A meniscus tear is a rip in the cartilage inside your knee, often caused by a sudden, acute trauma, such as twisting your knee during sports. A degenerative tear -- which can happen during such everyday activities as walking or climbing stairs -- usually occurs as a result of aging or arthritis.
Read more →
Estrogen is a naturally occurring female hormone that helps regulate the menstrual cycle and is important in the typical sexual development of females, says the Mayo Clinic. The body makes varying amounts of estrogen throughout the lifespan, with levels dropping off after menopause.
Read more →
Fever is the elevation of body temperature above normal, and it varies from person to person, although “normal” generally falls within the range of 97 degrees to 99 degrees Fahrenheit.
Read more →
The medical term for an infected hair follicle is folliculitis, which is often associated with shaving. According to MayoClinic.com, folliculitis develops when bacteria enters one or more hair follicles. Folliculitis first develops as a red bump around the hair follicle.
Read more →
The use of magnets for various health conditions dates back many centuries; Greek physicians were practicing magnet therapy by the third century A.D. Proponents of wearing a magnetic ring may have health benefits, including increasing circulation, alleviating pain and aiding injury recovery.
Read more →
In many cases, facial pain can be traced to a relatively simple cause, such as a toothache, headache or chewing gum for too long. But in some cases, the painful and radiating aches are linked to more serious conditions.
Read more →
In many people, mild allergic reactions to pollen, mold, pets and other allergens grow worse from prolonged exposure. Continual contact or periodic episodes of intense exposure can bring on stronger allergy symptoms over time, whether or not patients manage their illness.
Read more →
DHEA is an abbreviation for dehydroepiandrosterone, a hormone produced by your adrenal glands. Your adrenals are located above your kidneys.
Read more →
The non-specific medical term for inflammation of the colon is "colitis." Inflammation of the large intestine may be due to one of several underlying abnormal processes. While signs and symptoms may suggest the cause, there is considerable overlap among them. Any form of colitis should be evaluated by your physician.
Read more →
Cramps in the legs and feet can cause moderately painful reactions that may last a few minutes or longer. Muscle cramps occur when a muscle involuntarily contracts and cannot relax. Cramping may include a part of a muscle, the entire muscle or muscle groups.
Read more →
Brain swelling, also known as brain edema and cerebral edema, is a serious consequence of a brain injury. When the brain swells, it affects the patient's cognitive and behavioral function. In addition, brain swelling puts the patient at risk for severe brain damage and death.
Read more →
Cardiovascular, or cardio, exercise is any kind of exercise that keeps your heart rate up for a suspended period of time. Cardio exercise can unclog your arteries as well as provide other health benefits. Cardio includes circuit weight lifting, running, biking, hiking, dancing and team sports.
Read more →
A by-product of the petroleum distillation process, mineral oil is a common ingredient in lotions, sunscreens and other skin care products. In the United States, mineral oil with added fragrance is sold as baby oil. According to Drugs.
Read more →
Progesterone is a hormone that is naturally produced by the body. According to the American Pregnancy Association, during the earlier stages of pregnancy, days 12 to 16 of the cycle, it is released by the part of the egg follicle known as the corpus luteum.
Read more →
The human ear is a complex and delicate organ. Although it does help the body stay in balance, its primary job is to detect and amplify sounds. Unfortunately, loud noises in the environment can damage sensitive ear structures, which can lead to temporary and even permanent hearing loss.
Read more →
When you notice ring-shaped rashes on the face, one of your first instincts may be to blame a ringworm infection. This fungal infection has a direct and strict course of treatment. But before you self diagnose, try to rule out other possible causes of the problem.
Read more →
The lungs are a pair of organs in the chest responsible for respiration, a process that involves breathing in air and adding fresh oxygen to the blood, which then carries the oxygen to the cells. Many factors and conditions can alter how the lungs function, such as lung cancer and respiratory infections.
Read more →
Earaches can be caused by bacteria, viruses, allergens, fungi, impacted ear wax or hearing aids. Otitis media is an inner ear or ear drum infection. Otitis externa is an ear canal infection and is also known as swimmer’s ear. Sweet oil can help the earaches caused by otitis media and otitis externa.
Read more →
Bergamot is a type of orange tree grown in Italy and used for everything from pesticides to perfumes. This fresh and clean smelling essential oil is great for treating urinary tract infections, acne, oily skin, eczema, psoriasis and cold sores.
Read more →
Ovarian cysts can form in or on the ovaries, and can be the result of a hormonal imbalance. Chronic problems with ovarian cysts or numerous cysts on the ovaries may indicate a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS.
Read more →