Cardiac arrhythmias, also commonly called arrhythmias, are irregularities of the heart beat. For the most part, the normal, constant rhythm of the heartbeat that ensures essential blood flow throughout the body goes unnoticed. But for some people, problems arise as the electrical impulses that synchronize the heart beat don’t function properly, causing the heart to [...]
Everyone has felt a little anxious at some time point in their lives. In fact, some degree of anxiety is perfectly normal! Both children and adults may suffer from routine anxiety, which is often brought on by physical situations. These situations can range from the first day of school to job interviews, flying on an [...]
Anorexia nervosa is classified as an eating disorder where sufferers have an obsession with food and are overly concerned with being thin. They are often so terrified of gaining weight that they go to extreme measures to lose or maintain a body weight that is below normal for their age and height. Anorexic individuals restrict [...]
Angina pectoris is the medical term for chest pain or the feeling of pressure in the chest that occurs when the heart muscle does not receive a sufficient supply of blood and oxygen. When the arteries supplying blood and oxygen to the heart are blocked, the blood flow to the heart muscle is obstructed and [...]
Everyone has likely experienced anger at some time or another. While certain people become angry more often than others and have regular, intense outbursts, others tend to bottle their feelings and then explode or erupt without warning. Anger is a basic human emotion and a natural reaction to situations beyond our control. There are a [...]
Amenorrhea is the term used to describe the condition where menstrual periods are absent. When you miss a period, your first thought may be that you are pregnant. However, there are actually several factors that may cause or contribute to the absence of menstruation. Menstruation refers to the shedding of the lining of the uterus [...]
Alzheimer’s disease (or Alzheimer’s syndrome) is the most common form of dementia. Dementia is a group of brain disorders that gradually destroys brain cells and impairs the ability to function effectively in daily life. Cognitive functioning is slowly affected (memory, reason, judgment, and communication), making it increasingly difficult to carry out daily tasks and activities. [...]
The primary fear of someone suffering with Agoraphobia, is experiencing a panic attack in a crowded public place surrounded by unfamiliar faces and no escape routes or help in sight. A panic attack can be a terrifying experience where the heart races and it may be difficult to maintain normal breathing patterns. The sudden feeling [...]
The adrenal glands are two small, triangular-shaped endocrine glands located on top of the kidneys. They are orange in color and covered in a connective tissue capsule that is hidden in a layer of fat. These glands are made up of two parts – the adrenal cortex (outside) and the adrenal medulla (inside). The adrenal [...]
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children, commonly referred to as ADHD, is characterized by poor concentration, hyperactivity, distractibility, and impulsiveness that are inappropriate for the child’s age. ADHD child symptoms include becoming easily distracted by sights and sounds in their environment, inability to concentrate for long periods of time, restlessness and impulsiveness, a tendency to [...]
Adult ADHD is a neurological brain disorder that presents itself as a persistent pattern of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than is typically observed in individuals at the same level of mental development. ADHD (which usually begins with ADHD in childhood) has only recently been investigated. While some teens outgrow ADHD [...]
Many people ask themselves “What is Addison’s disease?” Addison’s disease is a rare endocrine disorder characterized by a severe deficiency of hormones produced in the adrenal cortex. Addison’s affects between 1 and 4 in 100,000 people, including both men and women within all age groups. The disease tends to become clinically apparent during periods of [...]
Children (under 12 years of age) with attention deficit disorder lack the ability to focus and concentrate. Attention deficit disorder in children affects daily functioning, as they may have difficulty in completing their school work and are often in trouble with parents and teachers. This is similar to adults with ADD who often experience problems [...]
Attention deficit disorder, also commonly referred to as ADD, is a group of symptoms that affect concentration and a person’s ability to focus. It can also cause mood swings and other social problems. How Does ADD Manifest in Adults? Those experiencing adult ADD ADHD symptoms may find it hard to follow directions, remember information, concentrate, [...]
What is Drug Addiction? Drug addiction is a complex condition (more recently called Drug Dependency) that has been defined as a disorder that manifests in the obsessive thinking about and use of drugs. It is a condition that may be progressive and fatal if left untreated. Drugs work by affecting the chemicals in the brain [...]
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi (large airways) in the lungs, occurring when an infection causes the thin mucous membrane linings of these airways to become irritated and inflamed. The result is the production of mucus in the lungs and a persistent cough that may last several days or weeks.
Here’s a quick bad breath test for you. Cupping your hands over your mouth and breath, go ahead and give it a nice long exhale. Ready? Ok, take a big smell. How is it? If you find it bad, it is much worse to others as we are generally a little immune to our own [...]
In our daily lives, we do many things that may cause pain in the back among other areas. Most of the time this is normal and following some guidelines and restrictive movements, we find the pain quickly goes away and things get back to normal but there are other times when it’s important to seek [...]
There’s a not so well known universal law that says the heavier an object is, the more often it will need to be lifted, the further it will have to be moved and once placed, will always need to be moved again. This universal law has contributed to many back problems throughout history as the [...]
An often overlooked piece of the unexplained backache puzzle is your cars seat and some of the most expensive cars can be some of the worst. Are you driving around in a back torture machine and don’t even know it? Here’s an easy fix!
