A comprehensive resource for patients with autoimmunedisease. The main focus is on the specific environmental factors, including heavy metals, hormones, organic solvents, medications, and infectious agents, that lead to the disease and make the symptoms worse in genetically susceptible individuals.

Hepatitis is a disease of the liver which affects millions of Americans each year. For most people, symptoms are mild and are resolved within a few weeks or months. For others, however, hepatitis is life-altering, becoming a chronic problem which causes irreparable internal damage. The diversity of causes--which range from bacteria and toxins to metabolic disorders--and their corresponding methods of transmission have made hepatitis a hard ailment to control. In recent years, vast progress has been made toward the identification, prevention and treatment of this disease. Combining scientific...

Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist drug developed in the 1970s and approved by the FDA in 1984 for opiate and drug abuse treatment. When used at much lower doses in an off-label protocol referred to as low dose naltrexone (LDN), the drug has been shown to halt disease progression in Crohn's disease and certain cancers, to reduce symptoms in multiple sclerosis and autism, and to improve numerous autoimmune and neurodegenerative conditions, including Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Grounded in clinical and scientific research, this book describes the history of...

There are more than 30 different organisms that cause infection and disease when transmitted by venereal contact. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) represent 87 percent of all reported infections. This book offers entries on such topics as diseases, treatments, statistics, care centers and departments, risk factors, and prevention issues.

Changes are occurring in the multiple sclerosis community. The disease, which has always been considered autoimmune in nature, may be related to vascular problems, in which circulation in the cerebrospinal system is impaired, thereby preventing the proper drainage of venous blood from the brain. This timely book includes a history of MS, an explanation of autoimmunity, and examines the recent research relating to this new theory of MS and how the venous model compares to the standard model of the disease. It also offers practical suggestions for people with MS who wish to seek evaluation and...

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that affects people worldwide. This text provides those with sleep problems or chronic insomnia an overview of research on the causes of sleep loss and the physical effects of insomnia, as well as possible treatments. Disorders are summarized and illustrated with real-life stories about sleep experiences and remedies. This is a concise guide to help readers improve their sleep habits and lives.

The second edition contains updated resources, research institution information and a listing of treatment and care facilities in the United States. Additions to the encyclopedia section include advances in Alzheimer's disease research, genetics, diagnostic procedures, treatment, alternative medicine, brain plasticity, risk factors, clinical trial information, nursing home safety, and preventive measures. In addition the book describes medical treatments used in other countries and the results of collaborative efforts such as the recent global imaging test initiatives and the Prevent...

This book considers the branch of heredity known as "epigenetics" and its implications for a variety of diseases in humans and animals. After background information on the growth in understanding genetics and the mechanisms of the epigenetic control of gene expression, the book moves into its main focus: the gathering body of evidence connecting genetics to a range of significant illnesses, including cancer, autism, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and others. Areas of uncertainty are stressed as well as the scientific debate concerning the role of environmental factors. The final chapters...

As of December 2014, medicinal cannabis is legal in 23 states where news and medical journals report success stories of people recovering from diverse medical conditions such as epilepsy, cancer and chronic pain. In states where cannabis remains illegal, users and providers risk arrest and imprisonment. While the United States government has restricted cannabis medical research, advances have been made in Israel, Spain and Italy. One such breakthrough was the discovery of the endocannabinoid system in the brain and immune system. Endogenous cannabinoids are mimicked by THC and...

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common chronic disease affecting people of different ages, cultural backgrounds and socio-economic statuses worldwide. Research links hypertension to increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease and cardiovascular disease--the leading cause of death worldwide. This book provides an up-to-date illustrated overview of hypertension, covering risk factors, increase in prevalence, cultures affected and challenges to treating and managing the disease in specific populations. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods for effectively managing...