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Aerobic exercise is any activity that uses large muscle groups, can be maintained continuously, and is rhythmic in nature. It is a type of exercise that overloads the heart and lungs and causes them to work harder than at rest. The benefits of aerobic exercise can be yours today if you simply get up and get moving - life is motion!
We should all try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. A lot of things count as physical activity - try walking, jogging, bicycling, swimming, dancing... whatever you enjoy. In general, the more activity, the better.
Reasons For Use
Specific benefits of aerobic exercise include:- Increased ability to handle stress; a better attitude; emotional lift
- Increased aerobic threshold and oxygen pickup in the lungs; easier to do more exercise
- Increased fat burning enzymes; fat deposits are encouraged to release fatty acids
- Increased glycogen storage; reduced conversion of sugar to fat; reduced incidence of hypoglycemia
- Increased hemoglobin levels; decreased blood triglycerides; improved high density blood cholesterol levels
- Increased muscle mass; improved bone calcium levels and strength
- Increased stroke volume of heart; decreased blood pressure; decreased load on the heart; decreased resting pulse rate
- Improved handling of excess heat and resistance to cold
- More calories and fat burned (even while at rest!); decreased body fat; better hunger control
- Decreased insulin requirement; decreased muscle dependence on sugar
- Lower chance of senility - increased oxygen delivery to brain
With all of these benefits, and more activities than ever to choose from, everyone should find one or more things that keep their heart rate elevated for a continuous time period and get moving to a healthier life.
Directions
On September 5, 2002, the U.S. government released new activity guidelines which double the amount of exercise that adults should get in order to stay healthy. Previous American Heart Association guidelines recommended 30 minutes of exercise at least three days a week. The newer guidelines advised that daily exercise was best but "at least six days is recommended." [Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association]
The recommendation is part of a massive, authoritative study produced by the National Academies' Institute of Medicine which also doubled the amount of recommended daily exercise from the 1996 U.S. Surgeon General recommendation of 30 minutes a day of moderately strenuous exercise up to 60 minutes a day.
NOTE: All changes in one's exercise program should be done gradually and with the permission of a licensed medical professional.
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Aerobic Exercise can help with the following: | | | | | Autoimmune |  Myasthenia Gravis | Available literature indicates that patients with myasthenia gravis may benefit from both a strengthening as well as an aerobic/cardiovascular fitness program. Patients should be taught a home exercise program that is individualized for their limitations and tolerance. Physical training is safe for patients with mild myasthenia gravis and does produce some improvement in overall muscle strength.
Walking for short periods at a slow pace is a good way to start a walking program. Increase the exercise time slowly until you build up to 30 minutes of continuous walking. If you are comfortable with this, then your speed can slowly be increased. Before beginning any exercise program, please check with your doctor for advice on whether this is appropriate for you, and what form of exercise is preferred. |
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Circulation |
 Angina| | A carefully graded, progressive, aerobic exercise program (30 minutes 3 times per week) is a necessity. Walking is a good exercise with which to start. Since angina is known to be exacerbated by physical exertion following a meal, give your body at least one and a half hours after a meal before exercising. |
Phlebitis / Thrombophlebitis| | It is important to get regular moderate exercise. Walking is the best, and swimming may also be helpful. Regular exercise increases the body's ability to dissolve clots.
