A type of central nervous system depressant, benzodiazepines increase the amount of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA. The increase in GABA decreases neural activity. Although doctors prescribe benzodiazepines for...
Botulism is a disease resulting from an infection caused by the bacterium clostridium botulinum, explains Maxine Rosaler in the book "Botulism." Once the organism infects a host, toxin is released that passes through digestive lining into the...
Morphine is a narcotic pain reliever classed as an opiate, which is the strongest kind of pain reliever available. Morphine can be used in the short term to relieve severe acute pain, or in the long term to manage chronic pain. Morphine is...
Melatonin has gained in popularity as a sleep aid, especially for lessening the effects of jet lag. Unfortunately, the long-term effects of this naturally-occurring amino acid are unknown for humans, and many doctors warn against its continual...
Veterinarians prescribe Primor to treat dogs with soft tissue infections. The antimicrobial drug contains sulfadimethoxine and the potentiator ormetoprim at a 5 to 1 ratio and is not intended for human use. Ormetopim enhances the effectiveness of...
Nicotine is a chemical substance that is found in tobacco products like cigarettes. Smoking is one of the most common outlets that nicotine has to get into the body. Some short-term effects of nicotine include a rush of energy and a feeling of...
Rhabdomyolysis is a condition that is characterized by the breakdown of muscle fibers. When muscle fibers break down, the contents are released into the bloodstream. These contents are called myoglobin. The kidney filters myoglobin from the...
Steroid medications are used to treat conditions such as asthma or rheumatoid arthritis. Steroid drugs mimic the effects of naturally occurring hormones produced by the adrenal glands, which are located on top of the kidneys and consist of the...
Gout is an episodic form of arthritis caused by the buildup of excess uric acid in the blood. It tends to attack a single joint at a time, causing extreme pain, swelling and tenderness. These acute attacks may last for only a few days if immediate...
Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant, or antitussive, which acts on the brain to help stop the cough reflex. It is found in more than 100 over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as Robitussin, Coricidin and Vicks products. Besides the intended...
Glucosamine is an amino sugar that the body produces from carbohydrates that are not used converted into glucose, according to Dr. James F. Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." This amino sugar is responsible for several...
Anxiety developed from the natural process of fight or flight. Anxiety used to tell us when a situation became dangerous, and it increased our abilities to fight off the danger or reduce it by getting away. This need for a fight-or-flight response...
According to the American Heart Association, a stroke is the result of an interruption of blood flow to the brain from a clot blocking an artery or a burst blood vessel. The kinds of stroke include ischemic stroke, which is the most common and...
In epilepsy, abnormal electrical activity in the brain causes seizures, according to the Mayo Clinic. The diagnosis of epilepsy is given when there are two or more seizures; epilepsy can be treated with medication or with surgical procedures. All...
Nyquil is a type of over-the-counter medicine that contains a combination of ingredients. It is designated to treat symptoms caused by bronchitis, sinusitis, allergies, flu and the cold virus. Nyquil contains dextromethorphan, acetaminophen, oral...
Antidepressants are prescribed by physicians to treat and manage depression. The newer generation of antidepressants, such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's) are more commonly prescribed for patients. All antidepressant drugs...
Influenza is a respiratory tract infection producing symptoms mainly in the nose and throat. Infection usually lasts about a week, and the symptoms are present with rapid onset of fever, headache and generalized ache. Flu viruses are spread easily...
As smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes takes a toll on the body, the risk for health problems grows, while financial stability shrinks. Long-term tobacco use has been linked with a wide range of diseases and mental and physical disorders, not the...
Smokers who are new to the habit or who are considering quitting may wonder about how smoking affects the body over the years. The risks for serious health problems are higher among smokers because of their repeated exposure to toxic chemicals. ...
Infections of the microscopic Giardia parasites, also known as Giardia duodenalis or Giardia lamblia, usually clear up in two to six weeks on their own. However, repeated infections or infections in people with compromised immune systems can have...
Ibuprofen can be helpful in reducing aches and pains. The convenience of buying pain relievers over-the-counter, coupled with the effectiveness in reducing pain, makes it easy to take an ibuprofen frequently and whenever discomfort arises. Using...
The longer human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is present, the more likely the infected person will suffer a number of health difficulties. HIV makes the body more susceptible to other conditions that may be life-threatening. Some of the...
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by a destructive pattern of binge-eating followed by compensating with certain behaviors to obsessively control weight, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Two types...
Not long after aspartame's discovery in 1965, reports of carcinogenic effects emerged. After years of exhaustive review of the safety concerns related to aspartame, or NutraSweet, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration declared it safe for use as a...
Amlodipine is a long-acting medication in the family of calcium channel blockers. It is commonly prescribed for heart arrythmias, angina or chest pain and hypertension or high blood pressure. In the U.S., amlodipine is only available by...
Valium, one of the brand names for diazepam, is a member of the benzoziazepine class of drugs commonly prescribed for anxiety relief, muscle relaxing to stop convulsions or sedative needs according to Net Doctor. It is available in pills of 2, 5...
Adipex, generically known as phentermine, is a medication commonly prescribed to suppress appetite. An amphetamine-like medication, Adipex may be beneficial in helping a patient lose weight, but carries significant, serious side effects, states...
Shaken baby syndrome is the result of repeated brain trauma from the snapping of the head and neck, a condition that can cause serious brain injury and death. Boxing subjects the head and neck to almost identical trauma, albeit to a head and neck...
Typhoid fever is a life-threatening bacterial infection caused by a bacteria called Salmonella typhi. Typhoid is contracted through consumption of food and water that has been contaminated with Salmonella typhi. According to MedlinePlus, typhoid...
Sugar beverages include drinks such as water, tea, diet soda and diet fruit juices. Learn more about the pro's and con's of sugar beverages in this nutrition video.
Find out about different kinds of facelifts. Learn about s-lifts and threadlifts in this free video on cosmetic surgical procedures.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal disorder that affects 10% of all women, and is one of the leading causes of infertility. Get expert tips and advice on living with, diagnosing, and treating polycystic ovary syndrome in this video.
