NEW YORK –  Mets first baseman Ike Davis likely has valley fever and will be given days off to avoid extreme fatigue, a symptom of the disease.

Davis took a physical when he arrived at spring training in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and the exam showed an abnormal chest X-ray. He was sent to New York for further tests and when he returned to camp, the Mets said Davis had a simple lung infection.

The team revealed a new diagnosis Saturday night after MLB.com reported Davis’ condition earlier in the day.

“Following additional tests here and in NYC, pulmonary and infectious disease specialists have concluded that Ike likely has valley fever, which is expected to resolve itself over time,” the Mets said in a statement.

Davis was expected to be available to reporters Sunday.

Valley fever is a fungal infection that is released from the dirt in desert regions of the Southwest and is inhaled. it can be stirred up by construction and winds. Davis lives in Arizona in the offseason.

“Ike is not contagious, is not taking any medication for his condition and does not currently exhibit any of the outward symptoms associated with valley fever,” the Mets said. “However, Ike has been instructed to avoid extreme fatigue. No additional tests or examinations are pending, but Ike will have a follow-up exam when the team returns to NYC in early April.”

Expected to bat cleanup this season, Davis had two hits in an intrasquad game Saturday.

Valley fever can be a serious problem — it caused Conor Jackson to miss all but the first 30 games of the 2009 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Greg Kraft had his promising golf career sidetracked after he contracted the disease during the 2002 Tucson Open.

After a promising rookie season, Davis missed most of 2011 with a bone bruise in his left ankle, sustained in a routine-looking collision with David Wright on May 10 in Colorado. Davis has shown no effects of the injury this spring.

Davis batted .302 with seven homers and 25 RBIs in 36 games last season after hitting .264 with 19 home runs and 71 RBIs in 2010.

The loss of Davis for any length of time would be a serious blow to the Mets after All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes signed as a free agent with the Miami Marlins this winter. New York has slashed its payroll after going 77-85 last season.

Palm Springs, California (NAPSI) – Healthcare providers know that no two patients are alike-and that diseases can manifest themselves quite differently between men and women.

For example, heart attacks plague both genders, but the symptoms vary. Men having heart attacks typically report chest pain that radiates down the arm, while women may instead feel indigestion, extreme fatigue and nausea.

Women often metabolize medicines differently than men in ways that aren’t explained simply by differences in body sizes.

For example, researchers have found that women metabolize nicotine more quickly than men, so a lower-dose nicotine patch for smoking cessation may not be as effective for women.

Women are also more prone to diseases that aren’t obviously related to their sex—diseases such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, migraines, osteoporosis and fibromyalgia. About 90 percent of Americans suffering from lupus, migraines and fibromyalgia are women.

Recognizing these differences, PhRMA recently released a report on new medicines in development, which finds that America’s biopharmaceutical research companies now have 851 medicines in the pipeline for diseases that exclusively or disproportionately affect women.

Some of the greatest strides are being made in understanding and treating autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, which is two to three times more prevalent among women than men.

Currently, more than 100 medicines for autoimmune diseases are in clinical trials or awaiting Food and Drug Administration review.

Many common cancers only or predominantly affect women. Companies are currently working on 139 medicines for these cancers, such as ovarian cancer and breast cancer.

A better understanding of how women react to stress is helping researchers understand how to approach treatments for autoimmune diseases and psychiatric illnesses such as depression and anxiety.

Women’s bodies, for example, react to stress by producing higher levels of cytokines, which are cells secreted by the nervous system, said Lorraine Fitzpatrick, M.D., Medicine Development Leader for GlaxoSmithKline.

Progress in understanding and treating autoimmune diseases represents “one of the great strides made recently for women’s health,” she added.

To find out more, visit youtube.com/watch?v=ppiculo5b6c. For more information on biopharmaceutical research and medicines in development, visit phrma.org/research/new-medicines.

