A distended colon is a colon that has become greatly enlarged in size, giving rise to the alternate name of megacolon. Several factors can cause a distended colon, such as an intestinal obstruction in which the intestines become physically blocked...
Kwashiorkor is a type of severe malnutrition caused by insufficient protein intake. Sufferers of kwashiorkor exhibit muscle wasting, a protruding abdomen, swelling and protruding ribs and facial bones, according to MedlinePlus. Although this...
Menopause is a condition that occurs naturally in women at or about the age of 51. The definitive sign of menopause is the cessation of periods for one full year. However, in menopause, and in peri-menopause, the preceding four to five years...
Vitamin D is crucial to the proper development and formation of your baby's bones. Rickets, a vitamin D deficiency, occurs when the bones become too soft and weak to support the weight of your child. Symptoms of rickets include bowed legs and a...
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces less thyroid hormone than the body needs. In some cases, a baby is born without a thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism may be present at birth or may develop later. Some cases are mild and...
Osteoporosis is a loss of bone mineral density; having osteoporosis increases the risk of fractures that can occur spontaneously or from a fall. Osteoporosis is more common in women, because they have less dense bones than men, especially after...
Proteins are the basic building blocks for the body--integral components of muscles and most other tissues. As such, they serve important functions in the growth and development of the human body. Also serving as enzymes and hormones that regulate...
During the nine months that a woman is pregnant, many changes occur. In addition to growth of the baby, there are certainly major physical changes for the woman. The changes that occur follow a time-line of development that is well documented....
Thalassemia, also known as Cooley's anemia or Mediterranean anemia, is a genetic disease in which the body has a problem creating hemoglobin. Hemoglobin helps red blood cells carry oxygen to the cells and tissues of the body. The National...
Red blood cells contain a protein called hemoglobin, which allows them to carry oxygen to tissues. Mutations in hemoglobin, which results in a condition known as thalassemia, cause red blood cells to be broken down more quickly and made more...
A joint's range of motion is the angle through which a joint moves from the anatomical position to the extreme limit of the motion in a particular direction. Having an optimal range of motion allows you to move freely without pain or stiffness and...
Skeletal structure, alignment and posture contribute to overall health and fitness. Proper skeletal alignment and posture places less strain on your body. Poor posture, whether structural or habitual, decreases joint flexibility and increases...
Protein is made of amino acids that function like building blocks, and different foods contain different amino acids. The body needs protein for many functions, and fortunately, protein deficiencies are rare in people eating a varied diet that...
Two types of exercises can be beneficial for abdominal hernia sufferers: cardio and gentle ab exercises. Excess body fat means more fatty tissue in the abdomen and that creates more work for the abdominal muscles to keep soft tissue from...
Kwashiorkor is a type of malnutrition caused by a lack of protein in your diet. This condition is particularly common in parts of the world that suffer from famine or lack of food supply. However, PubMed Health reports up to 50 percent of nursing...
You need protein in your diet for both structural and physiological purposes. Protein comprises the bulk of your muscle tissue, and it functions in immune health, blood cell formation and hormone synthesis. The dietary proteins you eat break down...
Although protein deficiency is not a common nutritional problem in the United States, children in impoverished countries more commonly suffer from protein deficiency, a condition known as kwashiorkor. Because protein is a key macronutrient in a...
Yoga literally means "union" in Sanskrit and describes the unity of the mind, body, breath and spirit through physical discipline. Because its purpose is creating oneness, yoga focuses on the whole self rather than on spot reduction of a...
A flat stomach is a sign of strong core muscles, a desirable body fat percentage, good posture and healthy nutritional choices. All of these show optimal muscular strength and endurance as well as body composition. These are fitness components...
The bones become fragile and more vulnerable to breaking when osteoporosis develops. Sometimes a person may not know the bone disease has started, and if no treatment is sought for prevention, damage will occur. The bones are at risk of fracture,...
Numerous diseases are caused by consuming an unhealthy diet. According to the MedlinePlus website, food provides you with the energy and nutrients you need to be healthy. If your diet is lacking in nutrients -- such as proteins, carbohydrates,...
Vitamin D is important for kids, and especially breastfed babies, who may not get enough of this essential nutrient. Nicknamed the "sunshine vitamin," vitamin D is essential to prevent a nutritional deficiency that causes a painful and disfiguring...
Numerous diseases are associated with an unhealthy diet. According to the World Health Organization, or WHO, malnutrition and obesity are both significant public health problems. An unhealthy diet is a diet in which you either consume foods that...
Posture refers to the alignment of various parts of your body in relation to each other. Proper posture helps prevent fatigue, headaches, eye strain and muscle tension. Good posture can help improve your quality of life by making exercise more...
Kwashiorkor, also called protein-energy malnutrition, occurs when the diet is lacking in protein. It occurs most often in world regions with consistently low food supplies, famine, political upheavals, droughts, natural disasters, poor education...
The prospect of life with an ostomy often seems daunting. The idea of having a portion of your intestine protruding through your abdomen is not a pleasant thought. However, complications from conditions such as cancer, Crohn's disease,...
Abdominal hernias usually occur when there is a weakening or defect in the muscles and tissues of the abdominal wall. When strain is placed on the abdominal wall, part of the intestines can break through the weakening wall, causing a mass to...
An omphalocele is a defect in the abdominal wall that allows the internal organs to protrude into the umbilical cord, sometimes covered by a membranous sac. If your child has an omphalocele, it will probably be diagnosed during a prenatal...
Deep breathing is the opposite of shallow breathing. Deep breathing involves the act of breathing deep into one's lungs by flexing the diaphragm rather than breathing shallowly by flexing the rib cage. Deep breathing is marked by expansion of the...