Cerebral palsy is a difficult diagnosis for any parent to deal with. The term cerebral palsy refers to a group of neurological disorders, not a disease. These disorders can affect children's movement and posture in a range of ways. Some children...
Acid reflux is the result of the acidic contents of the stomach traveling up into the esophagus, where they cause damage to the esophageal lining. In some cases, progressive damage of the esophagus can make swallowing difficult or painful, which...
There are a number of eye doctors who offer programs of eye exercises which they claim will help patients with refractive problems such as astigmatism. Some of them say patients will be able to stop wearing eyeglasses and contact lenses, while...
Muscle weakness is the primary symptom of muscular dystrophy (MD), though the age of onset and area of the body affected can vary depending on the type of MD. This is a progressive disease, so it may not reveal itself for quite some time. People...
Vitamin D is important for the formation, growth and repair of bones, enhanced function of the immune system and muscle strength. The most common sources of vitamin D are fortified cereal and dairy products, supplements and sunlight. Deficiencies...
Rickets is a condition that affects the bones in a child's body. It is generally present in children and rarely adults. In most cases, rickets develops due to malnutrition. If your child has symptoms of rickets, you should seek medical care for...
A quadriceps, or thigh muscle, tear can be a partial tear or a complete rupture. The severity of the tear and your symptoms determine the length of your recovery and when you may begin strengthening exercises. A 2010 article in the "Current...
Poor diet, underlying conditions or inability to absorb vitamins may lead to health problems such as B12-deficiency anemia or vitamin D deficiency. If you suspect you have a vitamin deficiency, consult your doctor to determine the cause and...
Numerous diseases are associated with an unhealthy diet. According to the World Health Organization, or WHO, malnutrition is the term for poor nourishment. You can become malnourished if you eat insufficient amounts or excessive amounts of the...
Shoulder and arm pain can be debilitating, affecting your posture and daily activities. This pain can be referred pain from a herniated cervical disc or due to a muscle or tendon strain around your shoulder. Additional causes include a shoulder...
The body needs nutrients in order to grow and develop properly. Although severe nutrient deficiencies are usually uncommon in the Western world, certain medications and medical conditions may prevent nutrient absorption. Mild deficiencies of some...
The actual cause of fatigue is a hotly debated subject. For years, science has tried to figure out how to minimize fatigue in the human body so that people will be able to do more with their time and meet ever-increasing obligations. Vitamin D is...
Acidosis occurs because of excessive acid in body fluids. The acid buildup can disrupt the functioning of the lungs and kidneys, which help keep a balance of acid chemicals and bicarbonate base in the body. The two types of acidosis are...
Vitamin D is required to help the body function normally. It especially affects the formation and health of red blood cells. Since vitamin D is needed to help red blood cells use iron, a deficiency of vitamin D is associated with anemia. Severe...
Vitamin D is a nutrient the body needs for a variety of functions, such as the regulation of phosphate and calcium in the body. Low levels of these minerals may cause the body to make hormones that release phosphate and calcium, which will weaken...
Neuropathy is a medical term meaning "nerve damage." Nerves travel throughout the body, allowing the brain to communicate with organs, glands and muscles as well as allowing sensory input from those same anatomical structures to travel back to the...
The skeletal system is made up of 200 to 300 bones, some of which support musculature and posture, or protect essential organs. Bone tissue constantly grows and develops throughout life, with some cell types continually depositing new bone tissue,...
Vitamin D is known as the "sunshine vitamin." Though sunlight itself doesn't carry this essential nutrient, exposure to sunlight can cause this vitamin to form in the body. Vitamin D carries out important functions in bone development...
Proper nutrition helps to ensure that your body stays healthy and that you do not experience any major health problems. Poor nutrition can be defined as a lack of essential vitamins or minerals or an excess amount of unhealthy nutrients or...
Bench pressing exercises your upper arm, chest and shoulder muscles, which attach around your shoulder. After bench pressing, these muscles may be fatigued and tight, leading to shoulder discomfort. Shoulder pain after bench pressing may also...
Breathing, an anatomical and physiological process, occurs without a thought until something goes wrong. Respiratory acidosis or alkalosis indicate two such occasions. Inadequate ventilation leads to acidosis, and excessive ventilation causes...
In 1990 the National Centers for Disease Control estimated that there were 14 million people affected by diabetes. They estimate that 25 percent will develop foot problems, making it a major public health concern. People with diabetes are at...
An estimated 10,000 babies develop cerebral palsy in the United States every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This condition affects mental development and causes complications with movement, posture and muscle...
Your spine typically has curves designed to maintain alignment and assist in stability and mobility of your spine. Through structural problems and poor posture, these curves can be excessive. Excessive curvature of the spine, known as lordosis,...
Dehydration is a potentially serious condition where your body loses too much water and it is not replaced sufficiently. Often, dehydration causes other sicknesses, especially heat-related illness like heat stroke or heat exhaustion. Dehydration...
According to the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health, vitamin D plays a crucial role in the body's maintenance of calcium and phosphate levels. Vitamin D is essential for normal bone growth during development and...
Hammer toe is a condition in which the middle joint of a toe becomes fixed in a bent position. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, or AAOS, your toe isn't necessarily frozen in a bent position and may benefit from...
A vitamin D deficiency can cause numerous medical conditions. According to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, not naturally present in most foods; rather, it is added to some foods...
According to the Harvard School of Public Health, about 1 billion people throughout the world suffer from a vitamin D deficiency. An increasing number of health problems have been linked to lack of vitamin D, such as poor bone health. Certain...
Hammertoe is a deformation of the middle joint in a toe, which can be caused by poor footwear or muscle, nerve, or joint damage caused by another condition. Learn more about hammertoe, including symptoms and treatments, in this video.
