The Illinois Department of Public Health notes that more than 120 types of arthritis exist, but the most common form of arthritis---affecting over 21 million adults in the United States---is osteoarthritis. The symptoms of osteoarthritis occur in...
Everyone has sugar, or glucose, in their bloodstreams at all times. It is critically important for proper brain function. In fact, all the cells in the body require blood glucose for energy to carry out their tasks. When an individual states that...
Normal, healthy arteries are elastic, flexible structures that bend and move to allow blood to flow freely through them. When calcium accumulates in the blood, it forms plaque, which sticks to the artery walls and accumulates. In addition to...
Arthritis affects millions of adults and some children. Effects can be painful and disfiguring, limiting activities of daily life. Finding relief can be a challenge. Medications can help relieve the symptoms. Yet, some people cannot tolerate the...
Neuralgia, or nerve pain, may be caused by many factors, although the cause of this painful condition is often unknown. Neuralgia, states PubMed Health, may be caused by some prescription medications, kidney problems, chemical irritation,...
Stretching your muscles increases their flexibility and might help improve your exercise performance. Stretching also might help reduce your risk of injury. Not all stretching is good for your muscles, though. Forcing your muscles to stretch...
Spina bifida, a congenital defect involving the spinal canal, can result in paralysis and weight gain. According to 2009 report by the Spina Bifida Association, after age six, 50 percent of children, adolescents and adults with spina bifida are...
Swollen fingers and joints occur for many reasons, ranging from temporary and mildly annoying to permanent and crippling. Swelling in the fingers makes it difficult to do even the simplest things, like opening a jar or picking up an object. Most...
Blood flow to the brain is essential for the neurons to function properly. When blood flow to a part of the brain is disrupted it is called a stroke. Dietary changes after a stroke have two main goals: to reduce your risk of having another stroke...
The foot is made up of 26 bones, 33 joints and over 100 ligaments, tendons and muscles, according to MedlinePlus. All of these structures work together to provide balance and allow for movement of the body. Foot disorders can affect various parts...
Swayback refers to the excessive extension of the lower spine that is usually caused by the excessive forward tilt of the pelvis. This condition can cause lower back and hip pain, decrease your ability to move well, and weakens your hip and...
You may want to take multivitamins such as StressTabs with Zinc if you feel you do not get enough of the many vitamins, minerals and nutrients from the food you eat. Multivitamins provide nutrition you normally would get in foods such as fruits...
The small tendons within the hands connect the tiny bones to the hand muscles. Repetitive overuse or traumatic injury of the hands can cause inflammation within the hand tendons, a condition broadly called tendonitis or tendinitis. Two major forms...
If you have trouble walking comfortably because of a painful, swollen lump where your big toe connects to your foot, you probably have a bunion, especially if you are a woman. Nine out of every ten people who suffer from bunions are female,...
Facial paralysis can occur after a stroke, according to MedlinePlus. In fact, several facial symptoms may result from a stroke. Early recognition of the facial signs of stroke can be key to stroke recovery. According to the National Institute of...
Fruits and vegetables both play a role in the amount of energy you have and in your circulatory health. You use the nutrients in fruits and vegetables for a variety of bodily functions, from cell growth to brain function. The U.S. Department of...
According to Anthony Carey of Function First in San Diego, poor posture is the misalignment of the joints in your body that causes excessive stress, stiffness and weakness in certain muscles and tissues. Poor posture decreases your ability to move...
The cornea makes up the front window of the eye, and helps focus light for good, clear vision. The cornea also has the responsibility of protecting the eye from outside particles. All five layers of the cornea receive nutrients from the tear film...
Millions of Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, which can cause considerable joint pain and swelling, potentially decreasing your ability to move effectively. Participating in a general exercise program and performing specific exercises that...
A spinal cord lesion is an abnormal area that occurs in response to an injury, an infection or another type of damage. If you have a lesion on your C-2 or cervical vertebra in the neck, you are unlikely to be able to participate in any type of...
Around 10,000 liters of air pass into your lungs every day. Your respiratory rate at rest is about 10 to 15 breaths per minute. During exercise, oxygen consumption can increase from 250 to over 3,000 ml per minute. The well-being of all the cells...
Many people experience back pain after a weight-training session. Although some of these pains come from sore muscles, most of the pain comes from inflammation of the spine or hip joint from excessive stress and poor movement patterns, according...
The wrist is composed of many bones and acts as a connecting joint between your arm and hand. Fracture occurs when any of the wrist bones becomes broken. Wrist fractures occur for many reasons, such as trauma during sporting activities, a car...
Diarrhea is the excessive loss of stool and fluids from the gastrointestinal tract. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, diarrhea means passing loose stools more than three times a day. Acute diarrhea usually...
Osteoarthritis is the most commonly occurring joint condition, notes the National Center for Biotechnology Information. In many cases, the cause of osteoarthritis is unknown, although it is often thought to be caused by joint wearing associated...
Cervical disc surgery that replaces the damaged neck disc with an artificial disc is a relatively new procedure. It was first approved for use in the U.S. by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2004. The goal of artificial disc replacement is...
Gout is a type of arthritis that is described by the Mayo Clinic as a sudden severe pain and swelling in the joint. The most common joint affected is the big toe. Increased levels of uric acid in the body lead to gout. Acute attacks of gout can...
Muscle atrophy, also known as muscle wasting, is the loss of muscle tissue. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that there are two types of muscle atrophy: disuse and neurogenic. Disuse atrophy occurs when your muscles are not used...
The cervical spine is the portion of the spinal column that makes up the neck. According to the University of Southern California (USC) Center for Spinal Surgery, cervical spine fractures are fairly common and, together with cervical spine...
Insect bites and stings can be caused by a variety of insects and lead to inflammations and/or histamine reactions . Learn more about insect stings and bites including treatments and symptoms in this medical video.