The term "gifted" is applied to children who learn at an above average rate. In the United States, registration with the National Association for Gifted Children allows the association to keep track of the number of gifted children in...
Skin tags are benign, usually small, skin growths that protrude from the skin. The tags commonly appear on areas of the body that experience a lot of friction, such as skin folds, and they are more common in those who are overweight or diabetic,...
Asthma and allergies sometimes flare up in response to the same triggers. Allergens and environmental pollutants can create powerful biochemical reactions within your body, causing wheezing, sneezing and general misery. So common wisdom says...
People with bipolar disorder experience intense mood swings from mania to depression. Unfortunately, nearly 70 percent of bipolar people get misdiagnosed, according to a 2000 study by Robert Hirschfeld, M.D and colleagues at the University of...
Tooth pain can be sharp and sudden or dull and chronic. There are an infinite number of causes, but the most puzzling cases involve aches that seem to come and go or even disappear entirely and return a few months later. The body's own healing...
Alkaline phosphatase, or ALP, is an enzyme naturally produced by your body. As an enzyme, your body requires ALP to trigger specific chemical reactions. However, in larger quantities, ALP can indicate the presence of health problems such as bone...
Since the first written description of asthma appeared in Homer's "Iliad," scientists have been trying to describe the shortness of breath you feel during exercise to improve treatment for this disease. Early physicians were unable to visualize...
Your doctor orders blood work to analyze many aspects of your health. A poor diet is one lifestyle habit that can degrade the quality of your health and put you at an increased risk of certain medical conditions. Getting rid of a poor diet not...
Mention the term heart attack, and people immediately think about the serious medical condition affecting men. What might surprise you is that women are at higher risk for a fatal heart attack than men. According to the National Registry of...
EDTA contamination of blood samples often leads to inaccurate diagnoses in serious medical conditions. Conventional screening methods tend to give false positive readings regarding increased plasma potassium levels and often mislead a health care...
Lactose intolerance, or the inability to digest naturally occuring sugar in cow's milk, affects roughly 30 million Americans by age 20, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Colitis is a chronic disease that causes inflammation...
Magnesium is an essential mineral that helps regulate calcium levels and bone health. Magnesium plays a role in more than 300 enzyme reactions and contributes to energy production in the body. According to Dierck-Hartmut Liebscher, M.D., magnesium...
Gifted kids can present a dilemma for their parents, teachers and other caregivers. Some of the behaviors of gifted children are similar to the behaviors of kids with issues such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and mild cases of...
Many people think that migraines are simply bad headaches. This isn't the case, because a variety of unique symptoms distinguish a true migraine from a merely irritating headache. Auras, which often accompany migraines, lead to visual...
Health care professionals measure blood pressure with a device called a sphygmomanometer. The portion that wraps around the upper arm is called the cuff. Cuffs are available in different sizes to properly fit patients of all ages and sizes....
Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a mental disorder that is characterized by inattention and impulsivity actions that cause problems at home, work or school and with relationships. According to the National Institute of Mental...
The act of getting a tattoo is a form of self-expression that's accompanied by several risks. Even if you visit a reputable tattoo parlor with clean conditions, the tattoo ink that enters your skin can carry health risks. Tattoo dyes, especially...
Kidney and bladder cancers have a greater chance of cure and better survival rates when they are identified early, according to the Patient UK website. However, common symptoms of bladder and kidney cancers can be overlooked or misattributed. In...
Ultrasound uses sound waves to get images of structures within the body. It is commonly used to visualize a fetus during pregnancy. Ultrasound creates the sound waves using a small electrical transducer that creates brief sound waves at specific...
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, and wheat intolerance are both conditions that are characterized by gastrointestinal upset. Symptoms typically are triggered after specific foods have been eaten. Although frequently mistaken for each other, they...
Menopause is a natural occurrence for women who, due to age, have their final menstrual period and experience a reduction in hormone levels, especially estrogen. Once 12 consecutive months pass after a woman's final period, she is considered...
A mini-stroke, also known a transient ischemic attack or TIA, occurs when a clot or small piece of plaque interrupts the blood flow in the brain. Although the symptoms of a TIA, are less severe than a major stroke, and not likely to cause...
The term medical malpractice covers a wide range of errors, mistakes or omissions in the practice of medicine for health care providers in all medical fields. Malpractice may be charged for a variety of actions, either intentional or...
Dual diagnosis refers to people who are suffering from a mental illness as well as being a substance abuser. Drug Rehab reports that about half of people with a mental disorder use alcohol or drugs as well. Being dually diagnosed is essential to...
You could be misdiagnosed as suffering from depression rather than a possible iron deficiency, especially during the early stages of diagnosis. The symptoms of depression and iron deficiency are similar and may necessitate further tests to target...
Pudendal nerve pain, also referred to as pudendal neuralgia, is caused by impingement, entrapment, or compression of the pudendal nerve located deep within the pelvic girdle or bony pelvis. The condition affects both men and women. Because...
Bipolar disorders involve distinct periods, called episodes, during which disturbances in mood and behavior are present. Episodes may be depressive, manic, hypomanic or mixed. Major depressive episodes are characterized by depressed mood and lack...
A common reoccurring condition effecting women of all ages, bacterial vaginosis is the overgrowth of natural vaginal bacteria resulting in vaginal discharge. The symptoms often mimic those of a yeast infection, leading to a misdiagnosis. It is...
