Increased levels of potassium in the bloodstream, also known as hyperkalemia, can manifest in a variety of different ways and can be life threatening. It can result from a variety of causes such as drugs, muscle damage, kidney failure and...
A urinary tract infection (UTI), also called a bladder infection is common among adults, especially females and also occasionally occurs in children. UTI has symptoms including painful and frequent urination, cloudy or smelly urine and may...
Often times, weight loss is treated by artificial means such as prescription medication or surgery. If you are looking for a natural solution, enzymes may be the answer that you are looking for. Your body is actually quite efficient at burning fat...
The human papilloma virus, or HPV, infects the skin and mucosa such as genitalia and mouth. A study published in the February 2007 issue of the "Journal of the American Medical Association" showed that 26.8 percent of women in the United States...
Are the cups of coffee your drink clamping down on your circulation? Caffeine is the most widely used stimulant and has complex effects on your blood vessels. Initial caffeine intake may promote vasodilation, but continued intake promotes...
Honey bees collect nectar from the flowers of the manuka bush with the Latin name Leptospermum scoparium native to New Zealand and Western Australia. According to "The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine", manuka honey fights infection,...
Ultraviolet light causes skin to become darker through the production of melanin. Melanin is a pigment that is produced by cells in the skin called melanocytes. As the American Academy of Dermatology explains, the purpose of melanin is to protect...
Soma or carisoprodol is a muscle relaxant used for the treatment of muscle pain in adults. Soma should not be used for an extended period of time and is best when combined with rest, physical therapy and proper diet. The main relaxant effect of...
Rhodiola is traditionally used as an adaptogen to enhance physical and mental performance, reduce stress-induced fatigue, fight depression, and stimulate the nervous system. This herb is also called golden root and arctic root. Though this herb...
You really want a baked potato, but perhaps you do not have a conventional oven or the hour and a half that it will take to bake a potato in your oven. Popping a potato in the microwave saves time and effort, but there are trade-offs for doing...
Herpes is a group of viruses that can cause painful blisters and sores. Commonly, these sores occur on the lips, in the mouth or around the sexual organs. These viruses are the leading cause of viral illness, second only to the cold virus,...
Bladder infections occur when bacteria gain access to your bladder, attach to its inner lining and begin to multiply. Women develop bladder infections more frequently than men do, and this condition is one of the most common reasons women seek...
Alzheimer's disease is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder, in which cells throughout the brain become damaged and die. Progression of Alzheimer's leads to memory loss, behavioral and emotional disturbances, diminished motor skills and...
Herpes is a contagious viral infection caused by one of two types of the herpes simplex virus. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) writes the Roman emperor Tiberius once banned kissing during public ceremonies in an...
Cancer develops when normal cells from any tissue of the body become mutated, allowing for uncontrolled cell growth and the development of tumors. One cancer treatment uses chemotherapy drugs that halt cell growth and trigger cell death, thus...
Glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive and most common type of primary brain tumor, comprises nearly 25 percent of primary brain tumors, the University of Southern California states. Primary brain tumors, brain tumors that arise in the brain...
Resveratrol, a natural compound found in grapes and red wine, has received considerable scientific attention for its potential benefits in cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and other chronic illnesses in humans. However, most of...
Purell is a brand of hand sanitizer that you can use to clean your hands when soap and water are not available. Like most hand sanitizers, the active ingredient in Purell is ethyl alcohol; it is 65 percent ethyl alcohol. While there are other,...
Drugs may be administered by a variety of routes depending on the intended site of action, chemical properties of the medication, drug metabolism and ease of use. Drug absorption may occur through the gastrointestinal tract, skin, bloodstream,...
According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 20 million people in the U.S. have some form of depressive disorder. Everyone experiences a down or depressed mood now and then, but true depression is a serious mental illness and involves...
Despite the advances in modern medicine, the interest in complementary and alternative medicine is growing. Plants are used in herbal medicine to treat a wide variety of health problems. Saw palmetto is a North American shrub commonly used for...
Each cell within the human body contains thousands of genes, which collectively make up the genome. The genes are arranged in larger groupings, called chromosomes, and most cells within the human body contain a pair of 23 different chromosomes,...
Poor purine metabolism can lead to undesirable medical conditions such as gout, immunodeficiency and kidney stones. Purines are found in foods like anchovies, mackerel, liver, dried beans and peas wine and beer. The major site of purine synthesis...
Alcoholic hepatitis is an inflammation, or irritation, of the liver caused by alcohol. It typically occurs in people who drink heavily for many years; however, not all heavy drinkers develop it and it can also occur in those who drink only...
At the time of publication, research continues for new and improved treatments for controlling HIV infection; new molecular targets have shown promising results in clinical studies. PD-1 protein is a potential therapeutic approach for managing...
Proteins are molecules composed of polypeptide chains and are involved in a multitude of cellular functions. The digestion of polypeptides breaks these long molecules into shorter amino acid chains. Amino acids are small molecules that are...
Sometimes thought of as externalizing part of the digestive process, cooking food may increase its digestibility. Heat introduces changes to protein by rearranging the structure of fibers and breaking down collagen. Hydrogen bonds in protein break...
Proponents of raw foodism claim that this way of eating is a lifestyle change that may help you lose weight, gain energy and feel more focused. If you have gluten sensitivity and are considering a raw food diet, you need to find out whether raw...
Cold sores are painful, often itchy, fluid-filled blisters that usually appear on the lips or, sometimes, the inside of the mouth or surrounding facial skin. The University of Maryland Medical Center estimates that 90 percent of American adults...
Laser hair removal can be a complicated process and preparation is important. Learn more about laser hair removal in this video on beautification treatments.
