Your tongue is a muscular organ covered with a mucous membrane and small bumps. It helps you taste, chew and swallow the food, and form words. Increased levels of growth hormone, abnormal protein buildup in the body, Down syndrome, hypothyroidism...
Many people in the United States do not get enough magnesium from food alone, according to the U.S. Office of Dietary Supplements. Some people turn to magnesium supplements to boost their daily intake of this vitamin. Dietary magnesium and...
A swollen and cracked tongue can be the result of several medical conditions. Swelling and cracking can be uncomfortable, making it difficult to eat, drink and even speak. Depending on the cause, the condition might clear up on its own, but in the...
Deficiencies in nutrients involved in red blood cell formation can lead to anemia, a condition that often causes inflammation, soreness and swelling of the tongue. Anemia, also known as "tired blood," can cause permanent damage if left untreated....
Penicillin is commonly prescribed to treat bacterial infections. It is effective in preventing the growth of bacteria according to Mayo Clinic. Penicillin comes in different forms to treat variations of bacterial infections. Pediatric use is...
Iron deficiency anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough red blood cells due to low levels of iron in the blood. Iron is a mineral that is important for the production of healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells contain...
Nicorette chewing gum, used to help people stop smoking, works by lessening withdrawal cravings. The gum releases nicotine in the mouth, which absorbs through the lining of the cheeks. The University of Missouri Student Health Center website...
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland found at the base of the bladder in men. Its main function is to produce the liquid component in semen. An inflammatory condition known as prostatitis may affect young and middle-aged men. There are two forms...
Red blood cell production depends on an adequate supply of vitamin B-12. An insufficient intake of the vitamin potentially leads to anemia, according to MedlinePlus. Good sources of vitamin B-12 include eggs, fish, shellfish, fortified cereals,...
Doxycycline is a medication in a class of drugs known as tetracycline antibiotics. According to Drugs.com, doxycycline is used to treat many different bacterial infections such as urinary tract infections, acne, gonorrhea and chlamydia,...
Crab, along with other shellfish, is one of the seven foods that causes 90 percent of food allergies, notes AskDrSears.com. A numb tongue is an indication that you are sensitive to crab and should consult a physician for testing. Food allergies...
Seizures refer to involuntary muscle movements that occur as a result of jumbled electrical activity in the brain. MedlinePlus says that symptoms of seizures include a loss of muscle control, altered consciousness, muscle tension and visual...
The B vitamins are a class of water soluble vitamins which have various functions regarding cell metabolism within the body. All eight of the vitamins have individual names, however, when provided together they are referred to as Vitamin B...
Zinc is an essential metal the body needs to stay healthy. The nutrient helps the immune system, assists with producing proteins and DNA and is important for proper wound healing. People get zinc from eating foods with the mineral and in...
The tonsils, lumps of tissue located at the back of the throat, can become irritated or infected, causing severe pain. A tonsillectomy may be needed when medication does not reduce the inflammation in the throat or when chronic tonsil infections...
Pyrithione zinc is used in soap and shampoo to treat dandruff, as well as seborrhea, which is characterized by crusting, oily or scaling skin. The shampoo is called an antiseborrheic. That means it slows production of skin cells to reduce...
Vitamins are organic compounds that the body requires in small amounts to function properly. There are 13 essential vitamins that should be included in the diet. Minerals are inorganic compounds that the body also requires for proper functioning....
Like the hair on your head, your fingernails consist of layers of keratin protein, according to the Mayo Clinic. When your nails are healthy, your body uses nutrients and proteins to create more keratin, pushing the growing portion of the nail out...
Milk thistle has been used to purify and protect the liver since A.D. 23. Science seems to back tradition, though results of human studies are mixed, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Germany's regulatory agency for herbs...
Reclast is one form of bisphosphonates used to treat Paget's disease and osteoporosis, and to increase bone mass in men, according to Drugs.com. It can also be prescribed to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women or to curb the side effects...
Nexium is the brand name for esomeprazole magnesium, a medication used to treat and heal the effects from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). A 40 mg capsule of Nexium is on the higher end of the dosing scale. It is prescribed at this dose for...
Niacinamide and niacin, forms of vitamin B-3, play essential roles in cell maintenance and the function of fats and sugars in the body. Niacinamide has a variety of uses as a dietary supplement, including the prevention and treatment of niacin...
Fats are essential for human health, but not all fats are alike. Certain nuts contain heart-healthy fats such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. If you are going to include nuts in your diet, it is helpful to know which nuts are...
Because bacteria can develop an immunity to antibiotics, the search for new antibiotics is constant. In 1981, amoxicillin was patented by SmithKline Beecham as a partially synthetic antibiotic. In 1998, amoxicillin became approved for antibiotic...
Metronidazole is a generic antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections of the vagina, respiratory tract, skin, joints and stomach. According to the health experts at Drugs.com, this medication fights these infections by entering the cell wall of...
Vitamin B has eight variations, which include B-1 thiamine, B-2 riboflavin, B-3 Niacin, B-5 pantothenic acid, B-6 pyridoxine, biotin, B-9 folic acid and B-12 cobalmin. All B vitamins are water soluble and help the body convert carbohydrates into...
The Brazil nut tree grows in northern Brazil, along the Rio Nigro and Amazon rivers. The nuts are found in the fruit of the tree, a hard round shell about 6 inches across, that contains approximately 24 Brazil nuts. The trees grow wild and are...
Vitamin deficiency may not be the first thing that comes to mind if you develop a skin condition, but many vitamin deficiencies cause skin problems. Because vitamins play such an important role in so many health areas, including tissue...
The origin of Kawasaki Disease has yet to be discovered, but there are some known risk factors that can help you recognize unfamiliar symptoms as Kawasaki related. The disease typically strikes children under the age of five and is seen most...
