The carotid arteries supply highly oxygenated blood to the brain. The carotid arteries are made up of the internal and external carotid arteries, which are found on both sides of the head. In some cases tears develop in the walls of these...
The vertebral arteries are among the major arteries that supply blood to the brain. A vertebral artery dissection is the primary cause of almost a fifth of strokes in younger individuals, warns the "British Medical Journal." A dissection in the...
Coronary angiography is a specialized type of X-ray test that allows clinicians to view the arteries supplying blood to the heart, or the coronary arteries. Normally these arteries do not appear on X-ray, but by injecting a special dye into the...
Cholesterol is a sticky, fatty substance produced in the liver or obtained through dietary sources. Some cholesterol is important for hormone production, cell membrane health and Vitamin D synthesis. When cholesterol levels become excessive,...
You probably know that having high cholesterol is bad for your health -- specifically your cardiovascular health. The cardiovascular system, made up of the heart, vessels, and blood, is endangered by too much cholesterol because it can clog the...
Two renal arteries supply blood to the right and the left kidneys. Partial or complete blockage of the renal arteries decreases blood flow to the kidneys and may lead to kidney damage. Clots usually originate in the heart and travel to the renal...
Your carotid arteries are located in your neck, and blockages in these arteries are one of the leading causes of a stroke, according to Penn State University's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center College of Medicine. An effective preventative...
Cholesterol is a component of many food items. In addition, the body can make cholesterol from certain types of fats, particularly saturated and trans fats. High levels of cholesterol lead to atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke. As such,...
The pupil's size is determined by a balance between the input from the two parts of the autonomic nervous system --- sympathetic and parasympathetic. Sympathetic nerves release adrenaline, which causes the pupil to expand. Parasympathetic nerves...
High blood pressure can lead to a variety of problems relating to your cardiovascular system. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, in the United States, it is estimated that 72 million people suffer from high blood pressure,...
Exercise-induced thunderclap headaches can be more than just painful and debilitating -- they can also be dangerous. Although uncommon, thunderclap headaches can signal a serious medical complication or issue that requires immediate medical...
Grapefruit may prove helpful in lowering your blood pressure, providing a natural remedy to hypertension and protecting you against heart disease. But if you take blood pressure medications, combining them with grapefruit could seriously endanger...
An enlarged heart is a heart that is larger than normal. According to the American Heart Association, enlarged hearts can be caused by a thickening of the heart muscle due to an increased workload. This increase in workload can be caused by heart...
Low cholesterol problems stem from a low HDL -- high-density lipoprotein -- the good cholesterol in your body. It is the one type of cholesterol that needs to be high rather than low. You can reverse these problems by making certain lifestyle and...
Methamphetamine is a form of the drug amphetamine. Meth has effects on the body similar to stimulant drugs, leading to an initial sense of euphoria and energy when used. Although the immediate effects of methamphetamine use can lead to reward and...
Coronary artery disease is a condition in which the arteries of a person's heart have plaque buildup, decreasing the passageway for blood and oxygen to flow to the heart. A person will suffer from a heart attack, or myocardial infarction, if a...
There are two types of aortic aneurysm surgery. Conventional surgical repair involves an incision into the chest or abdomen to have direct visualization of the aneurysm. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute says endovascular repair is the...
Consistently high levels of low-density lipoprotein, known as LDL or "bad" cholesterol in the blood can lead to serious health issues. Other risk factors, such as smoking and obesity, accelerate the effects of high cholesterol. Most of these...
Experiencing pain behind your knee while running can be a symptom of a more serious problem, such as tendinitis or a Baker’s cyst. If you feel such pain, immediately stop running to prevent further injury. Treatment includes ice, compression...
Esophageal reflux, also known as GERD, gastroesophageal reflux or acid reflux, is a common medical condition in which the acidic content of the stomach flows up into the lower esophagus. This can cause chronic inflammation and damage to the...
Neither smoking nor excessive beer drinking are healthy for anyone, but older males in particular are susceptible to some of the detrimental health effects of these two practices. This is because males in general, and older males in particular,...
Martial arts popularity has grown over the years, with an increase in participants. While the competitors fight aggressively with one another, karate is still a relatively safe sport. The yearly injury rate, as of 2006, was fairly low. According...
The aortic artery is the largest blood vessel in your body, and it carries the most blood throughout your body. The aorta leaves your heart and travels down through the chest into the abdomen. At the abdomen, the aorta splits in two smaller...
An aneurysm forms when a bulging, or "ballooning," of a weakened artery wall occurs. One type of aneurysm can appear berry-like on an artery and is the most common type of aneurysm, occurring in 90 percent of cases, according to the University of...
An aneurysm describes an abnormal and excessive stretching in the wall of a blood vessel. Aneurysms can occur in any type of blood vessel, including arteries and veins, but most often occur in an artery--a blood vessel that carries oxygenated...
Dilatation or ballooning out of an artery is also known as an angioplasty. An angioplasty is performed to treat narrowed or blocked arteries. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, more than 1 million people in the U.S. have an...
High cholesterol can cause a variety of health complications---some so severe they may result in death. High cholesterol is considered 240 mg or higher; however, people with levels above 200 mg are considered a high-risk and should be cautious....
You can yawn for many reasons; a yawn often happens when you are bored or tired. While it was once believed that you yawned when you needed more oxygen, that theory has been disproved. Everyone yawns throughout the day; however, if yawning becomes...
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is made in the body and is found in all cells of the body. Cholesterol can also be obtained from the diet. Cholesterol is used in the body to make hormones, vitamin D and substances to aid in...
