Rheumatic heart disease is damage to the valves in the heart caused by rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is an immune disease that can develop following a Streptococcus bacterial infection. The Streptococcus bacteria are responsible for illnesses...
Teratogen is the medical term for any substance that causes abnormalities in a fetus. Teratogenic drugs can cause congenital heart disease, but in almost every situation where a pregnant woman would need to take a teratogenic drug, a safe,...
Drugs that lower levels of cholesterol include the statins, fibrates, niacin, ezetimibe and bile acid sequestrants. They act by different mechanisms to reduce cholesterol levels and low density lipoproteins, or LDLs. They are often used in...
Heart disease claims the lives of over 25 percent of Americans, with 70 percent of these deaths from coronary artery disease. High blood cholesterol is a risk factor for coronary artery disease and can cause heart attacks and stroke....
When considering all of the options for lowering serum cholesterol, you need to look at the benefits as well as the drawbacks of taking them--most importantly, do they work? Many supplement claims are simply too good to be true and almost every...
Constipation is a gastrointestinal condition characterized by infrequent bowel movements that occur fewer than three times per week. Gastrointestinal pain, straining and bloating often accompany constipation according to the National Digestive...
Statins, also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, are drugs that lower blood cholesterol, according to the National Institutes of Health. High cholesterol levels can narrow or block the flow of blood in the arteries. Statins reduce the amount...
Calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers are both medicines used to treat hypertension and abnormal heart rhythms. Calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem, prevent calcium from getting into heart muscle cells and...
If you find yourself not in the mood for sex, the problem could be caused b a medical issue. In many cases, a dip in your testosterone levels can cause a decreased sex drive. You should speak to your doctor if you feel a decrease in your libido....
Heart damage leads to heart disease, which is the number one killer worldwide of both men and women. Heart disease is responsible for 40 percent of deaths in the U.S. Types of heart damage include arrhythmias, heart defects you are born with,...
Wheatgrass, is commonly known as Couch grass, Dog grass, Durfa grass Quack grass and scientifically known as Triticum aestivium. It is a particularly rich source of nutrients and can be added to your daily meals either as a juice or as a...
High cholesterol leads to heart disease, which is why control of cholesterol levels is important for health. Lifestyle changes can help prevent raised cholesterol levels and reduce them if you've been diagnosed with hypertension. Cholesterol...
While a healthy lifestyle is vital in controlling cholesterol levels in the blood, sometimes it isn't enough on its own. Doctors often prescribe cholesterol-lowering drugs to help prevent heart disease. Knowing what drugs are available to use in...
Prescription drug induced illnesses is a problem, particularly among the elderly, according to Public Citizen's Health Research Group. Illnesses caused by prescription drugs can be due to dose, interaction with other drugs or expected effect of...
As of 2011, Adderall is approved to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. It is considered safe for most people who do not also have heart disease or a heart defect, according to Drugs.com. In rare cases or in people with undiagnosed heart disease or heart...
Review your prescription medications with your doctor or pharmacist. Possible causes of depression in the elderly include drugs prescribed for heart disease and high blood pressure, steroids, pain relievers and tranquilizers. When your doctor...
Alopecia is a condition that causes hair loss. It primarily affects the scalp though it can occur anywhere on the body. It can affect men, women, adults and children and tends to cause patches of hair loss and a general thinning of hair. There are...
Hypertension, or higher than normal blood pressure in the arteries, may cause complications such as stroke, angina, heart attack and kidney problems. High blood pressure is characterized by systolic pressure at rest that is 140 mm Hg or higher,...
Prinzmetal's angina is a syndrome that consists of chest pain while at rest rather than during exertion. The condition is also known as variant angina or angina inversa. It is caused when muscles in the coronary vessels spasm or contract to...
Proponents of coconut oil claim that this food can cure or assist in the treatment of all sorts of diseases, including cancer. The research is still in the early stages regarding most of these claims. However, research shows that there truly are...
Zocor is the proprietary name for simvastatin, a medication prescribed to reduce the level of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. Triglycerides represent most of the fats in your body, while cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance....
Cinnamon in a tablet or capsule form is a little different than what you sprinkle on your toast in the morning. The cinnamon in a supplement does not have sugar or fillers and is a raw extract of Cinnamomum aromaticum bark, also known as true...
Echinacea, also known as purple coneflower, is a medicinal plant native to North America that has been used by some alternative health care practitioners for urinary tract infections, or UTIs, but its efficacy for treating them has not been...
Heart valves ensure that blood flows in the right direction through the heart. Disorders that cause leaky heart valves, also known as mitral valve prolapse, are a serious medical condition. Fully repairing heart valves requires surgery; however,...
Agent Orange is a chemical herbicide that was used during the Vietnam War. U.S. forces had difficulty identifying enemy forces due to excessive foliage, and Agent Orange was utilized to kill the foliage for better visibility. The chemical was...
Caffeine has several effects on the human body. Some pills contain caffeine to stimulate the central nervous system and increase alertness. Other pills contain caffeine to constrict the blood vessels and reduce pain. Before taking any pill that...
Hoodia Prime is manufactured by the company Nature’s Biology. It contains the herb hoodia gordonii and is marketed as an appetite suppressant for both men and women. It’s best to consult a medical provider before trying any weight-loss...
The American Heart Association estimates that more than 100 million Americans have elevated blood cholesterol levels. High blood cholesterol can lead to fatty deposits within your articles -- a condition called atherosclerosis -- and increases...
Depression does not describe a single disorder calling for a straightforward course of treatment. Often misused as an umbrella term, depression actually includes several different disorders and may be a symptom of a different disorder, rather than...
