Several factors, including stress, medication, menopause and medical conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome can your body's estrogen levels. While no over-the-counter supplements contain true estrogen, several medicinal herbs include compounds that mimic estrogen or act to increase estrogen levels.
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Red, puffy eyes are uncomfortable to have and painful to look at. Sometimes the condition is accompanied by mild irritation, while other times your eyes may swell up to the size of lemons.
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Potassium is an essential mineral that is found in foods such as potatoes and bananas. This mineral, found in every part of your body, facilitates muscle contractions including those of your cardiac system. Too much or too little of this electrolyte can cause disruption of your heartbeat and damage to your kidneys.
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Four blood vessels in the neck carry oxygen and nutrients to the brain -- the right and left carotid arteries and the right and left vertebral arteries. The carotids are much larger than the vertebrals and nourish a correspondingly larger portion of the brain.
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While you might be tempted to grab a sweetened beverage or sugary snack for energy, several hours later you may feel worse. Simple sugars cause spikes in blood sugar, resulting in feeling lightheaded or weak.
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When your baby continually spits up and is irritable after feedings from acid reflux, you want to do all you can to soothe her. For some infants with acid reflux, otherwise known as gastroesophageal reflux, lying on their backs, especially after a feeding, further irritates the problem and upsets them.
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The recent discovery that you are pregnant may bring equal parts excitement and worry. One of the most common worries among pregnant women is miscarriage, or the loss of the baby. Your obstetrician is a useful resource in learning more about what to avoid to reduce your risk of miscarriage.
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Caffeine addicts must pay special attention to their doctors' orders for blood tests needed for routine health checks and diagnostics. Depending on the type of blood work, typical laboratory protocols can upset your coffee-shop routine with temporary dietary restrictions.
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Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are very common. According to the Cleveland Clinic, 20 percent of women, and 1 to 2 percent of children, will develop one at some point. Sometimes called bladder infections, UTIs occur when bacteria from outside the body invade the urinary system. MayoClinic.
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Diabetes is characterized by the body's inability to produce insulin or to use it effectively to control blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels can damage various body systems.
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When humans eat carbohydrates, the body converts them to sugar. The sugar fuels every cell in the human body, but it’s important that sugar levels be neither too high nor too low. Low blood sugar, called hypoglycemia, can cause brain damage and even shock. High blood sugar, known as hyperglycemia, is another matter.
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If you have epilepsy, you may find that you experience a higher frequency of seizures after eating certain foods, as some food can trigger epileptic episodes, according to the Epilepsy Society. Avoiding these foods and eating regular, balanced meals can help reduce your risk of seizures and improve your overall health.
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Running offers benefits to your body, such as strengthening your heart and lungs and burning calories to help you maintain a healthy weight. But running can take a toll. The repetitive strain on your body, starting from your feet all the way to your lower back, can cause aches and pains.
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Many things can cause a headache, including stress, hormones, weather, medications and sinus pressure. Temporal arteritis causes the temple region to feel tender and occurs when the arteries are inflamed. One major symptom of temporal arteritis is a headache.
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Undertaking a cleanse for weight loss is meant to jump-start weight loss by cleaning out the colon, though claims that cleansing or detoxing promotes weight loss remain unfounded, as of 2011. Daily laxative use as part of a cleanse can result in dehydration, electrolyte depletion and impairment of bowel function.
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Your lumbar and sacral vertebrae are part of your lower back region. You have five lumbar vertebrae and five sacral vertebrae, the latter of which are fused together to form the sacrum. The two areas meet at the L5 and S1 vertebrae. This part of your spine can become stiff with age and lack of use.
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If you have a dry mouth, you may feel as though it's full of cotton. Sometimes a common cold can cause a dry mouth. Other causes include medications, cancer therapy and health conditions such as depression, stroke or diabetes. If your dry mouth is severe, you may find relief in artificial saliva products.
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The numbness in your mouth after eating is likely the result of a food allergy. Your body can begin to recognize certain food proteins as harmful substances. Upon ingestion, the food triggers an immune response, causing the release of antibodies to protect you from harm.
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More than 225,000 officers and 120,000 U.S. citizens carry Tasers, according to a 2011 report by the University of California, San Diego, Medical Center and San Diego State University. Tasers are used by law enforcement in all 50 states as a less lethal alternative to handguns.
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Fractures and instability sometimes necessitate surgical fixation of the lowest lumbar vertebra to the sacrum, otherwise known as L5-S1 fusion. Spinal fusions, including those at L5-S1, often are performed to treat chronic pain related to spinal degeneration or arthritis. Data published in January 2012 in the journal "
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