Hormones are chemicals that regulate many activities in the body. They are produced by hormone-secreting organs and transported throughout the bloodstream. Hormones affect processes like blood pressure, growth, development, immune responses and...
A dry mouth is called xerostomia, and is the condition in which you do not produce enough saliva. Medications you take, certain health problems such as diabetes and hormonal imbalances can cause a dry mouth, according to the American Dental...
When Dr. Diana Schwarzbein's concern grew that her type 2 diabetic patients sustaining a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet were having trouble regulating blood sugar and losing weight, she developed a new diet for her patients. Schwarzbein wrote...
Sodium is a mineral present in the body that has benefits, including maintaining the proper fluid balance in the body and the acid-base level in the body, regulating blood pressure and assisting in nerve conduction. While sodium is an important...
Hormonal imbalances can affect any age group, but they cause an additional element of concern when they arise in those who are still growing. The symptoms of an imbalance of hormones can manifest in a variety of ways. A child's anatomical...
Your body’s metabolism involves all of the chemical and biological processes necessary for the conversion of food into energy and the use of the energy. This means that metabolism includes digestion, excretion, blood circulation, temperature...
Unexplained hair loss can be a signal of serious medical problems, especially in adolescents. While a number of diseases, such as diabetes or hormonal imbalances and medical treatments like chemotherapy may result in premature hair loss, when...
A boil, known medically as an abscess, is a painful skin and soft-tissue infection. Boils first appear as a circular, reddened area of skin. This area quickly becomes swollen and painful as it extends from the skin to deeper tissues. It develops a...
If you suffer from low blood sugar after eating, you may have reactive hypoglycemia. Most common in obese young women, reactive hypoglycemia occurs in almost 30 percent of women under 45 years old, according to the McKinley Health Center at the...
Bed wetting can happen at any age. In adults it is important to remember that it is an involuntary reaction that is not normal. The muscles of the bladder are designed to hold the urine in until it is full. The nervous system then sends signals to...
You can help prevent hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, by eating every 3 to 5 hours. Low blood sugar occurs when you don't have enough glucose in your bloodstream. Glucose is your body's primary source of energy. Your body easily converts certain...
Suma typically refers to the dried root of Pfaffia paniculata, a plant native to the Amazonian rain forests. According to the American Pharmaceutical Association's "Practical Guide to Natural Medicines," the plant's berries, bark and leaves are...
A banana is a healthy snack. It is easy to eat and provides minerals. Bananas are an especially good snack for athletes, because they're easy to transport, and the carbohydrates give a quick energy boost. Bananas also prevent cramping and help...
Peripheral neuropathy affects limbs and extremities, such as, hands and feet. Distal neuropatjy affect extremities, such as, toes, fingers, hand and feet. Acquired neuropathies can be caused by drugs, poisons, injuries and trauma. Inherited...
According to nutritional consultant Phyllis Balch, vitamins and minerals help the human body work better. Each vitamin and mineral has a purpose that it performs individually or together with other nutrients. However, the recommended daily...
A hormone imbalance can cause a range of symptoms from insulin resistance to hair loss to infertility, explains MayoClinic.com. While you cannot control the genetic factors, you can reduce your risk of developing a hormone issue through proper...
Diabetes is a disease that occurs when blood sugar levels are higher than normal. This can happen if the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin, or if the body doesn't use the insulin produced as it should. Diabetes can be developed as a...
DHEA, an abbreviation for dehydroepiandrosterone, is a naturally occurring hormone that your body uses to make sex hormones. Women often take it for menopausal symptoms and to slow aging and promote healthy bones and weight loss. However, the...
Triglycerides are fatty substances in the blood. A certain degree of fats circulating in the blood is normal, but an overabundance predisposes you to numerous illnesses, including hardening of the arteries, stroke, heart attack and hypertension....
Hair loss is something your teen may associate with old age, but certain conditions or lifestyle habits may cause a teenager to lose her hair. KidsHealth notes that most instances of teen hair loss are temporary, but it may cause your teen angst...
Peripheral neuropathy is a medical condition affecting the limbs and extremities, such as the hand and feet. Neuropathy can be caused by multiple factors, such as trauma or injuries compressing nerve fibers, hormonal imbalance or uncontrolled...
The brain produces melatonin after sunset to stimulate and regulate your child's sleep cycle. An article published in the April 2009 issue of the "Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine" shows that melatonin helped children with autism and fragile X...
In the heat of the moment, it's easy to blurt out things you don't mean, especially if the person you're upset with is the one closest to you -- your husband. Holding things in doesn't always work, either, and often this method causes you to be...
Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors that when occurring together are a reliable predictor for degenerative diseases, including atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke and diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic. A precise cause has not been...
Craving carbohydrates can be a challenge if you're trying to lose pounds or maintain a healthy weight. Carbohydrate craving syndrome involves an overwhelming need to consume foods that are high in carbohydrates. A 2008 study, published in...
Metformin is a prescription medication used to control blood sugar levels, as an adjunct to diet and exercise, in people with Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, or non-insulin-dependent diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes and may be...
The obesity epidemic in the United States largely contributes to the increased number of diabetes cases. According to the World Health Organization, 220 million people worldwide have diabetes, about 90 percent of whom have Type 2. Diet and...
Endocrinology is the study of the endocrine system. The system is made up of all of the glands throughout the body, including the thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas, ovaries, testes, adrenal, pituitary and hypothalamus that are responsible for...
Nerve damage can happen anywhere in the vast network of nerves, which are the communication system of your body. The term "peripheral neuropathy" is what describes any kind of damage done to your nerves. Exercise has been shown to alleviate nerve...
Eating less sugar is an extremely important part of getting more healthy. Get some tips to reduce the amount of sugar in your diet from a registered dietician in this video.
