Triglyceride and cholesterol levels are important in determining a person's overall cardiovascular health. These compounds are frequently measured as part of a patient's overall "lipid profile," which looks at concentrations of different lipids in...
Blood glucose levels measurements are critical for patients suffering from diabetes. Diabetic patients need regular monitoring of the glucose levels in their blood to make sure their diabetes is well controlled and that their blood sugar does not...
Venipuncture is the technical term used to describe the routine removal of blood from a vein for subsequent laboratory testing. You may undergo this procedure as part of the observation or diagnosis of a wide range of medical conditions. The...
Other than annual pap smears for women, very few people have regular STD tests. If you are sexually active, having annual STD tests is essential. Let your doctor know which STD test you want to have---each one is tested differently. During the...
For patients with diabetes, blood glucose monitoring is essential. Patients need to check their blood glucose levels several times a day to make sure that their blood sugar does not get too high or too low. There are many different machines and...
"Arthritis" is a general term used to describe more than one hundred different conditions, one of them being rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This condition can be mild or very disabling. Like many chronic conditions, the earlier it is diagnosed, the...
Getting ready for a blood test may involve abstaining from coffee and other breakfast favorites if your doctor tells you to fast. A comprehensive test such as a metabolic panel uses one blood sample for a variety of assays -- some of which require...
Usually, an AIDS test is performed by taking a blood sample and evaluating it in a laboratory. To pull the sample, blood is drawn into a syringe via a needle injected into the arm. The blood sample is sent to a laboratory, where it is evaluated...
Your doctor will start with a physical exam to determine the likelihood that a strain of the measles virus is the cause of your symptoms. Both common measles and German measles (also known as 3-day measles) have a characteristic skin rash, which...
The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends that every adult over the age of 20 should get a cholesterol test at least every five years. Monitoring your cholesterol level provides a way to monitor your risk for heart disease, the leading...
Everyone can be forgetful at times, but as seniors age, impaired memory and cognitive function can be signs of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative neurological condition that causes symptoms of forgetfulness,...
DNA testing "can provide information for diagnosing, treating and preventing illness," according to the Mayo Clinic. Screenings can help find genetic disorders before the symptoms of the disorder occur, in adults and fetuses. A blood sample is...
The protocol for blood transfusions is tightly regulated by state and federal law. If one piece of information is missing or one step skipped, the process must begin again from the point of taking a blood sample from the patient to send to the...
Fasting glucose tests measure the amount of glucose in the blood when the patient hasn't eaten for several hours (usually a minimum of eight hours without eating or drinking anything except water). The National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and...
According the most recent information lfrom the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 1,106,400 individuals in the United States Living with HIV. Tests for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, look for the antibodies that are...
When your body stores too much iron, your liver may be affected and release certain enzymes into your bloodstream. Your health-care provider may wish to test your blood for any or all of several liver enzymes or for various indicators of your iron...
Imagine you are in the labor and deliver ward of your local hospital. Contractions are severe and you eventually push a baby out with all your strength. As the doctor lays the baby on your chest, your husband cuts the umbilical cord. Instead of...
High blood glucose levels are associated with significant complications of diabetes. These include cardiovascular disease, kidney and nerve damage. Alternatively, low blood glucose levels can cause acute symptoms of central nervous system...
Freestyle Glucose Meters, by Abbott Diabetes Care, offer individuals with diabetes a convenient way to monitor their glucose levels. Being able to self-monitor gives diabetics control and independence as they are able to administer their own...
Cholesterol is a chemical that has a number of functions, both good and bad, in the human body. Cholesterol is an important part of the cell membrane and is also used by the body to make steroids, which are important chemical signals. However,...
An estimated 23.6 million people in the United States have diabetes, a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels, according to 2007 statistics, the most recent published by the American Diabetes Association. If you have a family history...
Inflammation is one of the major results of activation of the immune system. Inflammation causes a number of changes in the body, some of which can be detected in the blood. Detecting C-reactive protein (CRP) is one way that physicians can measure...
Vitamin B-12, which is one of the eight B complex vitamins, is important for the growth and maintenance of nerve cells. Animal-derived foods, such as chicken, eggs and milk are great sources of this vitamin, but those who follow vegan diets are at...
A high potassium level, also known as hyprekalemia, occurs when your potassium level in your blood is higher than normal. High potassium is serious and can be life-threatening. You should contact your doctor immediately if you think you may have...
The prostate is a walnut-sized reproductive gland in men that provides seminal fluid, which carries the semen. Over time, the prostate begins to grow, which can cause troublesome urinary symptoms. For men, protecting their prostate health begins...
When a child is conceived, he or she receives equal amounts of genetic makeup from both the mother and father. Each parent contributes 23 chromosomes, or sets of DNA, to their child from the egg and sperm during conception. Each chromosome pair in...
Perspiration is the body’s natural way of fighting hot weather during the summer months. However, sometimes during extreme temperatures, sweating is insufficient to keep the body cool, reports MedlinePlus. Classic heatstroke occurs over a...
According to the American Diabetes Association's 2010 Standards of Care, checking blood glucose at home is an important component of effective diabetes therapy. Blood glucose numbers give important information about how well diet, medications and...
Preeclampsia eclampsia is a complication of pregnancy that is associated with hypertension. Get expert tips and advice on preventing, diagnosing, and treating preeclampsia eclampsia in this video.
GERD or gastro esophageal reflux disease is a condition in which stomach acid or, occasionally, bile flows back into your food pipe. The constant backwash or acid reflux can irritate the lining of your esophagus and cause inflammation. Learn about...
