Many people take probiotics when prescribed antibiotics. This allows the replenishment of good bacteria in the gut. When probiotics are ingested, they can potentially cause side effects in other parts of the body. One concern i...
Heart blockage involves damage to the artery and insufficient blood flow to the heart. Calcium contributes to the development of heart blockage but is not the sole cause. Consult your doctor about your diet and how calcium cont...
There are several causes of body aches, including injury, muscle overuse, infections and diseases. Two common conditions causing body aches are rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. The former causes inflammation of the joints...
While carbohydrates are an essential compound, the diet industry has blacklisted this substance as being a primary cause of weight gain. Research has found that a slight reduction in carbohydrate consumption can promote weight ...
While caffeine's stimulating effects may be appealing -- especially when you're fatigued and need to boost your energy -- it can also cause unpleasant side effects, including issues with your heart.
While some teas don't have the potential to affect your heart, others can cause your heart rate to increase and may even cause the sensation of a "flutter."
Heart fluttering is usually called heart palpitations and can occur for many reasons. Hormonal changes, medication side effects and even stress can cause heart palpitations. However, excessive use of some over-the-counter suppl...
While caffeine makes you feel alert, however, it can have a number of uncomfortable side effects as well. These include indigestion and heart flutter.
Indeed, Seventh-day Adventists have followed this diet for more than 100 years. Based on studies conducted at the university's health sciences center, Seventh-day Adventists believe that this diet prolongs life by reducing your...
Hydrogenated fats are more stable than unaltered unsaturated fats, so fat hydrogenation increases the shelf life of foods. Unfortunately, consumption of hydrogenated fats increases heart disease risk. Since heart disease is the...
Eating fish or meat, especially wild game, can increase the amount of creatine in your body. This substance is also available as a nutritional supplement. Although many performance-enhancing supplements are dangerous, creatine ...
Inflammation in the body causes problems such as joint aches, asthma and heart disease. It is a biological response to harmful stimuli such as microbes or irritants, and is the body's way of removing the offending stimuli and h...
A pounding heart, referred to as arrhythmia, often feels like you've just completed a rigorous exercise, and can occur at any time regardless of whether you're moving or sitting still. The causes of arrhythmia vary, and can res...
Heart palpitations can be benign, or they can signal a serious medical condition and may stem from a variety of causes, including anemia, diet pills, fever, nicotine and overactive thyroid. Some foods have also been known to ca...
Herbs are plants that can be used as food, medicine or both. While a time-honored approach to natural health, some herbs do contain dangerous ingredients and should be avoided, especially if you are currently taking prescriptio...
Heart palpitations, including the feeling that your heart has skipped a beat, may startle you, but are not necessarily serious. They have a variety of causes and one possible source of skipped beats is chocolate, or more specif...
If you're working on the computer, watching television or just sitting around too much, you can be at risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Research reported in the "Journal of the American Heart Association" states that ...
Many drinks, like coffee, tea and soda, contain caffeine. If you are sensitive to its effects, you may experience palpitations that feel as though your heart is skipping a beat. Caffeine can certainly be a culprit when it comes...
Junk foods contain low amounts of nutritious substances and high amounts of sodium, sweeteners and saturated and trans fats, which can increase your risk of heart disease. Consult your doctor or nutritionist about the health da...
Scarring is called fibrosis. Because scarred, thickened lungs are not capable of delivering oxygen to the blood stream effectively, your organs, including the brain, do not get enough oxygen. Although a special diet for pulmona...
Fatty foods are high in calories, which can increase your weight. Yet when it comes to heart disease, all fats are not equal. Healthy fats, such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, are essential for cellular function a...
According to a January 2008 edition of "Heartwire," the online news service of the American Heart Association, the size of the worldwide market for calcium supplements is $3 billion. Consequently, any question about calcium su...
Milk, along with other dairy products, has become a maligned food source implicated in causing everything from early puberty in children to cancer and heart disease. While it's true that some of the world's adult population lac...
In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. Consult your doctor about your health condition and the types of food to eat to lower your...
Eating a balanced diet can help reduce your risk of heart disease. But researchers are looking at the role that processed meats may have in causing problems that can lead to heart disease. Processed meats are typically high in ...
A poor diet can lead to heart disease, especially if continued over a long period. In 2006, heart disease caused more than one of every four deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and is the ...
