The immune system is essentially your body's defense mechanism. When harmful substances such as viruses, bacteria, toxins or cancer cells are detected, your immune system springs into action to fight off these invading antigens with proteins...
After the baby comes, many women are eager to resume exercise in order to lose weight and regain their muscle tone. It's important for women to understand that their bodies aren't the same during the postpartum period and extra care should be...
The eye is one of the most sensitive organs in the body. The American Academy of Ophthalmology states that approximately 4.3 million people in 2008 suffered from dry eye issues. People with dry, itchy eyes may have similar symptoms with different...
Herbal supplements have been used in many traditional healing systems to help improve immunity and ward off illness. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases notes that your body provides an ideal habitat for numerous types of...
Cirrhosis is a chronic condition marked by severe scarring of liver tissues. Scarring impairs your liver's ability to aid digestion and remove toxins from the body by impeding bile and blood flow through liver tissues. Hepatitis infections,...
Bilateral leg edema is swelling of the soft tissues of the legs. The condition can be merely a daily nuisance, or signal a serious underlying condition. A physician should be consulted to determine the cause and begin appropriate treatment. It has...
Generally referred to as the damage and loss of the upper layer or epidermis of the skin, skin peeling is a common condition experienced throughout the world. According to the Mayo Clinic, causes for skin peeling can range from sun exposure to...
Gastritis, or acid stomach, is inflammation in the stomach. It is caused by factors which enable the acidic environment of the stomach to damage and inflame the stomach wall. Causes include infections, alcohol and medications, traumatic injuries,...
Dandruff, or seborrheic dermatitis, is a dermatological condition that affects the scalp. It is most common during the cooler months of the year, but it can occur anytime. Males, young adults, people who don't eat a well balanced diet, those with...
Bitter melon has long been used as both a food source and a natural medicine. Its ability to help regulate blood sugar in diabetics has long been known, but research conducted by New York University School of Medicine shows it may also help with...
The thyroid, a small butterfly-shaped gland in the crook of the neck, regulates the body’s energy level. Graves disease is a thyroid disorder in which too much thyroid hormone is produced, resulting in a metabolism that is too fast. The...
Blood in the stool is alarming. It's often due to an injury or disorder of the digestive tract. Appearance of blood in the stool can range from bright red to black and can originate from any part of the digestive tract, according to the University...
While chicken pox is more common in children, adults can get it too. It is caused by a virus called varicella-zoster and it is easily transmitted from person to person. In healthy individuals, chicken pox is usually not serious. However, even...
Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a chronic condition that may be the result of a malfunctioning immune system. Many sufferers of this itchy, dry skin also have other types of immune system disorders, such as asthma or hay fever. The exact cause is...
If you have been diagnosed or struggle with hay fever, asthma, food allergies or frequent infections, chances are you have visited an allergist or immunologist. Allergists and immunologists deal with allergic reactions and immune system disorders....
About a quarter of all sinus infections can be attributed to the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, known commonly as staph. The staphylococcus bacteria normally populates your nose and skin, but when congestion creates opportune conditions for a...
The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in the lower front of the neck, regulates the body's metabolism. Graves' disease, a defect in the immune system, is the most common reason for hyperthyroidism, which is an overactive thyroid, according to the...
The immune system protects your body from pathogens, or disease-causing agents such as viruses and bacteria. The immune system is an elaborate network of tissues, cells and organs that protect you from foreign invaders, and your immune system...
Western medicine combats disease using various tools, including drugs, surgery, radiation and other modalities. Optimal health, however, can be achieved by building and maintaining a healthy and strong immune system. Your immune system helps fend...
Aloe vera is known as the "healing plant" and is one of the oldest recorded medicinal plants. It is commonly used for treating minor cuts, burns and scrapes on the skin, but aloe vera also has many internal healing and nutrition uses when ingested...
Your immune system plays an important role in protecting your body from disease and illness. Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system mistakenly identifies your body's cells as harmful threats. One type of autoimmune disease that damages...
Venipuncture is the act of puncturing the vein for the purpose of adding a substance or removing blood. It is usually performed in the medical setting. Substances added via venipuncture include medication, fluids, blood and diagnostic agents such...
Peeling skin can be the result of sunburn, an allergic reaction, a side effect of skin creams or exposure to dry weather. It can also be the result of infections or immune system disorders. The Mayo Clinic states that peeling skin is damage to the...
Yeast infections are caused by a growth of bacteria and the fungus candida, says MayoClinic.com. Although the body uses bacteria for many functions, a yeast infection happens when natural bacterial growth is thrown out of balance. This can cause...
UV light therapy is indicated by allopathic medical professionals for skin disorders, such as psoriasis as well as mood disorders like seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. Homeopathic practitioners advocate UV therapy for a host of ailments from...
An adequate intake of magnesium is essential for the body to function correctly. It is involved in supporting may functions, and it is found in foods such as green vegetables, beans, peas, nuts, seeds and whole, unrefined grains. There are also...
Thrush occurs as the result of accumulation of the yeast Candida albicans in the tissues of the mouth, leading to white patches on the tongue and mouth tissue. The condition can be painful, and the patches may bleed. Oral thrush is most common for...
Brain tumors can arise from any of the diverse cells that make up the brain. The most common brain tumors in adults in the U.S., according to the National Institutes of Health, are gliomas, which arise from the supporting tissue in the brain, and...
The prostate gland is a small walnut-shaped gland in men that helps produce the seminal fluid that nourishes and carries sperm. Prostate complications are common in men as they get older and can cause symptoms such as urinary frequency and...
Primary immunodeficiency disorders, also called primary immune disorders, are immune system defects that can permit recurrent infections and other problems. Learn about immunodeficiency symptoms, treatments and diagnosis in this video on health...
Crohn's disease, or regional enteritis, is an autoimmune disease affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Learn more about Crohn's disease including treatments and symptoms in this medical video.
Sarcoidosis, or Besnier-Boeck disease, is an immune system disorder that appears in various organs. Learn more about sarcoidosis in this health video.
Autoimmune disorders are conditions that occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue. There are more than 80 different types of autoimmune disorders. Learn about the various autoimmune disorders including...
Guillain-Barre syndrome is an uncommon inflammatory disorder in which your body's immune system attacks your nerves, typically causing severe weakness and numbness that starts in your extremities and quickly worsens. Learn about the different...
