For patients and caregivers, understanding clinical progression, diagnostic imaging results, and pharmacological treatment options is vital for managing acute and chronic health conditions.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, and serotonin are neurotransmitters that help regulate your body’s anxiety level and mood. Although no foods contain GABA or serotonin, you can stimulate your body to produce more of these vital brain chemicals through dietary means.
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Whether you have stomach pain, indigestion, cramping or abdominal distension, these problems can ruin your quality of life. Stomach problems are also sometimes accompanied with bowel movement changes, including diarrhea, constipation or both.
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Gout occurs when your body deposits uric acid crystals into the joints or soft tissues, causing inflammatory arthritis, which results in pain, swelling, heat and joint stiffness. Purines are natural substances found in the body and most foods; however, some foods have a high concentration of purines.
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If you have diabetes or are prediabetic, your doctor has probably advised you to watch your sugar and simple carbohydrate intake. Eliminating soft drinks and juice is a simple way to reduce both of these from your diet. Unsweetened tea can be a satisfying option because it doesn't contain any sugar or carbohydrates.
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Kombucha is a fermented tea that is purported to stimulate your immune system, improve digestion, boost liver function and prevent cancer. No scientific evidence backs any use for this drink, which is made by adding a colony of bacteria and yeast to tea and sugar and letting the brew ferment for one to two weeks.
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Cereal grains are a big part of the standard American diet and you should eat the equivalent of 5 to 8 ounces a day, according to the USDA ChooseMyPlate.gov. Cereal grains, often called simply grains, are the edible seeds of certain grasses including wheat, kamut, rice, rye, spelt, corn, millet, barley and oats.
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You've probably heard that exercise can have a positive effect on your mood. Exercise can help stimulate the release of endorphins, which are the "feel-good hormones" that supposedly give you a feeling of elation after you've finished sweating it out.
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Fish oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that may reduce inflammation as well as your risk for chronic diseases like arthritis, heart disease and cancer. It’s also sometimes recommended for digestive issues including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel diseases.
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Pain in your lymph nodes or body glands can be the result of swollen glands due to infection. However, pain in the areas surrounding your glands can also stem from an injury and the resulting radiating pains.
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Painful movement of the joints near the tips of your fingers or toes, or your distal interphalangeal joints, may result from injuries, rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions. Your distal interphalangeal joints, or DIP joints, are the joints found near the tips of your fingers and toes.
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Lunges are excellent dynamic strength exercises for the lower body but can cause pain if not performed properly. Past knee injuries, poor core strength and tight muscles may also contribute to knee pain during lunges.
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If your symptoms include red and spotty skin accompanied by muscle pain, weakness and headaches, you might be suffering from several different conditions. You could have the virus mononucleosis and several autoimmune conditions, including lupus and celiac disease.
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Tendons are tissues that connect your muscles to your bones. They help your body to move by pulling on your bones when muscles contract. The main tendons that run through the foot and ankle are the achilles, anterior tibial, posterior tivial, flexor, extensor and peroneal tibial.
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Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, a naturally occurring chemical that can influence mood and appetite. B complex vitamins, such as thiamine and folic acid, also affect serotonin. Doctors prescribe antidepressants to help raise the brain’s serotonin levels in people suffering from depression.
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An estimated 75 percent of Americans suffer from foot pain during their lifetime, the University of Maryland Medical Center says. While some foot pain is not serious, pain in the ankle and instep, or arch of the foot, is often a sign of a condition that requires medical treatment.
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Accidental exposure to boric acid may lead to boric acid poisoning symptoms. Boric acid is a toxin commonly used in pesticides, antiseptics and other substances.
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Hot flashes, sudden sensations of heat accompanied by facial reddening, sweating and, sometimes, rapid heartbeat, nausea, headache and anxiety, most often occur in menopausal women, but can occur in women -- or men -- as young as age 31.
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Valerian is a medicinal herb that thrives in damp woods and along rivers. The root of the valerian plant is dried and ground into powder for use in medicinal treatments, often to ease sleeplessness, says Medicinal Herb Info. Before you start to take valerian root, consult your health care provider.
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Painless swollen ankles occur relatively commonly, especially among older adults. The condition represents an accumulation of excess fluid in the soft tissues of the lower legs. A variety of diseases and abnormalities can lead to painless ankle swelling.
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Excess abdominal gas in children, also called flatulence, is very common and is typically easy to cure. Gas is primarily made of odorless vapors, including carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen and sometimes methane. Excess gas and gas that you can’t pass may cause intense abdominal pain.
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