Diseases & Health Conditions

There are several types of drugs that can relieve the symptoms of anxiety disorder. Tranquilizers, antidepressants and beta blockers are the most commonly prescribed. Some anxiety medications are taken on a daily basis; others are for temporary use. Benzodiazepines Benzodiazepines,…
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Overview When adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety coexist, it can impair a person’s ability to perform daily tasks and function well in day-to-day life. For many, these impairments go largely undiagnosed, despite the fact that approximately half…
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Yoga stretches can strengthen your supportive back muscles and help reduce lower back pain by relieving the pressure on your lower spine. Dr. Robert Saper of Boston University’s School of Medicine conducted a conclusive study that revealed the effectiveness of…
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Cocaine is a widely abused stimulant drug that can be addictive. As a stimulant, it can affect the brain by speeding up its activity. It can be injected straight into the blood stream, snorted through the nose and smoked through…
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Overview According to the National Institute of Mental Health, in the United States, bipolar disorders affect approximately 5.7 million adults per year. Bipolar II is a mood disorder with cycles of depressed and hypomanic states. In bipolar II, the person’s…
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Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the joints. Symptoms often come on slowly and include fever, fatigue, joint pain and morning stiffness. Left untreated, rheumatoid arthritis can potentially cause severe joint destruction, leading to…
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Sinus headaches are the result of pressure built up in the sinus cavity due to inflammation. Sinus headaches are characterized by a throbbing, dull pain, often located behind the eyes, the inner ear, in the forehead or deep within the…
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Overview Blushing (reddening of face, neck and ears) is a normal reaction to anger or embarrassment that triggers the nervous system, causing the blood vessels in the face and neck to dilate, bringing more oxygen to the head. A fear…
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Osteoporosis, characterized by weak and brittle bones, affects the skeletal system. It occurs most often in elderly women, but it can affect men and younger women as well. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases,…
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Overview Back pain is a frequent complaint in individuals suffering from advanced osteoporosis. Often, the sudden onset of pain as a result of spinal fractures is the first sign that someone has osteoporosis, as the disease frequently exhibits no symptoms…
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Overview Alkaline phosphatase, often abbreviated to ALP, is an enzyme found mostly in liver and bone. Abnormal levels of ALP are usually elevations, although low levels of ALP occur in some conditions. ALP is measured as part of the liver…
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Overview A frontal headache is pain in the forehead and, in some cases, the cheeks and bridge of the nose. Headaches in this area may be tension headaches, sinus-related headaches or migraines. With any headache, if the pain is severe…
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Overview The esophagus is the portion of the digestive system that connects the mouth to the stomach. When esophageal cells become damaged, either due to smoke, acid burns or other causes, it can cause the cells in the esophageal lining…
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When uric acid crystals build up in or around a joint, painful inflammation can occur called gout, or arthritis. Injuries may also lead to arthritic pain. The associated pain can range from a mild ache to a debilitating condition. Homeopathic…
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The spine is comprised of bones called vertebrae and soft spongy discs that separate the vertebrae. The disc is made up of two components; a tough fibrous outer layer of rings called the annulus and a jellylike center called the…
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Overview In the lungs, oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged through a complex and ingenious masterpiece of biological processes. The lungs are a pair of vital organs that are miraculous in function and marvelous in form. Without them and the…
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Doryx (doxycycline hyclate) is a prescription tetracyclic antibiotic used to treat certain types of bacterial infections that may affect specific body regions, including the eyes, bladder or intestines. This medication is typically administered orally (tablet) as prescribed by your doctor…
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Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are both inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract that goes through cycles of flare-ups and remission. While colitis is found only in one continuous area of the large intestine,…
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Anorexia, or anorexia nervosa, is a potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by low body weight, obsession over weight loss and a distorted body image. Though numerous underlying issues that contribute to anorexia have little to do with weight, such as…
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Depression can impact individuals of all ages, including children. The University of Maryland Medical Center points out that adolescents are at a higher risk of depression than younger children. Children can develop depression due to stress, neglect or abuse. Signs…
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According to Mayo Clinic, although anxiety and depression are two distinct disorders, they often appear at the same time. Anxiety symptoms may include panic attacks, phobias, generalized anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorders. Symptoms of depression may involve long-term sadness, fatigue, irregular…
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A swollen joint indicates an increased amount of fluid in the soft tissue around the joint. Swelling can occur in any joint, and often indicates a process of inflammation. Pain and stiffness may accompany the swelling. If the spine is…
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According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Asperger’s syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder. This means it is on a continuum of developmental disorders that includes classic autism. NINDS estimates that about 2 out of every…
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According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 40,000 reported cases of infections caused by salmonella every year. Because many cases are not even reported, the CDC estimates that the true number of infections…
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Depression can affect nearly everyone, but the Mayo Clinic points out that about twice as many women as men suffer from the mental health condition. There are a number of reasons women are at risk of developing depression, including a…
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Overview Brain tumors almost never form from neurons, because the neurons intrinsically lack the ability to divide and grow, which is a key part of cancer. Instead, many brain tumors come from cells that support and nourish the neurons. These…
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The breasts contain a number of specialized cell types. Each breast contains a number of lobules which produce and secrete milk, which are connected to the nipple by a series of ducts. The lobules and ducts are surround by fat…
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Breast cancer develops from mutated cells within the breast that divide uncontrollably to form a tumor. The type of breast cancer is determined by the cell type the cancer originated from and the invasiveness of the tumor. A number of…
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Overview Folliculitis is an infection in the hair follicles. The infection may occur due to exposure to fungi, a virus or bacteria entering the skin. A bacterial folliculitis infection can involve the superficial layers of skin of the follicle or…
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Assessment tools for depression need to address the key components of the condition, including depressed mood, hopelessness, decreased interest in activities, psychomotor retardation, sleep disruption, fatigue or loss of energy, diminished ability to think or concentrate, low self-esteem and suicidal…
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