A regular stroke is a 911 emergency. It is an interruption of blood flow to part of your brain. Without blood, brain cells start to die. This stroke causes sudden symptoms like numbness and weakness on one side, loss of speech or the ability to understand speech, dizziness or loss … Read More
Influenza—better known as the flu, is a nasty viral infection that strikes millions every year, both in the winter and spring. If you have full-blown flu, you will likely feel very unwell and may be confined to bed for a day or three. And you may be looking—like all of … Read More
You've heard of vertigo, but do you know what benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is? It's a common inner ear problem that produces a false sense of spinning, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS). Many of us will experience one or more episodes of BPPV … Read More
Beta blockers are drugs known for treating high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, and angina. But no matter why you may be taking them, beta blockers always work the same way. That is, they block a hormone known as epinephrine, better known as adrenaline. This is the same hormone … Read More
Most of the time you don’t feel a thing as the force of blood pressing against your blood vessel walls builds and damages arteries in your brain, heart, kidneys, and other areas of your body. Only when your blood pressure reaches very high levels do symptoms tend to arise. If … Read More
A common type of hypotension, or low blood pressure, is known as orthostatic hypotension. Also called postural hypotension, it involves a sudden drop in blood pressure when you stand up from a prone or seated position. Orthostatic hypotension happens when blood pools in your legs upon standing. The result—within three … Read More
Let’s talk about last night. Remember that decision you made to have another glass (or three) of wine? The one you’re regretting as you hug the toilet bowl with a pounding headache? As much as you’d like to wish it away, your hangover is here and it’s going to stick … Read More
We’ve all hit that wall at work or during an important activity when we’re overcome with a tired, fatigued feeling but can’t take the time to rest. Legions of people who reach that point try for a burst by chugging down an energy drink rather than relying on natural ways … Read More
What is a panic attack, and how do panic attack symptoms affect us? It's an important question, because so many of us experience them: "Each year, about one in 10 people experiences a panic attack," according to data published by the Department of Psychology at Northern Illinois University. First, let's … Read More
At some point in life, you may have experienced dizziness while standing up. Dizziness includes three subtly different symptoms: Lightheadedness, where your head feels light, as if you may feel faint Vertigo, where you feel that the room or world is spinning Unsteadiness, where you feel like you are unstable … Read More