Wherever you may be, do not sit for more than an hour at a time without getting up and walking around. Better yet, every hour exercise the legs for 2 minutes, as if you are riding a bike (lifting the legs) while breathing deeply. Do not squat (sit back on your heels), except momentarily. If you have to travel a distance while seated (airplane, car, etc.), stop and walk around every so often. Do not let the circulation become sluggish. |
Atherosclerosis| | Regular aerobic exercise lowers fibrinogen levels - a risk factor for atherosclerosis of equal or greater predictive value than cholesterol. Additionally, exercise improves the production of nitric oxide within the blood vessel wall, which should limit the progression of atherosclerosis. Exercise improves the fitness of the heart as well as circulation. |
Mitral Valve Prolapse| | Some patients are told to take it easy, but a recent study found that moderate exercise can benefit individuals with this condition. Amongst women who exercised, the symptoms that saw the most improvement were chest pain, fatigue, dizziness and mood swings. Over-exertion can often increase the symptoms of mitral valve prolapse, so increase exercise levels gradually. |
Hypotension (Low Blood Pressure)| | Regular exercise to promote blood flow and regulation can improve low blood pressure. |
Intermittent Claudication| | A systematic review of randomized trials suggests that exercise rehabilitation therapy improves symptoms of intermittent claudication. [Physical Therapy 1998 78: pp.278-88] |
Not recommended for:
 Cardiomyopathy| | Heavy physical activity can be life-threatening for cardiomyopathy patients. However, appropriate physician supervised exercise often benefits individuals with cardiomyopathy. |
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Digestion |
Constipation| | Lack of exercise can lead to constipation, although doctors do not know precisely why. |
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Environment / Toxicity |
General Detoxification Requirement |
Habits |
Aerobic Exercise Need
Problems Associated With Lack Of Exercise| | Even moderate exercise such as a brisk walk for 30 minutes most days helps control weight, cuts stress, anxiety and depression. |
Laxative/Enema Overuse |
Hormones |
 Hyperparathyroidism |
Immunity |
Not recommended for:
Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome| | Exercise is often a problem for people with CFS because physical activity can worsen symptoms. Medical opinion has been divided on whether CFS patients should attempt regular exercise or not - some believe that gentle exercise is helpful, while others caution against any form of aerobic activity at all. However, a study published in the British Medical Journal found that patient education on CFS and a graded exercise program can greatly improve CFS symptoms in many cases.
Some people with CFS, especially in the weeks or months following onset, are unable to perform the most basic activities, such as showering or walking from one room to another. In such cases of extreme exhaustion and pain, the person may be confined to their bed. As time passes, they may feel a little better and attempt regular exercise. However, aerobic activity can cause a relapse of symptoms that forces the person back to their bed again. The added problem for CFS sufferers is that a sedentary lifestyle causes a range of other health problems including muscle wastage, loss of bone mass, and increased risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease.
A person with CFS needs a gentle approach to physical activity and should only make tiny increases in the frequency, duration and intensity of their exercise program. General suggestions include:- Aim for no more than three exercise sessions per week.
- Experiment to find the type of exercise that works best for you. Choose from a range of gentle activities such as stretching, yoga, Tai Chi, walking and light weight training.
- Stretching seems to be well tolerated by people with CFS. You may prefer to perform your stretching program while lying down in bed.
- Aerobic exercise seems to cause relapses for many people with CFS. If this is true for you, try non-aerobic forms of exercise like weight training with one-kilogram dumbbells.
- Learn from past relapses. For example, if walking for 20 minutes worsened your symptoms, try walking for five minutes and see how that goes. It may be helpful to keep a diary to keep track of what works and what doesn't.
- Stop the physical activity well before you feel tired.
- Remember that your exercise tolerance will differ from one day to the next.
- Listen to your body - if you don't feel up to exercising on a particular day, don't.
- Only increase the intensity, time spent or frequency of exercise when you know you can cope with it. For example, if you can exercise for five minutes without suffering a relapse, try for six minutes.
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Infections |
Herpes Simplex Type I| | A healthy immune system may be important in controlling the virus, so proper nutrition, exercise and rest is recommended. |
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Lab Values |
High Levels Of Triglycerides| | For many individuals, an exercise period of 45 minutes can produce greater reduction in plasma triglycerides than the shorter periods of exercise sometimes recommended for lowering triglyceride levels. |
High Total Cholesterol |
Laboratory Test Needed |
Elevated Insulin Levels |
Mental |
Depression| | Researchers found that walking for 30 minutes each day quickly improved depressive symptoms faster than antidepressant drugs typically do. Another study compared exercise with antidepressants among older adults and found that physical activity was the more effective depression-fighter. [British Journal of Sports Medicine April 2001;35: pp.114-117]
Previous studies have suggested that exercise is a potent mood-booster, and some research indicates that for some patients regular activity may be a better depression treatment than psychotherapy or medication. Exactly why is unclear, but exercise does influence certain mood-related hormones. And it is also believed to enhance people's sense of control over their lives.
The main conclusion to draw from studies conducted is that the practice of exercise shows a negative correlation with depression - in other words, the more you exercise, the less depressed you feel. Interestingly, any kind of exercise relieves the symptoms of depression. |
Anxiety| | Exercise is one of the most important coping mechanisms to combat anxiety and stress. By discharging negative emotions and stress hormones through physical activity, you can enter a more relaxed state from which to deal with the issues and conflicts that are causing your anxiety.
