The heart lies at the center of the circulatory system, functionally speaking, and is responsible for circulating blood throughout the body. Since cells depend on blood supply to receive nutrients and oxygen, heart disease that affects the...
The circulatory system consists of the heart and all the blood vessels including the veins, arteries and capillaries. The heart contains a natural pacemaker, known as the sinus node, which produces electrical impulses that trigger it to contract....
Inflammation is one of the major results of activation of the immune system. Inflammation causes a number of changes in the body, some of which can be detected in the blood. Detecting C-reactive protein (CRP) is one way that physicians can measure...
Rituxan (generic name: rituximab) is a cancer treatment used to manage non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (cancer affecting the white blood cells), and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. According to MedlinePlus, it is given as an intravenous injection at a...
Watch your weight, quit smoking and get more exercise -- most people know these big-picture changes are surefire ways to improve your overall health. But in addition to these major changes, there are plenty of small ways you can stay healthy,...
During an eye examination, the doctor looks through the pupils to physically inspect the anterior chamber of the eyes. By use of dilating drops, he can temporarily paralyze the muscles that control the iris, roughly doubling the size of the...
The exact cause of the skin condition psoriasis remains unknown as of 2010, but an improper immune response that mistakenly attacks skin cells appears to play a role. Like other conditions affected by a malfunctioning immune system, this condition...
As many as 7.5 million Americans struggle with psoriasis, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. A disfiguring autoimmune disease that causes skin lesions and increases the risk of other health problems, psoriasis is difficult to...
Cocaine use has many adverse cardiovascular effects and can lead to unique heart complications referred to as cocaine cardiomyopathy. An acute myocardial infarction or sudden heart attack is the most common cardiac event arising from cocaine abuse...
Caffeine is often considered a necessary morning stimulant. Without considering caffeine's numerous effects on the body, you grab a cup of coffee and wait for it to wake you up. Caffeine has effects on many aspects of the body, particularly the...
The influenza virus spreads easily from person to person through saliva droplets that travel through the air after a cough or sneeze, according to Drugs.com. The Nasal Flu Mist vaccine is administered to prevent infection with the flu. It helps to...
Some people have a particular build that predisposes them to obstructed breathing. Examples include obesity, large tonsils and a small jaw. During sleep, the flow of air is obstructed, they do not breath for a period of time, then resume...
If you or a family member is dealing with severe cold or flu like symptoms, you may be concerned about the swine flu. The swine flu got its name because the condition was first similar to a virus that occurred in pigs. While most people with the...
There are several types of heart disease. Among these types are the diseases that affect your heart's arteries, its muscle layer, as well as the membrane that covers it. The term coronary arteries refers to the arteries of your heart. The muscle...
Swollen fingers and joints occur for many reasons, ranging from temporary and mildly annoying to permanent and crippling. Swelling in the fingers makes it difficult to do even the simplest things, like opening a jar or picking up an object. Most...
The ability to induce inflammation is important to maintaining your health. Inflammation can help improve blood flow to a wound, as well as trigger an immune response to fight disease and infection. However, excessive inflammation can also prove...
The circulatory system is often called the cardiovascular system. It consists of the heart, the blood vessels and the blood, and is responsible for circulating oxygen and nutrients to all body cells, and removing carbon dioxide and other waste...
Scleroderma is a group of rare diseases that cause hardening of the skin and connective tissues. Localized scleroderma affects just the skin, whereas systemic scleroderma also affects the internal organs such as the lungs, kidneys and heart. An...
Inflammation is the body's natural response to injury and can result from physical and emotional trauma, infection and environmental toxins. Chronic inflammation depletes the body of antioxidants and triggers the immune system to produce free...
The cardiovascular system, made up of the heart, blood vessels and blood, circulates oxygen and nutrients to the body's cells. Because the system is mechanical, proper functioning depends on the health of both the pump--the heart--and the vessels....
Kidney and renal disease eventually affects all areas of the body. Kidneys filter toxins and waste from the blood that circulates throughout the body. When renal disease progresses and hinders kidneys from thoroughly filtering wastes, they build...
Depression causes neurological changes in the brain resulting in mental, emotional and physical changes. Identified causes of these changes are alteration in the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinepherine, and the...
The sugar and fats in sweets can potentially compromise your immune system, making them foods to avoid when you are recovering from a cold. When suffering from a cold, you should focus on healthy foods that boost your immune system and help your...
The heart is a fist-sized muscle responsible for pumping oxygenated blood around the body and forms the core of the cardiovascular system. Heart disease is the the leading cause of death worldwide and the number one cause of death in the United...
Your body needs the sun for the natural production and use of vitamins. Lack of the "sunshine vitamin," also called vitamin D, is suspected in many health conditions, including multiple sclerosis, cancer and diabetes, according to experts at...
Your body needs selenium and calcium to function properly. Calcium is vital for the formation of strong bones and teeth, muscle contraction, blood clotting, nerve function and metabolism. Selenium protects your body from free radicals, harmful...
Hibiscus tea is made from Hibiscus sabdariffa, an exotic red flower considered native to Africa. The herbal tea, more accurately called an infusion, is prepared by infusing dried hibiscus flower petals in hot water for 10 to 20 minutes. Hibiscus...
Omental fat was probably not mentioned in your high school biology textbook, but chances are you've been hearing more about it in recent years. It's a layer of fat tissue within your abdominal cavity, and it's linked to all sorts of health issues....
Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that causes signs and symptoms ranging from rash and flu-like fever and body aches to more serious ones including joint swelling, weakness, fatigue and temporary paralysis. Lyme disease is caused by the...
