Diseases & Health Conditions

Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the membrane between the joints becomes inflamed. Enzymes produced by the inflammation digest tissue adjacent to the joints, and the eventual formation of scar tissue twists and disfigures the joints. Expensive prescription drugs carry many side…
Read more

Eating on the run, not drinking enough water or consuming mainly processed fast foods that lack fiber can mean an unpleasant, common problem: Constipation. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), about four million Americans have constipation every year…
Read more

Controloc (pantoprazole) is a prescription medication indicated for the temporary relief of symptoms associated with acid reflux in adult patients. Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid abnormally flows backwards from the stomach into the esophagus, throat or mouth. Controloc is…
Read more

Deselex is a brand name for the generic drug desloratadine. It is a prescription medication indicated to alleviate symptoms associated with seasonal allergies, such as nasal congestion or hives. This medication is part of a class of drugs called antihistamines…
Read more

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, gastric reflux is a medical condition that causes the contents of the stomach or small intestine to come back up into the esophagus. This condition can cause heartburn that is sometimes severe….
Read more

Overview Second only to the common cold, back and neck pain account for the most incidences of lost work time. From aging to poor posture to injury, a number of causes can affect your back and cause you pain that…
Read more

Overview When a mother smokes during pregnancy, she places her baby and herself at risk for dangerous consequences. Smoking causes increased chances for miscarriage, growth restriction, preterm birth, birth defects, and health problems after birth. Quitting smoking by the end…
Read more

Dexedrine, or dextroamphetamine sulfate, is a prescription medication indicated for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults and children 6 years of age and older. This medication is a type of central nervous system stimulant that works by…
Read more

Crohn’s disease is a serious condition that can affect the daily functions and quality of life for a person. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, Crohn’s disease affects only two to seven out of every 100,000 people. It…
Read more

Depression is a mood disorder that affects more than 14 million Americans each year, according to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. It is characterized by sadness, loss of interest in regular activities and despair. Many people with depression withdraw…
Read more

Breast cancer is a type of cancer where abnormal cells in the breast divide and grow. As the Susan G. Komen site explains, tumors tend to grow slowly–in some cases, as long as 10 years before diagnosis. Changes in DNA…
Read more

Diseases that affect the cardiovascular system were responsible for about one in three deaths in 2006 in the United States. That total of more than 831,000 deaths was the leading cause of death, ahead of 560,000 deaths due to cancer,…
Read more

Bipolar disorder refers to a psychiatric condition characterized by emotional extremes–depression and mania. The University of Maryland Medical Center says that bipolar disorder symptoms include sadness, appetite changes, agitation, trouble sleeping and a feeling of extreme happiness. Several drugs are…
Read more

When you are plagued with constipation, it means that you are having a bowel movement less than three times per week, defines the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Occasional constipation can happen to anyone, and some people suffer from chronic…
Read more

A 2002 report by the Centers for Disease Control indicated that teen smoking was down compared to previous years. However, the statistics are still high regarding the percentage of teens that have tried cigarettes. The online source Teen Help reports…
Read more

Headaches can be painful and annoying. The common headache, known as a tension headache, can come on suddenly and be hard to get to rid of. The American College of Physicians (ACP) says seven out of 10 people have at…
Read more

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health disorder that increases risk of suicide and affects a person’s ability to maintain healthy relationships and succeed at work. Helpguide.org reports that it’s a lifelong illness, which means people with this disorder will…
Read more

Deer ticks cause Lyme disease. After embedding itself into the skin of its victim, the tick feeds upon the blood of its host, passing the disease-causing pathogen into its victim’s bloodstream. Herbal therapies act as a complement to prescribed medications,…
Read more

Patients who suffer from symptoms that indicate a suspected case of colon, or bowel, cancer may need to undergo a series of tests. The tests may include blood tests, the use of scopes to view the inside of the colon,…
Read more

The earliest stages of breast cancer typically do not produce any symptoms. As breast cancer develops, however, certain specific changes in the breasts or nipples may indicate the onset of cancer. While many changes that occur in the breasts are…
Read more

TB–or tuberculosis–is a bacterial infection within the human body caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In 2006, over nine million new cases of TB were diagnosed throughout the world, reports the Merck Manual, an online medical encyclopedia for patients and…
Read more

HIV infection, the infection of white blood cells by the human immunodeficiency virus, causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. The HIV virus enters white blood cells and forces the cells to generate several new copies of the virus, then causes…
Read more

Homeopathy is a means of treating a condition by ingesting a small amount of the thing that caused the condition, or by ingesting something that “mimic(s) the symptoms, syndromes or conditions which it is administered to treat,” according to the…
Read more

Panic disorder is considered a type of anxiety disorder that affects between 1% and 3% of the population. According to Drs. Ciechanowski and Katon, writing in the medical database UpToDate, it is generally considered a chronic and recurrent disorder and…
Read more

Overview Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to kill cancer cells, and Tarceva is one of these drugs. Tarceva is the brand name for the generic drug erlotinib and was approved for use in 2004. It can be used to…
Read more

Overview The prostate, which is a small gland located at the base of the penis, is responsible for making the fluid component of semen. When these cells begin to grow abnormally quickly, they can turn into prostate cancer. Prostate cancer…
Read more

Overview Spastic colon, known medically as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), is a painful and sometimes embarrassing condition that affects the intestinal tract. One in five Americans is affected by the disorder, which affects more women than men, according to the…
Read more

The blood is made up of a number of cells and compounds, which fall into the general categories of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets, which are suspended in a saline solution called plasma. The cells of the…
Read more

Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, occurs as a sensitivity to outdoor allergens. For sufferers of hay fever, the spring, summer and fall bring itchy and watery eyes, sneezing and a stuffy nose when grass, trees and ragweed bloom. The Asthma…
Read more

Everyone experiences drops in energy at certain points throughout life. Occasional or mild lack of energy may be remedied through lifestyle changes such as stress relief or added sleep. In more serious cases, reduced energy indicates a potentially serious medical…
Read more