The benefits of exercise can come from many directions: the decision to take up exercise, the symbolic meaning of the activity, the distraction from worries, mastering your inertia and the effects on self-image, and the biochemical and physiological changes that accompany the activity.
Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, releases hormones, stimulates the nervous system, and increases levels of morphine-like substances found in the body (such as beta-endorphin) that can have a positive effect on mood and pain. Exercise may trigger a neurophysiological high that produces an antidepressant effect in some, an antianxiety effect in others, and a general sense of "feeling better" in most. |
Poor Memory| | Exercise will improve oxygen levels within the bloodstream, which will in turn naturally increase oxygen levels in the brain. |
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Metabolic |
Problems Caused By Being Overweight| | Increased physical activity lowers the risk of obesity, favorably influences the distribution of body weight and has a variety of health-related benefits, even in the absence of weight loss. Exercise is the natural partner to weight loss. You will discover improvement in balance, energy level, immune function, muscular strength, reflexes, and self-esteem. |
Syndrome X| | Exercise is an important aid in the treatment both of insulin sensitivity and Syndrome X. Exercise not only helps with losing weight but but also makes muscle more insulin-sensitive, which in turn improves the sensitivity of the whole body. |
Hypoglycemia| | Moderate exercise improves glucose metabolism. Those few individuals who find that strenuous or prolonged exercise causes hypoglycemia should take food at the earliest opportunity. |
Cluster Headaches| | Vigorous physical exertion at the earliest sign of an attack can, in some patients, be remarkably effective in ameliorating or even aborting an attack. [Atkinson, 1977; Ekbom and Lindahl, 1970] |
Edema (Water Retention)| | Edema can be caused by a sedentary lifestyle - in other words, long periods of standing or sitting. If this is the case for you, regular exercise (not necessarily prolonged or strenuous) should help. |
Tinnitus| | Regular exercise may help increase blood circulation to the head and thus reduce the symptoms of tinnitus if it is caused by poor circulation. |
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Musculo-Skeletal |
High Body Fat Percentage
Osteoarthritis| | Research shows that a good treatment for Osteoarthritis is exercise. It can improve mood and outlook, decrease pain, increase joint flexibility, improve the heart and blood flow, maintain or decrease weight, and promote general well being. The amount and form of exercise will depend on which joints are involved, how stable the joints are, and whether a joint replacement has already been done. |
Osteoporosis - Osteopenia| | Physical activity may help reduce fracture risk by enhancing bone strength and improving bone quality. Exercise strengthens bones. |
Poor Musculoskeletal Health| | Exercising within your tolerances and limitations will invariably produce musculoskeletal health improvement. |
Muscular Dystrophy| | Activity is encouraged to the degree tolerated. |
Leg Cramps At Night| | Exercise, such as riding an exercise bicycle for a few minutes before bedtime, can help prevent cramps from developing during the night, especially if a person does not get a lot of exercise during the day. |
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Organ Health |
Poor Bone Health| | Exercise frequently and consistently, with a special focus on weight-bearing exercises such as walking since these strengthen bones. |
Diabetes Type II| | Aerobic exercise reduces the risk of diabetes and improves the diabetic condition through several different mechanisms. |
Glomerulonephritis| | If there are no other medical contraindications to exercise, nephrologists usually recommend a moderate-to-vigorous exercise program that stimulates the cardiovascular system, such as walking, swimming or cycling (stationary or otherwise). Because high-impact exercise can worsen proteinuria and/or hematuria, if applicable, you may be advised to avoid those (unlikely unless your proteinuria is heavy or your hematuria is visible). You may be advised against heavy contact sports, due to the possibility of an impact that might cause direct injury to a kidney. |
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Pain |
Low Back Pain| | For ACUTE lower back pain, exercise should be avoided during the recovery period. [The New Eng J of Med. Feb. 9, 1995;332(6):35 pp.1-55]
However, in cases of CHRONIC lower back pain, normal activity produces better recovery than bed rest, so you should stay mobile. The success of using exercise as a treatment of low back pain and rehabilitation is overwhelming. The tissues of the vertebral column need the stresses of exercise, even under conditions of back pain. Exercises to strengthen the back and abdominal muscles can be useful, but only after recovery from the acute phase. |
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Skin-Hair-Nails |
Cold Hands and Feet
Dry skin| | Exercise increases blood flow and thus the supply of oxygen and nutrients to your skin. |
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Tumors, Malignant |
Prostate Cancer| | A 14-year study by a team from the Harvard School of Public Health found that men over 65 who worked out vigorously for at least three hours a week had an almost 70% lower risk of advanced and fatal cases of prostate cancer. The 47,620 men involved in the study were followed from 1986 to 2000. |
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Uro-Genital |
Painful Menstruation (Dysmenorrhea)| | Regular exercise can help minimize pain and cramping. |
Female Infertility| | Exercise regularly but moderately. Maintaining a high level of physical fitness increases the possibility of conception. For both men and women, the ability to reproduce is dependent on a healthy body. Stressing your body with intensive exercise can cause a decrease in fertility. |
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Aerobic Exercise can help prevent the following: | | | | | Aging | Alzheimer's Disease| | Stay physically active. Patients with Alzheimer's disease have been found to have had lower levels of physical activity earlier in life. Those who exercised regularly throughout life were less likely to contract the disease than those who were inactive. Doctors caution that exercise does not guarantee immunity. |
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Circulation |
Coronary Disease / Heart Attack| | A sedentary lifestyle of physical inactivity is almost as great a risk factor for heart disease as smoking because of diminished circulation and weight gain.
