According to "Conn's Current Therapy 2010," acute tubular necrosis can result due to the effects of computed tomography, or CT, contrast material. Acute tubular necrosis is a condition where the kidneys begin to fail at a rapid rate and the urine...
Chinese naturopathy is a combination of more than five thousand years of trusted Chinese medical practices and modern naturopathic understanding. Chinese medicine aims to heal by restoring the body’s natural balance and flow of energy (qi)....
Your skeleton provides support for your body and protects your internal organs, but keeping your bones healthy gets more difficult as you get older. The National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that half of all females and 25 percent of males...
Approximately 20 percent of women and 2 percent of men have iron deficiency anemia, notes a report in "American Family Physician." The most common nutritional deficiency worldwide, iron deficiency anemia causes severe fatigue in women and mental...
Tremors, sometimes mistaken for a psychological problem, find their roots in a neurological condition. About 10 million people suffer from tremors, according to the Tremor Foundation. While your head and voice may also be affected by tremors, your...
Simply stated, a rash is any change in the skin's normal condition, usually affecting the skin's color, appearance and texture. Numerous factors can cause rashes in people of all ages; they could result from contact with irritants, allergens or...
Lovastatin is a prescription drug used to lower cholesterol. Lovastatin works in the liver by blocking the action of an enzyme that the liver uses to make cholesterol. This forces the liver to pull circulating cholesterol out of the bloodstream...
Amitiza is a prescription drug used to treat idiopathic chronic constipation in adults. Idiopathic constipation means constipation with no known cause. It is also approved to treat constipation due to irritable bowel syndrome in women. Amitiza...
Every time you strenuously work out a muscle, its fibers tear. Muscles grow through exercise because they rebuild themselves bigger every time they tear. But if a muscle is severely over-exerted or damaged via injury, it can suffer massive tearing...
A water-soluble vitamin also known as cobalamin, vitamin B12 is essential to neurological health. Naturally found in meats and eggs, vitamin B12 also is important to several enzymatic reactions within the body. Deficiencies in the vitamin result...
Television commercials for statin drugs bombard the American public. High cholesterol levels have been linked to increased risk of stroke and heart disease. Before the development of statin drugs, cholesterol medications would bind to cholesterol...
Remicade, also known as infliximab, is an antibody developed against tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-A). TNF-A has been implicated in the inflammation pathway and the regulation of immune cells. Thus Remicade has been applied to a variety of...
Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker medication that is taken orally. Its main uses include hypertension, chronic stable chest pain (angina) and a condition called Prinzmetals angina. Its main effects include blood vessel dilation, and its long...
Electronic muscle stimulation, often referred to as EMS, is a form of therapy that is used to lessen muscle atrophy in patients who have suffered paralysis and to improve muscle function in patients who have muscle spasms or partial paralysis....
The symptoms of respiratory system diseases can often overlap and cause confusion over the exact pathology affecting the patient. A very common question faced by primary care physicians is whether a patient has bronchitis or pneumonia and, if so,...
Heparin is an injectable anticoagulant medication commonly given to prevent the formation of blood clots. Patients also receive heparin to decrease the clotting ability of blood during open-heart surgery, bypass surgery, blood transfusions and...
Estrogen found in the plant kingdom are also known as phytoestrogens. These are polyphenol compounds that exhibit a structural similarity to human estradiol. You can find polyphenol compounds in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and the three...
As the largest joint in the body, the knee is frequently injured. Pain in the joint can be debilitating and lead to a poor quality of life. Whether knee pain is a result of a specific traumatic event or from the wear and tear of osteoarthritis,...
Tendonitis is arguably one of the most common overuse injuries among the physically active. Also known as tendinitis, it can occur anywhere between a tendon's muscular origin and its bone insertion, often as a result of overuse injuries, workplace...
The easy accessibility of over-the-counter laxatives makes them a popular choice among dieters who mistakenly believe they lead to significant weight loss. Laxative abuse occurs when used for weight control or when used frequently for a long...
Bipolar disorder occurs when symptoms of mania or hypomania manifest in an individual. These can include racing thoughts, elevated mood, aggressiveness, delusions and paranoia. Bipolar disorder can also be complicated by comorbid diseases such as...
The treatments for acute decompensated heart failure include restoring circulation, strengthening the failing pump, relieving symptoms and stabilizing the patient until long-term treatment options can be identified and established. Patients with...
5-hydroxytryptophan is a compound synthesized within the body and used as the precursor chemical for the production of serotonin. As one of the most important neurotransmitters in the nervous system, serotonin's activity has been linked in a...
Women must seek medical advice when pregnancy is confirmed to ensure that current medical therapy is appropriate. Some medications may cause harm to the fetus and put the mother at harm for complications. Asthma control may change during...
Coping with major depression can be difficult. Even the most simple of tasks can seem exhausting or overwhelming. You may not feel as though you have enough energy to successfully fight your symptoms or effectively cope with your depression....
In most cases, sweating is not a reason you should be concerned about your toddler. When you sweat, perspiration is released from your pores to keep the body cool during periods of stress such as exercise and heat exposure. However, if the toddler...
Red yeast rice (RYR) is yeast grown on rice. In Chinese medicine, RYR is used as a supplement to manage cholesterol levels. Many of the compounds in RYR behave like cholesterol lowering medications called statins and can benefit you if you suffer...
When faced with a perceived threat, your body undergoes biochemical changes that trigger feelings of anxiety. The symptoms of anxiety include, but are not limited to, restlessness, obsessive thoughts, trembling, difficulty breathing, sweating,...
Psychodynamic psychotherapy, a form of talk therapy, is based on principles of psychoanalysis. One of these principles represents the idea that early childhood experiences and relationships influence adult choices, behaviors and feelings. Another...
