Bluish Fingernails

About Trimethoprim

Trimethoprim is a medication that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat urinary tract infections, but some doctors also prescribe the medication to prevent urinary tract infections as well. Those considering using...

Side Effects of Too Many Antibiotics

Antibiotics are a family of medications used to treat bacterial infections, fungal infections and some parasites. Numerous side effects are associated with antibiotic use and extremely high doses of antibiotics can have severe consequences.

Side Effects of Low Blood Pressure

In the human body, the heart exerts a specific amount of pressure to push blood through the circulatory system. Low blood pressure (hypotension) occurs if this pressure dips to levels that are lower than normal. This condition can develop due to...

Complications of GI Bleeding

Gastrointestinal, or GI, bleeding means bleeding that begins in the gastrointestinal tract. MedlinePlus states that the amount of gastrointestinal bleeding can be undetectable, however, in some cases it can be extensive and dangerous to the life...

Symptoms of a Slow Metabolism

Your body processes may slow for a number of reasons that may be related to your diet, perhaps resulting in low energy that persists for more than a day or two. A sedentary lifestyle, poor eating habits, high fat intake and insufficient nutrition...

5 Things You Need to Know About Bactrim

Bactrim is grouped as a sulfa drug and goes by many brand names. Some of the other names are Bethaprim, Cotrim, Septra, Sulfatrim and Uroplus. The generic name for Bactrim is Trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole since the ingredients are two antibiotics,...

Reasons for Bleeding During the First Half of Pregnancy

The National Institutes of Health suggests that up to 10 percent of women experience vaginal bleeding at some point during pregnancy. The bleeding most often occurs during the first trimester. Bleeding in the first half of pregnancy can often be...

Infant Botulism Symptoms

Botulism is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by a spore-forming organism called clostridium botulinum, reports the National Institutes of Health, or NIH. Botulism typically affects young infants between the ages of 6 weeks and 6...

Metoprolol Succinate Side Effects

Metoprolol succinate, also known by its generic name of metoprolol, belongs to a family of referred to as beta-blockers. It is used to treat chest pain, high blood pressure and to prevent or treat heart attacks. Metoprolol succinate works by...

Should the Elderly Take Iron Supplements?

Iron is a vital mineral in our bodies that can be found in red blood cells. It is involved in the process of producing ATP, which is the body's source for energy, states the University of Maryland Medical Center. Extra iron is stored in the bone...

Abdominal Aorta Aneurysm Symptoms

The aorta, the main artery carrying blood to the body, runs through the middle of the abdomen. An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) results from a weak spot in the abdominal segment of the aorta that causes it to bulge. Rupture of the bulge is a...

Symptoms of Iron Toxicity

Iron is a naturally occurring mineral that is present in a variety of food sources, such as beef, tofu, spinach and oatmeal. Iron can also be taken as a pill or as part of a multivitamin to supplement your normal diet. While an iron deficiency can...

Is It a Concern to Have Too Much Iron in Your Diet?

You need to consume enough iron for your body to make the hemoglobin it needs to transport oxygen around your body. Iron is also necessary for growth, cell differentiation and the production of many enzymes and proteins. Although consuming too...

Are Prenatal Vitamins Safe for Men?

Complete multivitamins are generally safe for most adults to take; however, prenatal vitamins are directed specifically for use by pregnant women. Certain physicians may prescribed these vitamins to women who are not pregnant, such as people who...

Abdominal Aneurysm Rupture

An abdominal aneurysm is a bulge in the abdominal segment of the aorta, the major blood vessel leaving the heart. The bulge indicates a weak spot in the abdominal aorta that threatens to rupture, leading to catastrophic internal bleeding....

What Do Blue Lips Indicate in a Ten Year Old Boy?

Changes in skin color, especially blue lips, in a child can indicate it's time to get out of a swimming pool, but these changes can also indicate more serious health conditions. If you know what to look for, you can determine whether your son's...

Adrenal Failure Symptoms

Adrenal failure refers to a malfunction of the adrenal gland that causes a decline in its ability to produce hormones. The adrenal gland is responsible for the production and secretion of aldosterone. That hormone is responsible for regulating...

Common Symptoms of Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. A variety of infectious agents cause this illness, including viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. Kids Health, a consumer information website operated by the Nemours Foundation, explains that pneumonia...

4 Ways to Spot Signs of Acute Asthma

As an asthma patient, the more you educate yourself, the better you will get at preventing acute attacks. Signs and symptoms include difficulty breathing, tightness in your chest, audible wheezing, coughing (sometimes at night if it follows a...

Hiking at High Elevations

Hiking at high altitude presents you with challenges that hikers at elevations ranging from sea level to about 3,500 feet rarely, if ever, confront. There's a reason boxes of commercial cake mixes and the like offer separate instructions for...

Swine Flu Symptoms in Infants

Swine flu is the common name for the novel influenza virus now known as H1N1. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the effects of swine flu on infants may be particularly severe. Antiviral therapy administered within...

Excess Iron Symptoms

Iron is a mineral required by the body to produce red blood cells. Without it, the body cannot develop enough blood cells to sustain good health, as explained by the Mayo Clinic. Too much iron can be as harmful as a lack of iron. Excess iron in...

4 Ways to Spot Asthma Attacks

Asthma is an illness in which something in your environment (such as mold, dust or pollen) triggers an immune reaction in your lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Common symptoms include coughing, which may be worse at night, and wheezing,...

Symptoms of Pneumonia in Babies

Pneumonia sounds like a very serious illness and it can be, but most babies who have a normal immune system are able to recover fully. This type of infection impacts the respiratory system, primarily the lungs. The source of the infection can...

Childhood Pneumonia Symptoms

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. According to the Children's Hospital Boston, pneumonia tends to occur more during the winter and spring, and is more common in boys than girls. The most common causes of pneumonia in children are bacteria,...

Excess Iron in Men

Adult men should consume 8 mg of iron on a daily basis to keep their bodies functioning at an optimal level. Common sources of iron include iron-rich foods, such as beef, oatmeal, beans and spinach, and iron supplements. Health professionals with...

Iron Supplement Reactions

You may require an iron supplement for a number of reasons, such as deficiency or pregnancy. Iron is necessary for the body to properly transport oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body. The most common form of iron in supplements is ferrous...

Common Nose Diseases

The nose is a sensitive facial feature that can quickly detect unpleasant smells. Sometimes, certain medical conditions can lead to narrowing of the nasal airway and infections. In some cases, pollen, ragweed and grass can enter the nose and...

What Are the Effects of Low Blood Oxygen Levels?

Oxygen is an essential element for the human body to function normally. When you breathe in, the oxygen travels through your lungs and into the blood stream, where red blood cells pick it up to distribute it throughout the body. Poor air intake,...