Some of you, especially close friends, know that I’ve struggled with a strange illness called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) since 1997-98. When I was initially diagnosed the illness was just beginning to get notice in the wider press. Now articles appear in the mainstream press routinely.

The very conservative Mayo Clinic, which for many years did not recognize the disease, says:

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complicated disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that may worsen with physical or mental activity, but doesn't improve with rest. although there are many theories about what causes this condition — ranging from viral infections to psychological stress — in most cases the cause is still unknown.

Because its symptoms are difficult to measure, CFS wasn't widely accepted as a real medical condition for until about a decade ago. Today, however, doctors and researchers almost totally agree that this chronic condition should be taken very seriously.

The disease has also been referred to as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), a term used in the United Kingdom, or post-viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS), designation used in other contexts. In the US, CFS has remained the name.

Fatigue is a common symptom in many illnesses, but CFS is comparatively rare. Symptoms of CFS include post-exertional malaise; un-refreshing sleep; widespread muscle and joint pain; sore throat; cognitive difficulties; chronic, often severe, mental and physical exhaustion; and other characteristic symptoms in a previously healthy and active person. CFS patients may report additional symptoms including muscle weakness, increased sensitivity to light, sounds and smells, orthostatic intolerance, digestive disturbances, depression, and cardiac and respiratory problems.

I would describe my own struggle with CFS as one that ranges from mild to moderate symptoms, with an occasional period of some months where there can be almost complete exhaustion (often in the winter months or when I contract a viral illness; a cold, the flu, etc.). One of the more difficult stress points for me is the loss of my cognitive ability to think as clearly as I would like. I often feel overwhelmed with various complex (and racing) thoughts and find a rise in noise, extreme light and human conflict creates huge cognitive stress. I can read, but not for sustained periods, and I can still write. (Writing, for me, can actually prove quite therapeutic. this is likely because it is my creative ability and thus relaxes me!)But I have problems dealing with various stressors that require me to make choices and face some daily decisions. One of the reigning medical theories is that CFS creates an inflammation in the central nervous system. It seems, at least in my case, that this theory makes a lot of sense. for me, ibuprofen helps when things are at there worst.

I have sought medical care from so many sources that I have stopped counting. I have tried therapies ranging from new sleep habits, biofeedback and cognitive behavioral modification to several drugs. I have changed diets numerous times and supplemented my body with vitamins, herbs and hormones. there is one drug that helps with the cognitive struggle and gives me better sleep. I have gone on and off this drug but now prefer to remain on it. there is nothing that remotely cures or removes this disease. Some people do get better but most who’ve had it as long as me will not get over it. I am, after much trial and error, at peace with this fact. God’s grace is sufficient.

Over the past thirteen years I have changed lifestyle, traveled a lot less and rested a lot more than I would like. My central problem is that I am a high-end Type A person with a great desire to accomplish more and more. Eventually, through great trial and error, I have accepted this illness for what it is and begun to learn how centering prayer helps me to better cope with chronic illness. (A chronic illness, you must understand, means that there is never a time when you do not have these symptoms, only that they might lessen, or they may get much worse. each day is different and brings its own challenges.)

One other discouraging part of my own journey is how often people have insisted that could cure me. most of these well-meaning people had products, supplements, courses or therapies that may have helped them in some way. They do not help me. with my wife’s help I have learned how to tell people, “Please, I do not need another offer for help. I am doing what my physician advises and had the care of numerous doctors.” I have also been prayed over by gifted Christians and by pastors/elders who anointed me according to James 5.

The number of people with properly diagnosed CFS is hard to determine since many never actually get a proper diagnosis. Studies have said that there are 7 to 3,000 cases of CFS for every 100,000 adults, but national health organizations have estimated that more than 1 million Americans have CFS and approximately a quarter of a million people in the UK have it. CFS occurs more often in women than men, and is less prevalent among children and adolescents, though they do have the illness. A number of well-known physicians, scientists, authors and famous athletes have told stories of dealing with CFS.