The large amounts of sugar in soda are associated with weight gain and metabolic syndrome. These conditions increase your risk of developing heart disease. In addition, diet soda has been linked to stroke and other vascular dise
When the health of your heart is a concern to you, you must be proactive at protecting it. Eating too much salty food causes changes to your body that can result in your heart working harder than it has to. High sodium intake c...
But fast food in and of itself doesn't cause heart disease unless you make poor choices and eat nothing else. Heart disease has many causes including genetic tendencies and other lifestyle issues such as lack of exercise and di...
Causes of heart disease include high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity. In some cases, people are born with congenital heart disease. You can inherit genetic factors for heart disease that result in such disorders as...
While a little indulgence or the occasional fast-food meal won't necessarily hurt you, too much unhealthy food can increase your risk for heart disease. Knowing what impact your diet can have on your heart will help you improve...
While several studies have found a connection between the two, others have come to a different conclusion--that calcium supplementation increases the risk of heart disease, the Office of Dietary Supplements reports. Because the...
Heart disease describes several conditions that affect your heart and blood vessels. The Mayo Clinic defines heart disease an umbrella term for common ailments such as coronary artery disease, arrhythmia and congenital heart de...
Heart disease is the number one killer and a major cause of disability in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health. The trans fats and saturated fats found in fast foods are a contributing factor in the...
Enzymes are substrate specific, meaning that each type of enzyme has a specific type of molecule that it affects. The human body needs enzymes to influence the rates at which biological processes occur. A number of diseases occ...
There are many reasons for skin conditions to arise and often the cause is not obvious. Allergies, irritants, your genetic makeup and certain diseases and immune system problems can cause dermatitis, hives and other skin condi...
Some preservatives may cause medical conditions or diseases. Read each food product label before you purchase and consume it to determine the preservatives used and the health risks you may incur.
There are many health problems that may lead to heart disease, such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol and metabolic syndrome. Many of these conditions can be prevented with proper lifestyle h...
Ascites is an accumulation of fluid in your abdomen that can be caused by several diseases -- most commonly, liver disease. Ascites can lead to potentially fatal health complications and requires special dietary considerations....
Heart damage leads to heart disease, which is the number one killer worldwide of both men and women. Heart disease is responsible for 40 percent of deaths in the U.S. Types of heart damage include arrhythmias, heart defects you...
Your body has two nervous systems: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. Your central nervous system is composed of your brain and spinal cord, and your peripheral nervous system includes the nerves that...
Healthy living not only makes you feel good, but it can keep you from experiencing many diseases and health conditions. Obtaining adequate nutrition is an essential part of living a healthy life. Poor nutrition can result from ...
Several heart diseases can be caused by a poor diet. According to the MedlinePlus website, consuming a healthy diet is a major factor in decreasing your likelihood for cardiovascular system problems or illnesses. Along with exe...
A lack of certain nutrients in your diet can cause a number of known diseases. Often these maladies are the direct result of insufficient vitamins that your body needs to function properly. There can also be foods in your diet ...
Often these twitches have no known cause. Sometimes caffeine or stress can make them worse, as MedlinePlus explains. Twitches can come and go, and usually don't last more than a few days. Fasciculations can also indicate the pr...
According to the American Heart Association, in 2006 alone, over 81 million Americans were diagnosed with heart disease. Heart attacks are no longer the disease of the elderly and cause one out of every three deaths, per the Am...
Heart cancer can share similar symptoms of other cardiac conditions such as congestive heart disease and arrhythmia. Generally, soft tissue cells such as lymphomas are responsible for malignant cell development within the heart...
A genetic disease is caused by an abnormal gene that a person received from one or both of his parents. Some diseases are caused by recessive genes, and in that case a person must receive two recessive genes, one from each pare...
Heart palpitations are defined by MayoClinic.com as rapid, fluttering or pounding heartbeats. During a heart palpitation, the heart is beating abnormally, but adequate amounts of blood are still being pumped effectively. Althou...
Heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women, causes about 25 percent of deaths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. A number of different disease processes can cause...
Based on a population study reported in the "American Journal of Human Genetics" in May 1988, about 0.4 percent of the population have a single gene disorder, 0.2 percent have a chromosomal abnormality and 4.6 percent have a mu...
Many diseases and disorders can cause electrolyte imbalance.
Cancer of the heart is referred to as cardiac sarcoma. It is an extremely rare form of cancer. Heart cancer can have similar symptoms of other heart conditions such as arrhythmia and congestive heart disease. Generally, lymphom...
