It's impossible to cut weight fast without affecting your athletic performance. The principals behind rapid weight loss will unavoidably reduce your body's capacity for speed, precision and power. However you can take several steps in the days and...
Obstetricians and midwives advise extreme caution to pregnant women who take medication. Although seemingly harmless, "natural" products such as eucalyptus oil can cause unanticipated side effects during pregnancy. No compelling evidence exists...
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a devastating condition that can cause major complications and even failure of the kidneys, lungs, heart and other organs. TSS was brought to the attention of the American public due to its association with the use of...
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that involves severe restriction of calories, distorted body image and varied adverse effects on the body. Serious health consequences from anorexia include heart arrhythmia, osteoporosis, anemia,...
Respiratory acidosis is a life-threatening medical condition in which the lungs are unable to effectively remove carbon dioxide from the body. A high level of carbon dioxide, a toxin, within the body abnormally increases the acidity of a person's...
Iron deficiency anemia is the most common reason why you'd ever need to take an iron supplement. Most people get more than enough iron in their diet, since red meat, poultry and seafood contain this mineral. This isn't to say it's impossible for...
All diets have one thing in common: They work only if your daily intake of calories is lower than the calories used by your body during the day. Any state of weight loss resembles starvation by depriving the body of the calories it needs. Some...
According to The Merck Manual, there are 200,000 cases of septic shock with a 45 percent mortality rate every year. This means that 90,000 people die from septic shock yearly. Septic shock is a term used to describe severe sepsis or infection,...
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, or HIT, occurs after administration of heparin, a commonly used blood thinner. Two forms of HIT can occur. The first, Type I HIT, which affects 10 percent of those receiving heparin, causes a transient drop in...
Sickle cell anemia is a heritable disorder that results from a mutation in the gene for hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. The disease affects many different cell types, leading to symptoms including pain...
Heat stroke is a type of hyperthermia. It is a very serious condition that results in the body's internal temperature reaching a high, unhealthy and sometimes life-altering state. Heat stroke occurs when the body's internal core temperature...
In vertebrate animals, blood is made up of red blood cells that carry oxygen to tissues throughout the body. The cells flow through the body in blood plasma, which is composed mostly of water, but also includes minerals and nutrients for the blood...
1.26 million Americans will have a heart attack this year, according to the American Heart Association. Coronary artery disease or blockages in the arteries of the heart cause heart attacks. Heart bypass surgery reestablishes blood flow to the...
Lamictal, generically known as lamotrigine, is a medication that treats convulsions and bipolar disorder (psychiatric disorder characterized by fluctuations in mood). Tell your doctor if you have an existing kidney, liver or heart condition...
Potassium nitrate is a chemical compound that is commonly used in fertilizer, fireworks and gunpowder. Medically, it is used to treat sensitive teeth. Potassium nitrate is a strong oxidizer, and can change compounds in the body that are necessary...
Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, can occur in any part of the urinary system, which is comprised of the bladder, kidneys, ureters, sphincter and urethra. Symptoms include painful urination, an increased urge to urinate, cloudy or bloody urine...
According to the Mayo Clinic, the human body is comprised of about 60 percent water. Water helps your organs function properly, delivers necessary nutrients to cells and promotes healthy tissue. Lack of water can lead to dehydration, which can...
Fluid accumulation and swelling of the lower extremities--including the feet, ankles and legs--is called peripheral edema, according to MedlinePlus. The swelling may be uncomfortable but generally is not painful. It's most commonly seen in elderly...
Pennyroyal's pretty name and mint flavor disguise the fact that it is actually a highly toxic and potentially deadly herb. Pennyroyal is a member of the mint family, but that's where the similarity ends. Pennyroyal in any form is not safe for...
For individuals who want to lose several pounds in just a few days, crash diets are the way to go. Most conventional diets focus on losing weight slowly but gradually over the long term, but a crash diet can bring off pounds each day for the first...
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is an antibiotic-resistant staph infection that occurs most often in people who have been in a hospital or other health care facility. A superficial MRSA infection might cause a swollen, red...
Shock is a potentially life threatening condition where the vital organs, such as the brain are not getting enough blood or oxygen to function properly. The condition may occur as a result of an injury which results in excessive blood and fluid...
The hypothalamus is the part of your brain that controls body temperature, hunger and thirst. When you experience heat exhaustion, your body is producing more heat than it can release, especially if you are dehydrated, because your body reduces...
Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a rare and serious allergic reaction to medications, such as anti-gout medications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sulfonamides- or sulfa-containing drugs and penicillin, and anticonvulsants. Infections, such as...
The baseline core temperature for most humans is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Your body temperature fluctuates throughout the day depending on physical activity, body heat loss and environmental factors. When you're losing body heat at a rapid rate,...
Cancer is one of the most serious and deadly diseases of today's society. While surgery, chemotherapy and radiation form the basis for most cancer therapies, many cancer patients have found additional hope and relief in alternative cancer...
Cancer is an abnormal growth of previously healthy tissue, leading to the formation of a cancerous tumor. At the heart of cancer development are genetic mutations, which allow cells to continually divide, avoid cellular death and proliferate...
Acute diseases are those diseases that come on abruptly and run a short, severe course, while chronic diseases last for a prolonged time and may come and go. An acute disease requires immediate medical attention due to life-threatening...
Humans are constantly changing. The body, mind and metabolism of a human being continuously move from one stage of the life cycle toward the next. Advancements in medical science, nutrition, sanitation and medicine have altered the length of time...
Pancreatitis is an inflammatory condition that occurs when pancreatic digestive enzymes become active within the gland and attack the pancreas itself. Learn about the different causes of, symptoms of, and treatments for pancreatitis in this...
Sickle cell anemia is a blood disorder that results in decreased blood and oxygen flow. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for Sickle Cell Anemia in this video.