Bone biopsies are procedures done to test for diseases affecting the bones. For patients with a fracture, bone biopsies are done to evaluate possible disorders that may have caused the fracture or any complications associated with the break. A...
Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that affects the plasma cells found in the blood. These cells are formed in the bone marrow. As the disease process continues, the patient becomes at-risk for several complications. Most of these complications...
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body, coursing from the lower spine to the legs. It is the main highway for conveying motor and sensory information to and from each of the lower limbs. Due to its large size and expanse throughout the...
Osteopenia is a condition resulting from low bone density that is not severe enough to result in an osteoporosis diagnosis. Accordingly, osteopenia results in fewer complications like fractures and bone malformation, but it does indicate a high...
Researchers estimate that 1 in 5 women over the age of 50 suffer from osteoporosis, according to 2010 information from MedlinePlus. Women aren't the only ones affected by the condition; men over the age of 70 also commonly suffer from this bone...
Shoulder tears affect mobility and personal comfort, but treatment and recovery can begin immediately after an injury. The extent of harm done depends on whether patients sustain blows, falls or overuse strains. As age or strenuous sports play...
When a shoulder muscle or tendon in the rotator cuff tears, people lose both strength and range of motion. Shoulder function can diminish greatly due to inflammation and tissue damage, especially if the injury affects the bones or nerves as well....
Multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow that causes certain cells to grow out of control and break down bone, is the most common type of bone cancer, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The word 'stage' is used to...
The bone loss caused by osteoporosis often leads to other health complications, including bone fractures and postural changes. Many lifestyle changes can influence your risk for osteoporosis, as well as how quickly the disease progresses. Among...
The National Kidney Foundation reports that 26 million Americans suffer from chronic renal failure. Uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure are the two main causes of chronic renal failure. High blood sugar levels cause damage to the kidneys...
Cancer tumors are cells in the body that change and grow out of control. The American Cancer Society reports that breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and that it can also occur in men. The organization's figures from 2009 predict an...
A boxer exposes his body to severe impact and can sustain injuries as a result. Well developed abdominal muscles can absorb most of the impact a boxer suffers when taking a punch, and strong bones can withstand stronger impacts than those that...
Vitamin D is important for the absorption of calcium from the stomach and in the function of calcium in the body, according to Drugs.com. Doses as high as 500,000 IUs may be needed to treat certain diseases, such as rickets, notes MayoClinic.com....
Bone fractures, or breaks in a bone, cause significant disability and can lead to long-term complications. Fractures can occur in any bone at any age and are usually easily visualized on X-ray. Bone can regenerate and heal broken pieces together...
Gluten is a protein in wheat, barley, rye and occasionally oats. Some people are unable to tolerate gluten and experience a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, including stomach cramps, after ingesting gluten. This condition is called celiac...
In the book "Nutrition for Sport and Exercise", Jacqueline Berning and Suzanne Steen define bone mineral density as the amount of minerals---mostly hydroxyapatite---in grams per square centimeter of bone. Berning and Steen indicate that bone...
If you are a Type 2 diabetic, fast food may have played a part in your acquiring the disease. The Office of the Surgeon General notes that gaining 11 pounds or more from a poor diet of fatty and sweetened foods doubles your chance of getting Type...
People who suffer from injuries and degenerative diseases of the hip joint such as osteoporosis may eventually require surgery to restore strength and mobility in one or both hips. Some surgeries involve a total hip replacement--implantation of a...
Bone is living, growing tissue made of collagen and calcium that fuse together to make bone flexible and strong. Bones enable movement, provide support, and protect your vital organs. A number of diseases and conditions can debilitate your bones...
Hypercalcemia is a condition characterized by elevated calcium levels in the blood. Calcium is a mineral necessary to maintain strong and healthy bones. It plays an important role in muscle contraction, nerve impulses, hormone release and proper...
Merck Manuals, an online medical library, reports that multiple myeloma is a form of cancer in which plasma cells become cancerous. Plasma cells are a relatively rare type of blood cell, making up less than 1 percent of total blood cells. However,...
Maintaining healthy bones depends on frequent physical activity, good nutrition and regular medical check-ups. Calcium and vitamin D are widely recognized critical elements for bone health, but vitamin C can play an important role as well....
Cushing's disease is an endocrine disorder requiring appropriate treatment to prevent dangerous complications. Before surgical or pharmacological intervention is possible, however, emergency treatment of symptoms serious enough to be an imminent...
Lactose intolerance, or the inability to digest naturally occuring sugar in cow's milk, affects roughly 30 million Americans by age 20, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Colitis is a chronic disease that causes inflammation...
You may have heard the term "bone mass" in regard to osteoporosis. It is important to maintain as much bone mass as you can to prevent fractures and the complications that can accompany them. You can do a lot early on and in your advanced years to...
Smoking has several well-documented negative effects on your health, including increased risks for the development of lung and heart disease, as well as cancers of your lungs and esophagus. Perhaps less well-known is smoking's role in...
Elevated alkaline phosphatase is associated with numerous signs and symptoms. According to Dr. Dicken Weatherby, a naturopathic physician and author of the textbook "Blood Chemistry and CBC Analysis," alkaline phosphatase is a group of isoenzymes...
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that contributes to bone health and overall wellness. Vitamin D3 is the form of this essential nutrient that's most closely tied to increased levels of vitamin D in the blood, says the University of Maryland...
Numerous conditions can cause pain in the upper left hip. Hip pain may be felt in one or both hips, depending on the cause of the pain and the tissues involved. Determining the source of pain can be difficult, as hip-related pain may be felt in...