Diseases & Health Conditions

Overview Anxiety and depression are two common emotional disorders that can get in the way of daily activities, relationships with others and enjoyment of life. The Anxiety Disorders Association of America states that 17 percent of people struggle with depression…
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In the 2008 Survey on Drug Use and Health, 52 percent of American teens aged 12 and up had used alcohol in the previous month. Another 24 percent engaged in binge drinking, and 2 percent drank heavily on a regular…
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Percocet is a Class II prescription drug that comes in six different strengths and is prescribed as a pain reliever for moderate to acute pain. The main active ingredients of Percocet are oxycodone and acetaminophen. This blend classifies Percocet as…
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Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that most frequently attacks a person’s lungs, according to the Mayo Clinic. It’s spread from one person to another when an infected person releases minute droplets of saliva into the air by coughing or sneezing….
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Extra water in your lungs complicates breathing and must be removed. Water can be inhaled, as in near drowning, or it can enter by a medical lung-washing procedure called lavage. Your lungs can also fill up with water leaking from…
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Gout is a form of arthritis that occurs when too much uric acid gets in the bloodstream. This is also called hyperuricemia. Uric acid is a natural by-product of digestion, but if individuals produce too much, or if their kidneys…
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During prolonged alcohol abuse, particularly among daily heavy drinkers, the brain is forced into hyperactivity to compensate for the depressant effects of alcohol. When an alcoholic suddenly stops drinking, this hyperactivity continues leading to symptoms such as tremors, vomiting, increased…
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Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that increases signals to the brain’s pleasure centers. Long-term cocaine use can alter the brain’s physiology and lead to addiction. As cocaine use continues, a tolerance to the drug develops, and the user must consume…
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People who suffer from panic attacks often report that they feel they will die. In fact, panic attacks themselves do not cause harm; they occur randomly and can often mimic the feeling of a heart attack. Nocturnal panic attacks come…
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The flu, or influenza, is a viral infection that impacts the respiratory tract. It is a highly contagious infection that tends to occur seasonally. KidsHealth.org points out that most cases of the flu appear between late December and early March,…
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People who suffer from hay fever or allergic rhinitis, may experience cold-like symptoms such as nasal congestion, a runny nose and sinus pressure pain, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen, pet dander…
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Overview Asthma occurs when the linings of the airways are inflamed. The muscles around the lungs can also become inflamed and go into spasm. Regular exercise is an essential component to an overall treatment plan. The breathing difficulties and other…
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The human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, causes a chronic infection associated with progressive deterioration of the immune system. Many people experience a flu-like illness, termed acute retroviral syndrome, after initial HIV infection. Following the acute retroviral syndrome, a prolonged period called…
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Apple cider vinegar can ease some forms of heartburn. According to “The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth” by Jonny Bowden, people who are low in hydrochloric acid can experience traditional heartburn symptoms. Because hydrochloric acid is responsible for activating…
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Measles is a highly contagious viral respiratory infection. Measles is a fairly rare disease in the United States, because most people are immunized against it in early childhood. Although parents often fear that infants are susceptible to measles because they…
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Overview The thrill of the win is what keeps people coming to casinos, racetracks and other gambling establishments. For most people, the losses that also inevitably occur ensure that gambling will never be more than an occasional pastime. But a…
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No matter which form of tobacco is used, the effects of tobacco and smoking take a toll on personal health and freedom. When people start smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipe tobacco, they begin a period of compulsive behavior that can…
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Overview Guided imagery is a technique used to help move an individual toward a state of relaxation. Individuals are provided with an image or they imagine their own image. Then the image is used to move them into a more…
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Overview Most of the time, insomnia develops as a symptom of a disorder such as anxiety or depression, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. A doctor may prescribe sleeping medication for insomnia, but many times this will not…
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Overview If you are spending too much time at betting websites, casinos or race tracks and are losing more money than you can afford, you may want to get help. Gambling behavior that endangers personal finances, a job and family…
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The bones provide structural support to the body, and allow for muscle contraction. Bone growth and development is a tightly regulated balance between new bone growth and old bone resorption, which is carried out by two classes of cells. Osteoblasts…
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Overview Diverticulitis is a condition characterized by inflammation and infection of diverticula, pouches in the intestine. Symptoms of diverticulitis include abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, bloody stools, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, gas and bloating. Medication, surgery and dietary precautions are…
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Dementia is characterized by a group of symptoms that include impairments in memory and deficits in cognitive ability. According to the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision” compiled by the American Psychiatric Association, Alzheimer’s disease…
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The Papworth method is a highly specialized breathing and relaxation technique developed in the 1960s for asthma patients. Named after the hospital in Cambridgeshire, England, where it was developed by physical therapists, this method fell out of favor with the…
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The Clostridium tetani bacterium causes the infection known as tetanus and affects the nervous system with potentially life-threatening complications. Spores of the bacteria reside in the environment; infection begins when the spores enter into the body. Tetanus occurs from different…
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Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the digestive tract. Symptoms of the disease include diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, ulcers, reduced appetite and weight loss. Severity of symptoms ranges from mild to severe and onset may be gradual or…
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Overview Panic disorder results in sudden panic or anxiety attacks that produce a sense of feeling out of control, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Some people having panic attacks fear they are experience heart attacks or…
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Overview Anxiety is a normal response to stress, fear or even danger during certain developmental stages. When anxiety spirals out of proportion to the life situation causing it, however, to the extent that it impairs functional ability, it is abnormal…
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Smoking is the number one cause of premature, preventable death in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. While everybody knows the health problems that smoking causes–heart disease, cancer, stroke, lung disease–smoking also damages your skin. Quitting smoking…
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Headaches can occasionally be a sign of a serious condition, so consult your doctor if you’re experiencing recurring headaches of any kind. But often they are benign, if painful. Most everyday headaches are caused by either muscle tension or constriction…
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