Iodine, a trace mineral, plays a key role in the metabolism of cells and is essential to ensure normal function of the thyroid gland, which in turn is critical to optimal health. Excessive amounts of iodine can hamper proper thyroid function....
The city of Houston is home to a world-renowned medical community. The Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world, as well as 85 other hospitals are located in the area. In fact, health care professionals make up 7 percent of...
Drop foot, also known as "foot drop" within the medical community, is defined by Texas Medical Center as the inability to raise the foot due to weakness in muscles of the ankle. Drop foot is most often caused by damage to the peroneal nerve, which...
Due to the shift in hormones and change in metabolism that occurs after a hysterectomy and during menopause, many women experience unwanted weight gain. According to a 2009 study by the Department of Community and Family Medicine at Duke...
Community-acquired pneumonia primarily affects the lungs. It originates from an infection by bacteria such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae. It spreads through inhalation of air droplets and can spread rapidly in places with...
Reflexology is a touch-based healing art that focuses on points on the feet, hands and ears to relieve complications or disease throughout the body. If you suffer from neck pain, a qualified reflexologist may be able to either remove your pain...
For women, too much hair growth on a woman's body can be a disturbing occurrence. Hormone changes, steroids, certain medications and a few more serious disorders can cause increased hair growth. When dark, coarse hair grows excessively on a...
Mint oil comes from a variety of different plant species. Cornmint, peppermint and spearmint are all different strains of Mentha plants. As you would expect from their shared botanical roots, different mint oils have some similar properties and...
The Anxiety Disorders Association of America reports that as of 2011 over 40 million adults aged 18 and older experience anxiety, which makes anxiety disorders among the most prevalent mental illnesses in America. The symptoms of anxiety vary, but...
Alternative medicine is defined by the Mayo Clinic as wellness therapies that are not considered part of conventional Western medicine. Some of the alternative treatment methods they list include acupuncture, herbs and dietary supplements....
A close friend can be a confidant, a companion, a shoulder to cry on and a partner in crime. Regardless of how compatible you are at the height of the friendship, your relationship may end because you no longer want to spend time together. Whether...
Parasites come in different forms. They include microscopic ameobas such as giardia, and larger organisms such as tapeworms. They may infect the body through bodies of water, the food you eat and water you drink. Some of these invaders thrive on...
Psilocybin is a psychoactive substance found in some fungi around the world. Along with psilocin, another psychoactive chemical, this illegal substance contributes to consciousness alteration for a few hours. While not addictive, psilocybin can...
Black tongue is a condition in which the tongue has a black appearance. The tongue could also have a brown or yellow discoloration. It is a condition that is not dangerous and usually goes away without medical attention. There can be other...
Imagine a time when the health of your child was a complete mystery until the day of delivery. Amniocentesis was first developed in the late 1950s as a way of determining the sex of a child but was not used until the 1970s for the diagnosis of...
The Internet has thousands of websites that contain helpful information for dieters and other people looking to get healthy. Losing weight has a direct effect on disorders like depression, hypertension and diabetes. It is important to evaluate all...
A hernia is characterized by the protrusion of an internal organ or a body part through an opening into an area where the organ or body part is not normally present. The opening results from weakness in the tissue, muscle or membrane that normally...
Community acquired pneumonia is a disease that affects the lungs. It is usually caused by bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae or Mycoplasma pneumoniae. It can be spread from person to person and is acquired through the inhalation of...
Ear wax is called cerumen by the medical community. According to the McKinley Health Center, cerumen is derived from the Latin word cera, or wax. Despite this, ear wax is not wax, but a mixture of dead skin, hair and fatty secretions produced by...
A migraine is more than a typical headache. Migraine headaches cause painful throbbing that usually begins on one side of the head, spreading to both sides as the migraine intensifies. A migraine with or without aura usually lasts between four and...
Gout is a condition that causes inflammation and pain in your joints. This arthritic condition most commonly affects the large joint in your big toe, although pain and swelling also may occur in other joints of your feet, legs, hands and arms....
Almost 50 percent of adults over the age of 65 say a smile is the first thing they notice about other people, according to a study by the American Dental Association. With age, oral health care is even more important than ever, yet many older...
The conversion of foods into energy is one of the primary functions of the digestive system. The energy derived from food sources is used for physical and mental tasks, immune system response and other functions. Although the body derives energy...
During digestion, enzymes break down food molecules into molecules small enough for your cells to absorb them. As the food you eat gets digested and transformed into energy, toxic waste is also generated. Ammonia is a toxin that appears as a...
Cartilage, a type of connective tissue, is made of cells called chondrocytes and the material these cells secrete. According to Professor Bruce Babiarz, Rutgers University, the relatively stiff structure of cartilage plays a very important role in...
Septoplasty refers to the surgical procedure during which the septum, the bone and cartilage that divides your nostrils, is corrected. This procedure is typically completed when your septum is deviated and causes nasal blockage, facial pressure...
Premature infants -- babies born before 37 weeks -- have unique nutritional needs. Babies born early may have lower vitamin and mineral stores than babies born after a full-term pregnancy. Preterm infants may also have higher nutritional needs for...
Although the allopathic medical community has been diligently working on effective cancer treatments for decades, treatment options have changed little over the years. The conventional approach includes chemotherapy and radiation, both of which...
Program Description If you think you have a drinking problem, you've got lots of company. About 18 million Americans are alcoholics or have alcohol dependence problems. Alcoholism increases the risk of liver and brain damage, certain kinds of...
