According to the National Library of Medicine, blood thinners are used to treat heart or blood vessel disease, poor blood flow to the brain, atrial fibrillation, heart value surgery or congenital heart defects. Blood thinners work to reduce the...
Coumadin, or warfarin, is a medication your doctor may prescribe to increase the time it takes your blood to clot. It is a powerful drug. Too little or too much can be dangerous. Certain foods and medications, especially those containing vitamin...
Ritalin is the name brand of methylphenidate, a medication used to control the impulsivity and hyperactivity associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and to manage the symptoms of narcolepsy. Ritalin is a central nervous system...
Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, occurs when your thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. Women over 50 are especially susceptible to hypothyroidism. When left untreated, it may lead to weight gain, joint pain, heart disease and...
Adderall is the brand name for a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. It is a central nervous system stimulant medication commonly prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. Adderall tablets are...
Beta blockers work by blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. Blocking epinephrine causes a decrease in heart rate. Beta blockers are prescribed for tachycardia, glaucoma, high blood pressure and migraines. Like...
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious condition that can have fatal consequences if not treated. Many factors affect your blood pressure, including genetics, diet and stress. Doctors prescribe a variety of medications to treat high...
Prescription medications are generally safe and effective, but many of them can interact poorly with certain foods. Blood pressure medications are one example of drugs that can be affected by the food you eat. Speak to your physician or pharmacist...
Some medications you need to take with food, others you take without food and some require that you avoid certain food items, such as grapefruit or milk. Talk to your pharmacist about any new medications and whether you need to make any changes to...
If you have high blood pressure, you know that you need to limit your intake of sodium to help improve your numbers. But you may not know that you need to avoid certain foods when taking medications to control your blood pressure. Consult your...
Hyperthyroidism is when your body makes too much thyroid hormone, and hypothyroidism occurs when your body makes too little thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone is instrumental in controlling metabolism and chemical reactions in the body. While both...
Green tea, the unfermented leaves of Camellia sinensis, retains much of the color of the plant's leaves, while black tea, derived from fermentation of tea leaves, takes on a darker color. Dozens of countries produce tea; however, most green tea...
Your thyroid influences your appetite, energy level and weight. If you have a thyroid disorder, your doctor may prescribe medication. For people with high levels of thyroid hormones -- or hyperthyroidism -- surgery, anti-thyroid medication or...
Busy Americans on the go who still want to eat healthy have turned increasingly to food they can take with them. The consumer market for nutrition and energy bars in the United States was $838 million in 2004, a 169 percent jump from 1999. Most...
People with asthma suffer from spasms in which their airways contract, resulting in wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing. According to Brown University, coughing is the primary, or even the only symptom of asthma in some people. Asthma...
Sometimes, a tooth is too badly decayed, broken down or has lost its support from surrounding tissues and should be extracted. Just prior to the extraction, your dentist will review instructions for you to follow -- including a diet -- after the...
Allergic vasculitis is a severe allergy that causes inflammation and damage to blood vessels of the skin. It is a common pediatric disease, affecting children and infants, but adults can experience the symptoms as well. Foods and medications can...
During a laparoscopic gallbladder removal surgery, the surgeon inflates your torso with carbon dioxide gas before removing your gallbladder. The surgeon makes three small incisions and uses a cannula instrument to remove your gallbladder. After...
You will consume a number of nutrients from a meal that includes a grilled cheese sandwich and rice pudding with raisins, including calcium, iron, vitamin A and vitamin C. The calorie content may vary depending on preparation and ingredients used.
High potassium levels, or hyperkalemia, can occur due to a high intake of potassium supplements or illnesses like kidney failure, whereby the kidneys are not excreting enough potassium. This can be dangerous, since this mineral helps regulate the...
People who are morbidly obese may choose bariatric surgery as a means to shed excess weight. Surgical approaches for weight loss surgery include gastric bypass, or Roux-en-Y, laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding or biliopancreactic diversion....
Vitamins are organic substances your body needs to grow and develop cells, tissues and organs and for proper function of the various physiological systems in your body. You can obtain vitamins preferably from eating food, but also from taking...
Nausea is described by the National Institutes of Health as a sensation of needing to vomit. Abdominal bloating is described by the University of Maryland Medical Center as a condition of the stomach where it feels full and tight. Together, nausea...
Acidic foods and drinks can irritate or permanently harm your digestive system and intestinal tract, especially if you consume them regularly or excessively. If you are sensitive to acidic food and drinks, you may experience mild symptoms at...
Everyone wants to lead a long and healthy life. Science helps us do that with life-saving medicines and insight into the health benefits we gain from the food we eat. A healthy diet and medication can prevent certain life-threatening conditions,...
An anticoagulant drug is one that helps prevent clotting or coagulation of the blood. Anticoagulants are often known as blood thinners, although they do not actually make the blood thinner but decrease the blood's ability to clot. Anticoagulants...
A mother's actions have a tremendous affect on her baby when she is carrying a child. This means even simple factors -- like the foods eaten, activities done and even the stress levels experienced -- are influential on your child. Fortunately,...
MSG, or monosodium glutamate, is a food additive used as a flavor enhancer, most often in Chinese food, canned vegetables and soups, and processed meats. Many symptoms can show up as a common response to consuming MSG, and according to The Merck...
Asthma causes inflammation of the lungs, swelling the lining of the air passages, tightening muscles and restricting airflow, which can make it hard to breathe when asthma attacks occur. Allergic asthma reacts to air irritants, such as pollen,...