Research has shown that even moderate exercise can substantially reduce the incidence of coronary events. Aerobic exercise reduces cardiac risk by lowering LDL- and raising HDL-cholesterol levels, and by reducing blood pressure, body fat, blood sugar, mental stress, and blood clotting. Exercise also improves the heart's pumping ability, greatly enhancing the body's functional capacity and stamina.
It is never too late to start. Healthy people who begin exercising after age 45 can reduce their death rate by 23%, and even patients who have already had heart attacks can use medically-supervised aerobic exercise to reduce their risk of another heart attack by up to 25%. |
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)| | One study of 6,000 healthy adults found a 52% increased risk for hypertension in sedentary individuals compared to those who were fit, while another study found a 35% increase. |
Varicose Veins| | Regular aerobic exercise provides benefits for the circulatory system. |
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Digestion |
Diverticular Disease| | In one of the few studies that have been done, the most active men had a 37% lower risk of symptomatic diverticular disease than the least active men. Most of the protection against diverticulitis was due to vigorous activities such as jogging and running, rather than moderate activities like walking. [Gut 36: p.276, 1995] |
Gastric/Peptic/Duodenal Ulcers| | Active men had one-half to one-third the risk of developing a duodenal ulcer over 20 years compared with their sedentary counterparts. Men who walked or ran at least 10 miles per week were 62% less likely than inactive subjects to develop an ulcer. Men who walked or ran less than 10 miles each week had about half the ulcer risk of those with no regular exercise. |
Not recommended for:
Heartburn / GERD / Acid Reflux| | Heartburn is more frequent when exercising within 2 hours of eating. |
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Mental |
Senile Dementia |
Organ Health |
Gallbladder Disease| | Studies have shown that the more physically active one is, the lower one's risk of gallstone formation. One study indicated that men who performed endurance-type exercise (such as jogging and running, racquet sports, and brisk walking) for thirty minutes five times per week reduced their risk for gallbladder disease by up to 34%. The benefit depended more on the intensity of activity than the type of exercise. Some researchers guess that in addition to controlling weight, exercise helps normalize blood sugar levels and insulin levels, which, if abnormal, may contribute to gallstones. |
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Tumors, Malignant |
Colon Cancer| | Try to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. |
Breast Cancer| | Exercising at least four hours per week for 12 years can reduce a woman's risk of breast cancer in half, according to a study of breast cancer patients performed at the University of Southern California. The study revealed that exercise is especially important during the adolescent and child-bearing years. In addition, the 12 years of exercise do not need to be performed consecutively. This study complements one performed at the Alberta Cancer Board in Alberta, Canada, which showed that exercising throughout life can cut a woman's risk of breast cancer by 20%. |
Ovarian Cancer| | Researchers studied more than 2,100 women and found that those who exercised for more than 6 hours per week were 27% less likely to develop ovarian cancer than women who exercised less than 1 hour each week. High activity levels were found to protect women of all ages. [Obstetrics and Gynecology 96: pp.609-14, October 2000] |
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KEY | | May do some good | | | Likely to help | | | Highly recommended | | | May have adverse consequences |
GLOSSARY
Abdomen (Abdominal)
That part of the body between the chest and the hips that contains the stomach, intestines, liver, bladder, pancreas and other organs.
