At some point in your life you may suffer muscle deterioration, because it is a normal consequence of aging, inactivity and injury. This loss of muscle tone, also referred to as atrophy, is reversible with strength training and activity, however,...
Vaginal burning can be caused by infection, irritation from chemicals, vaginitis, contraceptive jellies and foams, and synthetic underwear. Vaginal burning related to infection may be accompanied by redness, soreness, itching and discharge,...
Most women will become postmenopausal at some point in middle age. Women who have had a hysterectomy may enter this stage immediately after their surgery, since they can no longer menstruate. Bleeding in postmenopausal women is not due to...
Making sure that your colon is healthy and functioning can mean the difference between agonizing digestive problems and digestive comfort. Your colon is responsible for absorbing water and nutrients that were not absorbed by the small intestine...
Medline Plus defines amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, as a disease of the nervous system. Neurons or nerve cells are responsible for transmitting messages from the brain and spinal cord to the voluntary muscles of the body. ALS, which is...
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, atrophy of the brain is common in many neurological conditions. In atrophy, some neurons, or brain cells, have died and the connections between them have been lost. This can...
Neuromuscular disorders are a group of conditions where extensive damage to the nerves occur, according to the National Institutes of Health. When the nerves die, the communication between the patient's nervous system and muscles are disrupted....
Post-polio syndrome occurs years after a patient has been affected by the polio virus. Common symptoms of this condition include muscle weakness, tiredness and muscle atrophy. Symptoms may worsen if you do not use the muscles affected by...
The optic nerves begin at the back of the eye in an area called the optic disc. They transmit visual information from the eye to the brain, which is responsible for comprehending the visual input. Many types of disorders can damage the optic...
Located at the base of the forebrain, the basal ganglia are responsible for different functions, like voluntary movement. The different parts of the basal ganglia communicate with each other and transmit neurotransmitters to other parts of the...
Brain atrophy occurs with the loss of neurons or the connections between them. Some degree of atrophy is a normal part of aging, but pathological conditions, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease, also feature atrophy as a symptom. Common...
Brain atrophy and cerebral atrophy are terms used when there is a loss of tissue in the brain. This means there is a loss of brain cells and, in some cases, a loss of nerve conduction between cells. Atrophy can affect the entire brain or be...
A hammer toe is characterized by a noticeably raised middle joint on any toe. The hammer toe may develop corns or calluses because of the incessant rubbing of the joint on the shoe. Also, a hammer toe may cause a painful bunion to develop on the...
Electric muscle stimulation is a process through which low-level electrical currents are used to stimulate muscles, forcing them to contract. According to the Food and Drug Administration, which regulates devices that perform these functions, such...
A quadriceps, or thigh muscle, tear can be a partial tear or a complete rupture. The severity of the tear and your symptoms determine the length of your recovery and when you may begin strengthening exercises. A 2010 article in the "Current...
Gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, is a prevalent part of the Western diet and the cause of digestive and immune disorders for many people. An inherited intolerance to this protein leads to an autoimmune disease known as celiac...
Americans consume more than 4 million kg of creatine each year, even though the body makes it naturally, according to MedlinePlus, a website provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Creatine helps boost your athletic performance, builds...
A protruding spinal disc or a herniated disc can cause compression on the spinal cord or on the nerve roots of the spine. This compression can lead to pain symptoms, motor weakness and muscle atrophy. Treatment for the bulging disc depends on the...
Muscle atrophy is defined by the loss or wasting of muscle tissue. There are several causes, including a lack of physical activity or disease. Neurogenic atrophy is the most severe form of muscle atrophy and occurs more suddenly. This can result...
The brain and spinal cord form the human body's central nervous system. The spinal cord is the primary pathway by which the body conducts sensory information from the peripheral nervous system to the brain. The brain processes sensory input and...
Your muscular system proves indispensable for maintaining your lifestyle. Your muscles allow for fine motor function, speech, movement, locomotion -- and also maintain upright posture. Healthy muscles rely on nutrients from your diet, and a number...
According to the University of California San Francisco Medical Center, the rotator cuff is composed of muscles and tendons that hold the humerus bone within the shoulder joint. The muscles and tendons can sustain complete or partial tears,...
Parkinson's disease is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by such symptoms as involuntary tremors, slowing of motions (bradykinesia), rigid muscles, stooped posture, unsteadiness, changes in speech and dementia. Parkinson's disease also...
Promestriene is a topical synthetic version of the hormone estradiol indicated for treating vaginal atrophy, the thinning and shrinking of tissues caused by low estrogen levels in postmenopausal women. The symptoms of vaginal atrophy are vaginal...
Hot flashes involve a sudden feeling of warmth that results in an outbreak of sweating all over the upper body. Hot flashes are a common effect of menopause but they can occur in non-menopausal women as well as in men. Sources of hot flashes...
Muscle twitches can be the result of various factors, weight loss being one of them. Although weight loss does not directly cause muscle twitches, several by-products of losing weight can cause these muscular contractions to occur, including...
The central nervous system includes the brain, brain stem and spinal cord and is the main infrastructure for electrical communication in the body. A variety of nutrients are required for normal neuronal development and healthy functioning....
Pinched nerves can occur anywhere in the body, but are a relatively common occurrence in the low back. A nerve in the lumbar spine can become pinched by any number of structures, but most often it happens when a spinal disc herniates out beyond...
Vaginal irritation is an uncomfortable feeling that can occur as a result of inflammation to the vaginal tissues. Sometimes this can be a normal symptom that occurs in women after they reach about 44 years old. In some causes, vaginal irritation...