There is no agreement on the cause of CFS. there is even less about treatment. But now, as opposed to the 1990s, there is wide scale agreement that CFS is a genuine threat to health, happiness and productivity. Various physicians' groups, researchers and patient advocates promote different nomenclature, diagnostic criteria, etiologic hypotheses and treatments, resulting in controversy about so many aspects of the disorder. The name CFS is itself controversial with patients and advocacy groups, as well as some experts. Some, and I tend to agree with this opinion, would like to see the name changed because they believe CFS stigmatizes the problem by not conveying the seriousness of the illness. I have had so many people, for instance, say something like, “Well, I am often very, very tired so I guess I have the same illness that you do!” When they smile and laugh I am sometimes deeply hurt, though by now I am over that reaction to a large extent. What I do know is that well-intentioned people who say this most likely do not have CFS. I listen and if they seem to have the illness I encourage them to see a good doctor who understands the illness and can treat it with the best that we have for now.

In recent years CFS has created a considerable storm among two major research and advocacy groups in the US. First, there is the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is more guarded in its conclusions and has argued for about twenty years that the illness is “a psychological problem.” The National Institute for Health (NIH), on the other hand, has been more open to wider and more sympathetic conclusions, at least according to the various advocacy groups for CFS. The NIH has gone so far as to suggest that this illness is very likely rooted in a retrovirus, making it something like the HIV virus in some ways. this conclusion has even led some to no longer accept blood from people who are diagnosed CFS patients. And this has led to a major conflict between advocacy groups and government agencies. Science and politics make bad companions in most cases and this is clearly the case with research and development on CFS.

Do you suffer from extreme fatigue or adrenal fatigue? if you are prone to any sort of real fatigue you might just actually have a condition termed chronic fatigue syndrome. Almost all of the time the chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms are very similarly to regular fatigue, thus it is often hard to diagnose properly and treat. however if you are aware about the chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms you can certainly bring it up to a medical expert for assessment.

Extreme fatigue, have you ever experienced it, is kind of like what you might seem like if you hadn’t slept for several days. The only significant difference being is that you really had slept and for that reason your tiredness or fatigue is generally unexplainable. Extreme fatigue can be a main symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome and something that should be taken extremely seriously. Extreme fatigue may be a great indicator that something is extremely off physiologically in the body which should be looked into as soon as possible. Luckily for most people extreme fatigue may be easily fixed with a proper diet and light exercise however , if this doesn’t help in lowering the signs or symptoms further testing of hormones could be required.

Another great symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome might be adrenal fatigue that has caused some fracas within the medical community. Although recently coined, many physicians and doctors have not yet come on board and in actual fact recognize adrenal fatigue let alone consider it part of chronic fatigue syndrome. it is easy to determine how they are related however due to their strikingly very similar effects on the human body. As with any new medical terminology, it could take quite some time for the medical community for getting agreeable with adrenal fatigue. When it comes down to stress and deficiency in energy two or three days occasionally may not be an indicator that you’ve got chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms. if nevertheless , you are experiencing extreme fatigue or adrenal fatigue regularly consistently it certainly might be time for you to seek specialized medical advice. Make sure that you attempt first to deal with your diet plan, exercise and stress to find out whether you can resolve these issues yourself. if everything else fails you need to get your chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms checked at your earliest convenience.