Krabbe disease, also known as globoid cell leukodystrophy, is a rare genetic disorder caused by a deficiency of an enzyme known as galactocerebrosidase. MayoClinic.com reports that this enzyme is essential for the maintenance ...
The most common type of cancerous tumor of the heart is a cardiac sarcoma, which often develops on the right atrium and is known as an angiosarcoma. Other cancerous tumors of the heart include rhabdomyosarcoma, fibrosarcoma and...
If the infectious agent is a virus, the diagnosis will be viral conjunctivitis. Other causes of conjunctivitis include bacteria, allergens and physical irritants. The symptoms of viral conjunctivitis include watery eyes, a red ...
Malformations, infections and other disease processes can cause obstruction or leaking of the aortic valve. When valve malfunction significantly compromises delivery of blood to the body, doctors typically recommend an aortic v...
A rapid heart beat, medically known as tachycardia, may arise for many different reasons. The heart normally beats between 60 and 100 times per minute, and a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute defines tachycardia. Sym...
The leading cause of death in the United States is cardiovascular disease. When a heart attack is suspected, early diagnosis is imperative, since therapy to stop a heart attack with clot-busting drugs or stent placement are mos...
Heart disease kills 26 percent of Americans each year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2006. Coronary heart disease, the most common type of heart disease, has a number of causes, but the most common ...
The Candida group of yeasts includes approximately 150 different species. One species, C. albicans causes between 70 and 80 percent of all infections by these yeasts, according to the Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. ...
The diet of people older than 100 years varies widely, from strict vegetarianism to a diet high in saturated fats, according to the Boston University School of Medicine's New England Centenarian Study. However, National Geograp...
HTLV-I, HTLV-II, HIV-1 and HIV-2 are all retroviruses. All of them keep their genetic information in their RNA, instead of in DNA. After a retrovirus infects a cell, it makes a DNA copy of its genetic information from its RNA, ...
Infants with motor neuron disease have a hard time breathing, sucking and even swallowing. Their muscles and tongue will twitch and waste away. Children and adults can become so weak in their muscles that it leads to disability...
Imbalances or abnormal production of these enzymes can lead to an accumulation of fats that can damage many organs in the body. Other lipid-related diseases include the inability to convert stored fats to energy. The lipid dise...
The main function of mucus is to provide protection. Mucus protects by coating the lining of organs and keeping them moist, as well as trapping foreign substances. In normal amounts, mucus aids in maintaining normal health. Ce...
Plavix is indicated for reduction of clots in patients who have had a recent heart attack, stroke or who have peripheral arterial disease. It is also indicated in patients who are having a heart attack, or acute coronary syndro...
When a child says that his heart is racing, more than likely he is experiencing an arrhythmia, or an abnormal deviation of the regular heart rate. When it is a fast heart rate, it is called tachycardia. Although most commonly b...
During the time that a fetus is 9 to 28 weeks old, blood cells form in the spleen. After birth, the spleen keeps a supply of blood, which it releases into circulation if the blood pressure gets low. It removes old red blood cel...
The heart consists of four chambers: two upper chambers known as the right and left atria and two lower chambers known as the right and left ventricles. A group of specialized cells in the right atrium, called the sinus node, p...
Numerous diseases can cause a change in hair texture and volume. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, the lips, palms and soles of the feet are the only parts of the ...
Heart disease is a multifactorial disease. Along with lifestyle choices such as smoking, exercise habits and diet, the risk of developing heart disease is strongly influenced by genetics. Many genes have been identified that ar...
Some people have congenital anosmia, meaning they were born without the ability to detect odors. Other times, people develop anosmia as a result of other disorders. In some diseases, such as allergies or colds, the anosmia is o...
Fungi usually reproduce by sending miniscule spores through the air. The spores can be inhaled or land on the skin. Because of this, fungal infections often begin in the skin. The most common group of fungi that cause communica...
Asbestosis is a chronic condition caused by long-term inhalation and retention of asbestos fibers, which affect lung tissue, causing inflammation and a buildup of fibrous tissue. People with this condition are at high risk of c...
According to the National Institutes of Health, ventricular fibrillation results in sudden cardiac death if urgent care is not received. Disruption of the normal electrical rhythm of the heart can be caused by a variety of dise...
Graves' disease, a defect in the immune system, is the most common reason for hyperthyroidism, which is an overactive thyroid, according to the Graves' Disease Foundation. The exact cause of Graves' disease is unknown, although...
