Probiotics are the good, healthy bacteria that live in your gut and help keep your digestive system running in tip-top shape. However, if you get sick or are taking antibiotics, the good bacteria in your body can be depleted or overrun over by...
Nail fungus, or onychomycosis, most commonly affects the toenails, but can be present in fingernails as well. The symptoms of nail fungus include thickened, brittle nails, a space between the nail and nail bed and a dull appearance. You may feel...
Esophagitis is the inflammation of the esophagus, the tube through which food travels from the pharynx to the stomach. The most common causes for esophagitis are injury due to reflux, viral infections, fungal infection and inflammation from taking...
The human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, causes the AIDS disease. It duplicates itself after it enters white blood cells called the CD4+ T lymphocytes. The infection progresses as the virus destroys these blood cells. As the number of CD4+ T...
Since 2000 there has been a considerable increase in the number of diseases caused by fungi, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you are usually healthy, then it is still rare for fungi to spread throughout your body...
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin. According to MayoClinic.com, cellulitis can occur anywhere on the body, but the skin on the legs is most commonly affected due to poorer blood circulation in the lower extremities. Symptoms of...
Lifting weights has a number of well-documented benefits, including increased strength and muscle size, greater muscular endurance, improved bone mass, and increased muscle mass. You can, however, have too much of a good thing. The National...
Zinc is an important mineral that is needed on a daily basis, because the body does not store it. The food sources of zinc are many; zinc is found especially in oysters, but it is also found in chicken, pork, red meat, crabs, lobsters, cashews and...
Some fungi can only infect the skin when it is damaged. Intact, undamaged skin is a very effective defense against these kinds of fungi. The respiratory tract also has defenses which it uses against fungi that can cause infection when people...
Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes tuberculosis, or TB. This is an infection primarily of the lungs, but it can affect other areas of the body as well. The bacteria can spread throughout the bloodstream and lymphatic system to reach distant organs...
Exercising at noon --- perhaps during your lunch break --- can have a positive effect on your immune system. Regular exercise relieves stress, helps with weight management and increases circulation. In a 2001 issue of its "Research Digest," the...
Cisplatin is a strong chemotherapy agent used to treat a variety of cancers, including sarcoma, lymphoma and ovarian cancer. It was discovered in the mid-19th century but until the early 1970s was not used as a chemotherapeutic drug. Cisplatin...
Zinc is an essential mineral for the human body. It is vital for the body immune system to provide resistance to infection, and it may decrease the ability of cold viruses to grow on or bind to the lining of the nose. People who are deficient in...
Improved health is a primary concern for many people in the Western world. Factors such as the prevalence of fast food restaurants and sedentary lifestyles have compromised health in the United States and other Western countries. Poor health may...
Probiotic drinks are marketed as helping to improve immunity. Some people who drink them experience side effects which can be life threatening--these people should avoid probiotic drinks. For other people, the side effects they feel can be mild....
Zinc is an important mineral for the overall function of the body. If you have levels that are too low, negative effects are possible. When used in conjunction with weight gain methods defined by a doctor, zinc may be very helpful in increasing...
Corns are hardened, thick, rough layers of skin commonly found on the feet, especially the sides and tops of the toes. They develop in response to pressure and friction and work to protect the skin from damage. The Mayo Clinic states that single...
Septic arthritis, a bacterial infection of a joint, typically makes a patient very sick. It is most commonly caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Treatment may include surgery to clean out the joint as well as intravenous antibiotics...
Dhobie itch, more commonly called tinea cruris or jock itch, is an infection of the groin caused by dermatophytes, a type of fungi. Men who are obese, frequently participate in sports or have an impaired immune system are at an increased risk of...
AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is the last phase of HIV, according to the Mayo Clinic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines AIDS as having a positive HIV-antibody test and either a CD4 lymphocyte count of below 200...
Primary immunodeficiency disorders are caused by a weak or impaired immune system. Some cases are caused by genetic disorders where a person is born without important aspects of the immune system. Cases can be so mild that they go unnoticed for...
Acidophilus are a kind of friendly bacteria that normally live in the intestines, where they help digest food and fight off harmful bacteria, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center or UMMC. Acidophilus are available in fermented...
Penile yeast infections occur for the same reasons that any other type of yeast overgrowth occurs. When the environment is ideal and yeast is introduced to the penis, an infection can occur. Dr. Todd B. Nippoldt, an endocrinologist with Mayo...
Bronchitis occurs when the tubes that transport air to the lungs become inflamed. This typically produces a cough with mucus and sometimes wheezing, chest pain, fever and difficulty catching the breath. Acute bronchitis lasts up to 10 days....
Dandruff--also known as seborrhea or seborrheic dermatitis--is a common condition that affects the scalp. Popular telltale signs of dandruff include itchy scalp and white or yellow flakes in the hair and on clothing. If another condition is...
Caffeine is a substance many people encounter on a daily basis. After all, it's in coffee and tea, and many people use these stimulants for a morning energy boost. However, caffeine can directly affect the body and can cause negative side effects,...
An egg diet is a nutritional plan that focuses on the use of eggs, particularly chicken eggs, as sources of protein. It also typically includes other protein sources, such as meats, legumes, grains and meat replacements. A diet that relies heavily...
Zinc, an essential trace mineral, occurs naturally in seafood, meat, poultry, beans and nuts. Fortified cereals often contain added zinc. Zinc plays several important functions in the human body. Because the body does not have a storage system for...
The mineral zinc does not necessarily have a direct connection to your stomach health. However, because zinc has antioxidant properties, it may help prevent damage to your body's cells from free radicals, helping protect you from diseases caused...
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs that's usually caused by infection with bacteria, viruses, fungi or other organisms. Pneumonia is a particular concern for older adults and people with chronic illnesses or impaired immune systems. Learn...
