The Merck Manual notes that a stroke occurs when part of the brain dies because it is deprived of blood for too long. Part of the brain dies because the brain cannot survive very long without oxygen and nutrients, which are supplied by blood. A...
According to the Mayo Clinic, Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in people over the age of 65. While Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging, nearly five 5 of people between the ages of 65 and 74 are diagnosed with the...
Electrolyte replacement is essential during periods of excessive sweating to avoid a serious and potentially life-threatening condition called hyponatremia. This condition occurs when too much sodium is lost in the fluids around your cells,...
The karate chop is one of the more iconic motions in the art of karate, and many other Asian martial arts. The image of a karate master chopping a bad guy on the neck to make him collapse is a part of popular culture. However, what that chop...
According to the Centers for Disease Control, before the development of a vaccine in 1995, about 4 million cases of chicken pox (varicella) were reported in the United States each year, with an average of over 10,000 hospitalized and between 100...
The human body depends on a balance of sodium for homeostasis. Despite variations in food and water intake, the body seeks to balance sodium. Both high and low sodium diet levels influence electrolytes as well. Some of the causes of low sodium, or...
Hypertension, commonly referred to as high blood pressure, is the measure of the amount of blood the heart pumps and the amount of resistance that occurs as a result. Some people never exhibit any symptoms of hypertension, states the Mayo Clinic....
A migraine is caused by an over-sensitized condition where the brains neurons become excited over certain stimuli. For some people, pollen, dust or allergens trigger a migraine. For others, light, television, hormones and food cause a migraine. A...
Antihistamines are a class of medications indicated for the treatment of symptoms associated with allergies, including nasal congestion, sneezing or cough. A number of antihistamine medications are available over-the-counter or by prescription....
Magnesium is an electrolyte used for electrostatic reactions in the muscle and heart. Magnesium is a part of hundreds of cellular reactions, including metabolism, cell signaling and chromosome structure. As with any nutrient, balance is the key...
Digitek, also known as digoxin, is a prescription medication indicated for treating symptoms associated with congestive heart failure, and arrhythmia disorders such as atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. Drugs.com notes that this drug, derived...
Vitamin D is naturally synthesized in your skin through exposure to sunlight. This fat-soluble vitamin is added to dairy products such as cheese, butter and milk. Certain fatty fish and oysters also provide vitamin D. Taking a vitamin D supplement...
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV, is characterized by a sudden sense of being unbalanced or dizzy. The Mayo Clinic states that, while probably annoying, this condition is not usually serious though there is a risk of serious injury...
In boxing, the term weak chin -- also called the dreaded "glass jaw" -- doesn't actually refer to the chin. It refers to the neck and jaw muscles that reduce head snapping when you are hit in the chin. If hit hard on the chin, a boxer with a weak...
Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For most people dying of cancer, the end of life will approach gradually over a period of weeks to months. While each...
The liver plays an important role in the functioning of the human body, including digestion and removing toxic substances from the body, according to MayoClinic.com. Problems with this organ sometimes remit on their own or may progress into...
Chair massage is an alternative to conventional massage and allows clients to receive many of the benefits of a regular massage without having to disrobe and take time for a table massage. Chair massage can be performed in a standardized,...
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of streptococcus pneumonia is 13 per 100,000 people in the United States. Those who are at increased risk include the elderly, immunocompromised individuals and the very...
Mayo Clinic doctors report that many kinds of transportation can cause motion sickness. When the symptoms appear while on a boat or ship, the condition is called seasickness. Symptoms include vomiting, sweating and dizziness. Experience with...
According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), alcohol withdrawal is a spectrum of conditions ranging from mild tremors to life-threatening delerium tremens, or DTs. Alcohol works as a sedative and, as a consequence...
Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia that interferes with normal functioning, according to the Mayo Clinic. It states that 5 percent of people between the ages of 65 and 74 years old have Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's sufferers typically...
Bipolar disorder is a medical and mental illness that impacts your mood, behavior and daily level of functioning. This illness causes mild to severe bouts of depression and mania or mixed episodes of both. During manic episodes, sleep deprivation...
Short term memory loss, also referred to as cognitive decline, can be the result of an underlying disease. The causes of short-term memory loss include anxiety, depression, early Alzheimer's disease, stroke, head trauma, substance abuse, hormone...
Potassium and sodium are both essential elements to your body's health. According to the Mayo Clinic, potassium helps maintain the normal functioning of your nerves and muscles, including your heart. Although potassium levels naturally fluctuate,...
Acute renal failure, or kidney failure, is a sudden interruption of the kidney function due to an obstruction, decreased circulation or disease process. The kidneys' primary function is to eliminate waste products from the body through urine...
Normally, your body maintains a healthy temperature around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, regardless of whether you are in a hot or cold climate. Prolonged exposure to hot, humid temperatures can make it harder for sweat to evaporate off of your body,...
If you or your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, you may be looking for an alternative treatment to drugs. While it seems a bit counter-intuitive―after all, people with ADHD have more than enough hyperactive energy, while coffee drinkers...
Mild cases of Lyme disease can cause flu-like symptoms. If left untreated, Lyme disease can spread throughout the body and infect the heart, joints and brain. When Lyme disease infects the brain, it can cause confusion and infectious dementia....
Memory loss can naturally occur as you age. However, sometimes memory loss can be the result of a disorder, such as Alzheimer's disease. In this case, memory loss may become progressively worse, and it may be difficult to remember common words and...
