According to braintumor.org, a brain tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue in which some cells grow and multiply uncontrollably, apparently unregulated by the mechanisms that control normal cells. Brain cancer can originate either within the brain...
Niacin is an essential vitamin of the vitamin B family needed by the body for assisting in digestion and the development and function of skin and nerves throughout the body. As a water-soluble vitamin, niacin is not stored in the body and must be...
Tegretol is a brand name of carbamazepine. It is a medication used to control some types of seizures in the treatment of epilepsy. Doctors have also found that it helps to relieve neurological pain, resulting from trigeminal neuralgia. Although...
A brain or cerebral aneurysm occurs when a weakened portion of a blood vessel within the brain abnormally expands and fills with blood. Unruptured brain aneurysms rarely cause symptoms in affected patients. If the weakened blood vessel expands too...
People who have low levels of thyroid hormone in the body due to an underactive thyroid gland may have a condition called hypothyroidism. This thyroid disease affects approximately 5 percent of people in the United States--the majority of which...
Women between 20 and 40 are most susceptible to multiple sclerosis, a disease of the immune system that damages the myelin sheathing surrounding the nerves. Symptoms can vary from woman to woman depending on which nerves are affected. The Multiple...
Alcohol affects your entire body in different ways. Sometimes, it can have an effect on certain parts of your body without you even realizing---effects that can threaten your health and your safety.
Low blood glucose, or hypoglycemia, occurs when your level of blood sugar drops too low. This can happen as a complication of diabetes or many other conditions. It is not a disease itself but a symptom of one. If you take steps right away to...
A stroke occurs when the blood flow to the brain is interrupted or greatly reduced. This depletion of blood to the brain deprives the tissue of essential oxygen and nutrients. Without a constant flow of oxygen-rich blood, the brain cells will...
Benadryl is the brand name given to the drug diphenhydramine, most commonly used as an antihistamine for those suffering from allergy symptoms such as runny nose, itchy eyes and a sore throat. However, the drug is also used to help reduce...
An aneurysm is a weak spot that balloons out from the walls of a blood vessel. Aneurysms can occur in many places in the body, but brain aneurysms are among the most dangerous. If an aneurysm ruptures in the brain, it leads to a hemorrhagic...
A brain tumor is a mass of abnormal cells in the brain. The brain stem includes the midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata and regulates body functions such as blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. The reticular formation is the central core of...
Brain tumors are slightly more common among men than women, according to the online medical library, Merck Manuals. Tumors in the brain may originate in the brain, or spread from somewhere else. Brain tumors can cause symptoms by directly damaging...
Sinus surgery is a procedure that a doctor may recommend to resolve symptoms of chronic sinusitis. During the procedure, the surgeon can increase the space within the sinuses to allow for better draining of nasal mucus, thereby reducing the risk...
The National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) society defines MS as a chronic and possibly disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system. Early symptoms are often mild, and many experience them in clusters between the ages of 20 and 50....
A cerebral aneurysm is a condition that arises when there is a weak spot in a blood vessel in the brain. If blood becomes trapped in the weakened blood vessel, pressure can build up, causing the aneurysm to rupture. An estimated 6 percent of...
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is an autoimmune disease that targets the central nervous system, which consists of the brain and spinal cord. MS causes inflammation and damage to the sheath covering nerve cells. This sheath protects the nerve and also...
Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot, or thrombus, forms in one of the blood vessels that feed a portion of the brain. This blood clot can diminish or even stop blood flow to some portion of the brain and cause the cells at that location to...
A stroke occurs when blood flow is obstructed to the brain, causing brain cells to die and brain damage to occur. Damage can affect movement, speech and memory. Blood flow is blocked when a blood clot is present in an artery, or a blood vessel...
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, with an estimated 700,000 occurrences per year, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is...
Antihistamines are a class of medications indicated for the treatment of symptoms associated with allergies, including nasal congestion, sneezing or cough. A number of antihistamine medications are available over-the-counter or by prescription....
If you have diabetes, your body is either unable to produce or effectively utilize insulin. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 24 million people in the United States struggle with diabetes. People over the age of 45...
Botox injections are a cosmetic procedure commonly used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and give skin a more youthful appearance. Botox is made with low concentrations of botulinum toxin type A, the same bacterial toxin that can cause...
Erythromycin is a frequently prescribed antibiotic that's available in many forms-- including tablets, capsules and suspensions for oral use; powders and solutions for intravenous or intramuscular injection; and gels and ointments for topical and...
Cysts are small pouches of fluid that can form on organs anywhere in the body. Brain cysts can be caused by developmental abnormalities and may be present at birth, causing them to be classified as primary brain cysts. Secondary brain cysts, on...
Temozolomide, a drug that belongs to a family of drugs called antineoplastics, is used to treat certain types of brain cancer in adults. According to the Mayo Clinic, it may also be used to treat metastatic melanoma, a type of brain cancer that...
Viral encephalitis is a medical condition characterized by severe brain inflammation caused by a virus. A number of viral infections, such as herpes simplex virus, measles, Epstein-Barr virus and varicella zoster virus, can cause brain...
Also known as pseudoephedrine, Sudafed is a decongestant that treats nasal and sinus congestion by shrinking the blood vessels in the nose. It also helps drain fluid from your inner ears which may contribute to this congestion. While effective for...
Brain aneurysms--weak spots in a vessel that bulge and fill with blood--can occur with little or no warning. If they rupture, the result is often a stroke, which leads to permanent nerve damage or death. According to the American Society of...
