The U.S. system for developing and approving drugs is rigorous, complex and expensive. On the average, it takes ten to 15 years for a company to get one new medicine from the laboratory to patients, costing $1 billion or more. This significant...
For pharmaceutical companies, the stakes in developing new drugs are high. The journal Health Affairs estimates the cost to develop a new drug ranges from $500 million to $2,000 million. Of all the drugs introduced to the marketplace, only 30...
Multiple myeloma is cancer of the white blood cells in your bone marrow, called plasma cells. In this type of bone cancer, abnormal plasma cells multiply, raising the total number of plasma cells to abnormally high levels. Because plasma cells...
While known for attacking the joints of the body, rheumatoid arthritis (RA)--a chronic inflammatory disease--can also lead to progressive diseases of the lung. According to the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, respiratory conditions rank as the...
Gout is a form of arthritis characterized by acute pain and inflammation of one of the body's joints, usually the big toe. Often associated with heavy alcohol consumption and a diet rich in foods with a high-purine content, gout occurs when the...
Biggest Bang for your Buck Grapes are loaded with flavonoids--healthy plant chemicals that give grapes their deep purple coloring--but the color also signifies their many health benefits. From anti-aging efforts to cancer prevention to reducing...
The human immunodeficiency virus, also called HIV, is responsible for causing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, a chronic immune disease that makes you more susceptible to life-threatening diseases like cancer and pneumonia. HIV attacks...
Turmeric is a spice used in curry dishes, yellow mustard and as a dye for yellow foods such as butter and cheese. Turmeric has a history of being used for stomach upset, inflammation and skin diseases. The compound responsible for the golden color...
Coenzyme Q10, a necessary element of the cell's mitochondria, is an antioxidant found naturally in the body. Containing protein and vitamin/mineral elements and known as CoQ10, it is an enzyme that provides energy to our cells. It helps keep our...
Flaxseeds, the hard, tiny seeds of the flax plant, contain phytonutrients that help your body fight disease and promote good health. Scientists at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center suggest that regular consumption of flaxseed...
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, and the risk of this disease increases with age. The MayoClinic.com website reports that by age 50, 1 in 4 men will have some precancerous cells in the prostate gland. This cancer is generally very...
Gallstones are hard deposits that develop in the gallbladder. They can be as small as grains of sand or as large as golf balls. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, gallstones often do not cause any symptoms. However, when...
Everyone gets excited at the thought of eating decadent chocolate and also receiving tremendous health benefits. There's no doubt that this superfood is healthy, but the catch is that you need to control how much and which kind of chocolate you...
The lime is a citrus fruit that grows in tropical climates such as California, Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean. The two types of limes sold in the United States are the Persian and key varieties. Key limes are generally found in Florida, and the...
Prostate cancer affects the prostate, a walnut sized gland found at the base of the bladder which is responsible for producing the liquid component of semen. According to the U.K. health care provider, Bupa, the exact cause of prostate cancer is...
Managing blood sugar levels is essential for your health. When blood sugar is in excess, conditions such as glucose intolerance or diabetes occur. Conventional therapy for controlling sugar levels focuses on glucose-lowering agents such as...
Turmeric is most often thought of as a cooking spice, but this pungent yellow powder has properties that can make it as helpful in the medicine cabinet as it is in the spice rack. Turmeric has been used in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese...
Vitamin K is one of the four fat-soluble vitamins. There are various forms of vitamin K in nature, with plants, bacteria and animals all synthesizing a slightly different form. The main roles of vitamin K are blood coagulation, bone metabolism and...
Aloe vera is a tropical succulent plant that grows in arid areas in Asia and Africa. It contains a myriad of medicinal benefits. Considerable pilot data and clinical experience suggest that an aloe vera juice might help to prevent cancer in...
It may seem counterintuitive, but the fiery spices found in Indian cuisine may help douse the flames of heartburn and indigestion. Turmeric, which provides the yellow color that is characteristic of curry dishes, has a history of use among...
Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative brain condition that causes memory loss, confusion, personality changes, depression and concentration problems. It occurs when the level of neurotransmitters, brain chemicals that transmit messages related to...
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the need for dentists is expected to increase 16 percent from 2008 to 2018--faster than average for all occupations--because of the increasing demand for dental care. This is great news for...
Turmeric root, popularly used in Asian curries, soups and stews, is more than just a flavorful spice. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) states that traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine has long used...
The minerals potassium and magnesium are essential to your health. Several dietary supplements are available that combine potassium and magnesium through a special complex. The minerals are combined with the amino acid aspartate, which is a...
The roots of the turmeric plant, which belongs to the ginger family, are boiled, dried and ground into a deep yellow powder commonly used as a spice. The principle component of turmeric is curcumin, and it has a slightly bitter, earthy and peppery...
Neuropathy can be caused by many factors, such as diabetes, injuries, metabolic disorders, diet, toxins, autoimmune diseases or hormonal imbalance. The medicine used to treat neuropathy depends on the underlying cause and accompanying symptoms....
Diabetes is a disease in which blood sugar levels are too high. A hormone called insulin helps sugar get into cells, giving them the energy they need. Depending on the type of diabetes, insulin production is impaired or cut off totally. The goal...
The human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is responsible for causing the potentially fatal disease known as AIDS. HIV attacks white blood cells known as CD4 cells, gradually weakening the immune system and making you more susceptible to diseases...
Feverfew, botanically known as Tanacetum parthenium and also called bachelor's buttons, is a perennial plant related to the sunflower. Native to Eastern Europe, feverfew now grows throughout North America. It has been used as an herbal treatment...
