Alzheimer's disease is thought to be caused by changes in brain cells. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are two ways in which brain cells are affected: tangles and plaques. Tangles, which may lead to neuron death, occur when tau proteins in the...
Losing weight while maintaining overall muscle mass is a bit tricky but certainly attainable. The keys to success are to eat the right foods and to begin a combination of cardio and resistance training. Eating healthy helps to burn excess fat...
Fibromyalgia is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that is in the category of rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic diseases cause inflammation and limited function of the skeleton, joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and sometimes affects internal...
Spinal surgery, whether of the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spinal regions, is typically performed to relieve pressure that is being exerted on the spinal cord or its nerves. This pressure can be from a sudden bulging or ruptured disc, bone spur...
Mad Cow Disease is the common name for bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE. This fatal disease attacks cows' nervous systems, causing them to lose control of otherwise simple tasks like walking. This and other irregular behaviors make the cow...
OPLL, or Ossified Posterior Longitudinal Ligament, describes a general disease where the spine is compressed due to ossifications of the ligaments that run parallel to the cervical spine. These ossifications can take the shape of bone spurs or a...
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are disease processes that are not contagious or transferable from one human to another. Random genetic abnormalities, heredity, lifestyle or environment can cause non-communicable diseases, such as cancer,...
Hair loss has a number of sources, including hormones, genetics, medications and diseases. These causes of hair loss are difficult and sometimes impossible to treat. However, hair loss due to a nutritional deficiency is reversible, and in some...
Communication between different sections of the brain occurs through electrical charges enabled by neurotransmitters. The "talking" between nerve cells allows for strong coordination and decision-making. It is what allows you to move your body...
If you are even slightly overweight, you have a greater risk of developing serious health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and coronary disease, warns the National Institute on Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney...
Seizures are the result of improper functioning of your neurological system. Unusual electrical brain activity produces involuntary spasms throughout your body as well as loss of control over your bodily functions. Caffeine consumption also has a...
Neuropathy involves damage to the nerves, which affects communication between the brain and body. The symptoms of neuropathy depend on what nerves become affected. For example, damage to the motor nerves causes problems with walking and muscle...
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neuron disease that results in loss of motor control and other bodily functions. In combination with genetic factors, environmental pollutants like manganese have been investigated as possible...
The American Heart Association reports those who are obese are prone to health complications such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and sleep apnea. As of 2011, nearly 70 percent of Americans are classified as either...
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) is a degenerative, fatal brain disorder. Five to 15 percent of cases are caused by inherited mutations of the prion protein gene, which is called variant CJD (vCJD). The Center for Disease Control and Prevention...
There are numerous causes of arm and leg pain. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, leg pain, along with arm pain, can be caused by blood vessel disorders, damage to the central or...
More than half of your body's weight is water weight. Adequate hydration plays an important role in bodily functions, and loss of water can cause serious health problems. Be especially sure to drink enough water during exercise, extreme heat and...
No single fitness goal is more popular than body fat loss. Contrary to popular belief, however, you do not need to starve yourself or work out eight hours per day to see improvement. Just a few simple adjustments should be all you need to quickly...
Both xylitol and sobitol are natural sweeteners that are forms of sugar alcohol derived from glucose. They have been used for decades as a sweetening ingredient in dental products like toothpastes and mouthwashes. Sorbitol and xylitol also appear...
Blood sugar levels affect many bodily functions, including insulin production and insulin resistance. Continual spikes in blood sugar levels are thought to contribute to major health issues, such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Diets...
The Weight-Control Information Network reports that more than two-thirds of Americans are either overweight or obese. Being overweight or obese is more than a social inconvenience, as having excess body fat increases the likelihood of developing...
An injury to the spinal cord can have permanent consequences. The spinal cord and brain are the most important parts of the central nervous system. The result of these injuries may be paralysis, which permanently affects the ability to move....
Alzheimer's disease robs its victims of their ability to make sound judgments, while it slowly steals their memory. The Alzheimer's Association states that as many as 5.3 million Americans currently live with this disease--a disease for which...
Restrictive diets can be strenuous on the body because they typically cause feelings of extreme hunger and deprivation. Registered Dietitian Joanne Larsen notes that a 1,200 calorie diet is the bare minimum someone should consume on a daily basis....
If you have hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid gland, you will likely have a hard time losing weight, warns the Mayo Clinic. Your doctor will probably prescribe a thyroid-regulating drug, such as levothyroxine or Synthroid, to help regulate...
A zinc deficiency has several unpleasant side effects, one of which is hair loss. Many people have a mild deficiency of this mineral. However, taking a multivitamin and including more zinc-rich foods in your diet can help you correct this, and it...
Diet pills aren't the magic solution to weight loss. Still, for some individuals, prescription or over-the-counter diet medications can assist with the difficult process of losing weight. The pills must still be combined with lifestyle changes,...
FamilyDoctor.org attributes hair loss to fluctuations in hormones, vitamin deficiencies and heredity. External factors such as stress and pollution can also encourage hair loss by lowering the immune system, thereby propagating poor growth and a...
The American Academy of Dermatology says that hair loss is primarily determined by heredity. There are many causes of hair loss in older women including heredity, medications, menopause, diet and stress according to the academy.