Acute
An illness or symptom of sudden onset, which generally has a short duration.
Aerobic (Aerobically)
Using oxygen. For example, aerobic exercises such as running, swimming, bicycling or playing tennis use up lots of oxygen and burn up lots of calories and fat.
Alzheimer's Disease (Alzheimer's)
A progressive disease of the middle-aged and elderly, characterized by loss of function and death of nerve cells in several areas of the brain, leading to loss of mental functions such as memory and learning. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia.
Angina
Angina Pectoris: Severe, restricting chest pain with sensations of suffocation caused by temporary reduction of oxygen to the heart muscle through narrowed diseased coronary arteries. Often triggered by exertion. Angina Vasomotoria: Like the previous, but less dangerous and more frequently caused by purely neurologic stimulus. The pain is more spasmodic and there is usually little actual blood vessel blockage.
Antidepressant (Antidepressants)
Literally, substances meant to oppose depressions or sadness, and generally heterocyclic types such as Elavil, MAO inhibitors like phenelzine, or lithium carbonate. This category of substances formerly included stuff like amphetamines and other stimulants. Botanical examples include Hypericum, Peganum and Oplopanax.
Anxiety
Apprehension of danger, or dread, accompanied by nervous restlessness, tension, increased heart rate, and shortness of breath unrelated to a clearly identifiable stimulus.
Atherosclerosis
Common form of arteriosclerosis associated with the formation of atheromas which are deposits of yellow plaques containing cholesterol, lipids, and lipophages within the intima and inner media of arteries. This results in a narrowing of the arteries, which reduces the blood and oxygen flow to the heart and brain as well as to other parts of the body and can lead to a heart attack, stroke, or loss of function or gangrene of other tissues.
Calcium
The body's most abundant mineral. Its primary function is to help build and maintain bones and teeth. The body also needs calcium to carry nerve signals, keep the heart functioning, contract muscles, clot blood and maintain healthy skin. Calcium helps control blood acid-alkaline balance, plays a role in cell division, muscle growth and iron utilization, activates certain enzymes, and helps transport nutrients through cell membranes. Calcium also forms a cellular cement called ground substance that helps hold cells and tissues together.
Cancer
Refers to the various types of malignant neoplasms that contain cells growing out of control and invading adjacent tissues, which may metastasize to distant tissues.
Cardiac
Pertaining to the heart, also, pertaining to the stomach area adjacent to the esophagus.
Cardiovascular
Pertaining to the heart and blood vessels.
Cholesterol
A waxy, fat-like substance manufactured in the liver and found in all tissues, it facilitates the transport and absorption of fatty acids. In foods, only animal products contain cholesterol. An excess of cholesterol in the bloodstream can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis.
Chronic (Chronicity)
Usually referring to chronic illness: Illness extending over a long period of time.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS, Chronic Fatigue)
A disorder of unknown cause that lasts for prolonged periods and causes extreme and debilitating exhaustion as well as a wide range of other symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle ache and joint pain, often resembling flu and other viral infections. Also known as Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS), Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus (CEBV), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), "Yuppy Flu" and other names, it is frequently misdiagnosed as hypochondria, psychosomatic illness, or depression, because routine medical tests do not detect any problems.
Claudication
Often Intermittent claudication: Condition caused by interruptions of blood supply to the muscles, characterized by limping and pain chiefly in the calf muscles: symptom characterized by pain during walking.
Constipation (Constipated)
Difficult, incomplete, or infrequent evacuation of dry, hardened feces from the bowels.
Cramp (Cramping, Cramps)
A sudden, involuntary, painful muscular contraction.
Diabetes Mellitus (Diabetes, Diabetic, Diabetics)
A disease with increased blood glucose levels due to lack or ineffectiveness of insulin. Diabetes is found in two forms; insulin-dependent diabetes (juvenile-onset) and non-insulin-dependent (adult-onset). Symptoms include increased thirst; increased urination; weight loss in spite of increased appetite; fatigue; nausea; vomiting; frequent infections including bladder, vaginal, and skin; blurred vision; impotence in men; bad breath; cessation of menses; diminished skin fullness. Other symptoms include bleeding gums; ear noise/buzzing; diarrhea; depression; confusion.
