting; weakness; muscle cramps; confusion; decreased urine output; irregular heartbeat

Root Cause:
Rapid breakdown of tumor cells releases intracellular ions (potassium and phosphate) and nucleic acids into the bloodstream, causing hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia, and uric acid buildup, leading to acute kidney injury.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Laboratory tests revealing hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia, and hyperuricemia; urinalysis and imaging to assess kidney function.

Treatment:
Aggressive hydration, correction of electrolyte imbalances, and use of urate-lowering medications like rasburicase or allopurinol. Dialysis may be necessary in severe cases.

Medications:
Medications include xanthine oxidase inhibitors (e.g., allopurinol ) to prevent uric acid formation and recombinant urate oxidase (e.g., rasburicase ) to break down uric acid. Electrolyte-modifying agents like calcium gluconate may be used for hyperkalemia.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
More common in patients undergoing treatment for hematologic cancers like lymphoma and leukemia.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
High tumor burden, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, preexisting kidney dysfunction, and high uric acid levels.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with early identification and treatment; severe cases can lead to chronic kidney disease or death.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Acute kidney injury, severe electrolyte imbalances, cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, and multiorgan failure.

Anemia

Specialty: Hematology

Category: Red Blood Cells and Disorders

Symptoms:
fatigue; pale or yellowish skin; shortness of breath; dizziness; cold hands and feet; irregular heartbeat; chest pain

Root Cause:
A decrease in the number of red blood cells or hemoglobin, leading to reduced oxygen delivery to tissues. Causes include iron deficiency, vitamin deficiencies (B12 or folate), chronic diseases, and blood loss.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests, including a complete blood count (CBC) to measure hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cell indices. Additional tests may include ferritin, vitamin B12, folate levels, and reticulocyte count.

Treatment:
Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Common treatments include dietary supplements (iron, B12, folate), blood transfusions, and treating underlying chronic diseases or conditions.

Medications:
Iron supplements (e.g., ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate), vitamin B12 injections or oral supplements, folic acid supplements, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (e.g., epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa) for anemia related to chronic disease or kidney failure.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 1.62 billion people globally, with higher prevalence in women, children, and individuals in developing countries.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Poor diet, chronic illnesses (e.g., kidney disease, inflammatory conditions), heavy menstrual bleeding, pregnancy, gastrointestinal bleeding, and genetic conditions (e.g., sickle cell anemia).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good prognosis with appropriate treatment; prognosis depends on underlying cause. Untreated, it can lead to significant complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Heart problems (e.g., left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure), delayed growth in children, and reduced ability to perform physical activities.

Emergent Management of Bulimia Nervosa

Specialty: Mental Health and Psychology

Category: Emergency

Sub-category: Eating Disorders

Symptoms:
binge eating; compensatory behaviors (e.g., purging, excessive exercise); electrolyte imbalances; dental erosion; gastrointestinal issues; dehydration; irregular heartbeat

Root Cause:
Psychological and biological factors leading to cycles of bingeing and compensatory behaviors, often linked to body image issues.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical assessment per DSM-5 criteria, including recurrent binge-eating episodes and inappropriate compensatory behaviors, occurring at least once a week for three months. Physical exam and lab tests to assess for complications.

Treatment:
Stabilize acute complications (e.g., electrolyte imbalances, dehydration). Long-term treatment includes psychotherapy (CBT or DBT), nutritional rehabilitation, and medications.

Medications:
Fluoxetine (SSRI) is FDA-approved for bulimia. Medications address underlying depression, anxiety, and impulsivity.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 1–2% of women and 0.5% of men worldwide.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Adolescence, perfectionism, cultural pressure to be thin, history of trauma or dieting, and co-existing mental health disorders.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Full recovery is possible with comprehensive treatment, but relapses are common without ongoing support.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Electrolyte disturbances, cardiac arrhythmias, esophageal rupture, or chronic gastrointestinal issues.