Skip Over Navigation Links
NIH National Institutes of Health, DHHS
NIH Home PageHealth InformationGrants & Funding OpportunitiesNewsScientific ResourcesInstitutes, Centers & OfficesAbout NIH
Building 1

Home > Health Information >

Medical Investigation on TV

As seen on "Medical Investigation"
October 15, 2004
| Archive

Acute Malignant Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is caused by the inflammation and scarring of the myelin sheath covering and protecting our nerves. When myelin is damaged, communication breaks down between the brain and muscle. Body movements may become slow or uncoordinated, or arms and legs may feel numb because sensations from the extremities no longer reach the brain.

NINDS Multiple Sclerosis Information Page
More multiple sclerosis resources

Autoimmune Disorders
When your body is attacked – perhaps by a virus or germs on a nail you stepped on – your immune system defends you. It sees and kills the germs that might hurt you. But when the system doesn't work right, this process can cause harm. Immune cells can mistake your body's own cells as invaders and attack them. This "friendly fire" can affect almost any part of the body. It can sometimes affect many parts of the body at once.

Questions and Answers About Autoimmunity
Lupus
Scleroderma
Rheumatoid Arthritis
More autoimmune resources

Designer Drugs
The NIH funds research on designer drugs and other drugs of abuse through the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Through scientific study, the NIDA is furthering our understanding of how drugs of abuse affect the brain and behavior, and communicating these results with the public for prevention and treatment.

The Science Behind Drug Abuse
GHB, Ecstasy, and other "Club Drugs"
Anabolic steroids
More information on drug abuse

Mercury Poisoning
Mercury is a metal that occurs naturally in the environment. Exposure to high levels of mercury can cause mercury poisoning, which can cause death or permanently damage the brain and kidneys. You can be exposed to mercury by eating fish or shellfish contaminated with mercury, or having skin contact with it.

NIH Research and You
The NIH funds clinical studies that provide experimental treatment for multiple sclerosis, lupus, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, and drug abuse. To join a clinical trial, ask your doctor to help you choose the study that's right for you, or call the NIH at 1-800-411-1222 for more information.

Stay Tuned
Watch this page for information about genetic disorders and other health topics featured in the next episode.

CDC logo CDC : Our Vital Partner
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the primary Federal agency that dispatches field investigators to resolve public health emergencies. CDC is NIH's sister agency under the Department of Health and Human Services.
 
Byron Ford Meet a real medical investigator
Medical Scientist
Byron Ford

"I chose to become a neuroscience researcher because I’ve always liked science. After earning a biology degree, I took a year off and worked in a research lab. Until then, I thought I wanted to be a medical doctor, but I really liked the lab work. "

> More research careers
> Jobs at NIH

 

 

This page was last reviewed on October 18, 2004 .

[ Q&A About NIH | Career Opportunities | Visitor Information | FOIA ]
[ Site Map | Employee Information | Información en español | Search ]

[ Contact Us | Privacy Notice | Disclaimers | Accessibility ]

N I H logo - link to the National Institutes of Health

National Institutes of Health (NIH)
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892

    H H S logo - link to U. S. Department of Health and Human Services

Department of Health
and Human Services