Health

Refine Search

Does wine cause high blood pressure?

People who drink heavily but cut back to moderate drinking may see a decrease in their systolic blood pressure numbers by up to four millimeters of mercury and their diastolic numbers by up to two millimeters, advises Mayo Clinic. Heavy drinkers should reduce the amount they drink slowly over a period of two weeks, since stopping suddenly can cause severely high blood pressure that persists for days.

Continue Reading

What type of headache causes pain in the top of the head?

Causes of tension headaches include stress and worry, skipping meals, poor sleep or lack of sleep, poor posture and eyestrain, notes Health.com. In addition to band-like or squeezing pressure around the head or the sensation of a weight on top of the head, some people experience pain in the back, neck and shoulders, as well as mild sensitivity to light and sound and difficulty sleeping. WebMD adds anxiety, fatigue and overexertion to the list of potential causes. The rate of women experiencing this type of headache doubles that of men.\nThirty to 80 percent of the U.S. population experiences t..

Continue Reading

What are some treatment options for hepatitis C?

Doctors often prescribe a combination of the injected medication pegylated interferon alpha and the oral antiviral ribavirin, and the treatment may last from several weeks to several months, according to eMedicineHealth. For genotype type 1 HCV, doctors may also recommend adding protease inhibitors such as telaprevir and boceprevir to the treatment regimen to shorten its duration. Side effects may include anemia, muscle aches, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Patients may also experience depression, irritability, mild fever, weight loss and skin rash. Less common but serious side effects are als..

Continue Reading

What are some tips for planning a menu for people with prediabetes?

Prediabetes is a medical condition characterized by higher-than-normal blood glucose levels that do not fall within the range of diabetes. Although prediabetic patients are more susceptible to developing Type 2 diabetes later in life, early intervention with proper diet and an active lifestyle can delay the progress or even reverse the condition, explains Healthline.When designing prediabetic meals, strictly monitoring carbohydrate intake ensures that patients obtain adequate and safe amounts of these nutritional components from their diet. However, careful consideration should be observed in ..

Continue Reading

Why are glucagon and insulin antagonistic hormones?

Both hormones originate in the pancreas, but insulin is made in the beta cells of the pancreas and glucagon is produced by the alpha cells, according to Brown University. Glucagon is only released if blood sugar is low; on the other hand, at least a small amount of insulin is secreted into the bloodstream at all times.\nInsulin and glucagon work together to maintain homeostasis in blood sugar levels. When the body detects low levels of blood sugar, the pancreas secretes glucagon into the bloodstream. The hormone acts on liver cells to break down glycogen into glucose. In addition, glucagon can..

Continue Reading

How is ocular rosacea treated?

Individuals with ocular rosacea should avoid wearing contacts when eyes are dry, explains Mayo Clinic. Foods or beverages such as hot and spicy foods or alcoholic beverages that dilate the blood vessels should also be avoided if ocular rosacea flares up. When wearing makeup, people with ocular rosacea should choose non-oily, fragrance-free products to reduce the risk of eye irritation.\nOcular rosacea is a condition that causes burning, itching and redness of the eyes due to inflammation, according to Mayo Clinic. People who have skin rosacea that affects the face are commonly more at risk for..

Continue Reading

Why do you get hot flashes at night?

The exact cause of hot flashes in menopausal women is not known, but they may be the result of changes in circulation, according to WebMD. Idiopathic hyperhidrosis is a condition that can cause hot flashes at night. This occurs when the body chronically produces too much sweat without any determined medical cause. Tuberculosis is an infection that often causes night sweats. Endocarditis, a bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the heart valves, and osteomyelitis, or inflammation in the bones, can cause night sweats. Abscesses and HIV also can be causative factors.\nNight sweats are a..

Continue Reading

What are some ways to improve bad eyesight?

Having good vision starts with eating foods rich in certain nutrients, explains WebMD. Foods that contain vitamins C and E can help in preventing age-related vision problems like cataracts and macular degeneration. Other foods that promote good eye health include green leafy vegetables such as collards, kale and spinach; tuna, salmon and other oily fish; nonprotein sources such as egg, beans and nuts; and citrus fruits and juices such as oranges.\nSmoking increases the chances of getting macular degeneration, optic nerve damage and cataracts, explains WebMD. Wearing the right sunglasses protec..

Continue Reading

What are symptoms of a spinal infection?

Bacteria or fungi are capable of causing infection in the spine due to surgical complications and are heightened by specific risk factors, states the North American Spine Society. These include poor nutrition, suppression of the immune system, HIV/AIDS, cancer, obesity and diabetes. Patients who undergo a particularly long surgery time or who undergo multiple operations are at increased risk to spinal infection. Approximately 4 percent of surgeries involve a spinal infection despite preventative measures. The majority of surgery-related spinal infections occur between three days and three mont..

Continue Reading

How much sodium should you eat daily?

Adults require approximately 1 gram of sodium per day, according to the Consensus Action on Salt & Health in the United Kingdom. Excessive intake of sodium can increase the risk of high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease. When consumed in high amounts, sodium can also exacerbate calcium loss in bones and increase symptoms of osteoporosis. The rapid loss of calcium also can contribute to kidney stones, as the mineral can build up in the kidneys when excreted in large amounts.

Continue Reading
Showing 2941 to 2950 of 10000 (1000 Pages)