Diverticular Disease (Diverticulitis, Diverticulosis)
Some people develop small pouches (diverticula) that bulge outward through weak spots in the colon. Diverticulosis is the condition of having these pouches; diverticulitis is an inflammation or infection in these pouches. The conditions diverticulosis and diverticulitis are both referred to as diverticular disease. Diverticulosis may not cause any symptoms but could include mild cramps, bloating and constipation - all of which are common to other conditions such as IBS or ulcers. The most common symptoms of diverticulitis are abdominal pain and tenderness around the left side of the lower abdomen. When infection is the cause, fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, cramping and constipation may also occur.
Edema
Abnormal accumulation of fluids within tissues resulting in swelling.
Enzymes (Enzyme)
Specific protein catalysts produced by the cells that are crucial in chemical reactions and in building up or synthesizing most compounds in the body. Each enzyme performs a specific function without itself being consumed. For example, the digestive enzyme amylase acts on carbohydrates in foods to break them down.
Fatty Acids (Fatty Acid)
Chemical chains of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms that are part of a fat (lipid) and are the major component of triglycerides. Depending on the number and arrangement of these atoms, fatty acids are classified as either saturated, polyunsaturated, or monounsaturated. They are nutritional substances found in nature which include cholesterol, prostaglandins, and stearic, palmitic, linoleic, linolenic, eicosapentanoic (EPA), and decohexanoic acids. Important nutritional lipids include lecithin, choline, gamma-linoleic acid, and inositol.
Gallbladder (Gall Bladder)
A small, digestive organ positioned under the liver, which concentrates and stores bile. Problems with the gallbladder often lead to gallbladder attacks, which usually occur after a fatty meal and at night. The following are the most common symptoms: steady, severe pain in the middle-upper abdomen or below the ribs on the right; pain in the back between the shoulder blades; pain under the right shoulder; nausea; vomiting; fever; chills; jaundice; abdominal bloating; intolerance of fatty foods; belching or gas; indigestion.
Gallstone (Biliary Calculus, Gall Stone, Gall Stones, Gallbladder Attack, Gallbladder Attacks, Gallstones)
Stone-like objects in either the gallbladder or bile ducts, composed mainly of cholesterol and occasionally mixed with calcium. Most gallstones do not cause problems until they become larger or they begin obstructing bile ducts, at which point gallbladder "attacks" begin to occur. Symptoms usually occur after a fatty meal and at night. The following are the most common ones: steady, severe pain in the middle-upper abdomen or below the ribs on the right; pain in the back between the shoulder blades; pain under the right shoulder; nausea; vomiting; fever; chills; jaundice; abdominal bloating; intolerance of fatty foods; belching or gas; indigestion.
Glucose
A sugar that is the simplest form of carbohydrate. It is commonly referred to as blood sugar. The body breaks down carbohydrates in foods into glucose, which serves as the primary fuel for the muscles and the brain.
Glycogen
A compound produced by the liver from glucose and stored in the liver and muscles. It acts as an energy source for muscles, and releases glucose from the liver to maintain blood sugar.
Hematuria
Blood in the urine.
Hemoglobin
The oxygen-carrying protein of the blood found in red blood cells.
Hormones (Hormone)
Chemical substances secreted by a variety of body organs that are carried by the bloodstream and usually influence cells some distance from the source of production. Hormones signal certain enzymes to perform their functions and, in this way, regulate such body functions as blood sugar levels, insulin levels, the menstrual cycle, and growth. These can be prescription, over-the-counter, synthetic or natural agents. Examples include adrenal hormones such as corticosteroids and aldosterone; glucagon, growth hormone, insulin, testosterone, estrogens, progestins, progesterone, DHEA, melatonin, and thyroid hormones such as thyroxine and calcitonin.
Hypertension
High blood pressure. Hypertension increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure because it adds to the workload of the heart, causing it to enlarge and, over time, to weaken; in addition, it may damage the walls of the arteries.
Hypoglycemia
A condition characterized by an abnormally low blood glucose level. Severe hypoglycemia is rare and dangerous. It can be caused by medications such as insulin (diabetics are prone to hypoglycemia), severe physical exhaustion, and some illnesses.
Immune System (Immune Response, Immunity)
A complex that protects the body from disease organisms and other foreign bodies. The system includes the humoral immune response and the cell-mediated response. The immune system also protects the body from invasion by making local barriers and inflammation. The process may involve acquired immunity (the ability to learn and remember a specific infectious agent), or innate immunity (the genetically programmed system of responses that attack, digest, remove, and initiate inflammation and tissue healing).