Many diseases can cause extreme fatigue and weakness. According to MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, fatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness or a lack of...
Numerous diseases can cause lightheadedness and stomach sickness. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, dizziness is lightheadedness, or the feeling of imminent fainting. Ligh...
Because numbness in the legs is a loss of feeling, it often leads to more injuries. Numbness in the legs is often a symptom of specific diseases that affect the peripheral nerves and spinal cord or impede blood flow to the area.
Often, the upper lip is also clefted. In most cases, a cleft palate with or without cleft lip is the only abnormal feature a child has. This is called isolated cleft palate. Sometimes, however, an underlying syndrome is the cau...
Numerous environmental factors can cause or contribute to heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, while a person's risk of heart disease from environmental factors is lower than other known cardiovascular ri...
Nerves transmit messages from all parts of the body to the brain, and the brain responds by telling the body what to do. The brain also stores information and is the source of emotions. In some diseases, brain swelling is local...
There are several causes of these transient diseases, which always work at the microscopic level. Taking preventive measures such as washing your hands can effectively reduce the proliferation of communicable diseases.
Approximately one third of people carry Staphylococcus aureus on their skin or in their nose, but the bacterium does not cause any problems until it enters the skin through a cut or abrasion. Usually staph infections can be tre...
Graves disease is a thyroid disorder in which too much thyroid hormone is produced, resulting in a metabolism that is too fast. The cause is unclear; however, certain risk factors are known to increase the chance for developing...
Causes of hyperpigmentation can be harmless or life-threatening, according to the journal "American Family Physician." Hyperpigmentation requires evaluation by a physician to determine its cause and rule out serious disease.
Many diseases can cause muscle twitches. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, muscle twitches are "fine movements of a small area of muscle." They can be be...
Disease caused by alcoholism may begin in the early stages and becomes more noticeable as the effects of alcohol abuse take hold. Medical professionals consider alcoholism a disease in itself, but excessive drinking over time l...
There are numerous diseases that cause tiredness or fatigue. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, fatigue is a lack of energy and motivation, which is different from drowsine...
The ear consists of inner, middle and outer parts that work together to produce the function of hearing. Problems with one or more parts of the ear can cause hearing problems and disease is one of the major causes. Many disorde...
There are many diseases that can cause muscle wasting, or atrophy. While a person can often adapt to muscle atrophy, even mild localized forms can cause decreased movement or strength. Medical evaluation is warranted for unexp...
A brain atrophy is a breakdown of neurons or connections between them in an area of the brain. In rare cases, it affects the whole brain. A brain atrophy can cause loss of consciousness, impairment of the senses, centers for mo...
There are numerous causes or risk factors associated with ischemic heart disease. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, ischemic heart disease, also known as ischemic cardiomy...
There are over 30 types of the Staphylococci bacteria, but the one that most commonly causes infection is Staphylococcus aureus, according to Medline Plus. Skin infections are the most common infection associated with Staphyloc...
Muscle wasting causes a significant decrease in muscle strength and the ability to move the muscle, according to MedlinePlus. In a healthy individual, muscle wasting can occur as result of the lack of physical exercise. Those w...
There are several conditions that may cause heart pain. According to the U.S. Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, any organ or tissue in the chest cavity can be a source of pain, including the nerves, ten...
Itching may be a reaction to localized skin irritants such as insect bites, dry skin and poison ivy, or it may be the result of an underlying disease. Diseases that cause itching include bacterial, fungal, parasitic and viral i...
In humans, the adults reside in the gastrointestinal tract, and the larvae live in almost every organ. When the the larvae have penetrated tissues, they develop into several encapsulated forms, among them a cysticercus and a hy...
The heart responds to the body's need for more oxygen by increasing the heart rate or slowing down when the body is at rest. Many diseases outside the heart affect the functionality of the heart and can lead to heart diseases s...
The heart works by the communication of electrical impulses, which travel through a complexity of fibers called the “bundle of His,” Mayo Clinic reports. When the fibers become damaged, a break in the signals occurs...
Common ones include chicken pox, ringworm, influenza, scabies, lice, pinkeye and hepatitis. Prevention includes good hygiene skills, safe sex and using reputable sources for tattoos, piercing and blood transfusions. There are s...
Galactocerebrosidase is necessary for normal growth and development of myelin, the coating around nerves. In people with Krabbe disease, GALC deficiency eventually leads to destruction of the myelin and nerve cells, which cause...
