Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids that are important for a number of physiological processes. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health points out that most Americans...
Cortisol is a hormone produced in the body that regulates a number of processes, including the body's stress response and inflammation. Patients with high cortisol experience a number of effects, and sustained high cortisol levels can lead to...
Joint pain is extremely common and can occur in any joint. Most commonly effected joints include the knee, hip and shoulders. Joint pain is caused by a wide range of medical conditions, illnesses, injuries and infections. For example arthritis...
Panax ginseng is an herbal plant also known as Asian ginseng, Chinese ginseng and Korean ginseng. Native to Asia, Panax ginseng is different from American and Siberian ginseng. Panax ginseng has held an important traditional role in Chinese...
If you are one of the approximately 1.5 million people with lupus in the United States, you might be interested in reports that DHEA could be useful for treating the disease. DHEA doesn't work on its own, however, but functions best when used in...
Lupus, or systemic lupus erythematosus, affects anywhere from 300,000 to 4 million people in the U.S., reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The numbers vary so greatly because little is understood about the disease, and there...
Advocates of the Paleo diet claim that eating the foods our ancestors hunter-gatherers ate during the Paleolithic period is the best way to achieve a healthy weight, alleviate autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis...
If your symptoms include red and spotty skin accompanied by muscle pain, weakness and headaches, you might be suffering from several different conditions. You could have the virus mononucleosis and several autoimmune conditions, including lupus...
Joints are the parts of the skeleton that allow the body to move in different ways. The three types of joints--hinge, pivot and ball-and-socket--are filled with synovial fluid to facilitate free movement. Muscles, ligaments, cartilage and tendons...
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection contracted from the bite of a disease-carrying tick. The causative bacterium is Borrelia burgdorferi. The symptoms of the various stages of Lyme disease mimic some of the common symptoms of the autoimmune...
Dapsone is the name of a medication marketed in the United States as a drug to fight infection. Specifically, it is prescribed in the treatment of the skin condition dermatitis herpetiformis and Hansen’s disease, formerly known as leprosy,...
Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic and progressive disease, affects approximately 1.3 million Americans, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Classified as an autoimmune disease, RA occurs when the cells of the immune system mistakenly attack the...
An estimated 46 million Americans were informed by a physician in 2006 that they had osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout or lupus, as cited by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Eighty percent of Americans older than 50...
If you want to lose weight, you may have seen near-miraculous benefits being attributed to fish oil. Don't believe everything you read: Although research shows that fish oil might help you lose weight, it won't enable you to drop pounds with no...
Fish oil supplements are generally considered safe when taken in the recommended amounts, but they can cause some gastrointestinal problems. Diarrhea, gas, belching and bloating are common side effects of fish oil. However, fish oil can have many...
Arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation in joints. The most common symptoms are pain and stiffness. Osteoarthritis is usually caused by wear and tear and occurs naturally with aging. Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an immune system...
Fatigue and dizziness are symptoms that can be related to many medical conditions, such as treatment for cancer, substance abuse, alcoholism, altitude sickness, or strict dieting. Health care providers rely on a comprehensive health history to...
Experiencing fatigue in the middle of your exercise session can cause you to feel frustrated and depressed and lead you to cut short your workout. Your lifestyle and certain physical and mental health conditions as well as certain medications used...
Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is important in the breakdown of fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Its functions also include production of red blood cells, maintenance of skin and nerves, and hormone production. Vitamin B12, also called...
While originally called vitamin B16, dimethylglycine (DMG) is an amino acid found in almost all animal and plant cells; it works in the metabolism to convert choline to glycene. The chemical structure of DMG is similar to that of a water-soluble...
When your child's lupus is well-managed or in remission, preventing flares, or sudden increases in symptoms, plays a large role in keeping the disease under control. The triggers vary from patient to patient, but there are some common...
The name arthritis refers to joint inflammation. According to the West Virginia Osteoporosis and Arthritis program, there are more than 100 different types of rheumatic diseases and conditions that fall under the umbrella of arthritis, including...
Vitamin D deficiency has been connected to poor bone development, and in the last few years, studies have also linked it to autoimmune diseases such as lupus, certain cancers and obesity. According to a 2009 report in the "Archives of Internal...
The Paleo diet, or the caveman diet, focuses on consuming foods that are fresh, natural and free of preservatives. It is presented as an overall healthy diet, focusing mainly on vegetables and meats. Though research is limited, it is thought to be...
Chronic renal disease can be caused by a variety of other illnesses or problems. Hypertension, kidney stones, infection and a buildup of toxins in the body can add to already high levels of stress placed on the kidneys. The kidneys work as a...
Overexposure to the sun can cause sunburn and heat rash. The sun can also cause allergic reactions in some people, including those taking certain medications, such as antibiotics and those with conditions like rosacea and lupus, says DermNet NZ....
Lupus is an immune system disorder in which your body's immune cells attack healthy muscle and organ cells. About 50 percent of people with lupus have lung or kidney disorders, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. This condition...
Salmon and other cold-water fish contain omega-3 fatty acids, which your body needs to properly function. The human body does not produce these fatty acids on its own, but you can get the required amount by eating fish around two times per week....
Hair loss is an emotionally devastating process that can plague women and men of all ages. For most women hair loss involves breakage, shedding and thinning; the most common cause is improper grooming, according to the American Academy of...
