Vitamin D's role in preventing several conditions such as rickets, osteomalacia and osteoarthritis is well accepted. It is evident that vitamin D plays significant roles in calcium balance, insulin secretion, immunity and the regulation of blood...
Syncope is a neurologic condition in which a person temporarily loses consciousness. It may be associated with dizziness -- a sensation of unsteadiness and lightheadedness -- and confusion. As explained by the American Heart Association, syncope...
Acidosis is a condition characterized by excessive acid in the bodily fluids that can affect the body in numerous ways, depending upon the type. Respiratory acidosis occurs when the body contains too much carbon dioxide, which may result from...
General anesthesia transforms patients into a state of unconsciousness and impacts the entire body. Once the anesthesia medication is received by the brain, the body begins to experience a state of numbness, which is medically referred to as...
Bulimia is a serious illness that involves cycles of binging (consuming excessive amounts of food) and purging ("getting rid of" food, through self-induced vomiting or other means). Symptoms of bulimia often go unnoticed, because people with the...
A high sodium level in the body, or hypernatremia, may be caused by the kidneys' inability to filter sodium from the body's fluid, inadequate water intake or the consumption of foods that contain a high level of sodium. You may be at risk for...
For people suffering from such illnesses as multiple sclerosis and spinal injuries, physicians may prescribe baclofen. The medicine can help relax muscles in the body, which can in turn allow treatment such as physical therapy to help make the...
Senile dementia is a progressive disease of the elderly in which brain cells waste away due to several factors. Lack of blood supply from artherosclerosis is a primary cause of dementia. British homeopath, Dr. Andrew Lockie explains that all forms...
Good nutrition is necessary for optimal health, growth and life functions. Physicians look to signs and symptoms like height and weight, mental confusion or skin disorders to determine whether a patient has a nutritional deficiency. A healthy...
Dilantin (phenytoin sodium) is an antiepileptic (anti-seizure) drug used in the treatment of grand mal and temporal lobe seizures. Dilantin is available in an oral suspension or pill form. If you are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, you...
Anesthesia is the delivery of medicine during surgery or other medical procedures so that an individual does not feel pain. According to MedlinePlus, there are three types of anesthesia. Local anesthesia numbs only the part of the body that is...
People who are addicted to alcohol are alcoholics, and this addiction often takes a toll on their life. Alcoholics physically crave alcohol and feel as though they need it to function. They continue to drink despite negative consequences, such as...
A mini stroke, known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), occurs when "blood supply to part of the brain is briefly interrupted. Symptoms last only 1 hour to 24 hours," according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes....
Cold, bluish-purple feet can indicate poor circulation, but it is just one of several potential causes for the condition, the medical name for which is cyanosis. While cold and discolored feet and hands may mean you suffer from poor circulation,...
Potassium chloride is taken as a supplement if your body lacks potassium, a mineral that is a crucial electrolyte to help your body's electrical system function properly. A deficiency in potassium is typically caused by alcoholism, extreme...
Trazodone is the generic name of a mood elevator or antidepressant sold under the brand name Desyrel. It may be prescribed in the treatment of depression whether it is a stand-alone condition or if it is associated with anxiety. It is administered...
Lightheadedness is a condition commonly associated with dizziness, faintness, loss of balance, nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, fatigue, mental confusion and a sensation that the room is moving or spinning. The exact cause varies, but...
Vitamins are essential nutrients, meaning your body cannot make them on its own. They are required in small amounts to perform specific metabolic reactions. The B vitamins are a group of water-soluble vitamins that include thiamin, riboflavin,...
Calcium is an essential mineral that is critical for bone health, muscle contraction and hormone release as well as heart, nerve and brain function. However, excessively high levels of calcium may have detrimental effects on all of these...
To help prepare for surgical and medical procedures requiring anesthesia, Harvard Medical School recommends learning the side effects. MedlinePlus indicates anesthesia may be local, affecting a small area, or regional, affecting a larger area, or...
Hypoglycemia, also known as low blood glucose or low blood sugar, happens when blood sugar levels drop below normal range. Hypoglycemia is generally mild and rare in healthy adults with no known glucose or insulin-related problems. Most commonly,...
Nutrition plays an important role in both your physical and mental health. A lack of certain nutrients may increase your risk of dementia, a condition that commonly causes irrational thoughts and behavior. Confusion and disturbing thoughts may...
Levofloxacin is the generic name of Levaquin, a prescription medication used in the treatment of many bacteriological infections. It is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, according to the Mayo Clinic, that both kills bacteria and prevents bacterial...
Stadol NS is the brand name of a narcotic pain killer called generically butorphanol. It is a nasal spray used in the treatment of pain that is severe or moderate, the Mayo Clinic states. Stadol works in your CNS, or central nervous system, to...
Caffeine is a popular way to help you wake up or stay up longer, but it may have negative side effects that can affect your vision. If you see zigzag flashing lights, you may have ingested too much caffeine, causing symptoms of an overdose. Stop...
Diabetes is a chronic condition that can produce fainting spells, fatigue, mental confusion and irritability. Untreated diabetes can even lead to coma or death. Although natural remedies should not replace traditional medical treatment for...
Aspirin is a medication that can be bought over-the-counter and is taken to relieve pain, lower a fever and fight inflammation. It is also used to prevent and treat heart attacks as well as treat strokes, heart disease and arthritis. There are,...
You might associate camphor with mothballs. but mothballs have an artificial version of the scent rather than the real deal. While inhaling synthetic camphor is almost always harmful, natural camphor oil is used in aromatherapy for several...
Mental status changes are one of the most common presentations of electrolyte imbalances. According to "Cecil Medicine," the prevalence of acute cases of mental confusion during hospital stays is approximately 60 percent in elderly patients, with...
Meningitis is an inflammation of meninges, membranes that protect the brain or spinal cord. Find the facts on viral meningitis including treatment options in this video.
Cardiogenic shock is the result of inadequate circulation of blood due to ventricle failure; learn about cardiogenic shock in this heart healthy video.
