Alcohol abuse is defined as using alcohol to the point of impaired judgment, social repercussions and recurring legal consequences in a frequent manner, says the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. If you are an alcohol abuser, you use...
There are certain times in life when bigger doesn't necessarily mean better. Guys in the gym want bigger "pumps" when they do bicep curls, so they take L Arginine, or as it is commonly called "NO2." NO2 is a vaso-dilator which means that it makes...
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 5,000 persons in the United States under the age of 21 die each year as a result of underage drinking. Alcohol can lead to short-term physical effects, put teens in dangerous...
Androgens, hormones made by the body, are responsible in males for development of the sexual organs during puberty, according to Drugs.com. These hormones facilitate beard growth, pubic, chest and axillary hair; laryngeal enlargement, vocal cord...
A colonoscopy is a procedure used to view the inside of the colon and rectum. According to the American Gastroenterology Association, a colonoscopy is an important procedure used to detect colorectal cancer, colon ulcers, and inflammation. A...
Marijuana is one of the most frequently abused illicit drugs in the United States, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse website. Green and leafy, the plant is dried and then rolled in cigarette papers or packed into a pipe for...
Benzodiazepine medication is a class of depressant drugs. According to the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR), benzodiazepines are the most common prescribed depressant medications used in the United States. According to KidsHealth, when...
Characterized by symptoms of mania--an abnormally high mood--and depression--an abnormally low mood--bipolar disorder affects about 2.6 percent of the adult U.S. population, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. During manic...
Alcohol, also known as ethanol or ethyl alcohol, plays a big role in social gatherings. People generally enjoy the relaxing effects alcohol can bring about on the mind and body. Alcohol is an intoxicating substance which depresses the central...
Dementia refers to a group of symptoms stemming from neurological disorders. Although the most well known form of dementia, Alzheimer's, causes a severe deterioration in the level of functioning, not all forms of dementia result in Alzheimer's....
Depressants are a class of drugs that are often prescribed to reduce the symptoms of conditions such as anxiety. However, they have side effects, are addictive and can be abused.
People generally experiment with drugs and alcohol during their teenage or young adult years. The positive feelings that drugs and alcohol can induce in a person make the person want to continue taking the substance. The continued intake of the...
Alcohol, even after one or two drinks, can damage the brain; when a person abuses alcohol, the damages become irreversible. Alcohol is a central nervous depressant, which decreases activity in the cerebral cortex, reticular formation, spinal cord...
Alzheimer's disease is one form of dementia, which is a neurological condition that affects normal brain function. The Alzheimer's Association states that 10 percent of individuals older that 65 are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease each year in...
General paresis, a neurological condition that causes nerve damage to the brain, is a direct result of syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease. Incidence of general paresis has become increasingly rare since syphilis can be easily treated these...
Testosterone is the hormone that is responsible for the development of the sexual organs, beard growth, pubic, chest and axillary hair, deepening of the voice and the development of muscle in the male. Loss of the testicles or loss of functioning...
A number of athletes have taken a type of steroid known as anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs) that help build muscle mass and improve strength. AASs are synthetic revisions of the hormone testosterone. The anabolic effect encourages muscle...
CJD or Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, is a very rare and fatal condition. There is currently no known cause of this progressive condition that destroys the brain. Proteins within the brain develop abnormalities, and the patient develops spongy holes...
Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, is a degenerative disease that affects the front part of the brain. Frontotemporal dementia begins earlier than other types of dementia, with the age of onset typically between 40 and 65, according to the National...
The brain naturally produces steroids, which are used in normal brain functions and regulation. Anabolic steroids, however, are manufactured chemicals that are taken orally or through an injection. This type of steroid resembles testosterone and...
Suboxone is the trade name for a medication that contains buprenorphine and naloxone. It's primarily used to treat addictions to opiates such as codeine, heroin and morphine by blocking their effects. Suboxone was approved for this purpose in 2002...
Substance abuse is characterized by a pattern of use that causes significant impairment or distress, in addition to any one of these additional diagnostic criteria: using substances in situations where it endangers the user; a failure to fulfill...
Substance abuse is a major and complicated problem that affects an estimated 10 percent of the U.S. adult population and is implicated in 40 million serious injuries and illnesses each year. According to the American Family Physician, a...
In 2008, 47 percent of Americans over the age of 12 had tried an illicit drug, according to Drug War Facts. Prescription drug abuse in adolescents, older adults and women is on the rise, says the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Drug...
Symptoms of brain cancer vary considerably depending on the location and size of the tumor. The symptoms are due to the growing tumor pressuring the brain and damaging healthy tissue. The most characteristic signs of any brain cancer include...
According to Children's Hospital Boston, brain tumors are the most common solid tumors found in children, with approximately 2,200 children and teenagers diagnosed each year in the United States. Symptoms of brain tumors vary depending on the...
According to the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teenagers do not use tobacco or illegal drugs as much as they drink alcohol. Teen drinking has been known to cause many problems for the person...
When you begin drinking socially, you might find it difficult to avoid going overboard and getting drunker than you intended. One drink and a slight tipsy feeling likely will not cause too many problems. A blood alcohol content of 0.02 to 0.03...
Steroids are a drug closely resembling the male hormone testosterone. Originally invented for medicinal purposes, they are often illegally used by athletes to improve their performance. While the positive effects are more prevalent initially, the...
Hypoglycemia is the medical term for a low blood sugar level. Diet can help control hypoglycemia. Learn more about nutrition for hypoglycemia in this health video.