Potassium is a crucial electrolyte involved in muscle relaxation, especially in the heart. Therefore, maintaining a balanced potassium level is essential to healthy function of your heart. According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine,"...
Treadmills provide an excellent method for getting regular exercise and improving your health. You can get an efficient cardiovascular workout without concern for the weather, convenience or privacy. With a little planning, you can make your...
A sprained ankle can be a painful experience that requires proper care for a speedy and complete recovery. After the initial swelling has subsided, you may be encouraged by your physician or athletic trainer to begin treatment and rehabilitation...
The iliotibial band is a tendon that runs down the outside of the thigh, connecting the tensor fascia lata muscle of the iliac crest to its attachment point on the lower outside of the knee. Iliotibial band friction syndrome, an irritation of the...
Weighing in immediately following exercise or even the morning after a workout can give you a false sense of the effects of exercise on your weight. Fluctuations in fluid retention, hormonal changes in women related to the menstrual cycle, the...
A clinically high potassium level in the heart is called hyperkalemia. Potassium is one of the most crucial positively-charged ions for the cells of the heart. The resting membrane potential of cardiac cells is determined in part by the flow of...
In 1901, a German scientist developed the electrokardiogram, or EKG. The English translation-- electrocardiogram, or ECG--represents the same measuring device physicians routinely use to record the normal and abnormal electrical activity or...
You can measure how much your body is slimming down in several different ways when you are dieting and exercising. While most people try to measure weight loss by pounds on the scale, this is not always the most accurate form of measurement. It is...
Whether you are a runner, dancer, football player or soccer player, chances are you may experience a hamstring injury. A hamstring pull or strain is one of the most common injuries among athletes and often reoccurs, reports the University of...
Exercise is one of the pillars of effective weight loss. But just because you are exercising does not necessarily mean you are creating effective weight loss. You must consider other factors. Exercise is only effective when it creates a calorie...
Jaundice is a condition characterized by a yellow coloring of the skin and eyes. The yellow color is the result of a substance called bilirubin that is usually found in low levels in the body from the breakdown of red blood cells. Bilirubin is...
The elbow is the joint where the upper arm bone, known as the humerus, meets the two bones of the lower arm, known as the ulna and radius. A combination of hinge and pivot joints, the hinge allows the arm to bend like a door while the pivot lets...
Asperger's---sometimes called "high functioning autism" because the person has average or above average intelligence---is considered a form of the neurologically based syndrome autism. As with autistic individuals, the person with Asperger's...
Many people exercise because they want to lose weight. When you step on a scale after a few weeks of regular exercise and see that you've gained weight, it can be a puzzling and disheartening experience. In fact, there are several reasons--some...
Three muscles -- the semitendinosus, semimembranosus and the biceps femoris -- make up the hamstrings, located in the back of the upper leg. The hamstring tendons attach the muscles to the sitz bones that can be felt under the cheeks of the...
Potassium is a crucial electrolyte responsible for the resting phase of muscles. On the other hand, bilirubin is the by-product of red blood cell breakdown found in bile. Under normal circumstances, these two substances would not be compared,...
You feel you are doing everything right to lose weight, but the scale isn't budging. The frustration of stalled weight loss makes it tempting to toss out all of the healthy changes you've made and binge on junk food while watching reruns on TV....
When you're trying to lose weight, exercise is a key factor. It's not the only factor, however, that determines how much weight you will lose. Although you may make a commitment to burn calories every day, it may not be enough to cause significant...
Low blood potassium is a condition called hypokalemia. Approximately 98 percent of the body's potassium stores are located within cells in what is known as intracellular fluid, or ICF, according to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine." A...
If you only have 10 lbs. to lose before you reach your goal weight, the prize is right on the horizon but it can seem like an eternity away. Whether you're just getting started on your weight loss regimen or you're almost finished, the weight loss...
Bilirubin is the principal breakdown product of red blood cells. The liver processes bilirubin into bile, which is transported by the biliary network of tubes within the liver to the gallbladder. The gallbladder releases bile into the small...
When trying to lose weight, focus on both exercise and nutrition. Leading health organizations, such as the American Heart Association, the Mayo Clinic and National Institutes of Health, recommend following both an exercise and diet plan if you...
High levels of potassium in the body reflect a condition called hyperkalemia. According to the "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," potassium is a crucial electrolyte in resting membrane potential. In hyperkalemic states, the delicate...
The seventh-most abundant metal on the earth, potassium is an essential electrolyte in the body. The movement of potassium ions through cell membranes determines the contraction-relaxation state of muscles, according to "Rapid Interpretation of...
A crucial electrolyte, potassium levels are normally kept within a narrow range, according to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine." This mineral is the major cation inside the cells responsible for the relaxation phase of muscle...
Hearing a popping sound in any joint while running can indicate an injury. Joints can crack, however --- think cracking your knuckles --- without any damage to the surrounding tissues and bones. Popping noises may stem from natural joint movements...
A desire to lose weight is the primary reason people take up running or jogging. However, many people who expect to see significant, rapid weight loss are often disappointed. Quite a few joggers also feel discouraged when they see the number on...
Diseases share many of the same symptoms. A complete history of symptoms, along with a physical examination, gives the doctor information to define a disease process. Symptoms such as headache, backache, abdominal pain, jaundice, fatigue,...
A pacifier serves as a form of soothing comfort that helps toddlers cope with stressful situations or adapt to new, unfamiliar scenarios. According to child psychologist Penelope Leach, however, a toddler who becomes overly dependent on a pacifier...
