The word "hepatitis" means inflammation of the liver. The most common cause of chronic liver inflammation is the ingestion of the liver toxin, alcohol. Alcoholism is the most common cause of chronic hepatitis. "Infectious hepatitis" is a term...
Many individuals must avoid sodium in their diet due to health problems such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. In many cases, the cause of these illnesses may be a result of being overweight, which can also make any existing health...
According to the National Association for Home and Hospice Care, in 2004 there were 7.6 million people who received home health care services. These individuals received health care in their homes due to an acute illness or long-term disability...
The World Health Organization reports that microorganisms such as a bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses cause infectious diseases which have the ability to spread from one person to another. Understanding risk factors, modes of transmission and...
Over 2,000 years ago, Hippocrates discovered a link between kidney disease and "bubbles on the surface of the urine." Scientists now know that this symptom is associated with protein in your urine, a condition called proteinuria. Proteinuria is...
Potassium plays several vital roles in the body and there can be health complications if your level gets too low or too high. The success of any treatment program to bring your potassium levels up to normal depends on the cause of deficiency and...
Most Americans get more than enough protein and don't need protein supplements, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many foods you eat contain at least some protein, making it relatively easy to meet the protein...
Hepatitis A, or HAV, is an acute viral infection of the liver. Symptoms of liver infection include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, exhaustion, jaundice and pain in the right upper abdomen. HAV is caused by the transmission and ingestion of microscopic...
Arthritis affects millions of Americans every year. According to the National Institute of Health, there are over 100 forms of arthritis that affect any one or several joints in the body, causing marked swelling, pain and reduced mobility and...
When it comes to diet and nutrition, one size doesn't fit all. If you want to provide your body with the nutrition it needs, start by identifying your stage of life and special needs. Talk with your doctor to identify health risks and consult a...
AIDS is a chronic incurable disease that is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is contracted through sexual contact, contaminated blood or blood products, contamination through intravenous needle sharing and via mother-to-child...
Ginseng refers to both the American and Asian varieties of an herb that has traditionally been used for its medicinal properties. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, most studies of ginseng are on the Asian form. This form may...
Hair loss can be embarrassing and depressing for women. Hair loss and baldness are most often associated with the male aging process. However, a large number of women are also affected. According to the Body Logic MD website, approximately 20...
Your body produces an astonishing array of proteins, which perform a wide variety of tasks. Structural proteins, carrier proteins, storage proteins, enzymes, hormones, antibodies, hemoglobin and myoglobin are a few examples of the innumerable...
Fever is often a sign of infection somewhere in the body. It is an important immune system function that sometimes serves to kill the invading organism. People with diabetes are prone to several types of infection. It is important for a person...
Maintaining adequate blood flow throughout the body is vital to keeping the body healthy and active. Blood carries nutrients and oxygen to the cells and shuttles away toxins and byproducts that are no longer needed. Several factors can cause poor...
Influenza is an acute infectious disease that affects the respiratory tract. It is characterized by the abrupt onset of headache, fevers, chills, muscle pains, severe malaise, cough, sore throat and rhinitis. The acute illness generally resolves...
The typical American diet, which is high in animal-based and processed fats, contributes to a buildup of plaque in the arteries. If you have -- or suspect you have -- buildup of arterial plaque, you should take steps to try to clear it away....
You might think you can't go wrong when taking vitamins. But that is not the case. The phrase "everything in moderation" applies. Certain vitamins can produce harmful effects--some transient, some long-lasting and serious--when taken in excessive...
Juvenile arthritis is a term that encompasses a group of distinct diseases that affect children younger than 18, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Approximately 294,000 children currently have juvenile arthritis, which makes it one of the...
Millions of Americans contract the flu each year. In most cases, according to Dr. Raphael Dolin in "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," acute illness resolves within two to five days, although respiratory symptoms, such as cough and sore...
Nursing homes typically offer specialized rehabilitative or disease/trauma/injury care to the elderly, though some serve the mentally ill or developmentally disabled. Nursing homes offer a variety of services, from specialized care for people with...
Sodium is an important electrolyte in the body that is responsible for regulating body fluid, maintaining blood pressure, and aiding proper nerve and muscle function. Normal blood plasma contains 136 to 145 mEq/L of sodium, according to...
Ginseng root is one of the most frequently used herbs in traditional Asian medicine. It has been used for centuries, both in North American and Asia. The University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, notes that ginseng is one of the most popular...
Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by the Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria. Though the condition usually resolves by itself, according to the National Institutes of Health, it is frequently treated with an antibiotic because of the risk...
Diverticular disease is a gastrointestinal disorder that has two phases. The chronic phase known as diverticulosis causes small pockets to bulge outward at weak spots along the inner lining of your large intestine, or colon. If these pockets...
Naturopathy is a healing system that is based on the belief that within your body is everything needed to help you heal. The naturopath uses combined approaches including nutrition, exercise, herbs, supplements, homeopathy, Bach Flowers,...
Cholesterol is a wax-like substance that is found in almost all parts of the human body. The body requires cholesterol in small amounts to build cells and perform some physiologic processes. However, too much cholesterol can cause damage to the...
If you're one of the 10 percent of Americans over the age of 40 with diverticulosis, you're well aware of the effect food has on your health and well-being. Diverticulosis is a chronic disorder that occurs when pouches bulge in the lining of your...
Relieving back pain is a common goal of acupuncture for many patients; learn how to treat back pain with acupuncture in this acupuncture video.
A hallucination is a sensory experience of something that does not exist outside the mind, caused by various physical and mental disorders or by reactions to certain toxic substances. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments of...
