A pheochromocytoma is a mostly benign tumor of the adrenal medulla. The glands of the adrenal medulla are situated next to the kidney area. Pheochromocytomas can appear at any of the two adrenal glands. They mostly lead to a hypertensive crisis.
A pheochromocytoma is a mostly benign tumor of cells releasing the ‘fight or flight’ hormones. These hormones are giving a person to one part the sensation of an ‘adrenaline’ rush which any person feels whenever he is afraid. These cells release the ‘fight or flight’ hormones in the adrenal medulla. The disease can appear at any age. The peak of incidences is between the age of 30-50 within a person's life. Fortunately, pheochromocytomas are occuring pretty rare. Majority of them are benign.
Excessive use of decongestants, sudden withdrawal from blood pressure medications, spinal cord injuries and panic attacks can lead to symptoms of a pheochromocytoma. The hormones produced and released by a pheochromocytoma lead to an increased blood pressure, and may even lead to a hypertensive crisis. Someone with a pheochromocytoma has usually three classic symptoms including heart palpitations, sweating, and headache in association with high blood pressure. Also other symptoms may be present. These symptoms include weight loss, abdominal and side pain, weakness, pale skin, tremors, dizziness, nausea, inner restlessness and anxiety. However, some people never experience any symptoms of the disease. In fact, around 10% of the cases of pheochromocytomas are discovered by chance, meaning that these cases are found only because the patient is undergoing tests for other health issues he has withouth suspecting pheochromocytomas.
A doctor can receive a first evidence of pheochromocytoma with a 24h blood pressure measurement and various further blood or urine tests. An ultrasound, computer tomography or magnetic resonance tomography can confirm the diagnosis. Eventually, options for tumor removal should be considered. The definitive treatment is surgery and until the tumor is removed, a doctor should control the patient’s blood pressure regularly. An endocrinologist should be consulted. He will design a treatment plan for the affected person in specific. For cases of malignant pheochromocytomas which cannot be cured by surgery or radiation therapy, a chemotherapy may be necessary.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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