Meningitis refers to inflammation of the protective outer membrane of the spinal cord, usually due to infection. In some cases, meningitis develops as a complication of surgery on the spinal cord or surgery performed under epidural or spinal...
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen to the brain bursts or becomes clotted.The American Stroke Association states that stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the United States. If you or someone you know is having...
Lupron is the brand name for Leuprolide acetate, an injected medication that inhibits the action of gonadotropins, medications that stimulate hormone production. Children who experience precocious or early puberty (puberty that occurs before age 8...
Shingles is the common name for the disease produced by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus--the same virus that produces chickenpox upon initial infection--within the nerve roots. In rare cases, according to University of Alabama Professor...
The B vitamins, also referred to as B-complex vitamins, are essential to good health. They are water soluble, which means your body does not store them for long periods of time. The eight B vitamins are thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6,...
Vitamin D is important for the absorption of calcium from the stomach and in the function of calcium in the body, according to Drugs.com. Doses as high as 500,000 IUs may be needed to treat certain diseases, such as rickets, notes MayoClinic.com....
Ethyl alcohol is the type of alcohol that manufacturers turn into alcoholic beverages, and it is a common substance of abuse. Alcohol is one of the most widely abused drugs because, according to Drugs.com, it creates feelings of relaxation,...
Asthma is a chronic condition of inflammation in your lungs' airways. It manifests itself with recurring attacks of shortness of breath, wheezing and cough. Allergies, smoke, upper airway infections or colds, and exercise are some of the most...
Zytram is the trade name for tramadol. It is a pain medication in the opiate drug class and acts similarly to other narcotic pain medication. According to the National Institutes of Health, physicians prescribe Zytram to treat moderate to...
Your body functions rely on chemical reactions. These reactions generate energy, trigger muscle contractions, relay nerve impulses and regulate the activities of your body organs. Electrolytes are minute chemicals that carry a positive or negative...
Accelerated hypertension (high blood pressure), more commonly known as malignant hypertension, is sudden, extremely high blood pressure. It is considered to be a medical emergency. Emergency medical responders, nurses and physicians are trained to...
Hyponatremia, or low sodium levels in the blood, can cause a person to be at increased risk for seizure, coma and death. If your sodium is low enough, you may exhibit signs of extreme tiredness and confusion. Hyponatremia should be considered an...
Signs of digoxin toxicity can be subtle. Left unchecked, they can become severe and even life threatening. Digitalis, another name for digoxin, is derived from the foxglove plant. It is used today to treat congestive heart failure and atrial...
Luvox CR (fluvoxamine) is a medication used to treat social anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Luvox is a serotonin-reuptake inhibitor that aims to balance the neurotransmitters (chemicals) in your brain. The National...
Zyprexa is a prescription medication that is approved by the FDA for the treatment of schizophrenia, acute bipolar disorders, maintenance of bipolar disorder, agitation associated with bipolar disorders, agitation associated with schizophrenia,...
The flu starts suddenly-so suddenly that many people are able to pinpoint the exact time when they became sick, according to Dr. Raphael Dolin in "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine." But the beginning symptoms of the flu are different...
Low blood glucose, also referred to as hypoglycemia, is the result of excessive production of insulin. The pancreas produces insulin, which works to balance blood glucose levels within the body. Glucose levels are considered low if they fall...
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...
Malignant hypertension, also known as accelerated hypertension, refers to a condition in which blood pressure is severely high. Blood pressure refers to the force of blood against your vessels. Your systolic blood pressure is the pressure on your...
Enbrel is a protein-based drug used to limit damage caused by certain autoimmune disorders. Enbrel prevents the body from making tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a protein involved in immune and inflammatory responses. Individuals with autoimmune...
In 2004, a collaborative group of physicians and researchers retrospectively evaluated flu-related hospitalizations between 1979 and 2001. Their findings, published in the Sept. 14, 2004 issue of the "Journal of the American Medical Association,"...
Diabetic shock, also known as insulin shock, occurs when the amount of blood sugar, or glucose, in the body drops too low for proper body and brain function. Diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas does not produce effective levels of insulin,...
Some conditions that can cause headaches accompanied by dizziness and nausea include concussions and other head injuries, meningitis and vertigo, according to the Mayo Clinic. Medline Plus recommends that anyone with a headache who has been...
Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of arthritis that causes pain, swelling, inflammation, stiffness and loss of joint function. The American College of Rheumatology states that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are antimalarial drugs used to treat...
Chronic diarrhea in young children has many causes, but almost all of them produce the same result---poor overall health. Young children by virtue of their size and age accrue limited reserves of water and key nutrients. In chronic diarrhea, these...
Reglan is the brand name of the drug metoclopramide. It is most commonly used to treat two conditions. First, it helps alleviate nausea and vomiting. Second, it treats conditions in which the stomach and intestines move food along less actively....
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease affecting the nervous system. It primarily affects the brain and the spinal cord, damaging the myelin sheath that protects the nerve cells. Over time, the disease causes damage that slows the messages...
A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is a bacterial infection of the urinary tract. UTIs occur when bacteria enter the urethra and the bladder. The bacteria can also spread to the kidneys and cause infection. Women are more prone to these infections...
Pristiq, also known as desvenlafaxine, is an antidepressant that belongs to a family of drugs referred to as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). This drug is used to treat mood disorders and does so by restoring balance to...
Smoke inhalation is a condition caused by inhaling fumes or gases of combustion (inflamed material). Learn more about smoke inhalation, including symptoms and treatments, in this health video.
