Diseases & Health Conditions

Overview Marijuana is a mind-altering drug that changes how the brain functions. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the potency of marijuana has been growing steadily since the 1970s. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the main component of the…
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The facts are terrifying. Marijuana impairs judgment, motor coordination, causes anxiety and panic attacks. Alcohol use impairs memory. Alcohol abuse can cause dangerous blackouts, mental confusion and lead to liver disease. The Above the Influence program reports that more than…
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According to the National Institute of Mental Health, childhood depression has been taken more seriously over the last two decades. While no single factor may explain the cause of depression in youth, a number of different theories exist. As with…
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Overview Emotional eating refers to eating in response to emotional triggers rather than hunger or perceived need. Most people partake in emotional eating on occasion in response to stress, hormonal shifts associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or in response to…
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Overview According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. Occurring mainly among older people, it is also sometimes called degenerative joint disease or osteoarthrosis. The effects of osteoarthritis…
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Overview If you grew up in the 1960s, 1970s or even the 1980s, you were likely one of the many people who spent hours in pursuit of the perfect suntan. Before the medical community realized the negative long-term effects of…
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Overview Emotional IQ, also known as emotional intelligence or EI, has gained popularity since its introduction in the early 1990s–first in a series of academic papers and then in a best-selling self-help book. Emotional intelligence tests are used to screen…
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According to the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, there are two main types of lung cancer. The most common type, which accounts for about 80 percent of lung cancer cases, is the nonsmall cell lung cancer, or NSCLC. The…
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Overview Zopiclone is a non-benzoidiazepine hypnotic medication commonly prescribed as a “sleeping pill” for insomnia. Doctors prescribe zopiclone in Canada under the trade name Imovane and in the UK as Zimovane. In the United States, the FDA has not approved…
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1. Look for Instability in Developing Close Personal Relationships Individuals suffering from a borderline personality disorder usually have difficulties in maintaining close relationships with others, a trait that usually manifests itself by early adulthood. These difficulties are usually caused by…
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Bladder infections, also known as cystitis, are caused when bacteria ascends the urethra and enters the bladder. Bladder infections typically present with frequent or urgent urination, pain during urination, foul-smelling or cloudy urine, and bloody urine. Definitive diagnosis can be…
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The typhoid disease originates from a bacteria called salmonella typhi, normally found in contaminated water and food sources in underdeveloped countries. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC recommends a typhoid vaccination for those planning to travel to typhoid-endemic…
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Overview Rosacea can cause embarrassing redness, spider veins and pus-filled bumps on the face. It may be mistaken for acne, and can worsen with age. Finding makeup to cover the redness and irritation can be a challenge. Mineral makeup such…
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Anxiety comes in many forms, from panic attacks to fear of social situations to a general nervousness. We all experience bouts of worry from time to time, but anxiety becomes a problem when it interferes with everyday life. According to…
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Patients with bipolar disorder have abnormal highs and lows in their mood. For example, a patient can have periods of mania, the high mood, followed by a normal mood. The patient can also have depression, the low mood. Nevertheless, some…
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The New York Thyroid Center estimates that more than 10,000 new diagnoses of papillary thyroid cancer are made each year in the United States. It is the most common type of thyroid cancer, according to the center, making up 70…
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Breast cancer originates when healthy breast cells develop genetic mutations, causing the cell to proliferate out of control. In the early stages of cancer, the cancer cells form a tumor that invades healthy breast tissue to allow for more tumor…
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The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology estimates that 40 to 50 million Americans suffer from one or more allergic diseases. Most allergy sufferers’ symptoms are mild, including cases of hives, rashes, nausea, sneezing, runny nose or watery eyes….
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Most people experience cold hands or feet in the winter, but find that their extremities warm up in a fairly short period of time. For others, cold hands are a symptom of circulation problems or a condition called Raynaud’s syndrome,…
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1. Get Plenty of Sleep The sleep disorder narcolepsy can strike without any warning, even if the sufferer receives enough sleep the night before. Even so, those with narcolepsy can treat and manage excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) by getting plenty…
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The National Institute of Mental Health notes that 20.9 million adults in the United States have a mood disorder, with 14.8 million of them having major depression. Patients with this type of depression have five or more depressive symptoms, such…
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Alcohol dependency, or alcoholism, is a chronic disease that’s characterized by the uncontrollable need to drink excessive amounts of alcohol. If you have alcohol dependency or alcoholism, you may also have liver problems from excessive alcohol consumption. Certain herbs can…
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Overview Skin abscesses are caused by bacteria that enter the skin, causing lesions and infection. The infection then forms pus pockets that worsen without treatment. Athletes are especially susceptible to skin abscesses because close contact with other athletes, profuse sweating,…
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1. Identify Risk Factors Some people are more prone to suffering from whiplash following even a minor car crash. This varies depending on many factors, from the fitness level of the person to the intensity of the crash. In general,…
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The black elderberry, a sweet-tasting fruit native to Europe, has been used for centuries as a treatment for common problems such as wounds, congestion and viral infections. This popular culinary fruit contains a high concentration of medicinal flavonoid compounds, which…
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Overview The National Institute of Mental Health defines generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, as a mental problem that causes persistent worry. It is frequently accompanied by physical symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, trembling, muscle pain, sweating and trouble swallowing. These…
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Degenerative spondylolisthesis is a medical condition in which the small bones in the spine, called vertebrae, slip out of place. This condition most frequently affects the vertebrae of the lower or lumbar back region and commonly occur in women over…
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The “sleep apnea mask,” also known as continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP, is the most effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. When a person cannot tolerate the sleep apnea mask, however, surgery and oral appliances serve as alternative treatments….
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Overview According to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), 1-in-9 Americans has kidney disease. About 26 million American adults have chronic kidney disease, and millions more are at increased risk. Lack of routine screening makes this problem worse because people tend…
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Many people use over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen to reduce the symptoms of inflammation and pain from illnesses such as arthritis and gout, as well as for more common pain such as headaches. However, when a person takes…
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