Hematopoietic stem cells are populations of slowly proliferating stem cells in the bone marrow, found in the center of bones, that give rise to blood cells. The cells are found in compartments called niches, and the interaction between the stem…
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Most people in today’s society are stressed. The adrenal glands are the organs that must deal with this increased stress load, and adrenal fatigue may affect up to 80 percent of the population at some point in their life, according…
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1. Use the Right One Neck braces are generally prescribed by a doctor to provide stability after an injury, surgery or to prevent certain deformities of the spine from becoming worse. There are many varieties of neck braces available, so…
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Overview Contact lens prescriptions contain various abbreviations and numbers that can be difficult to decipher if you aren’t familiar with their meanings. Your prescription will tell you exactly what is wrong with each eye and what your contact lens will…
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Damage to the eye may not always cause serious damage. Some people scratch their eye, and the scratch heals over time, leaving behind no permanent damage. However, some people have serious eye damage that can result in pain, partial loss…
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Overview According to Medline Plus, your pulse rate represents the number of times your heart beats in one minute. If your heart beats 90 times in 60 seconds, for example, your pulse rate is 90. Normal resting pulse rates vary…
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Glaucoma results from high pressure inside the eye that causes damage to the optic nerve. This condition typically happens slowly, progressing over a number of years. Doctors detect glaucoma by examining the back of the eye and measuring the intraocular…
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Dandruff flakes and an itchy scalp can be embarrassing and uncomfortable, but the condition is treatable, notes the Mayo Clinic. Over-the-counter dandruff shampoos contain an array of ingredients which may induce additional skin sensitivities. By contrast, vinegar is a simple…
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NitroQuick is a brand name for nitroglycerin tablets that are taken sublingually, or placed under the tongue. Nitroglycerin causes veins and arteries to relax and dilate, a process called vasodilation. Vasodilation lowers blood pressure, which decreases the work load on…
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Colon cleansing and colon cleanse products have grown in popularity over the past few years. Many physicians and health-care practitioners question the validity and safety of the colon cleanse process. However, some holistic and natural-health practitioners believe that periodic cleansing…
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Overview The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 3.2 million Americans are living with chronic hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a contagious disease that infects the liver and causes inflammation, preventing the liver from properly functioning. Hepatitis can…
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Several different conditions can cause ear pain. Generally, most of the discomfort is caused by fluid accumulation in the middle part of the ear behind the ear drum. As the fluid accumulates, it pushes on the ear drum, which causes…
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Honey isn’t just a delicious, gooey liquid to stir into your tea. Honey, a sweetener made by bees, can also be used to reduce the symptoms of a variety of ailments. To rule out potentially serious underlying health conditions, make…
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A blow to the head can cause a concussion, which is a type of brain injury. In an article in the “New England Journal of Medicine,” Drs. A. Roper and K. Gorson note that the highest rates of concussion occur…
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Closed-angle glaucoma, more commonly referred to as angle-closure glaucoma, involves a blockage in the eye, preventing drainage. The Merck Manuals explains that angle-closure glaucoma may be primary, meaning the cause is unknown, or secondary to another condition, such as diabetes….
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Medication is not always needed to treat hypertension. In fact, exercise is one of the most effective things you can do to lower both diastolic and systolic blood pressure readings. Regular physical activity not only lowers blood pressure, but it…
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Hypertension, or high blood pressure, occurs when there is an abnormal amount of resistance to the blood flowing through the body’s arteries. Although it is treatable, hypertension rarely causes obvious symptoms until it progresses to an advanced stage; therefore, many…
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According to Medline Plus, blood pressure measures the force applied to the arteries as the heart pumps blood throughout the body. Blood pressure readings are important as high blood pressure (hypertension) can increase the risk of diseases of the heart,…
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The double-layer membrane surrounding the lungs is called the pleura, and also covers the inner chest wall. It keeps the chest cavity airtight, however, if air enters the space between the two layers of the pleura, a collapsed lung or…
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The medical term for fluid in the knee is called effusion. It describes the presence of, usually, an abnormally large amount of fluid within a joint, typically, but not limited to, the knee. Joints in the body are nourished to…
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Blood pressure refers to the force exerted by blood circulating into the blood vessels. Low blood pressure, also called hypotension, is when the flow of blood is lower than normal and may prevent the proper amount of oxygen and nutrients…
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Tendons are structures made of tissue that connect muscle to bones. Tendons can become irritated or inflamed causing a condition called tendinitis. Bicep tendinitis can occur in either one of the tendons that attach the biceps muscle to the shoulder…
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Overview The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke estimates that as many as 20,000 Americans have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. A progressive and rapidly fatal disease, ALS attacks the motor neurons, nerve cells…
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Sinusitis can occur due to bacterial, fungal or viral infections. They usually cause violent allergies such as sneezing, coughing, fatigue, sore throat and headaches. It is common to seek antibiotic treatment for such an illness, but there are many home…
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The cornea, the clear covering over the front of the eye, normally has a dome shape. When keratoconus develops, the dome-shaped part of the cornea thins, causing it to become cone shaped. Because the cornea refracts light, any change in…
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Chronic kidney disease, or CKD, refers to progressively failing kidneys. There are five stages, and the fifth stage is kidney failure, requiring dialysis or kidney transplantation. Diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease are leading causes of chronic kidney disease. Nephrotoxic medications,…
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Dry eyes can occur for a number of reasons, ranging from heat, wind and humidity to chronic dry eye ailments and complications from plastic surgery. Dry eyes can be uncomfortable when blinking, but their dryness can also increase the rate…
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Congestive heart failure, or CHF, affects 5 million Americans and is responsible for 300,000 deaths a year. The condition occurs when the heart can no longer pump blood efficiently through the body. Causes of the condition include damage to the…
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Overview Life from conception to old age and death includes prenatal, infant, toddler, preschooler, child, adolescent, adult and older adult stages. These stages or similar classifications prove useful to understand the human experience from various perspectives through studies of physical…
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The market for relaxation CDs includes recordings that use different types of relaxation practices. Some soundtracks rely primarily on music, while others make use of nature sounds and vibrations. Some CDs incorporate guided relaxation exercises based on therapeutic techniques. Choose…
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