Having a high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level is one of the risk factors for coronary artery disease. The high level can increase inflammation in an injured area of an artery. As a result, cholesterol as well as fats and blood cells...
Vick's company has been producing medicines and rubs to remedy cold symptoms since the 19th century. Today, they have a comprehensive line of cold and sinus products. Vicks Formula 44D was introduced in the 1980s. It is a cough suppressant and...
To be a good softball pitcher, you need strength, dexterity and speed, as well as accuracy. To help youths achieve their best, drills that work on all the different skills should be used. A number of drills can be worked on at home or on the field...
Human parasites depend on a host for nourishment, often to the detriment of the person infected. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, annually there are 7.4 million cases of parasitic infection caused by the protozoa,...
Vitamin B-12, or cyanocobalamin, is essential for cell growth and multiplication of cells. Low levels of B-12 can cause anemia and damage to the gastrointestinal and central nervous systems. Neurological disorders related to vitamin B-12...
Sandwiched between the Olympic mountain range due West and the Cascade mountain range due East, the culturally diverse city of Seattle borders the pastoral waters of the Puget Sound. This dynamic region with visible mountains and tangible waters...
The National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases describes Celebrex and ibuprofen as belonging to the category of medications called nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The NSAID drugs relieve pain, reduce...
Calcium is one of the major mineral components of bone. It also plays a role in important physiological functions. For these reasons, calcium levels must be tightly regulated in order to maintain balance. Calcium balance is maintained by...
Often, people with high blood pressure, or hypertension, do not even realize that their pressure is too high. High blood pressure is a symptomless disease except in extreme cases, but left untreated, it can injure or kill. There are several types...
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that initially causes patients to have short-term memory loss, then progresses to an inability to use common, everyday objects and tools, and ultimately results in death from complications...
Surrounded by mountains, water and endless natural beauty, Seattle resembles a vast playground for health-conscious and physically active people. Unfortunately, this comes at a price; Seattle's cost of living---including food, transportation,...
Warfarin was discovered when Wisconsin farmers approached a chemist at the University of Wisconsin to find out why their cattle were sick. He found that a substance in the clover they were eating stopped their blood from clotting and caused them...
Niacin, also called nicotinic acid or B3, was one of the first medications used to treat people with abnormal lipid levels. It raises high-density lipoprotein levels, but also lowers high levels of low-density lipoprotein and high triglyceride...
King County encompasses the greater Seattle area and extends north to the waterfront community of Shoreline, south to Federal Way and east well into the Cascade Mountains. Puget Sound delineates the western border of the county and, along with...
Leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells. One abnormal cell reproduces in the bone marrow without abiding by any regulations or controls. This results in a high number of abnormal clones. The abnormal white blood cells take over, crowd out...
Panniculitis is the inflammation of the fat located beneath the skin, or in the subcutis layer. This inflammation is usually caused by an infection, but can also be due to trauma or be a symptom of various diseases. There are several forms of...
Adrenocortical steroids are produced by your body's adrenal glands in response to stress and abnormalities in fluid levels. They can also be prescribed as a medication if your body is not producing enough. According to Goodman & Gilman's The...
Worldwide, people consume an estimated 10 billion pounds of coffee every year, per the the Encyclopedia of Mental Health Disorders website. There is more caffeine in coffee than in soft drinks, cocoa and tea. Caffeine affects the brain by...
The influenza virus, also called "the flu," is a contagious respiratory infection. Most people who come down with the flu will have a fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches for a few days, but some may have a serious enough infection that they...
Vitamin B12 is essential for DNA synthesis, and is required for red blood cell and neurological function. While there is no reason to take B12 "for" your liver, your liver is important in vitamin B12 homeostasis, as it is your body's largest...
“Basic and Clinical Pharmacology” classifies Cymbalta, or duloxetine, as a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Cymbalta produces a weak inhibition on the dopamine, histamine, muscarinic, opioid and calcium ion channels....
Back pain affects almost everyone at some point throughout life. If you are suffering from back pain, yoga or tai chi exercises may help to provide relief. "Spine" journal reports that Iyengar yoga participants show a decrease in back pain and...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, elevated blood pressure affects 74.5 million people in the United States per year. Untreated elevated blood pressure produces heart disease and stroke. Heart disease remains the No. 1...
Osteoarthritis is also referred to as a degenerative joint disease because the cartilage within the joints of people with this disorder is degenerating, or breaking down. As a result, there is no cushion between the bones. Without any cartilage,...
Probiotics are live bacteria that are consumed in food, but are not harmful. On the contrary, eating a sufficient amount of the probiotics has proved to be very beneficial to health, because consuming them increases the number of beneficial...
According to "Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics," niacin is the "best agent available for increasing HDL-C" levels. HDL is a form of cholesterol that helps lower total body cholesterol by scavenging it from tissues...
Acute inflammation serves important roles in body defense and healing. Inflammatory cells are among the first responders when an injury or infection occurs, sounding the alarm for the immune system. They also serve as the cleanup and restoration...
Bystolic, a high blood pressure medication, has been demonstrated to have a modest effect on weight loss. However, to date, only one study has demonstrated this effect, and if weight loss is truly your goal, a healthful diet and exercise are...
The paranasal sinuses are empty cavities within the skull lined by mucosa, which serve to both decrease the weight of the skull and provide resonant chambers for voice conduction. Unfortunately, a build-up of fluid and bacteria can occur within...