I'm 16 and got diagnosed with POTS this January when I was 15. Ive had all the common symptoms of POTS for about 3 years. it started off with extreme fatigue and heaviness in my legs that made me not able to walk. Then a year later I started getting dizziness, excessive headaches, and blackouts upon standing. A few months after that I got a tilt table test and got diagnosed with POTS. I was put on medicine to help the dizziness and headaches. Also I just got put on a beta blocker for fast heart rate and palpitations. my blood pressure also gets very low when I stand. but now knew symptoms have started taking place in the past few months. I am getting terrible joint pain all over especially in my knees and have noticed some swelling or maybe fluid in my knees? Ive always had weird joints in my knees though like there all wobbly and sometimes when I walk i feel like they move around. Ive also been getting extreme stomach pains. And a couple months ago I felt like I was unable to speak sometimes, but that hasn't happened in a while. sometimes when i'm laying down I feel like I cannot move my arms or legs. I get tingling and numbness in my hands and feet. I also have sleep paralysis. I read about lyme and I know you can get POTS from it and the knew symptoms im getting seems similar to lyme symptoms. I was wondering if you could get these knew symptoms of mine with just POTS? Also it never was clear how I got POTS. the doctors think rapid growth. Also 3 years ago right before the symptoms first started I got a terrible sinus infection and then mono so i dont know if thats how I got POTS. in the beggining when all this started I never got a large round rash and a fever like most people who get lyme. And I really cant remember if I got flu like symptoms. I know if lyme goes untreated you can get all these symptoms i'm having but can you get it with POTS too???? I'm going to see one of the top doctors who specialize in POTS in 2 weeks, should I talk to them about getting tested for lyme?

Alyssa Tepfenhart,
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia, often more simply referred to as postural tachycardia syndrome or POTS, is a syndrome. as such, there is a collection of symptoms that distinguish it. the symptoms are widespread because the autonomic nervous system plays an extensive role in regulating functions throughout the body. the disorder is characterized by the body's inability to make the necessary adjustments to counteract gravity when standing up. the defining symptom of POTS is an excessive heart rate increment upon standing. However, there are a multitude of other symptoms that often accompany this syndrome. Many of these symptoms, such as low blood pressure, may present only after prolonged standing. Symptoms will vary from person to person. as such, POTS can be a difficult disorder to detect and understand. While the etiology of POTS is still unclear, it most likely represents a heterogenous group of disorders with similar clinical characteristics. the largest group of patients appear to have a mild form of idiopathic peripheral autonomic neuropathy (a “partial dysautonomia”), in which an inability to increase peripheral vascular resistance during upright posture results in an excessive compensatory postural tachycardia. on the other hand, Lyme disease is a bacterial illness which is caused by a bacterium called a "spirochete." in the United States, the actual name of the bacterium is Borrelia burgdorferi. in Europe, another bacterium, Borrelia afzelii, also causes Lyme disease. certain ticks found on deer harbour the bacterium in their stomachs. Lyme disease is spread by these ticks when they bite the skin, which permits the bacterium to infect the body and the disease affects different areas of the body in varying degrees as it progresses. the classic initial rash is called "erythema migrans" although more than one in four patients never even develop a rash. the redness of the skin is often accompanied by generalized fatigue, muscle and joint stiffness, swollen lymph nodes ("swollen glands"), and headache, resembling symptoms of a virus infection. the redness resolves, without treatment, in about a month. Weeks to months after the initial redness of the skin the bacteria and their effects spread throughout the body. Subsequently, disease in the joints, heart, and nervous system can occur. So if you consider that you should ask to be tested for Lyme disease, by all means do so, as that is your right. but you might be better advised to ask your examining doctor, when you attend in two weeks time, if your symptoms are in any way consistant with those of Lyme disease or if Lyme disease might be suspected as the causative factor. I wish you well.

ALL ANSWERS SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED, IN ANY FORUM AND ESPECIALLY IN THIS ONE. – MANY ANSWERS ARE FLAWED.

It is extremely important to obtain an accurate diagnosis before trying to find a cure. Many diseases and conditions share common symptoms.

The information provided here should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Hope this helps
matador 89

Many Lyme patients also have POTS. who knows which came first?

It's worth being evaluated for Lyme disease. unfortunately, for lots of complicated reasons, most doctors (even specialists) don't know much about Lyme. you need to do your own research on the subject, and then get to someone who can help you.

Good sources of info about Lyme disease:
lymedisease.org
ilads.org
canlyme.com
lymeinfo.net
lymediseaseassociation.org
lymenet.org
igenex.com
lymedoctor.com
touchedbylyme.org
facebook.com/lymedisease.org

What are the most likely flu symptoms that you would find in kids? Please help. thanks!

