Diseases & Health Conditions

Lyme disease is an infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacteria transmitted to humans through bites from black-legged ticks, most commonly deer ticks. According to the American Lyme Disease Foundation, with more than 150,000 reported cases since 1982, Lyme disease…
Read more

According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), more than 20 percent of American workers–including health care workers, police officers, security guards and transit workers—work evening or night shifts. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health…
Read more

Overview Bronchospasms due to activity can occur with or without asthma. Your risk of experiencing this condition is higher if you have asthma, but an assumption of asthma based on this occurrence is incorrect. There are a number of triggers…
Read more

Your nose is responsible for cleaning, humidifying and warming inhaled air before it reaches your lungs. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, a dry nose is unable to perform its essential functions, putting your lungs and overall health at…
Read more

Though HIV is an incurable disease, several medications slow its progression. Many of these medications work by preventing the HIV virus from producing more copies of itself. Several classes of HIV antiretroviral medications have been approved by the Food and…
Read more

Most babies begin teething at 4 to 7 months of age, according to BabyCenter.com. Teething can cause symptoms that resemble those of the common cold. Many experts disagree as to whether teething is responsible for certain symptoms, or if those…
Read more

Aricept is the trade name of the medication donepezil, which relieves the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer’s Association reports 5.3 million Americans have the disease, which is a chronic brain disorder associated with progressive loss of brain cells and…
Read more

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection contracted from the bite of a disease-carrying tick. The causative bacterium is Borrelia burgdorferi. The symptoms of the various stages of Lyme disease mimic some of the common symptoms of the autoimmune disease systemic…
Read more

No definitive cause of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) has been identified. However, as with many other mental health problems, several factors contribute to the development of this form of anxiety. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders…
Read more

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu viruses change from year to year. Getting vaccinated for flu each year can reduce the chances of getting flu by up to 90 percent. FluMist is a nasal…
Read more

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines chronic diarrhea as diarrhea that persists for at least two weeks. There are many causes of diarrhea and various treatments for each cause. Most treatments include following a balanced diet. Consuming fresh whole…
Read more

Ingesting raw or undercooked meats, such as beef or pork, can cause taeniasis–a tapeworm infection. Tapeworms can produce eggs (larvae) in the bodies of humans and animals, which can be transmitted to other people due to poor hygiene or close…
Read more

Overview Peripheral artery disease, or PAD, is a serious cardiovascular disease that can lead to gangrene, amputations, a heart attack or stroke, if not treated properly. The early symptoms of this condition can be very general and not attributed to…
Read more

If a person becomes exposed to the hepatitis B virus (HBV), they can develop an inflammatory liver disease called hepatitis B. To limit the risk of developing this infection, health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)…
Read more

For generations, calendula has been used to treat a variety of minor ailments. Calendula, also known as pot marigold, can be used to treat small wounds and burns, ear infections and dermatitis. The herb is generally considered safe. However, experts…
Read more

Willow bark has been used medicinally for centuries, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. In fact, the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates advised his patients to chew willow bark to relieve fevers and inflammation. This versatile, effective medicinal herb…
Read more

Human immunodeficiency virus or HIV can cause an acute flu-like illness in the weeks following initial infection. The terms acute HIV infection, primary HIV infection and acute retroviral syndrome are used to describe this illness. The Centers for Disease Control…
Read more

Nicotine is one of the many chemicals found in tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes and smokeless tobacco. Nicotine is readily absorbed, and once it enters the bloodstream, it quickly moves through the body and affects the organs. The…
Read more

The stereotype of what it means to be bipolar–raging mood swings of uncontrollable mania alternating with weeks of immobilizing depression–represents just one type of bipolar disorder. The National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression estimates that 5.7 million American…
Read more

Herbal teas are beverages made from herbs other than the tea plant (Camellia sinensis). There are a variety of herbal teas, many of which are marketed to treat specific ailments or provide health benefits. Understanding the effects of individual herbs…
Read more

GERD, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, results in heartburn or acid reflux symptoms at least two times a week for sufferers. The lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle in the esophagus, weakens and allows stomach acid to back up and…
Read more

Tuberculosis (TB) refers to a bacterial infection that affects 2 million people annually, states the Mayo Clinic. Its typical symptoms include night sweats, coughing up blood, chest pain, fatigue and fever. Some risk factors for TB include having a weakened…
Read more

Overview Normal people occasionally experience mood swings, in which they feel happy one day and sad the next. But when these mood swings become extreme and occur regularly, they may be considered abnormal. Depending on the circumstances and the pattern…
Read more

Overview A facelift is a common cosmetic surgical procedure to help erase wrinkles and remove sagging of the skin, but there will be scars, which are normally hidden within the folds of the skin and by the hairline. Healing takes…
Read more

Performing a vertical jump requires a significant energy output and your recruitment of many muscles, including your abdominal muscles, gluteal muscles and calf muscles. Other muscles, such as your quadriceps, hamstrings and ankle dorsiflexors, are also important, and contribute to…
Read more

White willow (Salix alba) is perhaps best known in Western medicine as the plant from which the world’s most popular prescription medication—aspirin—was derived. According to Vitamin Stuff, white willow bark has been used for its medicinal properties for thousands of…
Read more

Cantharis is a homeopathic remedy that contains a toxic substance called cantharidin from the insect Lytta vesicatoria, commonly known as the Spanish fly or blister beetle. People use cantharis topically to heal burns and blisters, and orally to treat bladder…
Read more

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) include autism, Asperger’s syndrome, Rett syndrome and child disintegrative disorder. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) states that about 3.4 in 1000 children between the ages of 3 and 10 have one of the autism…
Read more

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted disease. Many patients with an HPV infection show no signs or side effects of the disease, which leads to them unwittingly passing the virus along to sexual partners. This virus is…
Read more

Gangrene is the medical term for the death of skin, muscle or organ tissue, according to MedlinePlus and the Mayo Clinic. The symptoms of gangrene include discoloration, a discharge the smells bad, and severe pain followed by a loss of…
Read more