The spleen is an abdominal organ that is part of the lymphatic system. It is located on the left side of the abdomen, just above the stomach. The organ is approximately the size of a person's fist, according to MedlinePlus. The spleen helps...
If you work, play sports or exercise outside when it's hot and humid you may be at an increased risk for heat stroke. If left untreated it can be life-threatening. It occurs if you are exposed to high heat and sun for extended periods. It can also...
Seasickness is a form of motion sickness some people experience when they are aboard a moving boat. It happens when your body, eyes and inner ear are all sensing something different and sending mixed messages to your brain. The result is a loss of...
Metformin is a commonly prescribed medication that helps to decrease blood glucose levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes. MayoClinic.com notes that it works by decreasing gluconeogenesis, or glucose production in the liver, increasing the...
The flu has many different strains. The three main influenza viruses are A, B, and C. Types A and B are the common types of flu that occur during the winter months, although Type B can occur any time during the year. The symptoms of these types of...
According to Drugs.com, Janumet is an oral, prescription medication that is a combination of sitagliptin and metformin and is indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. These two medications work together to help patients regulate their blood...
According to the experts at the Mayo Clinic, colchicine is a drug used to treat or prevent attacks of gout, a condition which produces too much uric acid in the blood. The buildup of uric acid results in painful inflammation of the joints, and...
Vaginal hysterectomy is an alternative to abdominal hysterectomy; the advantages to vaginal uterine removal are the absence of a large abdominal incision, shorter hospital stay and recovery time, and fewer overall complications. Complications such...
Sulfonylureas are a class of diabetes drugs that stimulate the cells of the pancreas to produce more insulin. The hormone, insulin is necessary to transport glucose or sugars from foods into the cells, where it is stored or used to produce energy....
Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is a decrease in the force exerted by blood flowing through the vessels. Low blood pressure can result in a slowed and decreased supply of oxygen and nutrients to the brain and parts of the body. According to...
Diabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels are inadequately controlled. While most patients with diabetes can control blood sugar levels with diet and exercise alone, metformin may be needed to improve those levels. An additional benefit...
Bronchial tubes are the pathway for the passage of air into your lungs. When the lining of these tubes becomes inflamed, a condition known as bronchitis develops. The condition can be acute, lasting only a few days, or chronic. Chronic bronchitis...
Metformin is a medication that is commonly prescribed to help control blood sugar or glucose levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes. The Mayo Clinic underlines that metformin has three primary actions that benefit patients with adult-onset or...
Metformin HCL 500 mg is a prescription oral medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which your body is not responsive to insulin, and blood sugar levels are uncontrolled. High blood sugar can result in significant...
Respiration rate--how fast we breathe--is more rapid in children. Knowing this rate is useful to determine if a child is in distress. It is also necessary to know to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a child. Respiration rate, also...
It turns out Mother may not always know best. Talcum powder, used to dust and dry countless baby bottoms for generations, contains talc, a mineral that may cause serious health problems. Though many doctors consider it unsafe, talcum powder is...
Iron is a mineral found in humans, animals and some plants. It's essential for your health. Most of the iron in your body is located in your red blood cells as part of a protein called hemoglobin. This protein serves a two-fold function. First, it...
The breath has a powerful effect on the body and mind---and vice versa. When you become frightened or stressed you may tighten your abdomen and use secondary breathing muscles, causing a fast, shallow breathing pattern. When you relax, your...
Two emotional states, fear and anxiety, that once helped humans survive now set off physical and emotional responses that seem to "mess up" our lives, according to Dr. Robert Leahy, author of "Anxiety Free: Unravel Your Fears Before They Unravel...
Topamax, the brand name of the medication topiramate, is not intended for weight loss. This medication is only FDA-approved to prevent migraine headaches and to treat certain seizure disorders. However, weight loss is a common side effect of...
Phentermine and Topamax are two very different types of medications. Phentermine is intended to be used as a weight loss aid, while Topamax is intended to be used to treat certain seizure disorders or prevent migraines from occurring. Both...
The heart rate, or pulse, represents the number of times the heart beats in a certain period of time. It is usually measured in minutes, and a normal resting heart rate is approximately 60 to 80 beats per minute. It can go as high as 100 in a...
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), one way in which all types of influenza can cause serious and fatal complications is through infection of the brain and its surrounding tissues. The influenza virus...
Breathing is an essential component of exercise. In order for your body to break down the nutrients needed to produce energy during exercise, you have to deliver sufficient oxygen to your cells. Labored, ragged or shallow breathing during running...
It's fairly common to feel stomach cramps during exercise, especially if you're running or performing some other form of vigorous exercise. If you suffer from stomach cramps during exercise, you may not actually be feeling cramps in your stomach;...
Prenatal, meaning before birth, breathing exercises are important for pregnant women because proper breathing can help reduce stress and enhance preparation for labor. Prenatal breathing is designed to help you feel comfortable and relax during...
Breathing is automatic. The average adult does it over 20,000 times per day. Learning how was never necessary. But learning to breathe during labor takes preparation and a trusted methodology. Since the introduction of the epidural--used for...
Hemophobia is the fear of blood. Hemophobia shares many characteristics of other phobias, which are classified as an anxiety disorder. People with phobias experience strong physical and psychological reactions to whatever triggers their phobia....
Cramping pain that occurs during running, also called side stitches, may be due to your organs getting jostled around as you move. Another potential cause of running cramps is spasms in the diaphragm. Pain typically occurs in the upper abdominal...
