What are Beta Blockers?

May 10, 2010

Beta blockers are a class of drugs that are most commonly used to treat heart problems; short for Beta- adrenergic blocking agents. These drugs prevent epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) from binding to the beta cells located on your nerves resulting in slowed transmission of nerve impulses to the heart (Beta 1 receptors – there [...]

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What is the History of Beer?

April 27, 2010

The Story of Beer, by guest writer Matt Williams Did you know that beer is one of the world’s oldest beverages?  At roughly eleven thousand years of age, it is almost as old as agriculture and civilization itself!  This should not come as a surprise, seeing as how the prerequisites for making beer – the [...]

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What Are Shin Splints?

April 20, 2010

Shin splints is the general term given to pain experienced in the shin area of the leg and is not a specific diagnosis, but rather a convenient term to describe a number of possible physical processes at work; most commonly associated with the tibia. The tibia and fibula are the two leg bones between the [...]

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What Are Shingles?

April 20, 2010

Shingles is caused by the Varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox. A typical case of shingles starts out as chicken pox as a child. You will contract the virus, break out in the spots, and hopefully in two weeks, be symptom free, but the VZV can lie dormant in your nervous [...]

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What are the Different Kinds of Martial Arts?

April 19, 2010

The term “Martial Art” literally means the “Art of Warfare” and is derived from Mars, the Roman God of War.  In common usage, it refers to different systems of combat originating in East Asia, Europe and the Americas; with the main bulk originating from East Asia. The body and mind are the main weapons of [...]

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What Does the Executive Branch Do?

January 19, 2010

This article refers to the United States government only. The U.S. government is divided into 3 interrelated branches; each with some degree of power over the other 2 branches in a system of checks and balances designed to prevent abuse of power: the Executive branch, the Judicial Branch and the Legislative Branch. The Executive branch [...]

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What Does the Attorney General Do?

January 18, 2010

In the United States, the Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice and the chief lawyer for the country. They are responsible for all law enforcement and legal matters. The A.G. is a member of the president’s cabinet, appointed by the president and serves at the president’s pleasure. They, along [...]

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What Does the Stomach Do?

January 18, 2010

Your stomach is located at the end of your esophagus and is the terminus for swallowed food and drink. The stomach receives chewed food and continues to mechanically and chemically break it down into smaller pieces, creating more surface area for your small intestine to absorb nutrients. Your stomach is an acidic environment with a [...]

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What Does the Colon Do?

January 15, 2010

The colon is the biggest part of the large intestine. Your entire intestinal tract between your stomach and your anus includes your small intestine that is divided into the duodenum, the jejunum and the ileum. Your large intestine is made up of your cecum, ( in anatomical order) the ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid colon, [...]

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What Does the Bladder Do?

January 14, 2010

The urinary bladder, as it is referred to anatomically to distinguish it from meaning “pouch or flexible enclosure”, sits atop your pelvic floor: protective layers of muscles and connective tissues designed to hold you internal organs in place. The bladder is the final internal destination for urine that has been collected and concentrated by the [...]

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