In the human body, health is maintained through the interconnectedness of organ systems, proper posture, and stable biochemical metabolism.
Carbohydrates are your body’s most efficient fuel source, and it is the only source of fuel for certain vital tissues such as your brain and blood cells. Therefore, your body has ways of storing the carbs you eat for future use.
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When you exercise, your respiratory rate increases. This is true regardless of whether you exercise by stationary methods such as weight lifting, or by a traveling method such as jogging or biking. Clearly, an active body needs more oxygen than a body at rest.
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Ankle tendinitis refers to short-term inflammation of the tendons that surround the ankle joint. Tendons are fibrous tissue that connect muscle to bone and enable movement of the joint. Thirteen tendons cross the ankle joint. Ankle tendinitis can occur with increased use or an ankle injury, such as a sprained ankle.
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When you’re walking, the sensation of a popping hip joint can be very unnerving. Fortunately, a pain-free snapping or clicking in the hip region is rarely of immediate concern. In many cases, popping in your hip is the result of muscle and tissue imbalances that are often correctable by using stretches and exercises.
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The parasympathetic nervous system activates the relaxation, or "rest-and-digest," response. Roughly the opposite of the "fight-or-flight" response of the sympathetic nervous system, the relaxation response involves restoration of energy reserves and other "peace time" functions, such as repair and reproduction.
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Diseases and illnesses target all body systems, such as the circulatory, digestive, reproductive, endocrine, neurological, skeletal and muscular systems. Sources of diseases include genetics, bacteria, poor nutrition, viruses, parasites and fungi.
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Bones might be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of calcium, but calcium performs other tasks in the body besides building strong bones. Calcium also helps transmit nerve impulses and regulate muscle contractions.
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The human hand is a picture of complexity and balance. The muscles that control the hand allow it to be strong and refined. Muscles that influence hand movement either originate on bones outside or inside the hand.
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Bacteria reside in great numbers in many places, both inside and on the surface of the human body. In many cases, like in the gut, the presence of bacteria is beneficial. Bacteria in the mouth causes the formation of cavities, and can increase the chance of other disease and illness.
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New studies appear almost daily on the benefits of exercise, from lowering your risk of heart disease to improving memory. Whether you exercise for strength, endurance, or flexibility, the functioning of the body is related to physiological functioning.
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From single-celled organisms such as bacteria to humans, cells are the basic structural and functional units of life. An adult human body consists of more than 37 trillion cells, according to an estimate published in the November-December 2013 issue of the "Annals of Human Biology."
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Nucleic acids are large biomolecules, and include both deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA carries your cells' genetic information. RNA uses this genetic information, and helps the cells make proteins.
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Nematodes are highly abundant, non-segmented worms that are present in a variety of habitats. Many are free-living (such as those that live in the soil), while others are parasitic and must attach themselves to a plant, insect, animal or human host to survive and reproduce.
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The human body has 11 major organ systems, each with specific functions and energy needs. The cardiovascular system, or CVS, serves all of them, delivering vital nutrients, picking up and distributing metabolic products and carrying away waste for elimination.
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The carotid artery carries blood from the heart to the head and brain. There are two carotid arteries, one on each side of the neck. Over time, carotid arteries can become clogged with plaque as a result of coronary artery disease.
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Salmonella is a common bacterium that causes infection in humans, usually through exposure to inadequately processed foods like chicken or eggs, contaminated water, and contact with animals like reptiles and amphibians. The people affected most are usually very young or have underlying immune deficiencies.
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Blocked or clogged ears occur when the eustachian tubes inside your ears fill with fluid. Sinus infections, cold and flu viruses and allergies can inflame the linings in your ears, leading to blocked passages. Though not a cure, acupuncture can help relieve ear pressure and congestion.
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Anaerobic bacteria are organisms that are capable of surviving and growing in an atmosphere of little or no oxygen. Anaerobic bacteria can be further broken down based on their relationship to oxygen: obligate, aerotolerant or facultative anaerobe.
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People who spend excessive amounts of time sitting are more prone to injury and are at risk for circulation and mobility problems. Sitting for prolonged periods, especially without proper posture, fatigues the muscles and compresses the blood vessels responsible for supplying the muscles with blood.
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A stress fracture of the foot can slow down even the toughest athlete -- and it's good that is does. The key to healing this type of small bone crack is allowing the injured bone adequate time to rest and heal.
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