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.
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
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
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—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
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