They are necessary for movement, opening and closing the eyes, chewing, facial expressions, protection of organs and contraction of organs like the heart. Diseases of the muscles may be inherited, may be caused by infections or...
Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to muscles, and when a muscle does not get enough blood, it literally suffocates. Ischemic heart pain is due to poor blood flow through the arteries of the heart. The heart muscle begins to ...
There is normally 2 to 3 ccs of fluid between the heart and the pericardial lining. If excessive fluid builds up in the space between the pericardium and the heart, this is called a pericardial effusion. A very high build up of...
Crawford, M.D. Birth defects, valve degeneration, lupus, high cholesterol and rheumatic fever have all been implicated as underlying causes of aortic stenosis. Although three treatment options exist for this disease, the only e...
Common methods of transfer include direct contact with the source, such as kissing or touching a contaminated surface and then your mouth, or inhaling the droplets of an infected sneeze or cough. Causes for communicable disease...
These genes form the blueprint for protein synthesis that supports cell and organ functioning and ultimately support life. There are a number of genetic diseases, which range greatly in their symptoms and severity, all ultimate...
The failing heart continues to work, but not as efficiently or effectively as it should. Heart failure can be caused by several conditions that damage or weaken the heart muscle.
Heart block may be caused for a number of reasons, and some of the causes result in specific types of heart block. Patients do not always have to exhibit signs and symptoms of heart blocks and may live for years without knowing...
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there are 40,000 cases of salmonella each year in the United States. According to the Mayo Clinic, salmonella is a caused by bacteria that normally lives in the i...
However, periodontal disease may contribute to it as well. Getting regular dental checkups is not just about preventing cavities and keeping the gums healthy. It can also help to prevent other illnesses. The first step is to u...
However, the electrical impulse is much slower than the regular heartbeat, according to the Mayo Clinic. This can lead to a failure of the heart to pump blood to the organs of the body and sudden cardiac death. Complete heart b...
The electrical impulse is delayed at the AV node. Once the atrium contracts, the electrical impulse passes to the ventricles. With second degree heart block, some electrical impulses are not conducted from the atria to the vent...
Bacteria are everywhere. They are one of the main groups of organisms that cause disease. But there are also many that are very beneficial. All bacteria are capable of rapid growth and have distinct growth stages. Most can surv...
Sometimes, norepinephrine is recycled. Other times, it is broken down by enzymes and its products are excreted. Metanephrine is one of the products. Seeing how much metanephrine is in a 24-hour urine sample indicates how much t...
Pathogenic bacteria are those that invade the human body and cause disease. Once in the body, the bacteria multiply potentially causing cellular damage. Many pathogenic bacteria produce toxins and other proteins that accelerate...
Almost all human disease has a genetic basis, even those associated with lifestyle choices such as obesity, heart disease and alcoholism. So why do genetic diseases occur in some people, but not in others? The answer lies in th...
The bases link together to form a series of base pairs, and the sequence of base pairs codes for thousands of genes required for growth and survival. Genetic diseases in babies are mutations passed on from the parents. There ar...
Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control, or CDC. Although you may watch what you eat and exercise regularly, you may also want to incorporate pistachio nuts i...
Pericardial effusion can interfere with the heart's ability to pump blood to the rest of the body. The fetus doesn't receive enough oxygen to grow properly and may die before birth. A number of conditions can cause accumulation...
Motor neuron diseases may be inherited or acquired, and occur in all age groups. Motor neurons are divided into upper--those in the brain, and lower-- those in the brain stem and spinal cord. There are sporadic and inherited ca...
Viruses are microorganisms that enter into the cells of the body. They take over the structure of the cell and then redirect it to produce more viruses. Viruses can cause illnesses in humans and there are many different examp...
Kawasaki disease is a disease of unknown cause. It commonly affects children under the age of five and is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children. Boys and children of Asian descent are more likely to get Kawasa...
Heart disease is a broad term used to describe a wide range of diseases that affect the heart and its blood vessels, according to the Mayo Clinic. Coronary artery disease, heart arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) and heart defe...
This condition is diagnosed after a delay in the heart's electrical impulse is seen on an electrocardiogram (ECG). First-degree heart block can be caused by a number of conditions. Usually this condition does not need treatment.
Once viruses gain entry to the body, they start destroying healthy cells by consuming the nutrients in them. Viruses also use healthy cells as their breeding grounds. This usually leads to health issues and diseases, which can ...
