Osteoarthritis in the basal joint at the wrist and base of the thumb can require a surgical procedure called arthroplasty. After an arthroplasty, your doctor can suggest physical therapy exercises to help regain strength and mobility in your thumb.

It has been estimated that a pregnancy requires about 80,000 calories above a woman's normal intake. Averaged throughout the 40 weeks of pregnancy, this is roughly 300 calories more per day, though you may find you need less in the first trimester and more in the third.

Not all fats are bad for you. Not only is olive oil OK to eat if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, it may help prevent high blood pressure and reduce cholesterol. You get olive oil by pressing whole olives, and there are different types of olive oil, based on the different extraction methods.

Although you might fear cholesterol, given its correlation with heart disease, it actually aids in healthy function of your body by producing hormones, building cell tissues and protecting your nerves. Problems arise when too much of this substance circulates through your blood, increasing your risk for heart disease.

Certain nutrients play an important role in the health of the body – from the cardiovascular system to bone health and immune system strength.

If you eat a standard American diet, the chances that you eat too much fiber are slim. However, if you do overdo it on whole grains, fruits and vegetables and beans -- some typical foods high in fiber -- you might find yourself suffering the consequences.

Since well before the advent of modern medicine, people used plants and other nature-derived remedies to treat and cure all sorts of maladies and illnesses. Papaya, a fruit grown in the tropical regions of Southeast Asia and the Americas, has long been purported to aid the digestive tract.

The mechanisms that control respiration are part of an intricately woven system. The two main gases involved in respiration are oxygen and carbon dioxide. In healthy people, respiration is primarily controlled by the level of carbon dioxide dissolved in the blood. This is called the respiratory drive to breathe.

Omni Cleansing Liquid is a type of supplement that was created to rid toxins and chemicals from the body. The product has gained a lot of attention since there are claims that if used correctly, Omni Cleansing Liquid can help a person pass a urine drug test.

In the United States, acupuncture is an integral part of complementary and alternative medicine, incorporating techniques from Chinese, Japanese and Korean traditions. Some Westerners are skeptical of the practice, while others swear by it, reporting a plethora of beneficial effects.

Triglycerides are a type of fat that circulates in the bloodstream. After you eat a meal, any calories that are not needed for immediate use are converted into triglycerides. Triglycerides can then be used for energy between meals.

Zeolites are a group of minerals that are commonly used in commercial absorbents, laundry detergents, agriculture and medicine. Medically, cellular zeolite may act as a body decontaminant and detoxicant and provide the timed-release function of other medications.