A pinched nerve occurs when extra pressure is placed on your nerves by your bones, cartilage, muscles or tendons. Symptoms may include numbness, weakness, a tingling or burning sensation in the affected area and radiating nerve pain. The exact...
Potassium, a mineral found in many foods, helps keep the heartbeat regular and nerves and muscles working properly. According to the National Kidney Foundation, normal potassium levels should fall in the range of 3.5 and 5.0 mmol/l. When potassium...
The cauda equine is a group of nerves at the end of the spinal cord; the group is named for its resemblance to a horse's tail. When the nerve roots are compressed, the result is cauda equine syndrome. Most cases of cauda equine occur after a...
The blood vessels that lie on either side of your neck and carry blood from your heart to your brain are called the carotid arteries. If your arteries become clogged by the buildup of fatty plaques (atherosclerosis) along the walls of these...
The vaccine that prevents human papillomavirus, or HPV, is called Gardasil. Gardasil is a series of three vaccines that may protect against the strains of HPV that are most likely to cause cervical cancer. As with any vaccination, it's important...
Cryoablation or cryotherapy is a minimally invasive treatment used to treat solid tumors---both cancerous and non-cancerous---in the lung, liver, breast, kidney, prostate and cervix. The cryoablation procedure involves freezing diseased tissue to...
While Aciphex is generally considered safe for long-term use, there have been some risks linked to patients who have used the drug for longer than three years. Aciphex, the brand name for rabeprazole, is a proton pump inhibitor most often...
Low back pain is one of the most common ailments experienced by Americans and, according to the American Chiropractic Association, 80 percent of the population will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Muscle spasms are a primary...
Spinal decompression is a catchall phrase for back pain treatments that include nonsurgical options, such as traction, or operative procedures such as endoscopic decompression and laminectomy. The desired effect is the same for all three--to...
Metformin is sold under the brand name Glucophage and is an oral anti-diabetic drug that helps control blood sugar levels. Metformin is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat Type 2 diabetes. Metformin reduces blood sugar...
Potassium is an important electrolyte. It helps conduct electricity in the body, and is important for the formation and health of smooth muscles, like the heart. According to Penn State University, low blood potassium is the most common in people...
Stroke is a devastating and crippling condition that oftentimes occurs suddenly and without warning. According to the MedlinePlus, there are two types of stroke: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot...
A pinched nerve is a serious problem that impacts the spine. In addition to pain and discomfort in the back, pain can be referred to other areas of the body due to the pressure on the nerves around the spine. Most often, this pain is referred down...
A light stroke is different from a regular stroke. Termed a transient ischemic attack (TIA), it "is an episode in which a person has stroke-like symptoms for less than 24 hours, usually less than one to two hours," according to the National...
FluMist is a form of vaccination against the virus that causes influenza. Instead of a shot, FluMist offers the live virus via a wet mist into the nasal passage. This method of delivery is less painful, especially for children. It is also less...
You need phosphorus for your body to make cells and to strengthen your bones. Phosphorus helps to create and store energy, to filter waste from the kidneys and to make DNA as well as a number of enzymes and hormones. Your body also uses phosphorus...
Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin that is necessary for DNA synthesis, red blood cell production and maintenance of healthy nerve cells. Vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal foods such as milk, dairy products,...
Entonox is the brand name of a 50 percent nitrous oxide and 50 percent oxygen gas mixture. It is a pain killer and sedative, meaning patients experience a relaxed state without losing consciousness. It works quickly and is therefore effective in...
Most of the body's reserves of magnesium are stored in bones, with organs and cells taking the second largest percentage. Only one percent of the magnesium in your body is present in blood. This means that symptoms of low magnesium don't always...
The prospect of changing your diet can be overwhelming at first. With a little bit of help and planning, it can be easier than you expect. The Mayo Clinic recommends asking your doctor for a referral to see a dietitian. If you need to lower the...
Everyone needs exercise daily in order to maintain health and lose or maintain weight. Whether you are engaging in intense cardio or using some type of exercise machine, you can easily injure yourself or strain muscle groups. If your leg is...
Augmentin, generically known as amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium, is an antibiotic medication used to treat bacterial infections of the sinus, ear, lungs, skin and kidneys. According to Drugs.com, Augmentin is available as a regular,...
Magnesium is one of the more diversely used minerals in your body. It plays a role in ion transport, which impacts your muscle function. Without enough magnesium in your body, you can suffer from symptoms that may include hand tremors.
Degenerative Arthritis is often referred to as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease, and is a progressive, wear-and-tear breakdown of the joint surfaces and nearby soft tissues. Symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain, inflammation, and...
A stroke, commonly known as a brain attack, refers to a neurological problem in which a blood clot forms in the brain's vessels or the blood vessel weakens and emits blood. MedlinePlus, a publication of the National Institutes of Health, indicates...
Pinched nerves can occur anywhere in the body, but are a relatively common occurrence in the low back. A nerve in the lumbar spine can become pinched by any number of structures, but most often it happens when a spinal disc herniates out beyond...
The spinal column is made up of bones referred to as vertebrae and soft, spongy discs that separate the vertebrae. The spinal disc comprises two parts: The tough, fibrous outer portion is called the annulus fibrosis, which gives structure to and...
A uterine infection, medically known as endometritis, is a medical condition in which the lining of the uterus actually becomes irritated or inflamed. According to MedlinePlus, this uterine infection typically occurs after having a miscarriage or...
The femoral nerve conducts nerve impulses from the leg to the spinal cord. It contains both motor and sensory nerve fibers. The motor nerves supply the muscles of extension, which allow the legs to straighten at the knees. The sensory nerves...