Although first described by a pathologist named George Whipple in 1907, the bacterium causing Whipple's disease was not successfully isolated and established in culture until the year 2000. To this day, little is known about Wh...
Epistaxis is the medical term for a nosebleed. Although temporary nasal drying or irritation causes most nosebleeds, frequent spontaneous epistaxis can be a symptom of underlying disease. Physical examination, blood tests and d...
It may feel like a flutter or a pounding sensation. You can feel this sensation in your neck or chest. In some cases, these sensations are not serious and just cause an unpleasant feeling. At other times, they can be a sign of ...
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, with coronary artery disease being the common most type, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Individuals who have a family history or su...
The Kawasaki Disease Foundation posts that this childhood illness currently affects more than 4,200 children per year and is the leading cause of early life-acquired heart conditions. The onset generally occurs among boys of As...
There are many diseases caused by blood-borne pathogens. A needle stick injury, injury from a sharp instrument contaminated with blood or body fluids, and intimate contact are ways that people are exposed to these pathogens. In...
The active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, contains properties that go far beyond its traditional use of giving mustard and curry their distinctive flavors. Worlds Healthiest Foods.com (WHF) reports that turmeric has traditio...
If you have Staphylococcus aureus, if your immune system becomes impaired, or this microorganism is able to overcome your barriers against it, then it is able to cause disease.
The bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes is a significant cause of human disease, most often associated with infections of the respiratory tract, blood, and skin. It is estimated that streptococcus results in about 10 million mild ...
According to ophthalmologist Charles Slonim of All About Vision, all people develop cataracts, if they live long enough. However, cataracts usually develop slowly, often not causing any problems until people are over 60. When c...
Chickens can be used for both their meat and their eggs, and they have even become a popular type of domestic pet in some urban environs. However, chickens can be a source of a number of bacterial and viral-related diseases and...
In fact, ticks belong to the same family as spiders, mites and scorpions. Sometimes, these ticks can carry certain diseases. They can attach onto people's skin and cause a serious medical ailment. The diseases caused by a tic
Signs of itchy skin include skin redness, bumps, blisters and leather-like skin. Sometimes, itchy skin can be normal, or it may be a sign of an underlying medical problem. Fortunately, diseases that cause skin itching can be tr...
Unfortunately, certain underlying conditions can cause people to lose their hair. For instance, a mental illness, premature aging and a fungal infection can lead to hair loss. Fortunately, the diseases that cause people to lose...
Cardiomegaly is the clinical term for an enlarged heart. Cardiomegaly is not a disease in and of itself but is a symptom of other underlying disorders. This disease is typically found after a patient receives a chest X-ray. Car...
It is caused by abnormal electrical impulses sent from just above the lower chambers of the heart--called supraventricular tachycardia--or from the ventricles--called ventricular tachycardia. While in many cases the cause is un...
The Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons states that cardiac disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. There are many different conditions that can affect the heart. Some conditions need only to be monitored while oth...
In some people, symptoms of fatigue are much more extreme and can significantly interfere with the ability to function normally throughout the day. If you experience such symptoms, speak with your doctor to determine if you hav...
Clostridium tetani is an anaerobic bacterium that produces a potent toxin that can cause the serious disease tetanus in humans. People typically contract tetanus through introduction of the Clostridium tetani spores via a punct...
Studying large groups of people often yields clues to the nature of certain diseases and allows scientists to use statistic analysis to determine what may be the underlying cause. Epidemiologists are scientists who do not study...
The carotid arteries are located in your neck and supply your brain with blood and oxygen. Carotid artery stenosis, or carotid artery disease, occurs when these arteries start to narrow. In most cases this is due to the develop...
Certain medical illnesses can lead to tremors. Tremors can also be a side effect of prescription medications. Learn about the diseases that cause trembling.
Previous to 1974, this virus had never been identified. Barmah Forest Virus went unmeasured in humans until 1986, when it was detected at New South Wales. The first indication that it caused discernible disease finally occurred...
The heart rate goes from the normal 70 to 80 beats per minute to 90 to 130 beats per minute or more, which may significantly raise blood pressure. It could be a danger to the heart because raising the heart rate and blood press...
Smoking can cause a number of cardiovascular problems and heart diseases. Smoking increases the risk of suffering from a stroke, heart attack, aneurysm and diseases of the vascular system (blood vessels). Cardiovascular disease...
