A normal heartbeat consists of 60 to 100 beats per minute, according to Medline Plus. Irregular heartbeat, also called arrhythmia, has the heart racing, pounding or skipping beats. The effects often are felt in the chest, throat and neck. An...
Actos, the brand name for pioglitazone, generally is prescribed for people with type 2 diabetes. If you exercise and follow a precise diet for diabetes mellitus and you still have high glucose levels, your physician may prescribe Actos by itself...
Tenofovir is a medication used to treat the infections of people suffering with HIV and chronic hepatitis B infection. It is an antiviral medication that belongs to the category of medicines called reverse transcriptase inhibitors. According to...
Natural gas is used in many homes for heating and cooking. Unfortunately, natural gas leaks may occur without the homeowner even realizing there is a gas leak. Some individuals' sense of smell is very sensitive to natural gas, while others can't...
Newborn babies often have irregular sleep and breathing patterns that distress their parents. In most cases, grunts and other noises are harmless. However, they can indicate a more serious condition. It's important to know the causes and signs so...
New parents often worry about their newborn's breathing rate. The irregular nature of most babies' breathing patterns can confuse parents and leave them wondering what is normal and what might be a sign of a medical problem in their new baby. It...
Mercury poisoning, or toxicity, may occur in individuals from a variety of sources, from eating too much fish to toxic residue from teeth fillings. When small amounts of mercury build up in the body, they can gather in certain organs, with varying...
Crack is a form of cocaine that is usually smoked through a pipe. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, crack has been a serious problem in the United States since the 1980s. Unlike powder cocaine, which produces a high within minutes, crack...
Actos (generic name pioglitazone) is a prescription drug used to treat Type 2 diabetes. It was originally approved by the FDA in July, 1999. Actos is part of a group of drugs called thiazolidinediones, which act primarily by decreasing insulin...
Anxiety disorder is a condition where the body senses immediate danger or harm---even if there is no clear sign that there is present danger. Anxiety attacks are generally caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain where the body is forced into...
Levothyroxine is the generic name of a drug prescribed in the treatment of hypothyroidism, goiters and thyroid cancer. It is sold under such brand names as Unithroid, Levothroid, Synthroid and Levoxyl. Hypothyroidism sufferers have a condition in...
Alcohol poisoning occurs when a large amount of alcohol is consumed in a short period of time preventing proper processing out of the body. Binge drinking--quickly drinking five or more drinks in a row--is the primary cause of alcohol poisoning....
Imitrex, also known as sumatriptan, is a prescription medication that has been specifically developed to help relieve the pain and side effects that come with migraines. Although it's prescribed to help with the pain associated with migraines, it...
Feldene is an oral, prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that you take for the treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, says Drugs.com. You will notice the therapeutic benefits of Feldene soon after you begin taking it,...
A colonoscopy is the examination of the colon using a flexible tube known as a colonoscope. According to the National Institutes of Health, a colonoscopy is conducted to detect abnormalities in the colon such as cancerous growths and ulcers. Drugs...
Methadone is a narcotic pain reliever which is used when there is no relief from severe pain by non-narcotic pain relievers. Besides being used as a pain reliever, it is also used as part of drug addiction detoxification and maintenance programs....
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic marketed as Amoxil that is used in the treatment of bacterial infections. It may be used to treat such maladies as ear infections, throat infections, nose infections, skin infections, lower respiratory infections and...
Coffee is one of the most common beverages in the world. It can be a wake-up ritual in the morning, or a pick-me-up break in the afternoon. Though coffee provides health benefits, including a sharper mind and antioxidants, it can also have...
Anxiety attacks, also known as panic attacks, are episodes of intense fear that seemingly come of out of nowhere and affect you mentally and physically. Medications and therapy typically are used simultaneously to address the triggers of these...
Binge drinking is classified as heavy consumption of alcohol in a short amount of time. Unlike moderate intake of alcohol, binging can have serious effects on the body, such as extreme confusion, vomiting, irregular breathing patterns and...
Hydrocodone APAP is the combination of the medication hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Tylenol). According to the National Library of Medicine, hydrocodone is always combined with other ingredients. It's used to treat moderate to severe pain....
Sodium nitrate, also called sodium nitrite, is a chemical compound used in the processing of meat products such as cold cuts, hot dogs, ham and bacon. According to the SixWise website, sodium nitrate is a common coloring and flavoring agent, as...
Diclofenac, sold under brand names such as Cataflam and Voltaren-XR, is a commonly prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used in the treatment of mild pain from inflammation and arthritis. While many of the side effects of...
Beta-adrenergic receptor blockers, commonly known as beta blockers, are a class of drugs that lower blood pressure by blocking the effects of the hormone adrenaline, the Mayo Clinic says. These drugs dilate blood vessels and cause the heart to...
Concerta, the brand name of the medication methylphenidate, treats attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD; fluoxetine, often sold under the brand name Prozac, treats major depressive disorder, bulimia nervosa, obsessive-compulsive...
Alcohol is made when grains, fruits or vegetables are fermented and the sugars are turned into alcohol. A 1984 federal law required all states to set the age of 21 as the legal age for purchase or public possession of an alcoholic beverage....
Bringing home a newborn baby from the hospital is an exciting and somewhat worrisome experience. Parents tend to worry about every detail of their infant's health, especially their breathing pattern. Newborn babies breathe heavily and noisily for...
Problems with work, family, finances and other important areas of life can leave you with significant anxiety. When anxiety becomes severe enough, it can cause pronounced physical symptoms. Anxiety disorders can trigger symptoms of anxiety even...
Applying medication directly to the scalp can slow hair loss and regrow hair in some cases. Topical hair loss medication contains minoxidil, a drug first used to treat high blood pressure, according to the American Hair Loss Association. Minoxidil...
