Illness

Influenza, or the flu, is a contagious respiratory infection that is usually marked by fever, cough, and fatigue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 5 to 20...

Your blood chemistry test, also known as your chem screen or chem panel, measures some of the most important chemicals produced and needed by your body to function properly. If your results are...

Chemotherapy, which is a potent medication used to fight cancer, is very toxic and requires special precautions when it is handled by medical personnel. It is commonly administered via the...

Head lice are parasites that suck blood from their victims and spread quickly from person to person. They can be killed with shampoos and sprays, although the Centers for Disease Control says to...

While low-sodium diets are being touted as a major health booster these days, there is also such a thing as having too little sodium in your system. Indeed, the presence of low sodium levels in...

Individuals with fibromyalgia suffer from widespread body aches and pains, and they are hampered by daily fatigue and sleep difficulties. In addition, they can have gastrointestinal problems,...

Although there isn't an immediate method for restoring adrenal gland energy reserves, several months of therapy with certain herbs and vitamins will reassure you of a greater payoff than if...

Kidney stones are the extremely painful formation of crystalline substances inside of the kidney that must be passed through urination for pain to dissipate. The development of kidney stones is...

Although jaundice is typically found in newborns, it can affect people of all ages, including mothers. While jaundice itself is a symptom and not an illness, it can indicate serious liver...

Webster's Dictionary defines hoarding as a supply or fund stored up and often hidden away. Sounds thrifty doesn't it? But some people go way beyond being thrifty, with a compulsion to store and...

Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of a single-celled fungi called candida albicans. Typically, the body maintains a natural balance of this fungi in the digestive and rectal tract....

Smokers are nicotine addicts. Nicotine is an all-consuming addiction. Most longtime smokers have no recollection of life as a non-smoker, therefore, they are unaware of the challenges awaiting...

If you are a person suffering from a gluten intolerance, then you are aware of the multitude of symptoms involved. You can improve your health by managing your gluten intolerance. Take charge of...

Chilblains are itchy red or blue swellings on your toes, fingers or face that crop up in the winter when your extremities are exposed to extreme cold. Some people, several hours after being out in...

Sinusitis is inflammation of the nasal sinuses. It is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection but may be triggered by allergies or environmental irritants. There are two types of...

An addiction is defined as any compulsion to engage in an activity, in spite of the physical, mental or social damage the activity may incur. While various 12 step programs exist to help people...

How to deal with a chronic illness can be very challenging but many people can still live a vital life by taking some specific steps to minimize their symptoms and change how they view their world.

The bacteria Staphylococcus aureus can be found on the skin and in the nose and throat. If the bacteria moves into the body and invades the bloodstream, heart, lungs or urinary tact it can be...

Aluminum is the earth's most abundant metal. In its natural state, it is not harmful. Because it is so abundant, it is used in many of our everyday products. As aluminum is altered and overused,...

There may be no cure for it, but there are ways to survive stomach flu in greater comfort. FEEL BETTER NOW!!Learn how to minimize the severity of your flu, treat the symptoms, and prevent some...

There are a variety of ways to treat inflammation. These include eating properly, taking certain supplements, and if necessary trying certain medications. Always speak to your doctor before...

We have all been there before (well almost everyone), stuck with the hangover blues. You feel like your head is going to burst, your stomach is on fire, and you could drink all the water in the...

A gum boil occurs when a tooth becomes abscessed. This occurs around the root of the tooth, and pain is often felt in the bone or the jaw. A person suffering from a gum boil may experience...

L-Dopa is a treatment that many doctors recommend to treat Parkinson's disease. The medication works by replacing the deficiency of dopamine that Parkinson's patients experience. The medication is...

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity is becoming a popular topic in the medical community; as a result, it is important to recognize the symptoms of this particular condition. This condition is also...

There are 500,000 cases of malaria diagnosed every year. At least a million of those cases end in death. Many times, young children are the victims. People in high area groups for malaria should...

Seizures are a traumatic experience for the sufferer and those who are witnesses to a loved one suffering. They often create a deep panic and remind all participants how fragile life can be. But...

Over 30,000 deaths occur annually from liver disease. It strikes in many different ways. The first step in overcoming liver disease is knowing the signs and symptoms. It may mean the difference...

Those who have apraxia have difficulty performing basic and complex functions, even ones they may have already mastered in the past. Because this condition affects the nervous system, those who...

Gangrene is caused by a decreased blood supply to the tissue or by the presence of a bacterial infection. In the case of dry gangrene, tissue dies due to insufficient blood supply. Moist gangrene...

Recognizing the symptoms of a fever is quite simple once you know what you are looking for in the sufferer. A fever that runs too high for too long may damage organs, including the brain;...

“Health is wealth" goes the famous phrase. You don't know how well off you are until you lose your good health. Your body should function flawlessly, without pain or discomfort. Chronic health...

People can go for several days without food, but it only takes a few days to die from extreme dehydration. Our bodies are made up of 75 percent water, which means we need to replenish lost fluids...

Whether you are a medical student, a nurse, a paramedic or a phlebotomist, starting an intravenous line, or IV, is a skill you can't do without. Sometimes it seems impossible, but by following...

Doctors use X-Rays to help diagnose health problems. X-Rays are an easy, painless procedure for patients, and they confirm whether bones and tissues are healthy. If you take home copies of your...

Your doctor let's you know that its time for a liver transplant evaluation. This is big news, and you might not know what to expect. Getting a liver transplant evaluation is a long and tedious...

Vertigo is not just feeling dizzy, but a feeling of movement when you are still. A vertigo attack can also cause nausea and vomiting. Causes of vertigo can be inner ear problems, head injuries,...

Most people have heard of the disease tetanus, and receive vaccinations and boosters on a regular basis. Most also know you can get it by a puncture with a rusty object. But few people actually...

It's strange how casually people speak of tetanus and joke about lockjaw when you consider how truly awful this condition, and how painful and dangerous the treatment can be. Although tetanus is...

Everybody loves to go out and have a good time, but nobody likes to pay for it the next morning. With these steps, you can do your best to avoid feeling sick the next day. However, if you want...

It's much easier to prevent gangrene than to treat it. Any time blood flow is restricted to a body part, call your doctor immediately.

Pneumonia is a broad term used to describe any extensive inflammation of the lung. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or inhalation of poisons or other foreign particles. In the United States,...

Preventing seasickness is easier than treating it. Once you are seasick, queasiness may continue until you return to solid ground. When you begin to experience even the mildest of seasickness...

Your reaction to perfumed people and products may range from annoyance to discomfort to extreme physical illness. Here are some suggestions to help you manage the delicate balance between...