Spina bifida is one of the most commonly occurring inborn disorders (birth defects) in the United States. It’s caused by the incomplete development of the fetus’ spine during the first month of pregnancy. (The term spina bifida means “split spine.”) Spina bifida is usually apparent at birth. Spina bifida happens during the first 28 days of pregnancy, often before a woman …

Spider bites — especially bites that can harm humans — are rare. All spiders make venom (a poison) that they use to paralyze and kill their prey. But most spiders aren’t aggressive to people, and their fangs are too small to puncture human skin. Spiders usually only bite humans when they feel threatened, like when you trap them or unintentionally make …

Specific phobias are an extreme fear of objects or situations that pose little or no danger but make you highly anxious. So you try to stay away from these things. Unlike the brief anxiety you may feel when giving a speech or taking a test, specific phobias are long-lasting. Without treatment, specific phobias tend to last a lifetime. Phobias can …

Somatic symptom disorder (SSD) is a mental health condition in which a person feels significantly distressed about physical symptoms and has abnormal thoughts, feelings and behaviors in response to them. The disorder disrupts their daily functioning and quality of life. Although a person with somatic symptom disorder reports symptoms, the symptoms may have no medical explanation or be normal body …

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are soft tissue growths. They can occur anywhere in your body, but they most commonly develop in the lining around the outside of your lungs. Some solitary fibrous tumors grow slowly and don’t spread (noncancerous), and some grow quickly and do spread (cancerous). Although most solitary fibrous tumors are benign (noncancerous), healthcare providers recommend surgery or …

Your soft palate is the back part of the roof of your mouth. Soft palate cancer is one of several kinds of oropharyngeal cancer. It happens when squamous cell carcinoma cells multiply and create cancerous tumors. Soft palate cancer is often found before it can spread, making it easier to treat with surgery to remove tumors. Is soft palate cancer common? No, it’s …

Snoring refers to a rattling, snorting or grumbling sound some people make during sleep. It happens when there’s an obstruction in your airway. Is snoring normal? Snoring is common (and normal) for many people. In fact, nearly everyone snores at some point, including babies and young children. But loud, jarring snoring may indicate sleep apnea — a condition that causes you to …

An enterocele (EN-ter-uh-seel) occurs when part of the small intestine drops (prolapses) into the pelvic area. The small intestine (or small bowel) pushes against the top of the vagina, causing a bulge. Another name for enterocele is small bowel prolapse. It’s a type of pelvic organ prolapse that affects the female reproductive system. How common are enteroceles? Approximately 3% to 6% …

Small bowel cancer is a type of cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the small intestine. The small intestine, also called the small bowel, is a long tube that carries digested food between the stomach and the large intestine. The small intestine digests and absorbs nutrients from the foods you eat. It produces hormones that help with …

Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder that causes you to move around or engage in unusual or unexpected activities while asleep. This condition often runs in families, and most people grow out of it. The formal name for sleepwalking is somnambulism, which comes from Latin words that mean “sleep” and “walking.” Experts classify it as a sleep disorder (parasomnia). How common is sleepwalking? …