Guarana, made from the seeds of a plant grown in the Amazon region, finds its way into a number of energy drinks and weight loss supplements. Guarana’s effects come mostly from its high caffeine content; guarana naturally contains 2.
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Along with weight gain during pregnancy, swelling of your hands and feet -- enough to make getting your rings off and wearing certain shoes difficult -- commonly occurs.
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In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a fertility treatment for women who cannot become pregnant without medical intervention. A number of factors, including male or female infertility or a combination of both can cause couples to turn to IVF.
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Three principal species go by the name ephedra, also known as a Chinese botanical, ma huang. Ephedra, a shrub-like evergreen plant, contains several active alkaloid compounds, including ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine, also known as norephedrine.
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Medifast, a diet plan that relies on meal replacement shakes, soups, simple meals and bars for most of its daily calorie intake, promises quick and easy weight loss of up to 20 lbs. in 30 days on its website.
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Eyes normally move only in response to stimuli or direct commands from the brain. If severe, rapid involuntary eye movements may interfere with vision. Rapid eye movement, or REM, can occur as a natural process or as a symptom of disease. It may indicate a serious brain disorder or occur naturally in sleep.
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Ketosis, a metabolic state where fat rather than carbohydrates becomes your primary energy source, occurs only when you follow a low-carbohydrate diet or a near-starvation diet. Your body normally uses carbohydrates for energy.
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Ativan, the brand name for the generic medication lorazepam, has long been used as an anti-anxiety drug. Ativan belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, which act as central nervous system depressants. Weight gain isn't a common side of a Ativan, but could occur in some individuals.
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The Mayo Clinic Cabbage Soup Diet -- which has no connection at all with the actual Mayo Clinic-- is a fad diet that promises you’ll lose a large amount of weight in a short period of time.
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Athletes looking to build muscle mass and overweight people looking to drop a few pounds on a low carbohydrate diet often consume larger-than-normal amounts of protein. Some medical practitioners worry about the effect of large amounts of protein on the kidneys.
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Gastroparesis is the medical term for delayed stomach emptying. The stomach normally dispatches all its contents to the small intestine within 90 and 120 minutes after their arrival time, according to gastroenterologist Dr. Frank Jackson of Jackson-Siegelbaum Gastroenterology.
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Excessive hair growth, called hirsutism, can cause enormous embarrassment to young girls. Hirsutism is most often caused by an excess of male hormones, called androgens. Hair often grows in more typical male hair growth patterns in hirsutism, with facial hair and body hair in atypical female patterns.
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Salt substitutes consist of potassium and chloride, two necessary elements in the body. People without kidney problems excrete excess potassium in the urine, but people with damaged kidneys cannot excrete the extra potassium, which builds up in the body.
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Grapefruit can change the way your body metabolizes many drugs. Because of this effect, you may have more side effects than usual if you take medications with grapefruit.
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The Special K Challenge is a short-term two-week diet plan designed to kick-start weight loss in people with a BMI over 25, which classifies them as overweight. It is not meant to be followed as a long-term diet.
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The Atkins diet limits carbohydrates and emphasizes protein and fat intake for weight loss. A modified version of the Atkins diet may benefit adults and children with seizure disorders.
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Neuropathy is the medical term for nerve damage. Peripheral neuropathy, which causes pain, numbness and tingling, can be notoriously difficult to treat.
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If you have high blood glucose levels, you may take metformin hydrochloride, an oral anti-hyperglycemic medication that lowers blood sugar. Metformin may also help you lose weight in some cases by decreasing your appetite.
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After having a tubal ligation, you may worry that changes in your hormones will make it harder to lose weight. The effects of tubal ligation on female hormone levels has been a matter of debate, but hormonal effects remain unproven, according to a review of studies reported in the February 1998 issue of "
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Preparing for your colonoscopy is something to take seriously and usually begins two days before your scheduled procedure. You are required to restrict your diet and may need to change your medication routine. The goal is to empty your colon so that it's prepared for the procedure.
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