Vitamins are a crucial part of healthy growth and development, and are especially important for vegans and vegetarians, pregnant and nursing women and some health conditions. However, excessive vitamin intake may cause unpleasant side effects....
Ambien (zolpidem) is a prescription sleep aid indicated for short-term treatment of patients who suffer from insomnia, a sleeping disorder. If you are concerned about whether there are any side effects to taking the Ambien sleeping pill, speak...
Head trauma or spontaneous rupture of a ballooned artery or malformed blood vessel can cause bleeding in the brain, also known as a cerebral hemorrhage. The brain fits tightly into the intracranial space within the rigid skull, leaving little room...
According to the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes approximately 10 percent of encephalitis cases in the U.S. With herpes encephalitis, the virus infects the brain tissues causing an...
The carotid arteries are two blood vessels located on either side of the neck that provide the brain with sufficient levels of blood. Blockage of one or both of these arteries, a condition called coronary artery disease, can be life-threatening....
The kidneys are the main organ responsible for the balance of fluid and electrolytes in the body. In addition, they eliminate waste products from the blood and maintain the the acid-base balance. The symptoms of renal failure are secondary to an...
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi). Humans contract Lyme disease from the bite of an infected tick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 28,921 confirmed and 6,277 probable cases...
Exercise headaches develop after vigorous physical activity. According to MayoClinic.com, these headaches are usually benign, and are categorized as primary exercise headaches. Headaches due to medical problems are called secondary headaches; in...
Digoxin is most frequently prescribed to treat cardiac conditions such as congestive heart failure, arrhythmias (unusual heart patterns or rhythms), angina (chest pain) and post-heart attack symptoms. This drug aids in improving cardiovascular...
A brain aneurysm, also called a cerebral aneurysm, is a weakened area of a blood vessel's wall, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Brain aneurysms can rupture, causing bleeding in the brain. To stop the blood...
Potassium and sodium are essential minerals and electrolytes that support cell and muscle function and regulate fluid. According to Merck, low potassium (hypokalemia) and low sodium (hyponatremia) occur when water levels in the body change....
Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that is contracted through various types of contact. Kissing, intercourse (both anal and vaginal), oral sex and other skin-to-skin contact are proven ways of transmitting the disease. Several medications on...
Sodium is the major electrolyte in the blood. It is used for blood volume control and to transmit impulses for nerve and muscle stimulation. The body tightly regulates the balance of sodium, as too much or little can be deadly. Too little sodium...
Even though magnesium and simethicone are quite different from one another, they're sometimes combined in the same medication to simultaneously treat constipation and gas or bloating. While it’s not common for either one to cause side...
Sodium is an electrolyte that helps regulate the amount of fluid that stays in and around your cells. Too little sodium, or hyponatremia, is a condition caused by an imbalance in the sodium and water in the blood. Normal blood plasma levels of...
Digoxin is a medicine used to treat certain heart conditions. It can be used to treat congestive heart failure, a condition in which the heart muscle is weak and unable to pump blood effectively to the rest of the body. Digoxin can also be used to...
Sodium helps to regulate the amount of water that is in the blood and around your cells. Having levels of sodium in your body that are too low can be just as dangerous as having high levels of sodium in your body. Figuring out the cause of your...
Pain is a subjective sensation that affects all aspects of an individual's life. When inadequately treated, pain leads to lost productivity, needless suffering and increased medical costs. For severe or chronic pain, drugs called opioid...
Sodium can be found outside of cells in most fluids in the body. An insufficient level of sodium in those fluids is a condition called hyponatremia. The body uses sodium for various functions, including maintaining blood pressure. Sodium is also...
Sodium is a cation, or positively charged ion, that is abundant in the extracellular tissues. It has a variety of purposes in the human body, including regulation of blood and body fluids and transmission of nerve impulses. For adults, a normal...
The two carotid arteries carry oxygen and nutrients in the form of blood from the heart to the brain. If you experience a blockage within one or both of your carotid arteries, you can experience a transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke) or stroke....
When you perform physical activity, your body excretes a high amount of sodium through sweating, making it important to replenish your sodium level by taking in the sodium that you put out. You can maintain the amount of sodium in your body...
Respiratory acidosis is a life-threatening medical condition in which the lungs are unable to effectively remove carbon dioxide from the body. A high level of carbon dioxide, a toxin, within the body abnormally increases the acidity of a person's...
Salt, or sodium, is an electrolyte that assists in regulating water in your body. It is found, primarily, in body fluids outside cells and plays an important role in your blood pressure. Additionally, it is required for your nerves and muscles. If...
When it is consumed excessively over a long period of time, sodium can earn its nickname as the "silent killer." But sodium is actually a necessary nutrient for many different processes in your body. When your body's blood sodium levels get too...
Hyponatremia is a deficiency of sodium in your blood. It is an electrolyte imbalance that causes several symptoms. Doctors treat it based on the underlying cause. Regardless of your doctor's initial intervention, ongoing treatment focuses on...
Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and while often treatable, it frequently progresses and causes death. Knowing the signs of impending death in someone suffering from lung cancer can be helpful for family members,...
Respiratory acidosis is a condition in which the lungs are not working properly. This results in increased levels of carbon dioxide being present in the blood. The extra carbon dioxide then is converted into carbonic acid, lowering the pH of the...
Sodium and potassium are electrolytes -- the electricity-conducting minerals or salts in your body that help maintain fluid balance and regulate muscle and nerve function. Normal potassium levels run from 3.6 to 4.8 mEq/L and normal sodium levels...