Diseases & Health Conditions

Back exercises and stretching for lower pain are powerful actions you can take for decreasing your back pain, according to the Physiotherapy Site. Exercises will help prevent further stiffness from developing in your back, while also making your muscles less…
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Overview Homeopathic medicine was created by German physician Samuel Hahnemann in 1796. It is based on three principles: that like cures like; that the smaller the dilution, the more effective the remedy; and that one remedy can cure any number…
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Many people wine with dinner or a few beers while watching a game, but for some alcohol use can become alcohol dependence, a disease called alcoholism. According to the National Institutes of Health, those at risk for becoming alcohol dependent…
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Overview Chemotherapy medications seek out and destroy cancer. It works in different ways to stop the cancer cells from dividing and causes them to die or commit cell suicide. Many different chemotherapy drugs exist today. Over the last century, chemotherapy…
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Making the choice to give up cigarette smoking holds great promise for a better and longer life. Thanks to the highly addictive nature of the nicotine in cigarettes, however, some people find it very difficult to quit smoking. Physical withdrawal…
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Overview Chemotherapy is usually used in conjunction with surgery and/or radiation to treat brain cancer. However, chemotherapy may be used by itself if the tumor is advanced, or has returned after other types of treatment. Some types of tumors respond…
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The National Institute of Mental Health reports that approximately 6.7 percent of the U.S. population is depressed in any given year. While symptoms of depression, by definition, persist over a period of weeks or more, many of these people never…
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Overview Cigarette or tobacco smoke, also called secondhand smoke, is a mixture of gases and fine particles. It contains smoke from a burning cigarette and exhaled smoke from the smoker consisting of more than 4,000 chemicals, from which, according to…
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Diesel engine exhaust contains carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and other potentially toxic gases. It also contains fine particulate matter, some in the form of soot, which can build up in a person’s lungs. People who live in high-traffic or high-smog…
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Urinary tract infections typically occur because of bacteria that enters the opening to the bladder, which is called the urethra. Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are treated with antibiotics. There are different types of UTIs that are named for their…
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Overview Substance abuse is the misuse of alcohol and other mind-altering drugs. Many factors influence a person’s risk for becoming a substance abuser, including genetics, environmental factors and the person’s developmental stage when drugs are first introduced. In many cases,…
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Over 15 percent of Americans have been told by their doctors that they have depression, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While the mental symptoms of depression are well documented, like the loss of interest, a feeling of…
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Overview Mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer involving the mesothelium, which is the lining around the lungs. Mesothelioma, which often is linked to the inhalation of asbestos, can also occur in the lining around the heart or in the…
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Overview Prostate cancer found in its early stages is highly treatable. The American Cancer Society reports that the survival rate for prostate cancer is 91 percent for 10 years after initial diagnosis and treatment. Prostate cancer may be treated with…
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Alcohol abuse has devastating effects on the individual, the family and society as a whole. Increased clinical understanding of the consequences of alcoholism can help health care professionals to develop strategies for repairing the damage inflicted by the disease. Knowledge…
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Overview The muscular system is one of the largest and most important body systems. There are three types of muscle present throughout the body: skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle. The muscular system functions to allow the body to produce movement…
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Herpes is the common name for the disease caused by the herpes simplex virus. Depending on the site of the infection, herpes can affect men and women differently. For most women, recognition of the early symptoms of herpes followed by…
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Overview Asthma can be difficult to control, especially if you live in an area that has a plethora of triggers that make your symptoms worse. Every year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, or AAFA, conducts the Asthma Capitals…
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Autism spectrum disorders are not curable, but they are treatable. After decades of research and trial-and-error, health professionals in communities large and small are completely capable and fully-equipped to address, diagnose, assess, educate, inform and train others in the service…
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Whether you suffer from panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder or just feel anxious and tense, you’re not alone. Anxiety disorders affect around 40 million adults each year, according to statistics provided by the National Institute of Mental Health. Anxiety may…
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Overview HPV, also known as the human papillomavirus, is a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause warts to appear in the anogenital region. In addition to causing genital warts, some types of HPV infection are associated with an increased…
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The heart has four functioning one-way valves; the aortic, mitral, pulmonary and tricuspid valves. These valves allow a measured amount of blood to flow from chamber to chamber in the heart and finally out to the aorta. When these valves…
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Approximately 20.9 million American adults suffer from mood disorders, including major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder–a form of chronic depression–and bipolar disorder. According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, major depressive disorder is the number one cause of disability for…
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Overview The bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes tuberculosis in humans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the bacteria generally causes problems with lung function, but it can also attack other major organs, like the brain, spine or kidneys….
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If you suffer from anxiety, you’re not alone. According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, around 40 million American adults are affected by anxiety disorders each year. This can include panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder or phobias….
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Attention Deficient Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), is the most commonly diagnosed neurological disorder among children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 4.5 million children have been diagnosed with ADHD as of 2006, meaning approximately 3 to 7 percent…
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Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a nerve compression disorder of the wrist brought on by repetitive motion or sustained muscle force causing inflammation of the connective tissue and pressurization of the median nerve. Simply put, if you hold your hand…
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Nasal allergies or hay fever is a common allergic reaction with flu-like symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic. Hay fever or allergic rhinitis occurs when a person’s immune system mistakenly perceives a particular substance as harmful. The body produces histamine…
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Overview Lymphomas are a type of cancer that occurs in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system includes small clusters of immune cells called lymph nodes, which often become involved in lymphoma. When a patient is suspected of having a lymphoma,…
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Overview According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five American adults is infected with genital herpes. In some cases, genital herpes involves the anus and surround tissue. Anal herpes is most common among people who engage…
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