Seizures or convulsions are caused by abnormal activity in the brain. The brain functions like an electrical system, so a seizure can be equated with a short-circuit of the system. Seizures manifest themselves as unusual activity in the body, from...
The Atkins diet is a type of low=carbohydrate diet. Because of the restriction of carbohydrate intake, your body might begin to experience cramping in the extremities, such as the legs. The reason for this is mainly due to carbohydrate restriction...
Although bilberries have been used for hundreds of years to make pies, jams and other confections, they also have some important medicinal uses. Bilberry has potential health benefits, especially if you have cardiovascular problems, eye-related...
A selective dorsal rhizotomy is a surgical procedure used to relieve muscle spasms in the lower extremities of spastic cerebral palsy patients. During a selective dorsal rhizotomy, the surgeon first exposes the spinal cord, then, through series of...
Low calcium levels, or hypocalcaemia, can happen for a number of reasons. Although some people might experience no symptoms, low calcium levels might cause muscle spasms, numbness in the extremities, depression and seizures. Low levels of calcium...
There are numerous causes of leg muscle spasms. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, muscle spasms or cramps are sudden, involuntary contractions in one or more of a person's muscles that last...
The cervical spine is the portion of the spinal column connecting the base of the skull to the upper back. Between each of the seven cervical vertebrae (C1 through C7), a cervical disk acts as a shock absorber. A disk injury can result in the disk...
Potassium and sodium are both essential elements to your body's health. According to the Mayo Clinic, potassium helps maintain the normal functioning of your nerves and muscles, including your heart. Although potassium levels naturally fluctuate,...
Potassium is a mineral your body uses in metabolism, in the synthesis of proteins, the regulation of the acid-base balance of your body and many cellular functions. Ideal blood potassium levels are between 3.7 to 5.2 mEq/L. Your levels are...
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects nerve cells in your brain and spinal cord. MS is caused by damage to the myelin sheath, which is a protective covering that surrounds nerve cells. When this covering is damaged, nerve...
Normodyne and Trandate are two brand names for labetalol, a drug used by itself or in combination with other drugs in the treatment of hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. High blood pressure taxes the human heart and, if left...
Calcium is a mineral important not only in bone structure and function but also in maintaining healthy nerve and muscle cells. Because so many critical physiological processes depend on proper calcium levels in your body, maintaining calcium...
Nerve damage can be caused by a variety of factors including arthritis, vitamin deficiencies, injuries, surgery or disease. This condition may result in symptoms such as muscle paralysis, numbness, tingling in the limbs or extremities and muscle...
A back spasm is a contraction of one or more muscles in your back. According to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, back spasms are likely to happen when your muscles are already inflamed or strained. The proximity of the muscle tightness to your spinal...
In many cases, feeling thigh pain while cycling is not related to major medical problems. Chafing, cramps and general tiredness in the muscles can all trigger thigh pain. However, you may be able to both prevent future symptoms and find out if...
An injured pectoral, or chest muscle, can be quite debilitating. The chest muscle is used for almost every single upper body movement, and as you may have just found out, even some core and lower body movements. The simple act of sneezing can land...
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which the body's immune system turns on its host. It attacks the myelin in the body, which is the protective coating of the nerves in the spinal cord and the brain. The Mayo Clinic lists most of the symptoms...
With obesity as a growing concern, it is important to find a diet that works. An alkaline-rich diet is known to contain fewer calories than traditional diets. Additionally, alkaline-rich diets aid in burning calories more quickly. With the...
Caffeine intoxication usually means that there is more than 300 mg of caffeine in a person's system--about three cups of strong coffee in less than an hour or six cans of Mountain Dew in about the same about of time. Symptoms include...
Obesity is a serious problem in the United States. USA Today reports that the trend appears to be slowing down, but the high percentage of obese individuals is still a concern. Having a diet rich in alkaline foods and low in acidic foods includes...
The brain uses electricity to allow different brain cells (called neurons) to communicate. When a nerve gets stimulated, it opens small channels in its membrane (the wall that surrounds cells of all kinds and helps keep them together) to let...
A muscle spasm is an involuntary contraction of a muscle that usually occurs suddenly and can be very painful. Most of the time muscle spasms resolve quickly and without any treatment, but in some cases they can become a recurring and chronic...
Carbon dioxide poisoning, more formally know as hypercapnia, results from an excess of carbon dioxide in the blood. We expel carbon dioxide when we breathe. Poisoning often occurs when something interferes with that process. Rebreathing exhaled...
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a condition in which children have trouble keeping their attention on specific things such as school work, chores or conversations. The hyperactivity portion of the disorder may prevent children...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 12 million people in the United States have food allergies. Of these 12 million people, 30,000 will pay a visit to the emergency room and 150 to 200 deaths will occur annually. Those with...
The safety of aspartame, also known as Nutrasweet or Equal, has been called into question by many health care advocates as well as the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) after giving the manufacturer of the sweetener a green light to introduce it...
Obesity rates in the United States are starting to slow down, however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly 73 million American adults are currently overweight. Overweight individuals try diet after diet in hopes of...
The parathyroid consists of are four small glands in the neck located on the thyroid gland. Although these two glands are close in location, their functions are unrelated. The thyroid is responsible for regulating metabolism, so too much thyroid...
Normodyne is one of the brand names for labetalol, a prescription drug administered as a pill or injection to treat high blood pressure, called medical hypertension. Normodyne as a pill is used in the treatment of relatively common high blood...
Whiplash, or whiplash-associate disorders, refers to the injury and pain caused to the neck after sudden distortion, commonly thought of as the result of automobile accidents. Learn more about whiplash, including symptoms and treatments, in this...
