Tears are present in the eyes from birth and throughout life Tears are present in the eyes from birth and throughout life, provided there are no other medical conditions that prevent tear formation. Tear production tends to decrease as a part of the aging process. Humans produce 30 gallons of tears a year. The main function of tears is to...
What Are Warts Caused By?
What are warts? Warts are small skin growths that are usually harmless and that are caused by the human papillomavirus. Warts are small skin growths and are usually painless and harmless. Warts are benign (non-cancerous) and caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV) and so they are highly contagious. Warts can be rough to the touch or may also...
What Are the Best Ways of Treating Salmonella?
What is Salmonella? Most people recover from the bacteria without requiring additional Salmonella treatment. Patients should consume extra fluids until their diarrhea clears up. Doctors may also prescribe antibiotics to treat more severe cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Salmonella infects around 1.35 million people every year. Over the course of a year, approximately 26,500...
What Are the Warning Signs of Tetanus?
What is tetanus? Warning signs of tetanus may include headache, increased blood pressure, stiff jaw, difficulty swallowing, and body spasms. Sometimes referred to as lockjaw, tetanus is a severe disease that prompts painful muscle contractions. These can lead to the tightening of the jaw. The disease can also cause several other painful symptoms and, in some cases, may prove life-threatening....
What Are the Risk Factors for Developing Cervical Cancer?
The actual cause of developing cervical cancer is still being researched. However, studies suggest that cervical cancer may be caused by infection with certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). The actual cause of developing cervical cancer is still being researched. However, studies suggest that cervical cancer may be caused by infection with certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a sexually...
What Are the Nine Essential Amino Acids?
What are the nine essential amino acids? Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. The nine essential amino acids are histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. Amino acids are extremely important in helping the human body function. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. When your body breaks down protein, amino acids are left....
What Are the Bad Side Effects of Mirena?
Side effects of Mirena Most women who use birth control chose intrauterine devices (IUDs). A National Center for Health Statistics study found that most women who use birth control chose intrauterine devices (IUDs). The Mirena IUD is one device that has become increasingly popular. However, before choosing an IUD, patients should talk to their doctors about the potential for life-threatening side effects. The...
What Are the Side Effects of Vacuum Delivery?
What are the side effects of vacuum delivery? Vacuum-assisted birth assists the delivery of a baby using a vacuum device. Vacuum-assisted birth is a method to assist the delivery of a baby using a vacuum device. The side effects include Risks to the mother Damage to the vagina and cervix if the cup is not attached to the baby’s head...
What Are the Symptoms of a Damaged Retina?
What is the retina? Symptoms of a damaged retina are dim vision, blurring of vision, flashes of light, and more. The retina is the innermost layer in the back of the eye and is the portion of the eye that receives light. It contains nerves and light-sensitive cells called rods and cones. Rods are responsible for vision at low light...
What Are Abnormal Blood Pressure Number Ranges?
What is blood pressure? Abnormal blood pressure ranges fall into elevated, stage 1 hypertension, stage 2 hypertension, hypertensive crisis, and low blood pressure hypotension. It can be a concerning moment when a doctor takes your blood pressure. There’s a lot to understand about this set of numbers, so here’s a look at normal and abnormal blood pressure numbers and what...