If you sustain an injury to your skull that mildly damages your brain tissue, you can develop a concussion. Immediate symptoms of a concussion can include confusion, amnesia, nausea, vomiting, headache or dizziness. Post-concussion syndrome (PCS)...
ADHD is considered a childhood disorder. However, adult ADHD afflicts approximately 30 to 50 percent of adults diagnosed with childhood ADHD (see Reference 1), which indicates the symptoms do not always subside. Diagnosing the disorder is...
Each day the kidneys remove about two quarts of waste from the body through urine. If the kidneys do not function properly and kidney disease develops, waste builds up and you may suffer from serious symptoms, such as frequent need to urinate,...
Iodine plays an important role in supporting the proper function of your thyroid gland. While too much iodine can cause hyperthyroidism, an iodine deficiency can lead to hypothyroidism. Excessive sweating is a common symptom of an overactive...
Your endocrine system is a complex network of chemical communication. Your thyroid is part of this system. It is a butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your throat that produces hormones. Thyroid hormones control your metabolism. Your doctor...
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the lungs. It is usually triggered by allergens, like pollen, dust and cigarette smoke; upper respiratory infections or colds; exercise; and other environmental factors. The typical symptom of asthma...
Lyrica is the brand name of the medication pregabalin, which is typically prescribed to treat epilepsy and fibromyalgia. Although many people expect some physical side effects when taking a medication like Lyrica, mental side effects may also...
The body perspires so it can release salty liquids from the sweat glands. Sweating, or perspiration, is the body's cooling mechanism. The amount of sweat each person releases depends on the number of sweat glands in the body. While women have more...
During pregnancy, your body contains as much as 50 percent more blood than it did before you became pregnant. Your body needs extra iron to make the red blood cells necessary to furnish this additional blood. Iron is also necessary for the growth...
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that approximately 40 million American adults are living with an anxiety disorder. An anxiety disorder causes disruptive symptoms that persist for at least six months and interfere with daily...
Colon cancer is the fourth most common form of cancer in men, according to the National Cancer Institute. Obese people over the age of 50 who smoke, drink alcohol or have a history of bowel problems are at the highest risk of developing colon...
Hydrochlorothiazide is a commonly used diuretic for the treatment of chronic conditions such as hypertension and mild congestive heart failure. This drug acts at the distal tubule of the kidneys where it blocks the re-absorption of sodium,...
Postpartum depression is the depression and anxiety that some women experience in the weeks and months after giving birth. It's a result of the hormonal changes that follow delivery combined with changes in lifestyle and emotional turmoil. Because...
Compulsive behavior is a characteristic of a mental disorder called obsessive-compulsive disorder. According to the Mayo Clinic, compulsive behaviors refer to repetitive behavior that is meant to calm any anxieties or obsessions. For example,...
Everyone occasionally has difficulty sleeping. However, if you have frequent trouble sleeping or staying asleep, it's likely you have insomnia. According to MayoClinic.com, insomnia is one of the most frequent medical complaints. Insomnia is not a...
Iron carries oxygen to every cell in your body. If you do not get enough iron in your diet, you risk developing anemia. While women are more likely to develop this condition, men can become anemic as well, particularly if they adhere to certain...
An overactive thyroid, a condition known as hyperthyroidism, occurs when the thyroid gland located in the neck produces too much of the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Hyperthyroidism can be an acute (short-term) or chronic...
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a neurological disease that affects an individual's behavior and ability to focus on tasks. Both children and adults have ADHD. ADHD is often managed with medication and therapy.
Anxiety refers to that tense feeling that individuals typically get right before, for instance, taking a difficult exam or skydiving. MedlinePlus indicates that anxiety becomes a disorder when the worry and anxiousness are constant and frequent....
Vitamin D is often included in multivitamins, one that you need on a daily basis. Vitamin D is known as the "sunshine vitamin" because it is created by the body in response to sun exposure. It is a fat-soluble vitamin created in your body when you...
Your kidneys help to remove waste products and excess fluid from your bloodstream in an effort to keep your body healthy. If you have kidney disease, your kidneys do not function properly. As a result, waste products may accumulate in your blood...
Whether they're looking for a boost in studying, athletics, partying or just to get through the day, teens consume plenty of energy drinks. About 30 to 50 percent of adolescents and young adults consume energy drinks, according to self-reported...
Various conditions can cause decreased appetite in women. Decreased appetite, in both women and men, occurs when you have a reduced desire to eat, despite your body's basic caloric needs. The University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, notes...
Ergocalciferol, sold under the brand name Calcitriol, is a vitamin D supplement used to treat hypoparathyroidism, a condition in which your parathyroid glands do not make enough parathyroid hormone to regulate your blood calcium, phosphorus and...
Kidney (renal) disease--also called chronic kidney disease or CKD--affects 26 million people in the United States, based upon estimates provided by the National Kidney Foundation. Kidney disease is primarily caused by high blood pressure or...
Whether or not you can become addicted to caffeine is a rather controversial topic within the medical field, with some of the controversy stemming from how addiction is defined. However, most experts agree that caffeine withdrawal does produce...
Many people experience feelings of sadness and lack of energy at some time in their life. In most cases, these feelings may last for a couple of days and then disappear. People who are depressed experience a lack of energy that persists for an...
Hyperthyroidism is a serious medical condition that causes your thyroid to make too much of the hormone thyroxine. With an overactive thyroid, your body’s metabolism can accelerate rapidly, causing an array of troubling symptoms, notes...
Menopause is a medical term used to describe the period of time when a woman's ovaries begin to no longer produce eggs. Most women naturally experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, though certain surgical procedures or disease...
