Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) affects nearly 1 percent of all pregnant women. This disorder--which typically begins early in a woman's pregnancy, between the fourth and sixth weeks--is characterized by extreme nausea and vomiting. Hyperemesis...
A phobia is an intense fear of an object or situation that actually poses minimal danger. Due to the extreme fear that a person experiences, it is often difficult for them to see past their fear and daily activities and social functioning can be...
Sertraline is the generic name for an antidepressant which belongs to a family of drugs referred to as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It is used to treat a variety of disorders, including panic disorder, post-traumatic stress...
Migraines are extreme headaches that may be accompanied by vision disturbances, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and fatigue. For those who experience migraines, finding proper treatment may be necessary to living productively, as chronic...
A bleeding ulcer results from a peptic or gastric ulcer that erodes the lining of the stomach or small intestine. According to the Mayo Clinic, if not treated properly, these can develop into bleeding ulcers. Peptic ulcers bleed when they break...
Morning sickness is the term many women use to describe the nausea and vomiting associated with some pregnancies. The American Pregnancy Association explains that more than 50 percent of all pregnant women experience morning sickness. While nobody...
Hyperemesis is an extremely severe form of morning sickness. According to the American Pregnancy Association, it is characterized by weight loss, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, extreme nausea and vomiting, headaches and even fainting....
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse over two million Americans use cocaine. Cocaine is a serious addiction and withdrawal symptoms can be especially difficult. Rehab centers offer help and successful treatment, but it can be...
A host of bothersome symptoms accompanies migraines, chronic headaches that cause significant pain for hours or days, afflicting approximately 30 million Americans, according to the Neurology Channel. These symptoms can indicate the onset of a...
Dopamine is a signaling chemical--a neurotransmitter--that is used by various cells in the body to communicate with one another. The primary places in the body where dopamine is used are in the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system...
Anxiety comes in many forms, from occasional episodes of everyday anxiety to generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder. Stress and anxiety are different but closely related, and the effects are often the same. Whatever the type or...
Diabetic ketoacidosis is caused by an almost total lack of insulin in the blood. Since insulin allows the body to use glucose as an energy source, very low levels of insulin force the body to utilize other molecules for energy. These alternate...
The flu can be particularly dangerous for small children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 22,000 children are hospitalized for the seasonal flu annually. Although taking care of a child with the flu can be a challenge...
Although weight fluctuates normally on a day to day basis, sudden and rapid weight loss might be a symptom of something serious. Your thyroid could be to blame for an imbalance of hormones. Medications that cause you to drop pounds including...
When the body's pH is out of balance, an individual may develop acidosis, according to a Washington University report on how the acid-base balance affects the body. Suffering from acidosis may make you prone to a wide range of diseases, writes...
The term "muscle enzymes" refers to what medical professionals call cardiac enzymes. The muscle enzyme test is one of a number that a doctor may order for someone suffering from chest pain, shortness of breath, profuse sweating, unexplained...
Nausea is a common side effect of pregnancy that often, but not always, eases as your pregnancy progresses. When you're pregnant, taking prenatal vitamins ensures you get enough nutrients that keep you healthy and minimize the potential for birth...
Problems with nausea strike 70 to 80 percent of all pregnant women. Some obstetricians recommend exercise to try to control nausea; in other women, exercise is part of the problem. You can take steps against it, but you may not be able to...
Only an ultrasound can tell you whether you're carrying multiples for sure; even hearing the heartbeat isn't a fail-proof method, since a doctor may only detect one heartbeat at a time. Still, even if you haven't had an ultrasound, your body could...
The BRAT diet is a relatively bland diet that can be ingested if extreme nausea, morning sickness or diarrhea is present in pregnant women. The name is an acronym that stands for "Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast," all easily digestible foods...
Ginger root is an underground stem belonging to the rhizome family. Ginger can be minced, sliced or crystallized to add flavor and heat to food. It can also be formulated into a drink and ingested as ginger ale. It grows mainly in Jamaica, West...
Solia is a form of hormonal birth control that combines ethinyl estradiol and desogestrel. This kind of birth control disrupts the hormonal cycle that causes ovulation, making it much less likely, though not impossible, that the woman taking it...
Migraines are extremely debilitating and are more than a bad headache. They are, in fact, a neurological condition that can affect people for hours or days. There are different types of migraines, but it is common for migraine sufferers to...
Morning sickness may just be the most inappropriately named cluster of symptoms out there. Pregnant women may experience morning sickness at any time of the day or night--or even all of the time. It strikes about 75 percent of pregnant women and...
An acute gout attack can be excruciatingly painful, making it feel like your joint is on fire. Gout is a complex form of arthritis that causes hot, red and swollen joints. It most commonly affects the great toe, according to Foot Health Facts. It...
According to the Guttmacher Institute, a group that focuses on research into women's sexual health, there are approximately 750,000 teen pregnancies in the United States each year. In many cases, these teenage girls get pregnant and then are...
Alcohol is processed and metabolized by the liver. In the liver, the alcohol is converted into acetaldehyde, which is a toxic chemical that is normally rapidly converted into other, less dangerous chemicals. However, when large amounts of alcohol...
Anyone who has ever had a stomach virus knows that this type of illness can make a person pretty miserable. Nausea, vomiting and possible fever can deplete the body of nutrients and hydration. The Mayo Clinic advises people who are suffering from...
Numerous factors can cause hypokalemia, or low potassium levels, in females. Potassium is an electrolyte that is important for the proper function of your heart, nerve and muscle cells. Certain medical conditions or factors can cause women to...
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a disease wherein the body does not produce adequate, or any, insulin to control blood sugar, which can result in coma or death if insulin is not delivered into the body regularly. Learn more about diabetes type 1...
Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas that attaches to blood vessels more easily than oxygen, thus keeping oxygen out of your bloodstream. Learn more about carbon monoxide including treatments and symptoms in this medical video.