I'm not a doctor, so I only know from experience… but I think the most obvious sign in the beginning is the extreme fatigue — almost like mono. And then, of course, the other typical symptoms of a cold or flu. but the most prominent symptom that sticks out in my mind is that overpowering fatigue.

Public release date: 3-Mar-2011 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Matt Swaynemls29@psu.edu814-865-9481Penn State

University Park, Pa. — just as the constant pressure soldiers face on the battlefield can follow them home in the form of debilitating stress, African Americans who face chronic exposure to racial discrimination may have an increased likelihood of suffering a race-based battle fatigue, according to Penn State researchers.

African Americans who reported in a survey that they experienced more instances of racial discrimination had significantly higher odds of suffering generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) some time during their lives, according to Jose Soto, assistant professor, psychology.

Generalized anxiety disorder has both psychological and physical symptoms that are so severe that they can significantly affect everyday tasks and job performance. People with the disorder may have chronic worrying, intrusive thoughts and difficulty concentrating. Physically, the disorder may manifest such symptoms as tension headaches, extreme fatigue and ulcers. Some of these symptoms are associated with “racial battle fatigue,” a term coined by William a. Smith, associate professor, University of Utah.

“The results of our study suggest that the notion of racial battle fatigue could be a very real phenomenon that might explain how individuals can go from the experience of racism to the experience of a serious mental health disorder,” said Soto. “While the term is certainly not trying to say that the conditions are exactly what soldiers face on a battlefield, it borrows from the idea that stress is created in chronically unsafe or hostile environments.”

The researchers, who reported their findings in the current issue of the Journal of Anxiety Disorders, examined data from the National Survey of American Life, a study of 5,899 American adults. The study collected data on, among other topics, mental health and experiences of discrimination from 3,570 African Americans (60.5 percent of the total study population), 1,438 Afro-Caribbeans (24.4 percent) and 891 non-Hispanic Whites (15.1 percent).

Of the African Americans surveyed, more than 40 percent reported they experienced some form of racial discrimination, and approximately 4.5 percent reported suffering from GAD. about 39 percent of Afro-Caribbeans reported examples of racial discrimination, but only 2.69 percent had ever developed GAD.

The experience of racial discrimination, however, was not associated with GAD for Afro-Caribbeans. Soto, who worked with Nana Dawson, graduate student in psychology and Rhonda BeLue, assistant professor, health policy and administration, suggested that because Afro-Caribbeans have a different history from African Americans, they may both define and manage racial discrimination differently.

While non-Hispanic whites had higher rates of generalized anxiety disorder than both African Americans and Afro-Caribbeans, only 7.79 percent of non-Hispanic whites reported incidents of racial discrimination. Although experiences of racial discrimination among non-Hispanic whites were not associated with the development of GAD, experiencing other forms of discrimination, such as age and gender discrimination, was associated with the disorder.

“One interesting finding from the study is that non-racial discrimination seems to be associated with the development of GAD for all three groups in the sample,” Soto said. “About 49 percent of non-Hispanic whites said they suffered other forms of discrimination.”

Soto said the connection between racism and severe anxiety underscores the negative impact that discrimination has on society.

“This is just one instance of how powerful social stressors can impact healthy functioning,” Soto said. “And I would suspect, if we could wave a wand and eliminate racism from our past and our present, we would also eliminate a lot of health disparities.”

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According to scientific research, there appears to be aconnection between dental hygiene and heart health in women.

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Californiaat Berkeley School of Public Health found that women who visitedthe dentist regularly lowered their risk of having a heart attack.Statistics from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute showthe No. 1 cause of death in women is heart disease, and 23 percentof women die within one year of a first recognized heart attack.therefore, dental hygiene may be one way to protect women from therisk of a heart attack.

There is a known relationship between inflammation in bloodvessels and cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks. Onehypothesis to explain the connection between good dental hygieneand reduced heart disease is the reduction of bacteria in thebloodstream that can lead to inflammation.

