The cardiovascular system of the human body acts as the transport system to deliver the required oxygen and nutrients in your blood to sustain life. As the demand of exercise increases, your body's hemodynamic response to exercise follows an...
Pregnancy is a normal phenomenon. Still, your body's adjustments to pregnancy require major changes in your cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular adaptations serve a number of purposes, including to protect your normal physiologic functioning, to...
A fat burning product raises your body temperature which is called a thermogenic response. This rise in body temperature raises your resting energy expenditure --- REE --- which means you burn more calories while sitting still. Even though fat...
NSAIDs, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are a class of drugs used to control pain and reduce fever. In higher doses, they also mediate inflammation and swelling. (See References 1) NSAIDs typically act by inhibiting the synthesis of...
During periods of vigorous exercise, your blood pressure increases, along with your body temperature, respiratory rate and other physiological measures. While chronic high blood pressure, or hypertension, can be a serious medical condition, the...
Low blood pressure, or hypotension, affects people of all ages. Older adults, for example, remain more likely to have low blood pressure than younger adults, according to a February 1995 report in the “Annals of Internal Medicine.”...
According to the report, "Nosocomial Bloodstream Infection and Clinical Sepsis," published in June 2010 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are an estimated 248,000 blood stream infections in American hospitals each year. This...
Acute heart failure is a medical condition that is characterized by a rapid arrival of symptoms. The signs are a result of reduced cardiac function, decreased ability of the heart to pump blood throughout the body, and the resulting congestion in...
Leaking valves of the heart are referred to as having insufficiency or regurgitation. The most common valves to be affected are the aortic and mitral valves. Leaking valves are caused by several conditions, including myxomatous degeneration,...
Escitalopram oxalate is a prescription medication in the family of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. It affects the central nervous system and must be taken only as prescribed. Do not stop taking this drug abruptly without physician...
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, a chemical that transmits impulses between nerve cells, called neurons. It has numerous effects in the body and many additional effects have been hypothesized. If the body's dopamine level is too high or too low ill...
Often called water pills, diuretics treat high blood pressure, which causes strokes. These pills work by taking water out of your blood, which decreases pressure on arteries, preventing them from bursting or clogging. Many diuretic pills are...
Ascites is a condition characterized by fluid accumulation in the space between the internal organs and the wall of the abdomen, called the peritoneum or peritoneal cavity. Symptoms include a distended abdomen, difficulty breathing and a feeling...
Your heart rate can be affected by your emotional state, physical activity and the foods you eat and drink. You may notice that after drinking a cup of coffee or eating certain foods, your heart begins to beat more rapidly. Keep a record of these...
Eating disorders, including anorexia, may begin with normal dieting and exercising, but as weight drops, a compulsion to lose even more may be triggered. A cycle of starvation can continue until the person is subsisting on very little food,...
In order to support the increasing needs of a developing baby, a pregnant woman's body undergoes many physiological changes. In the blood, these are known as hemodynamic changes, which affect the body in many ways, such as causing anemia, a...
Calcium channel blockers are a class of medications designed for the treatment of high blood pressure, chest pain and irregular heartbeats, explains the Texas Heart Institute. These drugs' method of action, the main purpose of which is to block...
Ventricular septal defects are the most common congenital heart defects found in children. The defect is a simple communication in the muscle between the two lower chambers of the heart. A report published in 2002 by Hoffman and Kaplan in the...
Coenzyme Q10, also known as CoQ10, helps with basic functioning of the cells in the body. This enzyme is produced naturally, although MayoClinic.com indicates that CoQ10 levels decrease as we age. Those with chronic diseases like heart conditions,...
Weight loss requires using more calories than you consume. Energy output includes energy used for physical activity and resting energy expenditure, the energy required for the body's normal functions at rest. Thermogenic products containing...
Alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA, may be better known as one of the omega-3 fatty acids. While saturated fats contribute to cardiovascular disease, the omega-3 fatty acids are healthy polyunsaturated fats. Like the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish,...
Although many supplements are intended to improve your body composition and help you build a muscular physique, there are numerous supplements that may promote cardiac health. No matter what your exterior appearance, caring for your health from...
According to Medline Plus, the kidneys, or renal system, help control water levels and eliminate wastes through urine. They also help regulate blood pressure, red blood cell production and the levels of calcium and minerals. The United States...
An estimated 1.2 million Americans had either their first heart attack or a recurrent one in 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This fact alone shows how important cardiac rehabilitative therapy is in the United...
Xanax, or alprazolam, is a member of the benzodiazepine family, which includes diazepam, chlordiazepoxide and midazolam. Benzodiazepines are used as sedatives, muscle relaxants, anti-anxiety agents and anti-convulsants. Some are used to enhance...
Weight loss can be complicated, whether you are following a trusted weight loss program or engaging in regular exercise. However, many diet supplements are available that may encourage weight and fat loss. Although diet pills are popular,...
Exercise causes your heart to beat faster because your body's oxygen and fuel needs increase. Red blood cells are your system's oxygen carriers, and blood also ferries glucose and fatty acids from your liver to other tissues. During exercise, more...
Arginine is an amino acid found in such foods as nuts, watermelons, soybeans and spinach; it plays a role in a number of functions in your body, from immune system support to muscle tissue maintenance. Niacin, or vitamin B3, is found in red meat,...
