Vitamin B-12 is the most chemically complex of all the vitamins, and it is essential to the production of red blood cells, the synthesis of genetic materials and the function of your nervous system. Your nervous system is your body's...
The mineral zinc is vital to the cells of the body for it fulfills several important functions, but the recommended daily allowance depends on the age and sex of the individual taking it. Zinc toxicity can cause several symptoms, and taking too...
A dark spot can appear on an X-ray or scan for any number of reasons. Brain lesions usually are discovered accidentally when you're being diagnosed for an unrelated symptom, according to MayoClinic.com. Dark spots that indicate brain lesions...
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain uses powerful magnets and radio waves to produce a detailed picture of the brain and nerve tissues. Because a brain MRI shows details of the blood vessels, the blood flow and the fluids...
Alzheimer's is a progressive neuro-degenerative disease that causes dementia, memory loss, personality changes and eventual death. According to ScienceDaily, Alzheimer's affects 5.1 million people in the U.S. It is caused by plaques of...
Ear infections, also called otitis media, can become severe and cause distress, particularly in infants and children. Infants are more susceptible to ear infections because their auditory canals are more horizontal compared to older children and...
Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a condition that causes inflammation of the spinal cord and the brain. Specifically, this neurological ailment causes damage to the myelin surrounding the brain's nerves. Both adults and children can...
Omega 3 fatty acids may not be the first brain food to come to mind, but scientists are discovering that not only is omega 3 necessary for brain development, it may also boost brain function. Roles linked to omega 3 include learning, sensory...
Small vessel disease---SVD---of the brain occurs when the small arteries and arterioles in the brain become damaged and deteriorate due to the buildup of plaque, the formation of small tears, or the arteries becoming hard and inflexible. This...
In the United States, stillbirth is defined as a pregnancy that terminates at 20 weeks gestation or more. According to "The Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine," in the United States, stillbirths occur in about 1 percent of all births...
The brain stem serves as a “highway” that connects the rest of the brain to the spinal cord and through the spinal cord, to the rest of the body. The brain stem helps regulate breathing, digestion, heart function, sexual function and...
Infant jaundice is a condition marked by high levels of bilirubin in the blood where the whites of the eye and skin turn yellow. When all is functioning properly, bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells, is processed by the liver, excreted...
If you are gluten intolerant, your brain function may be affected by any gluten you eat. Celiac disease describes a condition in which the body responds to ingesting gluten by attacking itself, primarily in the small intestine. While it may seem...
Aggression can sometimes have positive outcomes. For example, it may help a person overcome competition to rise to the top at work. But when aggression is fueled by negative emotions such as anger and when it interferes with life--trouble with the...
There are many parasites that commonly affect humans. Among these parasites are the protozoa that share the Earth's water, soil and food supply with the human population. Some may not be able to cause disease if you are healthy, while others can...
A grand mal seizure, also known as a tonic-clonic seizure, is caused by generalized, unregulated impulses throughout the entire brain, resulting in muscle rigidity, convulsions and lack of consciousness. While most grand mal seizures have no known...
Non-epileptic seizures, unlike epileptic seizures, are not caused by abnormal electrical activity in the cerebral cortex. Formerly called pseudoseizures, professionals prefer the term "non-epileptic seizures," as the patients view themselves as...
Boxing is an exciting but dangerous sport that requires physical fitness, dexterity and endurance. Amateur and professional boxing leagues provide guidelines for weight classes, match regulations, illegal moves and other facets of the sport. If...
The tuna fish is a member of the mackerel family, found in warmer areas of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans and the Mediterranean Sea. Its lean, sturdy texture makes it ideally suited to fit an array of dishes ranging across cultures....
Magnesium sulfate is an electrolyte that is normally found in your blood and excreted by your kidneys. It is sold over-the-counter as Epsom salts. When given intravenously in a hospital, magnesium sulfate can prevent seizures in the treatment of...
The human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, causes the AIDS disease. It duplicates itself after it enters white blood cells called the CD4+ T lymphocytes. The infection progresses as the virus destroys these blood cells. As the number of CD4+ T...
Celiac disease is a condition in which the body treats gluten like a harmful bacteria, initiating an autoimmune response. This genetic disorder affects about 1 in 133 Americans, according to a study by the University of Maryland School of...
The cerebrum is the large upper area of the brain, which is physically divided at the midline into the right and left hemispheres. Within each hemisphere are five distinct regions, the insula, and the frontal, temporal, occipital and parietal...
When you see a person fall to the ground in a convulsion, you're most likely witnessing a grand mal seizure. It also goes by the name of generalized seizure, but a more descriptive term is tonic-clonic seizure because it indicates two stages. In...
Thiamin is needed daily to preserve brain function. This water-soluble vitamin, sometimes referred to as vitamin B1, is found in whole-grain cereals, some legumes, pork chops, watermelons, acorn squash and yeast. The recommended daily intake for...
Zinc and vitamin B-1 supposedly help your liver function, although researchers don't yet fully understand the reasons for their protective benefits. Both supplements have proved useful in treating individuals with liver disease, however. In the...
Migraines are more than just bad headaches. They are a chronic and severe condition characterized by debilitating pain, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or sound, visual disturbances, and a host of other neurological abnormalities. Sufferers...
The U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Mental Illness in 2007 stated "Mental disorders are health conditions that are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood or behavior (or some combination thereof) associated with distress and/or impaired...
If you suffer from back or neck pain, you may have heard of inversion therapy as way to reduce it. Although its benefits are not proven by the medical community, many who perform inversion exercises say they experience extreme relief. Even if you...
