A mushroom is the "fruiting" body of a fungus. Several species of mushrooms such as shiitake, maitake and reishi mushrooms possess immunostimulating properties. The polysaccharide content of these mushrooms may stimulate various immune system...
Any illness can throw your workout schedule into disarray, but inner ear infections can disrupt an element essential to many physical activities: your sense of balance. Complex activities rely on feedback from your inner ear to give you positional...
Probiotics are bacteria which have beneficial health effects when used for certain health conditions. One common use of probiotics is in the treatment of gastrointestinal ailments such as inflammatory bowel disease, some types of colitis and...
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a class of drugs that elicit an array of antipyretic (fever-reducing), analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. This class of drugs is utilized by more than 17 million people in the United States...
If you are having your tongue pierced it is essential that you follow scrupulous hygiene in order to avert the risk of infection. The potential for infections as the result of tongue piercing is certainly greater than for piercings elsewhere on...
Fungus infections are commonly experienced by individuals who are older or who have a compromised immune system. These opportunistic infections can develop nearly anywhere on or in the human body but usually begin in the nail beds of the fingers...
A blood filled pimple is usually caused by trauma done to the skin, such as squeezing or pinching a pimple. The trauma, according to Lymphedema People, ruptures the underlying blood vessels, causing the pimple to pool with blood and lymph fluid....
Women are more likely to develop urinary tract infections, but men can also get them. A kidney infection, also called pyelonephritis, is a specific type of UTI, according to the Mayo Clinic. This specific infection occurs when a basic UTI that...
Staphylococcus, or staph, infections are cause by bacteria found in moist, warm environments, especially hospitals and public restrooms. The bacteria enter the skin through cuts, sores or bug bites. The Mayo Clinic reports that a staph infection...
Bumps that occur after shaving, or razor bumps, arise when shaved hair curls and grows back into the skin. The resulting redness and inflammation causes unsightly blemishes and may itch or hurt. Shaving bumps are more common in black men and in...
Infant eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, is characterized by patches or bumps on the cheeks that are itchy and red. MedlinePlus explains that over time the skin cells can become thicker where eczema exists. There are various ways to try to...
A cystocele or fallen bladder develops when the bladder sinks from its normal position into the vagina, according to the Mayo Clinic. This can occur after straining of the muscles in the pelvic area during conditions such as childbirth or chronic...
Touch the soft, spongy areas on either side of your nose just below your eyes. These are your sinus cavities. When properly working, the tiny hairs in your sinuses move dirt, bacteria, viruses and other substances through. However, the nasal...
A laser is a device that emits light of only one wavelength, unlike most sources of light which radiate light waves with many different wavelengths. Lasers are used to treat acne and other imperfections in the skin by removing the upper layers of...
HBV (hepatitis B virus) is estimated to infect over 40,000 people each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the total number of people living with the virus in the U.S. is over 1 million, with about 4,000 deaths...
Body piercings are a popular form of cosmetic expression. Unfortunately, if a piercing becomes infected, is inadvertently pulled out or otherwise traumatized, a scar can appear in the healed area. Scars don't usually match the texture or color or...
Your wisdom teeth are your final set of molars, which typically appear in the back of your mouth sometime between your late teens and mid-twenties. In many cases, your mouth will not have sufficient room to provide for the arrival of these teeth....
When your acne gets infected, it usually takes more than just over-the-counter products to clear your skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, inflammatory acne--characterized by larger, pus-filled lesions--results in part from...
If you're an adult male with acne, you might think it's unfair that you're suffering from what's considered a teenage condition. But the truth is, one-fourth of all adult men suffer from acne at some point, according to Acne.org, and many of these...
Cancer is a disease in which changes to cells cause them to divide in an uncontrolled manner. Cancer causes a broad range of symptoms depending on where it is located and what type of cancer it is. A very common problem with cancer is weight loss.
Not all acne treatment is created equal. You and your dermatologist need to match your chosen therapy with the type of pimples you have. If you have moderate or severe acne that doesn't include cysts, your physician might prescribe the antibiotic...
Extra virgin coconut oil can be made either through a cold-pressing of ripe coconut flesh or through an extraction from coconut milk. It is a popular cooking oil, especially in Polynesian and other tropical cuisines, but it also has several...
Many things can affect that beautiful smile, and your teeth are one of the most visible parts of your face, especially when you are smiling. Having gum disease not only looks bad, but it can contribute to bad breath, discolorations of the teeth...
A fever in a small child can be alarming, especially when it occurs in the middle of the night. With doctors' offices closed and the child possibly displaying other symptoms, it is easy to feel confused and overwhelmed. While fevers can make a...
As newborn infants take their first feeding, bacteria are introduced into the bowels. Throughout life, a range of bacteria collectively known as the normal flora inhabits the bowels. Dr. Kenneth Todar notes in his electronic reference, "Todar's...
The teeth are hard calcified structures that play a role in eating, speech and communication. Each tooth is made up of three layers: an innermost layer of pulp, which contains blood vessels, nerves and pulp cells; dentin, a calcified layer that...
Blisters generally occur when an object moves across the skin in a manner that creates friction. On the hands, baseball bats and other handheld sports equipment cause blisters when they rub against delicate skin on the fingers and palm, causing...
A sinus infection can cause mild but unpleasant symptoms. In other cases it can become severe and cause symptoms that interfere with everyday life. Sinus infections can cause a significant amount of pain and/or an infection in the bones of the...
There are two major forms of tuberculosis: latent, in which the infection is inactive and can't be spread to other people, and active, in which the infection is contagious. Of these, active tuberculosis is the more severe form. Patients who...
Bed sores, or pressure ulcers, are lesions caused by prolonged pressure to a part or side of the body. Learn about bed sores, including treatments and symptoms, in this video.
Bone infections are caused by bacteria and can be treated with antibiotics, get expert tips and advice on medical treatments in this video.
Bad breath or halitosis has caused store shelves to be filled with gum, mints, and other products designed to help control bad breath. Yet these products help control bad breath or halitosis only temporarily. And, they actually may be less...
