Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an irritable bowel disease characterized by sores and inflammation of the colon and rectum. Ulcerative colitis causes a variety of symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, fatigue and loss of appetite....
Fatty liver is a form of chronic hepatitis that resembles alcohol-induced hepatitis. However, the fatty liver hepatitis can occur in individuals with no significant alcohol consumption. There are several clinically recognized treatment options for...
Ganoderma lucidum, otherwise known as reishi or lingzhi mushroom, is a type of fungus used in herbal coffee. The University of Michigan notes that Ganoderma, like many other funguses, can be found growing on the decaying stumps of dead trees. Its...
Ulcerative colitis is categorized under the broader term inflammatory bowel disease. An ulcer is a lesion or sore that does not heal on its own. These types of sores form on the lining of the intestines, specifically in the rectum and colon, to...
Colitis is the general term used to describe inflammation of the colon or large intestine. There are several causes of colitis in children. Infectious colitis is the result of infection, usually by a virus or bacteria. The other common cause of...
MedlinePlus says that abdominal pain usually develops between the chest and groin, and can affect a part of the stomach or spread to all regions of the stomach. The pain can be dull, sharp or cramping. In some people, consuming dairy products or...
Omeprazole is the generic form of Prilosec and is in a drug class called proton pump inhibitors. It treats gastroesophageal reflux disease and laryngoesophageal reflux disease. The mechanism of action of omeprazole decreases stomach acid...
Liver fluke is a parasitic infection that has two distinct phases: the acute phase and the chronic phase. An acute liver fluke infection occurs when the parasites travel through your body and into your liver, where they mature. Once that's...
Tylenol, or acetaminophen, is one of the most commonly used over-the-counter medicines. It is used as an anti-inflammatory, as a pain reliever and as a fever reducer. Despite being over-the-counter, taking too much Tylenol can have serious...
Simvastatin, also known as Zocor, belongs to a group of cholesterol-lowering medications called statins. This drug is typically prescribed to lower levels of LDL cholesterol, especially in people who are at risk for developing heart disease....
According to an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fact sheet, bloodborne pathogens are infectious materials in blood that can cause disease in humans, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human...
Zocor, generic name simvastatin, is used to treat high cholesterol levels in conjunction with diet modifications and lifestyle changes. Zocor lowers cholesterol levels by blocking an enzyme necessary to manufacture cholesterol, MayoClinic.com...
Although the body needs cholesterol for normal functioning, too much of this waxy substance can clog the arteries, causing a stroke or heart attack. Diet and exercise may help patients to reduce their levels of low-density lipoprotein, sometimes...
Hepatitis A is inflammation and swelling of the liver resulting from the hepatitis A virus. This virus is usually found in the feces and blood of an infected individual approximately 15 to 45 days prior to the onset of symptoms, according to the...
Hepatitis B, a viral infection, targets your liver and may cause both immediate and long-term disease. The virus that causes this condition, notes the World Health Organization, is passed from one person to another by contact with the body fluids...
Despite reports of serious side effects, black cohosh is widely used for treating symptoms of menopause and menstrual problems. A tea made from the root of the black cohosh plant has also been used to relieve sore throat. Because of the...
Tylenol (acetaminophen), is one of the most popular over-the-counter pain reliever in the United States. When taken as directed, your body can eliminate acetaminophen safely and harmlessly. Too much of the drug, however, overwhelms the system. The...
When diagnosing hepatitis B, doctors frequently start by asking questions about recent behaviors that may have put a person at risk for the virus. Such behaviors include unprotected sexual activity, sharing needles for drugs or getting a tattoo...
The liver is a vital organ that cleans toxins from the blood, helps with digestion, and even fights infection. If the liver continually works hard to process drugs or alcohol, liver disease can develop, which can lead to liver failure. Early liver...
Kava or kava kava, as it is commonly known, is sold in the United States as a dietary supplement to combat fatigue, insomnia and anxiety. This supplement has been used for centuries in the South Pacific; however, as a supplement in the United...
Oxycodone, a schedule II prescription narcotic, has benefit as a pain reliever for moderate to severe pain, but also has great potential for abuse. Both time-release oxycodone, called oxycontin and oxycodone combined with acetaminophen, sold as...
There are many disorders that can affect the sigmoid colon. The sigmoid colon is an S-shaped portion of the colon near its terminal end, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse website. The website goes on to explain...
The liver is an essential organ, responsible for a multitude of metabolic functions. Mild liver damage can be without symptoms. More extensive damage leads to a variety of symptoms, including jaundice, low blood sugar, malaise, nausea and...
The FDA banned safrole -- the major component of the oil of the sassafras plant -- in 1960 due to a link with cancer. A ban on sassafras tea and other sassafras products followed in the 1970s. Safrole-free sassafras products became legal again in...
Your body needs copper, a trace mineral, in only small amounts. If you require supplemental copper, you most likely will not have any side effects unless you greatly exceed the recommended dose of 2.5 to 3 mg per day, states the website Drugs.com....
A common complaint in patients with liver problems is a sensation of fullness or bloating within the abdomen. This sensation results from increased water retention within the membranous lining of the abdominal tissue known as ascites, according to...
Anxiety and depression, the two most common mental disorders, affect 55 million people in the U.S., according to the Archives of General Psychiatry. Anxiety is characterized by persistent worry that impedes an person's ability to relax....
Many conditions and injuries can cause left-sided low back pain. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, low back pain occurs most often among people 30 to 50 years of age. The location of low back pain largely...
Reishi, known scientifically as Ganoderma lucidum, is a type of mushroom that has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, for over 4,000 years to treat asthma, fatigue and liver problems. It's currently used for stimulating the immune...