Alcohol has a high calorie content, and drinking a lot of it can contribute to obesity. This can cause a higher risk of diabetes and heart disease. Excessive drinking or binge drinking can ultimately lead to weakening of the he...
Saturated fat is one of the main culprits of heart disease. It is a dietary cause of high blood cholesterol, which leads to stroke and heart attack. Saturated fat is often found in foods from animals and some plants, according ...
In addition to preventing heart disease, regular exercise also can help patients recover from heart attacks and strokes and prevent further damage to the cardiovascular system. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic report that heart disea...
Stress signals your body to respond to an event. This event can be avoiding a car crash, dealing with bad news, having an argument, financial issues, changes in work or home environment or any event in your life that makes you...
Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder and the most common cause of a medical condition called hyperthyroidism, states Mayo Clinic experts. But Graves' disease causes more than just hyperthyroidism; patients who suffer from ...
The number one cause of diabetes-related death is some type of heart disease or stroke. According to the American Diabetes Association, two out of every three people with Type 2 diabetes die due to cardiovascular disease. Despi...
Fast foods create a much higher risk of heart disease because of the high level of saturated or trans fats found in much of the food. Those fats can clog the arteries and, over time, contribute to high cholesterol levels. There...
Heartworm disease is a potentially fatal condition caused by parasitic worms that invade the arteries, lungs and heart of dogs, cats and other animals. The disease is often not recognized in the early stages because it takes mo...
National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. The flutter may also cause a brief sensation, as if the heart skipped several beats. The causes of heart flutters are diverse and vary according to age and hea...
While triglycerides are necessary for functions in the body that demand energy, a high level of triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia) can lead to health issues, such as heart disease and stroke. Even though some causes of hypert...
Along with obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, cigarette smoking is one of the leading causes of heart disease in America. According to the Surgeon General, cigarette smoking causes diseases in nearly e...
Carcinoid syndrome is the result of cancerous tumors that secret harmful chemicals into the blood stream. Some of these chemicals can cause the thickening of the valves, blood vessels and wall of the heart chamber.
The American Heart Association (AHA) defines obesity as a body that has an overabundance of fat. Excess fat, especially around the waist, can cause health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Whi...
Heart disease can develop from various causative factors including lifestyle, diet, bacterial infections and age. Heart disease is also well-known to be hereditary. According to the American Heart Association, "children of pare...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading killer of adults in the United States. The primary risk factors for heart disease are cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, h...
Heart disease often begins early in life, with symptoms first appearing during middle age--the most productive years of life. Decades of sedentary living and diets with high levels of cholesterol and saturated fat are the leadi...
Essentially, diabetes effects how the body uses blood glucose, or blood sugar. Glucose is very important, as it provides the entire body with energy. Diabetes can have some very serious consequences, such as heart disease.
After all, it's fast, filling and inexpensive. And even though they'd like you to believe otherwise, a regular diet of fast food can increase your risk for contracting heart disease.
There is no specific test to diagnose polycystic ovary disease. This disorder, also called polycystic ovary syndrome, is believed to be linked to genetic causes and high insulin levels. The illness is often identified via a ...
Heart disease is the leading killer of adults in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease claimed more than 600,000 lives in 2005, equally divided between men and women.
Hea...
The other factors include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, obesity and diabetes. Smoking is the leading preventable cause of disease and deaths in the U.S., according to the Surgeon General. Cigarette...
This occurs because of the way in which large quantities of alcohol break down in the bloodstream and throughout the body. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol will cause the heart to work harder.
Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, can be caused by a variety of infections that can send bacteria into your chest cavity. A variety of diseases can lead to these types of infections, such as rubella, polio and c...
Approximately one percent of the population carries the recessive gene mutation that causes Ataxia-Telangiectasia. Because of the rarity of the disease, which occurs in less than 100,000 individuals worldwide, there are no cur...
In recent studies, tooth decay and dental abscesses have been linked to the incidence of heart disease. That's because the bacteria caused by these infections can travel through the esophagus and into the chest cavity, where th...
You can develop myocardia if you are exposed to certain chemicals, allergic to certain medications or if you have suffered in the past from such diseases as polio, rubella or some strains of the flu. Myocarditis can also be the...
In this progressive disorder, fibrous scar tissue and fat replace normal muscle cells of the right ventricle. As the disease progresses, damage to the left side of the heart may occur. The resulting damage may cause abnormal el...