It’s important to know the symptoms of a heart attack for women,which can be different from those experienced by men.

Heart attack symptoms in women include:

• Shortness of breath

• Extreme fatigue or inability to perform daily activities asusual

• cold sweats

• Heart palpitations

• Pain, tightness or pressure in the chest area

• Discomfort in other areas, including pain or discomfort in oneor both arms (especially the left arm), the back, between theshoulder blades, neck, jaw, teeth or abdomen

• Heartburn or indigestion

Women often hesitate or fail to call 911 when they experienceheart attack symptoms. most feel they are not really having a heartattack, do not want to raise a false alarm or self-diagnosethemselves as having heartburn or other minor health issues. If youeven think you are having a heart attack, call 911. Remember, timelost is heart muscle lost.

Dr. Andrea Moyer is a cardiologist at Cardiac Specialists ofSt. Luke’s. For more information, call 314-205-6699 or visitstlukes-stl.com. XX Files, a women’s health column, rotates eachweek with Aging Successfully, a column for seniors by Dr. JohnMorley of St. Louis University.

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT)- Many parents have had those mornings when your child wakes up coughing, sniffling, and complaining that they don't feel well. Do they have a cold? what about the flu? or what if they really aren't sick at all?

Sometimes it's clear your child is legitimately sick and needs to be taken to the doctor. Other times, it's not so easy to figure out what, if anything, is wrong with them.

Experts believe that at least 10% of kids have faked sick to their parents so they could take the day off.

Dr. David Hill with Cape Fear Pediatrics says parents need to look for certain physical signs to determine if their children are sick.

Common symptoms of flu include fever, extreme fatigue, dry cough, and body aches. cold symptoms are typically milder, including a runny or stuffy nose. if in doubt, always take their body temperatures.

“Kids cannot fake a fever. So, elevated temperature taken orally in an older child, rectally in an infant or baby, is really a good sign of significant illness,” said Hill.

So how do you know if your child is trying to pull a fast one on you?

Fake symptoms typically don't last long. Be suspicious if your child is coughing their lungs out one moment but then talking nonstop on the phone the next.

Kids who are truly sick usually doze off while watching television or playing on the computer. So if they are glued to a TV-watching marathon, wide awake, it could be a sign that they are faking it.

Symptoms that move from one body part to the other may be a sign of faking it. For example, my head hurts, now my stomach hurt, those are signs to be suspicious.

Sometimes kids are faking sick for attention or just the thrill of it, but it can also mask other issues such as anxiety, depression, or their wish to avoid a bully at school.

Other reasons children might feel they need to fake sick are kids whose parents have very high expectations tend to have more anxiety, so they might stay home if they have a test or presentation they don't feel they are ready for.

Parents need set a good example. if you tend to feel ill before a busy day or work event, your child will pick up on that and mimic that behavior.

Don't “reinforce” sick behavior. For example, don't let your child curl up on the couch with ice cream and the remote control. Dr. Hill says even healthy children should not watch more than 2 hours of television a day.

“Just because they are sick doesn't mean we should suspend that rule, it's a good time for them to catch up on reading, resting, and other creative quiet activities.”

If you've established your child is not faking it, at what point do you call the doctor?

“A fever greater than 104 degrees is not going to harm a child, but it may suggest a more serious illness, likewise, if the child has not peed in more than 8 hours they might be getting dehydrated. any difficulty breathing, wheezing, rapid breathing, all of this concerns us,” said Hill.

If you are taking care of a sick child, the best way to keep it from spreading around the home is to wash your hands. Also, schools and daycares will not allow children to come in until the fever, vomiting, or diarrhea is gone for 24 hours, so don't skirt the rules, they are there to protect your child and all others.

Copyright 2011 WECT. All Rights Reserved.

….Thanks if you know

Glandular fever feels achey and is characterised by a sore throat, swollen lymph nodes (usually in the neck) and extreme fatigue