Myocarditis is a rare type of heart disease that usually causes no symptoms, but it can be life-threatening. Myocarditis gets its name because the middle layer of the heart muscle is called the myocardium. "Myo" means heart and "carditis" means inflammation. Is myocarditis a heart attack? No, but it can sometimes lead to one. Symptoms of myocarditis,…
Few things are as frightening as chest pains. The first thing that comes to mind is a heart attack. While chest pains and heart attacks often do go hand-in-hand, there are so many other conditions that can cause similar discomfort and pain. Some of the causes are quite serious and potentially fatal, and other causes are…
Experiencing chest pains can be a scary feeling — especially since it's one of the most common symptoms associated with having a heart attack. But there's another heart condition called pericarditis that can cause ongoing chest pains, which are sometimes sharp and can make it difficult to breathe. Pericarditis (or inflammation of the sac that holds…
Vasculitis is a group of inflammatory disorders that affect the blood vessels. Vasculitis can affect both small or large arteries. This includes major blood vessels like the aorta, as well as capillaries, medium-sized veins. Or it can include a combination of different sized blood vessels. In some cases, vasculitis causes only a portion of an…
L-cysteine is used therapeutically and nutritionally to improve the health of humans. It's a basic building block of glutathione, which has been coined "the mother of all antioxidants." L-cysteine supplementation, also known as N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), is valued for its ability to increase glutathione levels in the body, which is extremely important for lung function, brain function…
The dangers of NSAIDs are well-known yet often ignored, but now new research is making NSAID use even more questionable. What are NSAIDs? NSAIDs, aka nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are one of the most commonly used pain relievers in the world today. In fact, most painkillers on the market today are NSAIDs. They might effectively and temporarily…
