If you or a loved one is facing a common medical condition—sore throat, sprained ankle or an ongoing condition, such as diabetes, among others—a family medicine provider with Altru Health System can help improve overall health and quality of life.
You may be tempted to treat non-emergent health conditions and injuries on your own or to simply wait out the discomfort. However, you do not need to face these medical conditions alone. Family medicine providers at Altru are trained to manage the full spectrum of common medical conditions affecting both children and adults. Together, you and your provider can take steps to treat your illness and enhance your health.
Through appointments at Altru Express, providers can treat or help manage many of the common conditions noted below to get you or your loved one back to your everyday, healthy routine.
Acute Illness
Abdominal pain
- Common causes—appendicitis, gallstones, gas, indigestion, intestinal blockage, kidney stones, stomach virus
- Symptoms—cramps, generalized pain, localized pain, pain that comes and goes
Bladder infection
- Causes—migration of germs into the urethra and bladder
- Symptoms—burning and pain when urinating, cloudy urine, cramping and pressure in the back and lower portion of the abdomen, frequent urge to urinate, low-grade fever
Back pain
- Common causes—arthritis, injuries such as fractures and sprains, fibromyalgia, infections, kidney stones, muscle spasms, muscle tension, pregnancy, ruptured disks, scoliosis, spinal stenosis, stress, tumors
- Symptoms—pain, stiffness, trouble standing up straight, decreased movement
Common cold
- Cause—virus
- Symptoms—congestion, cough, headache, loss of appetite, low-grade fever, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat
Ear infection
- Causes—bacterial or viral infection in the middle ear
- Symptoms—diarrhea, full feeling in the ear, hearing loss, ear pain, vomiting
Influenza
- Cause—virus
- Symptoms—body aches, chills, dizziness, fatigue, fever, flushed cheeks, headache, nausea, vomiting
Heartburn
- Causes—backflow of stomach acid from the stomach to the esophagus or hiatal hernia, when a portion of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm into the chest area
- Symptoms—belching, burning and sour taste in the back of the throat, cough, hoarseness, chest pain that may worsen when you recline or exercise after eating
Joint
- Causes—arthritis, frequent use, overuse, sport injuries
- Symptoms—pain, stiffness, swelling, decreased range of motion
Migraine
- Causes—unknown, but triggers may include certain medications, changes in serotonin levels, dehydration, hormone changes, stress
- Symptoms—dull or throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head, cold sweats, trouble concentrating, dizziness, fatigue, weakness, decreased appetite, light sensitivity
Mononucleosis
- Cause—virus
- Symptoms—fatigue, fever, headache, muscle soreness, rash, sore throat, stiffness, swollen lymph glands, decreased appetite
Conjunctivitis or pink eye
- Causes—allergies, dry eyes, infection, irritants
- Symptoms—blurry vision, crustiness on the eyelids that forms when sleeping, eye pain, feeling of grit in the eyes, itchiness in the eyes, light sensitivity, redness in the eyes, increased tear production
Rashes and skin conditions
- Causes—allergies, genetics, heat, immune system disorders, irritants
- Symptoms—burning, dryness, itchy skin, redness, swelling
Sinus infection
- Causes—bacterial or viral infection
- Symptoms—bad breath; coughing, decreased sense of smell; facial tenderness and pressure, especially behind the eyes; fatigue; headache; nasal congestion; discolored nasal discharge; toothache
Strep throat
- Cause—bacterial infection
- Symptoms—abdominal pain, fever, headache, rash under the arms, redness and swelling in the tonsils, sore throat, sore and swollen glands, vomiting, white spots in the throat or on the tonsils
Injury
Fractures
- Cause—breaking of a bone
- Symptoms—bleeding, bone protrusion, broken skin, bruising, compromised mobility, pain, swelling, inability to bear weight
Sprains
- Causes—stretching or tearing of a ligament, the tissue that connects bones at the joints; may be a result of a fall, impact injury or twist
Chronic Diseases and Conditions
Allergies
- Seasonal allergies—sneezing, congestion, runny nose, etc.
- Allergy shots/serums
Arthritis
- Causes—bone and joint disorders, genetics, injuries, metabolic disorders, repetitive use
- Symptoms—cracking sound when the joints bend, limited range of motion, pain and stiffness in the joints, especially after overuse, resting or engaging in activity for extended periods of time, swelling around the joints
Diabetes
- Causes of Type 1 diabetes—genetics and environmental factors causing the immune system to destroy cells in the pancreas that produce insulin
- Causes of Type 2 diabetes—inactivity, carrying excess weight in the midsection and being overweight
- Other causes of diabetes—certain medications, genetic mutations
- Symptoms of both—blurred vision, excessive thirst, extreme fatigue, feeling hungry even when eating, slow-healing bruises and cuts, frequent urination, weight loss, numbness, pain and tingling in hands and feet
Heart disease
- Causes—buildup of plaque in the arteries, diabetes, heart defects, smoking, stress
- Symptoms—chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling in the ankles, pain, numbness and coldness in the hands and feet
High blood pressure
- Causes—diet high in fat and salt, diabetes, excessive alcohol intake, high cholesterol, hormone and kidney conditions, obesity, smoking, stress
- Symptoms—typically no symptoms, but can lead to heart disease and kidney complications
High cholesterol
- Causes—diet, genes, inactivity, obesity, smoking
Behavioral Health
Anxiety
- Causes—brain chemistry, genetics, personality, stress, trauma
- Symptoms—difficulty concentrating, fatigue, frequent tension or worry, insomnia, irritability, restlessness
Depression
- Causes—biological, environmental, genetic and psychological factors
- Symptoms—fatigue, feelings of hopelessness, sadness and worthlessness, insomnia, irritability, suicidal thoughts, trouble concentrating, weight changes
Note: This is not a complete list of conditions Altru providers can treat.
Log in to MyChart or call 701.780.2587 to schedule an appointment with a family medicine provider.
