Ossification is the process of bone formation beginning at birth, and although your bones stop growing once you have reached adulthood, a constant cycle of regeneration continues. Bruising your ribs triggers healing mechanisms that rely on various...
The gallbladder sits beneath the liver and produces bile to aid in digestion. Many people have gallstones, but most do not cause symptoms or problems, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. In some people, gallstones or...
The urinary system is comprised of the kidneys, ureters and bladder, connected by tubes, muscles and nerves for the function of carrying urine through and out of the body. The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse details...
Pain in the upper right portion of the abdomen may have many causes. It may originate in the stomach, liver, gallbladder or pancreas. A problem with the heart or lung may be felt as abdominal pain. A musculoskeletal injury or condition could lead...
Traditional Chinese medical beliefs hold that health means a balance between levels of yin and yang energy in your body and mind. A deficiency or surplus of yin or yang, also referred to as 'essence' by some practitioners, leads to imbalance and...
Situps are calisthenic exercises that require no special equipment or machine to perform. They are done to strengthen the abdominals and hip flexors. Situp popularity has declined over the years, due to the growing consensus that the move places...
Abdominal pain describes the feeling of discomfort in the abdominal cavity, which extends from the pelvis to the lower border of the ribs. The pain may originate in the muscles or peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity, or from the organs...
Sharp pains in your abdomen can be as minor as gastrointestinal gas, or as serious as appendicitis. Movements such as stretching or twisting of your torso and abdomen may aggravate your symptoms. Treatment varies based on the cause, but may...
For some people, heading out for a quick jog results in far more than just sore muscles and fatigued feet. In fact, the simple act of running can cause all sorts of aches and pains from head to toes. While pain in the chest is generally far more...
Magnesium is an essential mineral your body uses for keeping your bones strong, your immune system healthy, your muscles and nerves functioning properly and your heart beating steadily. Magnesium is also involved in maintaining blood pressure and...
Oxalic acid is found naturally in many plant foods and may also be produced by your body from high doses of vitamin C. The most common types of kidney stones consist of deposits containing oxalic acid. Kidney stones are quite painful and may block...
According to Dr. James Balch and Phyllis Balch, authors of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning that it accumulates in the fat cells of the body until it is needed. This vitamin is essential for the...
Thinking that you may have kidney stones is enough to make you cringe. Made from acid and mineral salts, kidney stones develop in your kidneys in the form of small, hard little rocks, according to the Mayo Clinic. Kidney stones often result from...
Approximately 8 million to 10 million people get urinary tract infections annually in the United States. Most of these people are women. Women have shorter urethras, which is the likely cause of their more frequent infections. The urethra and...
Cancer is the result of genetic mutations in cells (which are either inherited or develop over time), which cause the cells to grow quicker than usual. Blood cancers occur when these mutated cells are in the bone marrow, which is where blood cells...
The rib cage is made up of bones and cartilage that surround the chest cavity. Rib pain can be the result of bruised, cracked or fractured ribs. In addition, osteoporosis or inflamed rib cartilage can lead to rib pain. Specific exercises may help...
The benefits of drinking red wine for heart health are well known but it is less known that red wine may also help reduce your chances of developing prostate cancer. The American Cancer Society reports that prostate cancer claims the life of one...
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies cause a range of symptoms. Inadequate amounts of vitamin D may result in a condition known as osteomalacia. Pain in the legs is one of the main symptoms of osteomalacia. Without proper treatment, a vitamin D...
Numerous conditions can cause pain on the right side, or flank, which is the area between the lower ribs and the pelvic bones. It is a common location for pain especially in people with kidney problems. Flank pain is usually unilateral, meaning...
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located in the back of the abdomen on either side of the spine, protected by the lower ribs. They perform vital functions including removing waste products from the blood and balancing electrolytes. The outer...
A urinary tract infection can affect the bladder, kidneys or any part of the urinary system. Because the urethra is long in men, they are less likely to get a urinary tract infection than women; however, according to the Penn State Milton S....
A urinary tract infection can affect men, women and children. The urinary tract consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Any single part of the urinary tract can become infected, as can multiple parts. Women are at a greater risk...
Your bone marrow contains plasma cells. These cells are white blood cells that produce antibodies to help you fight disease. For reasons not yet understood, these cells can become cancerous and multiply out of control. When this happens you can...
Hepatitis A (HAV) is a virus that infects the liver. Hepatitis literally means "liver inflammation" and is prevalent around the world, especially in Mexico, Central and South America, Greenland, Africa, the Middle East, and the entire Asian...
Vitamin D is an organic nutrient found in some foods and is synthesized naturally by the human body. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient, meaning that the body can store excess amounts and use it when needed. When you don't produce or get enough...
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient found in citrus fruits as well as supplements. Also called ascorbic acid, vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin important to a variety of physiological processes including wound healing, bone repair and the...
According to the website Calciuminfo.com, about 12 percent of the U.S. population is affected by kidney stones. Kidney stones are small, solid deposits made up of mineral and acid salts on the interior surfaces of your kidneys. Calcium oxalate...
Kidney stones can occur in anyone regardless of age or health status. While kidney stones generally cause no permanent damage to your health, they are very painful to pass. Modern medicine calls for the passing of small kidney stones on their own,...
Multiple myeloma is a tumor of your plasma cells, the white blood cells that make antibodies. The tumor starts in your bone marrow, where blood cells are formed, then spreads out and destroys your bone. According to Charles Linker, M.D., Director...
