A large new worldwide study has shown that just by including more physical activities such as taking the stairs or walking about during office hours in between periods of sitting an protect one from heart disease as well as an early death when compared to getting a gym membership. The study was published in the latest issue of the Lancet. […]
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Pandemics are infectious diseases that spread uncontrollably across populations, killing people over vast areas such as continents and even worldwide. Examples of recent pandemics include influenza and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Some examples of potential pandemics in the future are described below. Viral hemorrhagic fevers – Fevers such as Rift Valley fever, Ebola virus, Marburg virus, and Bolivian hemorrhagic fever […]
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Coronary heart disease is a pandemic that has seen a major increase in incidence over the past decade. There are many risk factors that contribute to the formation of coronary heart disease, some of which are recently being exhibited more by the general population. Image Credit: Crevis / Shutterstock What is Coronary Heart Disease? Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a […]
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Valproic acid is an antiepileptic drug that is commonly used in conjunction with other pharmaceutical therapies, which has the potential to lead to interactions between the drugs. This occurs relatively frequently due to the extensive metabolism of valproic acid in the body that is easily affected by, and can easily affect, the metabolism of other drugs. The following medications may […]
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Glomeruli are at the heart of renal function, and yet are only part of an intact nephron. They are of irreplaceable value in maintaining homeostasis. Cross section of kidney and diagram of nephron – Image Copyright: Blamb / Shutterstock Functions of the glomerulus Their functions may be briefly described as: Ultrafiltration of plasma which includes the removal of plasma solutes […]
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Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), also known as familial spastic paraparesis, is a term used for a group of inherited diseases that affect the upper motor neurons traveling from the brain through the spinal cord, to synapse with lower motor neurons that innervate muscles. This condition is distinct from motor-neuron disease (MND) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in which both upper […]
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The word abstinence refers to voluntary prevention of oneself from indulging in bodily activities that provide pleasure. Abstinence commonly refers to abstention from sexual intercourse, alcohol or food. Abstinence can be due to personal preferences, religious practices of practical considerations. In medicine abstinence also refers to discontinuation of an addictive drug. This may lead to intense craving for the drug […]
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Hypothermia is a dangerous condition in which the body becomes so cold that thinking, movement and protective responses are impaired, and the core body temperature drops to below 350C. In suspected hypothermia, a rectal low-reading thermometer is needed for accurate diagnosis. Other methods of diagnosis include tympanic thermometry and bladder probes. Hypothermia needs early and effective treatment. First aid measures […]
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The effect of starvation in controlling epileptic seizures was first observed by scientists in the 1920s. Since then, the ketogenic diet, which mimics the effects of fasting, has been devised as a way of controlling epilepsy in children who are not responsive to medication. Reports on the effectiveness of this diet have shown it leads to improvements in up to […]
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Normal Puberty Puberty is the maturation stage a person goes through when they develop secondary sexual characteristics. Usually, puberty occurs between the ages of 8 and 12 years in girls and between 9 and 14 years in boys. Among girls, the signs of puberty are usually breast enlargement and hair growth in the pubic region and armpits, followed by menstruation. […]
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