If you, or someone you care for, needs stroke rehabilitation services, you may find help as close as your local YMCA. The "Y" has a long history of developing programs that meet community health and fitness needs. Advances in stroke...
Cerebral palsy is a debilitating neurological disease of the brain that causes muscles to be weak or stiff. According to MayoClinic.com, two to four of every 1,000 births result in cerebral palsy.
Coronary artery disease is a disease of the blood vessels in the heart. In this disease, plaque builds up and narrows, restricting blood flow, damaging tissues and interfering with the ability of the heart to function to its full capacity. The...
Optimum health might sound hard to achieve, but in reality, it's only as hard as you make it. Maybe you want to lose excess weight, have enough energy to play with your kids, wake up feeling refreshed or not worry about having a heart attack when...
The human brain is a complex organ that requires a steady blood supply to keep the tissue oxygenated. When this blood supply is compromised, brain cells begin to die after several minutes. This is called a stroke, and usually results from an...
Sometimes a headache is just a headache. Rest your eyes, pop a couple of pain relievers, have a cup of coffee or take a nap, and it goes away. But if you have diabetes, a headache can be a warning sign of low blood sugar, a potentially serious...
The Mayo Clinic defines cerebral palsy as a category of disorders that are defined by the loss of movement or nerve functions. The problem does not originate in the nerves or muscles, but the part of the brain that controls the muscles.
Tobacco use causes health problems that begin with simple throat irritation and high cholesterol, but may end in deadly disease. Beginning with the U.S. Surgeon General's 1964 announcement that smoking cigarettes causes lung cancer, the list of...
Diabetes is group of disorders in which blood glucose levels are elevated due to problems with insulin production or regulation. Diabetes can lead to many long-term complications. The risk of these complications is lowered when diabetes is...
Dietary imbalances present many risks for stroke, including high blood cholesterol, high blood sodium and high blood pressure. Foods that adversely affect these conditions include items with high ratios of solid fats, sodium and sugar. High...
Stroke is a major killer in the United States, with the American Heart Association estimating that 137,119 people died of a stroke in 2006 alone. However, many people also survive a stroke, with an estimated 6,400,000 stroke survivors still alive...
A stroke affects not only the person suffering from its problems but her family as well. To live at home and function with daily activities, the person needs to relearn skills over time with help from rehabilitation professionals who work with...
A stroke occurs when an artery carrying blood to the brain has a partial or total blockage. Parts of the brain will not receive enough blood, resulting in damage that causes a person to lose control over the bodily functions handled by that part...
A stroke occurs when the brain is deprived of the blood and oxygen it needs to function correctly. Strokes can happen when a blood vessel breaks or when a blood vessel becomes blocked. The damage that occurs after a stroke is dependent on how many...
Eating too many fatty and salty foods can increase blood pressure, blood cholesterol and your weight -- all factors that promote arterial plaque, which can lead to stroke. If you've had a stroke, you may already have developed obstruction in the...
When your doctor checks your blood pressure, he is checking the pressures that your heart is working against to empty and fill with blood. Normal blood pressure for most people is less than 140/90. However, if you have diabetes, heart disease or...
Many people turn to diet soda to get their carbonated beverage fix without the calories that high-calorie sodas bring to the table. However, research shows that diet soda isn't benign and may lead to significant health problems if consumed...
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that runs throughout the body, starting in the brain and coursing through the nervous system. It controls how and when you move and enables you to feel emotions such as joy and sorrow. When it is depleted, you can...
Upper extremity spasticity may affect your ability to tie your shoes or even work for a living. This symptom can follow a traumatic brain injury, stroke or congenital disorder affecting the brain. A combined approach is taken towards treating...
During a stroke, the blood supply to any part of the brain is interrupted. A stroke can leave a patient debilitated, in chronic pain and dependent upon others. Starting a rehabilitation program soon after a stroke, improves the chance of...
Certain foods are better for your health than others, and some foods are just unhealthy to eat because they contribute to health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, that can lead to a stroke. According to the Centers...
According to the National Stroke Association, stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States. While only 10 percent of stroke survivors require nursing home care, the National Stroke Association's "Fact Sheet" notes that 40 percent...
Excessive body weight can be detrimental to your self-esteem, your appearance and especially your health. The Mayo Clinic has linked obesity to numerous health conditions, including diabetes, stroke and heart disease. If you have been living with...
Cerebral palsy affects approximately 4 out of every 1,000 children born within the United States each year, according to the Merck Medical Manual. The American Pregnancy Association states that among children classified as having mild cerebral...
Type 2, or adult onset, diabetes and heart disease are inextricably linked and heart disease and stroke are the primary causes of death in people living with diabetes. Given this, it's easy to understand the importance of eating a healthy diet,...
Fast food restaurants are a pervasive part of American life. Fast food is quick, convenient and cheap. It's also filled with sodium and "empty calories" -- calories from fat and sugar that don't provide any nutrition -- making bad for your health....
For many people, a fluke is a stroke of good luck. For those living on the East Coast, however, the word has a whole different meaning. Also called summer flounder, fluke are flatfish with both eyes on the left sides of their heads; winter...
Functional activities are routinely used by therapists during rehabilitation for stroke patients. A 2006 article published in "Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials" found that functional exercises and activities during stroke rehabilitation improves...
Exercise has many positively documented effects on the body. From increased muscular strength and endurance to increased mental alertness and mood, exercise is a vital component to life. The adaptations that the body produces from exercise are...
Learn how to swim a competitive freestyle race in this free video clip. Get swimming lessons from an expert on health and fitness.
Take control of cholesterol. Learn the facts about cholesterol and tips for lowering cholesterol count in this video.
