Author Archive: Contributor

About the Thyroid

Overview The thyroid is an endocrine—hormone-producing—gland located in the neck. Thyroid hormones act on every cell in the body. They control metabolism, or how the body uses energy from food and how it makes new proteins. The most abundant hormone…
Read more

Common Indoor Allergies

An allergen is any substance that can trigger an allergic reaction. The immune system recognizes allergens as foreign invaders and mounts a hypersensitivity reaction against the harmless substances. There are many common indoor allergens that generally cause only minor symptoms…
Read more

A Decongestant for Allergies

Overview A common symptom of an allergic reaction is nasal congestion, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Nasal congestion occurs when the sinus cavity either over-produces mucus or becomes inflamed and swollen. Antihistamines and decongestants are the two…
Read more