Archive for January, 2010

What Is Athlete’s Foot?

Athlete’s foot is caused by the fungus called Trichophyton. It activates in the state when feet are wet and warm and irritated. Though fungal infections are more frequent on feet they can appear also on other parts of the body. More »

Nail Fungus or not?

Sometimes defective nails are considered fungal because of the way they look. People feel awkward about it and are eager to treat their nails for something that is not the case. However, nasty looking nails can be a result not only of bad hygiene and fungus but also some other factors like the following: More »

What Is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia represents a serious chronic mental illness and though the word is well-known to everyone it is often understood in a wrong way. More »

Mental Disorders in America

Many people all over the world suffer from mental disorders and Americans are among them. The statistics is such that about 1 in 5 adults has some kind of diagnosed mental disorder. Among the most frequent are major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. There are also cases when a person has more than one condition at a time. More »

Diuretics for Edema Treatment

Fluid retention, or edema, is an illness that affects the performance of heart as well as the work of liver and kidneys. It is generally treated by diuretics. The most effective are loop diuretics. Their name originates from the place they affect that is a part of the kidney tubules named as the loop of Henle. The latter are responsible for salt and water balance. The most frequently used diuretics are furosemide , torsemide, and butethamine. More »

Bird (avian) flu

Another name for bird fly is avian influenza. As it is clear from the name this illness appears mostly among in birds (chickens frequently). Generally its character is mild but it also can turn severe and in this case very pathogenic and birds die during the period of two days. The virus may as well be transferred to humans who had direct contact to these birds. The consequences may be of mild and more severe character and even lead to death. This virus was also named H5N1 and it caused death of 10% of 700 infected people from all over the world. Though it now seems rather safe from person to person transference there is no guarantee from its mutation. In this case it can cause a pandemic like the one that took place in 1918. More »

What is influenza?

The disease evoked by RNA viruses that infect the respiratory tract of people as well as animals and birds is called influenza, or the flu. The most recognizable symptoms are fever, headache, feeling of exhaustion; also a sore throat and nausea are possible as well as vomiting and diarrhea. It is normal for the illness to last approximately for one or two weeks and then recede but in some cases it can evoke serious complications and even lead to death. Other viral respiratory infections are not characterized with such outcomes. More »

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammation

Under the term of rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, stands an inflammatory disease that affects the joints, tissues and organs of the body causing inflammation and severe pain. Unlike osteoarthritis, which attacks only joints, RA’s field of influence is much broader. It causes inflammation in legs and hands as well as in the lungs, heart and skin. Mostly people in their 40 and 50 suffer from this condition and their number is not very high. More »

Encephalitis and Meningitis – Know the Difference

Encephalitis and meningitis are not very frequent but this does not make them less serious and in some cases even dangerous. Their symptoms are confusing and as the diseases affect an organism in different ways it is important to know for sure which one is the case in order to know how to treat. More »

Common Symptoms of Gastritis

Gastritis is a well-known condition and many people suffer from it. It can be described as irritation or inflammation of the stomach lining. In some mild cases a person may not even be aware of it; but there are also more severe forms; and also chronic ones. In order to be sure that you have this very condition it is important to know the symptoms as they are confusing sometimes. More »