Diseases and Conditions Encyclopedia
Tap into this interactive encyclopedia for instant access to information on more than 835 diseases and conditions.
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Each year, at least 100,000 vehicular crashes and 1,550 deaths are caused by drivers who are impaired by sleepiness.
The extent of alcohol's effect on the central nervous system depends upon how much is in your blood and how much blood you have.
Autism spectrum disorders, which include autistic disorder, affect children in different ways. Some children have mild symptoms, others have severe limitations.
Cocaine use ranges from occasional to compulsive. There is no safe way to use the drug.
The disorder may develop when others make repeated negative comments about a person's weight.
Diuretics help your blood pressure go down by helping your body to get rid of extra water and salt by producing more urine.
At least 8 million people in the U.S. are living with an eating disorder. The overwhelming majority – about 90 percent – are female.
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex, often misunderstood illness. Its symptoms are chronic pain, sleep problems, and fatigue. There’s no known cure for the condition, but symptoms can be eased through lifestyle changes and possibly medication.
Gastroparesis is a stomach disorder that can affect people with diabetes. It occurs when nerve damage keeps the stomach from emptying normally.
Sprained ankles and wrists, arthritic knees and hips and torn rotator cuffs all have one thing in common: They result in joint pain.
When people of any age need others to help them with medical, physical or emotional needs over an extended period of time, they need long-term care.
One of the challenges of healthy eating is knowing how to spot lower-calorie, lower-fat dishes on a menu. Here's a guide to help you make informed choices.
More than 60 percent of elective surgery procedures in the United States are now performed as outpatient surgeries.
Prehypertension is a new term that alerts people to the risk of developing chronic high blood pressure if they don’t take timely steps to improve their lifestyle habits.
Although it’s dangerous to take a prescription medication without a prescription, abusing such medications is the fastest growing type of drug abuse in the United States, outpacing marijuana abuse by a factor of two, according to some studies.
The medical community once thought depression affected only adults. The risk for the condition begins in the early teens, however, and increases steadily through the mid-20s.
Does a low-fat diet protect against heart disease? Will taking calcium supplements help reduce the risk for osteoporosis?
When addicted, the drug user will do just about anything to obtain the drug.
Parents need to realize the rational part of a teen’s brain isn’t fully developed and won’t be until he or she is 25 years old or so.
If your child often has a sore throat, you may wonder whether he or she has tonsillitis, or inflamed tonsils.
Research indicates that trans fat raises LDL cholesterol. You can find out how much trans fat a food contains by checking the label.
Without a spine, your body wouldn’t be able to remain upright or to bend, twist, or move with any flexibility.
Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease, most often affects weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips. It also can affect the hands and spine.
In the past, a woman who miscarried several times might never know why it happened. Today, more and more women are finding out the causes of their recurrent miscarriages.
Your challenge is to find toys that your children will enjoy and that you know are safe.
Most people realize that cigarettes can cause lung cancer and heart disease. But many people erroneously believe that cigars aren't harmful.
Here’s a rundown of the latest class offerings you’re likely to find in health clubs and fitness centers throughout the country.
Over-the-counter pain relievers are safe and effective when used as directed. It's when a person doesn't follow the label's advice that problems may occur.
Although most medications are safe when you take them the right way, some drugs can cause dizziness, loss of consciousness, bleeding, irregular heartbeats, and other side effects in some cases.
Skin cancer can strike at any age, but it is more common in older people because they've had more years of sun exposure. Fortunately, you can take steps to reduce your chance of getting skin cancer, even if you haven't been careful about the sun before.
It's called plastic surgery, but there's no plastic involved. In this case, "plastic" refers to the ability of the surgeon to reshape the skin, the face, or other body parts. With advances in technique and an aging population, plastic surgery is more popular than ever.
Keep these guidelines in mind when looking for allergy relief.
Antibiotics have been misused so much in recent years that doctors now face an alarming problem. Bacteria that once were easily controlled have become resistant to many antibiotics.
Dumbbells, one of the most underrated and versatile types of exercise equipment, can help you build strength and muscular endurance.
"We now know that exercise is the most underrated health precaution anyone, even those with chronic conditions, can take," says J. Larry Durstine, Ph.D., a spokesman for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
It’s possible to use insulin in public and not feel like you’re the center of attention. Here are some tips to help put you at ease.
Fitness has a mental component, in addition to physical challenges. Even if you're in great shape, you can encounter intellectual obstacles that can decrease your motivation and stifle your performance.
Yoga is one of the few stress-relief tools that has a positive effect on all the body systems involved.
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