The knee is a hinge joint, bearing most of the stress during dancing, walking and running. It's the largest joint in the body that can sometimes stand up to four times the weight of an individual, depending upon the motion performed.
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Many people view ear wax as a mere annoyance, but it actually plays an important role in protecting your hearing. Produced by your ceruminous glands, ear wax serves to keep bacteria and foreign particles from entering your ears.
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Tuberculosis is a long-term infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other organs such as the bones, liver and kidneys. It is spread from person to person through airborne inhalation.
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The female hormone, estrogen, is produced in the ovaries. It is responsible for the growth of the female sex organs and mammary glands. It is also responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle, and plays a role in sex drive. As women age, the amount of estrogen produced decreases.
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Overdosing on garlic can cause more than a distinctive and pungent odor. While garlic has a number of potential health benefits, too much garlic can interfere with blood clotting, reports a 2007 study published in "Molecular Nutrition and Food Research."
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ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, injuries of the knee are common among certain types of athletes, and may require surgery to restore full function of your knee.
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Topamax is a brand name for topiramate, a medication in pill or capsule form that may be prescribed for treatment of seizures. This anti-seizure epilepsy medicine may be used to control tonic-clonic seizures, partial seizures and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
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Nasal polyps are small benign growths in your sinus cavities. They may develop if you’ve had chronically inflamed sinuses due to asthma, allergies, recurring infection or sinusitis. If they grow large enough, they may cause breathing difficulties and infections.
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Blueberries are a healthy, sweet and tangy fruit often added to yogurt, cereal or simply eaten by the handful. Some people experience adverse reactions, such as diarrhea, when eating blueberries.
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Amenorrhea is the clinical term for when a female misses one or more menstrual periods. Missing a period due to excessive physical activity is a form of secondary amenorrhea called exercise-induced amenorrhea.
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Stress fractures are small cracks in bones caused by overuse. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, or AAOS, stress fractures are one of the most common injuries in sports and are caused by overuse of muscles that are too tired to absorb more shock.
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Arising from your body’s production of prostaglandins, menstrual cramps -- called dysmenorrhea in medical circles -- can lead to excruciating pain for many women, potentially limiting prolonged physical activity like running.
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Avascular necrosis, or osteonecrosis, is a condition in which your bone tissue dies due to a lack of sufficient blood supply. This can happen for several reasons including use of high-dose corticosteroids, injury, excessive consumption of alcohol, chemotherapy, radiation and sickle cell disease.
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Many different types of oral medications help treat type II diabetes, and some may produce side effects such as swelling. If your legs swell when you take diabetes medications, call your doctor. He may need to change medicines.
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The trapezius muscle is a large muscle located at the base of the neck, running down to the shoulder blades. A variety of conditions and actions can cause this muscle to spasm, some that require the attention of a doctor. Therefore, it is important to understand the causes and treatments of trapezius muscle spasms.
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Glucose is the main type of sugar in your body, KidsHealth.com reports. Glucose is your body’s main source of energy. It is obtained from your diet or your body can synthesize it from other chemicals. Fruits can provide you with various amounts of glucose.
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The extensor tendons are the tendons that run across the top of the foot and attach into the toes. These tendons function to pull the foot upward and work with the resistance of the Achilles tendons, as well as the calf muscles that aid in moving the foot downward.
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Uterine fibroids are the most common benign gynecologic tumors, affecting an estimated 25 percent of adult women. The tumor is an overgrowth of the myometrium, the muscular, middle layer of the uterus, resulting in the distortion of the normal architecture of the uterus.
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Stenosis is a condition where the spinal canal narrows, causing pressure and pinching upon the spinal cord. Cervical stenosis is when the condition happens in the neck, or the cervical spine.
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Numerous conditions can cause stomach pain when swallowing food. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), pain, including stomach pain, sometimes occurs when you swallow. Swallowing-related pain may be felt anywhere from your upper neck to your mid-abdomen.
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