The sartorius muscle is a long muscle located in the front of your thigh. It courses from your hip and crosses the front of your thigh, inserting near the inner part of your knee. The sartorius serves to flex and rotate your hip and bend your knee. It is the longest muscle in the human body. There are two sartorius muscles, one on each leg. The sartorius is also known as the tailor’s muscle....
Feeling sleepy after eating, or postprandial somnolence, is a common issue. It can be due to what, when, and how much you eat, as well as a natural dip in the alerting signal of the circadian rhythm—your body’s internal clock. This article explains some theories about why you may feel sleepy after meals and offers some ideas for staying alert after eating. Elements in Food There are certain elements within food that can cause sleepiness....
A new, large-scale study has identified the most important genetic factors in a person’s breast cancer risk. The study was conducted by 250 researchers from institutions and universities in more than 25 countries. Key Takeaways A large-scale study has narrowed down important genetic risk factors for breast cancer.While anyone, regardless of gender, can develop breast cancer, there are certain factors that put someone at greater risk of developing the disease, like family history....
Veins are tubular, hollow structures that form part of the circulatory system of the body; in most instances, veins carry deoxygenated blood toward the heart. The superior vena cava (SVC) is one of the two largest veins in the body and is considered one of the many systemic veins. Systemic veins are those carrying deoxygenated blood from various areas of the body to the heart and are vital to the function of the cardiovascular system....
The four A’s are four words that describe some of the main symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The A’s represent the following: Amnesia Amnesia refers to memory loss and is often the most easily visible and common sign of Alzheimer’s disease. Memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease typically begins with short-term memory and progresses to a decline in long-term memory. There are different types of amnesia, including: Retrograde amnesia is memory loss that is limited to the period before a head injury occurred or before a disease such as Alzheimer’s developed....
Throat cancer is a subgroup of head and neck cancers. It typically refers to cancers that originate in the pharynx (the throat). Thickened white patches on the lining of the throat are usually the earliest signs of cancer or a precancerous condition in the throat. The most common type of throat cancer is called squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This and other types of throat cancers are most often caused by environmental factors, including smoking or chewing tobacco....
An umbilical hernia is a weakness in the muscle around the umbilicus, or belly button, that allows the tissues of the abdomen to protrude through the muscle. An umbilical hernia is typically small enough that only the peritoneum, or the lining of the abdominal cavity, pushes through the muscle wall. In severe cases, portions of the intestine may move through the hole in the muscle. Who Is at Risk Umbilical hernias are typically present at birth and may seem to appear and disappear, which is referred to as a “reducible” hernia....
If you experience visceral hypersensitivity, it means you have a lowered threshold for abdominal pain and discomfort in response to pressure, stimulation, or distension within the abdomen. Visceral hypersensitivity (visceral hyperalgesia) is the term used to describe the experience of pain within the inner organs (viscera) at a level that is more intense than normal. Visceral hypersensitivity is a hallmark characteristic of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, visceral hypersensitivity may also be present in people who have:...
Each week, Verywell explains a term from health, medicine, science, or technology. Syndrome How to say it: Syndrome (sin-dro-mm) What it means: The signs and symptoms that characterize a condition. Where it comes from: From Greek, syndromē, “combination” Where you might see or hear it: There are some diseases or conditions that have “syndrome” in the name (such as Down syndrome), but the word itself refers to the signs and symptoms that a person with a specific condition usually has....
Beta-blockers are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in medical practice. They work by blocking the effect of epinephrine (adrenaline) on the tissues, specifically, by blocking the “beta receptors” that bind epinephrine. Among other things, blocking the beta receptors slows the heart rate, reduces the force of contraction of the heart muscle, reduces the amount of oxygen the heart muscle needs to do its work, reduces stress on the vascular system, and tends to lower the blood pressure....
Copper Hands are compression gloves that have copper fibers included. They are marketed through infomercials and bear the “As Seen on TV” logo. The advertising copy reads: “The temporary relief you need. If you’re suffering from arthritis pain or have weak hands and wrists, you need Copper Hands - the technologically advanced compression gloves that are made with real copper.” But will they provide you with relief? While some consumer reviews are positive, wearing copper jewelry has long been shown to have no clinical effect on arthritis....
Soy and soy-containing foods like tofu have gained a reputation over the years for lowering cholesterol. Chief among these is the “bad” form of cholesterol known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL). This is the type that causes fatty deposits on the walls of arteries, known as plaque, leading to atherosclerosis (“hardening of the arteries”) and coronary artery disease (CAD). Based on evidence that soy can reduce these risks, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in 1999 that the heart health benefits of soy could be promoted on product labels....
Impetigo is a contagious bacterial skin infection from certain staph or strep bacteria that spreads from direct contact with another person’s infected area. Impetigo is more likely to affect children than adults, with 12.3% of children affected by the condition compared to 4.9% of adults. Though stress cannot cause impetigo, it can make you more susceptible (likely) to getting the infection. However, research is unclear as to how much stress affects impetigo....
Smart skincare is essential for those with eczema. The condition leads to what some call ’leaky skin,’ meaning that the barrier function does not work as it should. Because of this, anything applied soaks into deeper skin layers, which can inadvertently trigger an immune response and flare. The skin is also more prone to losing both water and the natural oils that normally moisturize it, leading to greater cracks and flaking....
How do you best treat a puncture wound and how do these differ from lacerations and other types of injuries? What do you need to be aware of and watch for if you suffer one of these injuries? Definition and Description of Puncture Wounds Puncture wounds and lacerations can look the same at the surface of the skin. It’s really the depth below the surface and what internal organs or tissues are damaged that matters most....
Changes in the environment can be challenging for people with Alzheimer’s or another dement If your loved one with dementia is moving to a nursing home, how can you help with that transition? Try these six tips to help him adjust: 1. Choose a Few Familiar Items and Pictures to Bring Your space in a nursing home is limited, but it’s important to bring a few things with your loved one that is recognizable and familiar....
Somatic pain and visceral pain are two distinct types of pain, and they feel different. Somatic pain comes from the skin, muscles, and soft tissues, while visceral pain comes from the internal organs. This article discusses the differences in how you might experience somatic and visceral pain, their sources, and how they are treated. How Your Body Detects Pain Both somatic pain and visceral pain are detected in the same way....
Many people who are living with neurological disease, or who are stroke survivors, experience difficulty swallowing. People living with dysphagia have difficulty eating, drinking, and taking medicine. If not adequately diagnosed and managed, dysphagia can lead to poor nutrition, aspiration pneumonia, and further disability. Symptoms Dysphagia is characterized by difficulty swallowing. Several neurological conditions, such as stroke, dementia, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis can cause dysphagia if the swallowing muscles become weak or lose coordination....
If you are like most people, you are probably dealing with too much stress! Our bodies were designed to deal with stress by girding us up for battle. As one part of this stress response, we experience an increase in muscle tension. This excess muscle tension is a waste of energy, contributes to fatigue, and can result in chronic pain. Think about boxers — they dance around the ring as a way to keep their muscles loose so that they can concentrate all of their power when they want to land a punch....
It is not uncommon for people to specify where they would like their cremated remains (ashes) to be distributed, or for family members to choose a meaningful spot once the person has passed away. While a licensed funeral director usually handles the shipment of human remains for burial elsewhere, an immediate family member generally assumes possession of a loved one’s cremated remains. Fortunately, there are several options if honoring your loved one’s wishes requires shipping or transporting cremated human remains from Point A to Point B....
