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Hepatitis C is the name given to a disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) that affects the liver. Many sufferers experience no symptoms, but can still spread the disease. Those who do have symptoms may experience tiredness, decreased appetite, nausea or vomiting, pain under the ribs, fever and pain in the joints. As the disease progresses liver scarring is the main complication and this can lead to liver failure or liver cancer. However, only 10-20% of hepatitis C suffers will develop liver scarring. Treatment for hepatitis C is available with a combination of two drugs, but it is not always effective. Hepatitis C is spread through contact with infected blood, sexual intercourse and, on occasion, from mother to baby.
Most people are aware that people suffering from diabetes require insulin injections, but not many people realize just how important insulin is in the body. It is a hormone that is responsible for regulating blood sugar levels in the body and stopping the body from using fat as an energy source. If you are wondering how it performs these essential bodily functions, read on to find out!
Today cases of scurvy are very rare in most Western societies, but it was once a common disease. People traveling for long periods are sea were particularly affected. Originally the disease causes fatigue and after a few months sufferers develop bone pain and short breath. Other symptoms may include easy bruising, slow wound healing, rough skin, gum disease and loose teeth. Eventually the disease causes fever and convulsions and death is quite common. The symptoms of the disease were described by the Egyptians sometime around 1550 BC. However, the cause for the disease was not known until much later.
Vitamin K is a group of essential vitamins known for their important blood clotting function in the human body. There are two natural forms of this vitamin, known as K1 and K2. These forms of the vitamin are found in food products such as leafy green vegetables, eggs, meat and dairy products. The synthetic forms of the vitamin are named K3, K4 and K5, which are used in many areas. You might be wondering who discovered this group of essential vitamins and their role in the body? Read on to find out.
Gray hair is an inevitable fact of life as people get older. People try to cover their gray hair with a variety of different methods, but in the end most people accept the inevitable. There has always been some mystery and uncertainty about why people turn gray, as well as some outlandish theories about how to reverse the process. However, with a recent discovery scientists think they have unlocked the mystery of what makes hair turn gray. Read on to find out.
Everyone has heard their mother say “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” In fact, this saying began with nutritional experts because they were worried by the amount of people skipping this meal. According to studies, only 49% of Americans eat breakfast every day. But, is skipping breakfast really a big deal, and should you be worried if you sometimes don’t eat it? Read on to find out.
Dandruff is characterized as the shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp. It can be a embarrassing condition that causes excess flaking and itching, depending on the severity of the dandruff. Almost half of the world’s population suffers from dandruff. There are many different anti-dandruff shampoos on the market, and the treatment of this condition has created a multibillion dollar industry. Have you ever wondered what causes this common condition? Read on to find out.
Memory is our ability to store, retain and recall experiences and information. We have both and short term memory and a long term memory. Memory is a funny thing; two people can live through the same event yet have very different memories of what actually occurred. Some days you can remember every detail of a person’s face and on other days it is difficult to bring to mind that same person. Some people have memories that are photographic, whilst others have sketchy memories at best. Not a lot is known about how memory works and why we recall some things and not others. What we do know is that part of the brain is responsible for storing, retaining and recalling the information we have learned and the experiences we have lived through. So, which part of the brain controls memory? Read on to discover the answer.
Humans have two small, bean-shaped organs that are known as the kidneys. The kidneys are located in the small of the back near the vertebral column. They are generally about 4 inches (10 cm) long and about 2 ½ inches (6.4 cm) wide. The kidneys are part of the renal system. Interestingly, humans can survive with only one kidney. Kidneys are often donated to those who are diagnosed with kidney disease or failure and require a kidney to live.
The immune system is a collection of different body systems and cells that protect our body from bacterial and viral infection. This biological system identifies and attacks foreign cells and materials through specialized cells called B-cells. The immune system adapts over time to be able to quickly recognize and kill a virus or bacteria it has come into contact with before. This is called having immunity to a particular disease. Some disorders or diseases, such as AIDS, can lead to the immune system being less effective or not effective at all.