Electrolytes are minerals with an electric charge that are found in body fluids. These include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, phosphate, bicarbonate and sulfate. Electrolytes carry either a positive or negative charge. The human...
The amount of acid and base in the body is carefully controlled because the right balance is essential for the function of many different tissues. Because carbon dioxide is mildly acidic, the lungs can play a role in the acid-base balance of the...
Caffeine may induce muscle twitching and cramps when you consume an excess amount of it. Other factors involved in muscle cramps include hot weather, loss of fluids or nutrients in the body and your body’s condition. You may experience...
Not everyone who suffers from diabetes develops kidney disease. Contributing factors include genetics, blood sugar control and blood pressure. Unfortunately, clinical signs and symptoms of diabetic kidney disease are difficult to detect until...
Muscle tension, racing thoughts and nervousness are common symptoms of anxiety that make it difficult to relax. Although relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, yoga or meditation can be effective, they may not work for everyone....
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke estimates that as many as 20,000 Americans have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. A progressive and rapidly fatal disease, ALS attacks the motor...
The amount of magnesium in your body is directly related to your body's ability to absorb calcium from your bones. The typical American diet is often low in magnesium. Refined grains have low levels of magnesium, and consuming sugar and alcohol...
MayoClinic.com explains that the kidneys work as a filter in the human body, removing waste and excess fluid from the blood. Hormones produced by the kidneys work to build bone strength and keep the blood healthy, says MedlinePlus. The National...
The mineral dolomite is composed of calcium magnesium carbonate. It is used in the creation of detergent, soap, paints, inks, powder coating and in the ceramics industry. Dolomite is composed of calcium and magnesium, two minerals that are often...
If you are experiencing muscle twitches, cramps or spasms, you may need to supplement your diet with a number of specific vitamins or minerals. You can become deficient in certain nutrients because of poor diet, exercise or the use of medication...
Although you can usually control your voluntary muscles, these muscles may occasionally twitch and spasm for no apparent reason. Overexertion is a common cause of muscle cramps, twitches and spasms, although nutritional deficiencies may also lead...
A high sodium intake is associated with medical problems such as high blood pressure, but in reality the body needs sodium for nervous system and muscle function. A low blood sodium level---called hyponatremia---can be a serious and potentially...
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, also commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a chronic neuromuscular disease that attacks nerve cells in your brain and spinal cord. When these nerve cells are destroyed, they can no longer send messages to...
If you've ever sipped a cup of Earl Grey tea, you're familiar with bergamot, which gives the tea its distinctive aroma and flavor. Used in a number of foods, cosmetics and aromatherapy products, bergamot oil is not a completely harmless substance...
Thiamine, also referred to as vitamin B1, belongs to the B-complex group of vitamins. A deficiency in thiamine leads to a disease called beriberi. Because many foods are enriched with B vitamins, beriberi is rare in the United States. The vitamin...
Exercising, especially in very hot or humid weather when sweating may be excessive, can lead to fluid loss and low levels of sodium and other electrolytes. When sodium levels drop, muscle twitching and cramping may occur. Without treatment, a...
Running is a popular way to stay in shape, reach an ideal body weight and maintain cardiovascular fitness. But running sometimes has side effects such as a sudden contraction in your leg muscles that can be alarming and sometimes quite painful....
Muscle twitching refers to movements that affect only a certain region of the body. MedlinePlus says that muscle twitches occur when the muscle contracts. These muscle contractions can be normal or they may be a sign of a medical problem....
Involuntary muscle movement can take the form of smaller movements, twitches or larger ones, which are referred to as spasms or cramps. Although twitches, spasms and cramps are not completely understood, several factors can contribute to...
Vitamins can help you provide your child with everything he needs for growth and development, and perhaps even help him stay calm. Some symptoms of hyperactivity such as compulsive movement and tics are also symptoms of vitamin deficiencies,...
Without them you couldn't sit, stand or smile. In fact, you couldn't breathe, swallow, circulate your blood or live. They, of course, are muscles. Muscles make up almost half of your body weight. Ordinarily your muscles accomplish their work with...
Sodium is an essential mineral your body needs to maintain bodily fluids. Most people have no trouble meeting the daily requirements for sodium in the diet. In fact, the majority of the population far exceed them and are at risk of serious health...
A cramp occurs when a muscle is forcibly and involuntarily contracted. The muscle will not relax. The calf muscle is one of the most commonly affected muscles, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Just about everyone will...
Muscle spasms last a short time and cause significant pain. In the March 1990 issue of "Archives of Internal Medicine," Steven McGee states involuntary skeletal muscle contractions can be classified based on cause and symptoms. Muscle spasms...
Big muscles aren't necessarily seen as a sign of intelligence, but maybe they should be. A strong knowledge of the vitamins that lead to muscle gain is important to building size quickly. Building a muscular body isn't easy, but it can be made...
Bicitra is the brand name of the generic drug citric acid and sodium citrate, alkalinizing agents used to make urine less acidic, according to Drugs.com. It is prescribed to prevent gout or kidney stones or metabolic acidosis in people with kidney...
Polyneuropathy is a broad category of disorders that are caused by damaged nerves, particularly in the peripheral nervous system, the nerves that connect the brain to the body. Sensory nerves perceive sensations such as pain or pleasure; motor...
According to the online medical encyclopedia MedlinePlus, Demerol is the brand name for the generic drug meperidine. The Mayo Clinic reports that Demerol belongs to a class of drugs called narcotic analgesics and are used to treat pain. The Mayo...
Di-indole methane, also known as diindolylmethane or DIM, is a compound found in the mustard family of plants, also known as brassica. This includes broccoli, collard greens, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, turnips, rutabaga and several others. The...