Insulin
A hormone secreted by the pancreas in response to elevated blood glucose levels. Insulin stimulates the liver, muscles, and fat cells to remove glucose from the blood for use or storage.
Kidneys (Kidney, Renal)
Bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are located near the middle of the back, just below the rib cage. The kidneys are sophisticated reprocessing machines, each day handling about 50 gallons of blood to sift out about half a gallon of waste products and extra water. The waste and extra water become urine, which flows to the bladder through tubes called ureters. The actual filtering occurs in tiny units inside the kidneys called nephrons. Every kidney has about a million nephrons. In a nephron, a glomerulus -- which is a tiny blood vessel, or capillary -- intertwines with a tiny urine-collecting tube called a tubule. A complicated chemical exchange takes place, as waste materials and water leave your blood and enter your urinary system. The kidneys recycle chemicals such as sodium, phosphorus, and potassium and thus regulate their levels. Renal: Pertaining to the kidneys.
Lung (Lungs, Pulmonary)
Organ of the body, located in the chest cavity which is designed to bring oxygen from the air into the blood stream, while also expelling carbon dioxide and other waste gases out of the body. Pulmonary: Related to the lungs.
Metabolism (Metabolic, Metabolize, Metabolizes, Metabolizing)
The chemical processes of living cells in which energy is produced in order to replace and repair tissues and maintain a healthy body. Responsible for the production of energy, biosynthesis of important substances, and degradation of various compounds. Also defined as the sum total of changes in an organism in order to achieve a balance (homeostasis): Catabolic burns up, anabolic stores and builds up; the sum of their work is metabolism.
Nervous System
A system in the body that is comprised of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, ganglia and parts of the receptor organs that receive and interpret stimuli and transmit impulses to effector organs.
Osteoarthritis (Osteoarthritic)
A condition involving degeneration of cartilage and supporting joint tissue, which results in pain, swelling and reduced mobility, as the cartilage wears away and allows bone to rub against bone.
Peptic Ulcer (Duodenal Ulcer, Duodenal Ulcers, Gastric Ulcer, Gastric Ulcers, Peptic Ulcers)
A general term for gastric ulcers (stomach) and duodenal ulcers (duodenum), open sores in the stomach or duodenum caused by digestive juices and stomach acid. Most ulcers are no larger than a pencil eraser, but they can cause tremendous discomfort and pain. They occur most frequently in the 60 to 70 age group, and slightly more often in men than in women. Doctors now know that there are two major causes of ulcers: most often patients are infected with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori); others are regular users of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), which include common products like aspirin and ibuprofen.
Prostate
The prostate gland in men that surrounds the neck of the bladder and the urethra and produces a secretion that liquefies coagulated semen.
Proteinuria
The presence of protein in the urine, sometimes a symptom of kidney compromise.
Self-Esteem
The extent to which and ways in which people view themselves. People who view themselves favorably have good self-esteems whereas people who view themselves negatively have poor self-esteems. Self-esteem affects a person's behavior dramatically.
Stroke (Stroke-Type Event)
A sudden loss of brain function caused by a blockage or rupture of a blood vessel that supplies the brain, characterized by loss of muscular control, complete or partial loss of sensation or consciousness, dizziness, slurred speech, or other symptoms that vary with the extent and severity of the damage to the brain. The most common manifestation is some degree of paralysis, but small strokes may occur without symptoms. Usually caused by arteriosclerosis, it often results in brain damage.
Syndrome
A medical condition characterized by a collection of related symptoms (what the patient feels) and signs (what a doctor can observe or measure).
Tinnitus (Tinnitis)
A sensation of noise (ringing or roaring) that is caused by a bodily condition and can usually only be heard by the person affected.
Triglyceride (Triglycerides)
The main form of fat found in foods and the human body. Containing three fatty acids and one unit of glycerol, triglycerides are stored in adipose cells in the body, which, when broken down, release fatty acids into the blood. Triglycerides are fat storage molecules and are the major lipid component of the diet.
Ulcer (Ulceration, Ulcers)
Lesion on the skin or mucous membrane.
Virus (Viri, Viruses)
Any of a vast group of minute structures composed of a protein coat and a core of DNA and/or RNA that reproduces in the cells of the infected host. Capable of infecting all animals and plants, causing devastating disease in immunocompromised individuals. Viruses are not affected by antibiotics, and are completely dependent upon the cells of the infected host for the ability to reproduce.
Last updated: Jan 03, 2010
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