Black mold is associated with the fungus species Stachybotrys atra, also known as Stachybotrys chartarum. This fungus species produces a mycotoxin that possibly causes adverse health affects according to Dr. Curtis Eckhert of UCLA; however, it is...
Everlast is a band name for cloth strips that brace the wrists and thumbs and protect the tendons in your hands. The strips are 120 or 180 inches long and have a loop on one end and Velcro on the other. Everlast Mexican style hand wraps have...
Smoking gets a lot of attention for its damaging effects to the body. Benefits someone can expect to see 20 minutes after smoking the final cigarette is a reduction in blood pressure and heart rate, and improved circulation.
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica website, paraffin wax is a colorless or white, somewhat translucent, hard wax. It consists of a combination of solid straight-chain hydrocarbons which vary in melting point from about 48 to 66 degrees C...
Heparin is a common anticoagulant, often used after orthopedic, cardiac and abdominal surgery. Heparin prevents life-threatening clots from developing in the deep veins of the legs and arms after surgery. During the period of immobilization after...
Numerous conditions can cause fingertip and toe pain. According to the Texas Children's Hospital--a pediatric hospital in Houston, Texas--a significant amount of fingertip and toe pain is caused by injuries such as cuts, scrapes, fractures and...
More than 440,000 Americans die each year from tobacco use, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Even if you don't die from smoking, there are a host of negative effects that can ruin your life. If you're finding it difficult to...
Over 35 million people suffer from nail fungus, according to 2010 information from AntiNailFungus.com. Nail fungus, or onychomycosis, is the most common cause of thick, discolored and misshapen finger and toenails. Onychomycosis affects toenails...
Nails, like hair and skin, are made from several layers of the protein keratin. Healthy nails have a smooth, slightly shiny surface appearance, lie flush to the finger, and do not display any discolorations, ridges, or inconsistencies in...
Your blood is contained within an intricate network of arteries and veins, with your heart at the center of the action. Oxygenated blood is pumped away from the heart via arteries and deoxygenated blood is returned to the heart via veins....
A rare group of diseases that are progressive in nature are called collectively scleroderma. There are two basic forms of the disease: localized scleroderma, may affect a specific area, while systemic scleroderma, may affect the entire body....
As with much fitness advice, the answer to this question depends on the individual. Everyone is different. Thus the best environment to work out in depends on your personal preference, preparation and specific health conditions.
The Surgeon General has called smoking "the single greatest avoidable cause of disease and death." Smoking damages multiple organ systems and some of the damage is irreversible. Smokers also are plagued by chronic cough, discolorations of the...
Congenital heart defects or heart diseases afflict or are present in infants under the age of one year. These heart diseases are caused by problems or malformations in the structure and function of the heart and its vessels, resulting in mild to...
A growth near or under your fingernail can develop from a variety of ailments and skin infections. While many blister-like growths are diagnosed as minor infections, it is possible you are suffering from a more serious ailment, such as skin...
An autoimmune disorder is an illness in which the body begins to attack its own healthy cells, producing inflammation and an overproduction of collagen, a naturally occurring protein that helps make up connective tissue and maintain skin...
Numerous health effects or conditions are associated with calcinosis or calcium deposits under the skin. According to the Arthritis Foundation, calcinosis is the medical term for calcium deposits that can form under the skin or in the muscles....
In humans, collagen is found in the flesh and connective tissues. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, more than 200 disorders can affect a person's connective tissue. Connective tissue...
The interstitium is the tissue surrounding the lung's air sacs, or alveoli. In interstitial pneumonia, those tissues are inflamed and eventually become scarred or stiff, impeding the normal expansion of the alveoli. There are two groups of...
Bulimia, or bulimia nervosa, is a potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by cycles of binging and purging. Sufferers of the disease eat---often exorbitant amounts---then attempt to compensate for ingested food by vomiting,...
Smoking tobacco is a practice that dates back thousands of years. The practice became more widely popular in the late 1500s but it wasn't until the 1920s, when the habit of cigarette smoking became more popular among all classes, that the dangers...
Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect several of the body's organs. Lupus occurs when antibodies are formed and attack the body's own tissues. Lupus is more common among women than men, and among the four types of lupus, systemic...
Having the skin of your fingers change color and peel can be frightening, particularly if you don't know what's causing the condition. In many cases, however, it is not a sign of something serious, although it might be causing you discomfort. A...
Normally, the bright red of oxygenated blood circulating under your skin creates a pink or reddish tint, especially around the finger tips. Pale skin indicates blood loss, while bluish or purple skin can stem from lack of oxygen in the blood....
Bystolic is a brand-name prescription drug developed, manufactured and marketed by Forest Laboratories. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Bystolic in 2007. According to the product label, Bystolic is indicated for the treatment of...
As of 2010, two-thirds of the U.S. population is obese or overweight and 30 percent of Americans are on a diet, according to the "Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition." An issue found with many diets is that most are more...
Congenital heart disease refers to any structural abnormalities of the heart that are due to inherited defects, including valve defects, patent foramen ovale (PFO) and Tetralogy of Fallot. Some congenital heart diseases have little or no...
Pain between the fingers that occurs while stretching your hand can be frustrating, making even a simple motion such as grasping a water glass difficult. It can be due to a variety of injuries and medical conditions. Because pain can be...
Smoking tobacco is known to be harmful to the body. It increases your risk for certain types of cancer, and it affects your health in other ways. According to the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, about 200 recognized...
