The liver and kidneys make carnitine to carry fatty acids to tissue cells that use them to produce energy. The process creates harmful byproducts, giving carnitine a second job: to transport toxins out of the tissues. Extra supplies of carnitine...
Neuroendocrine cells inhabit the gastrointestinal system and airways of the lungs in large numbers, producing hormones that regulate the function of nearby tissues. A carcinoid is a rare, slow-growing tumor that arises from neuroendocrine cells....
Carcinoids are classified as growths that fall in a category between benign and malignant, the Carcinoid Tumor Foundation states. Small carcinoids, which grow very slowly and most often begin in the small intestine, affect as many as one in 100...
5-HTP is a chemical substance used by the nerves and platelets. As such, it performs vital functions. One type of tumor, however, can release high amounts of 5-HTP into the bloodstream. If blood levels of 5-HTP are too high, people can develop...
Carcinoid heart disease is a symptom of a larger problem more commonly known as carcinoid syndrome. Carcinoid syndrome is the result of cancerous tumors that secret harmful chemicals into the blood stream. Some of these chemicals can cause the...
Serotonin is a chemical produced by nerve cells in the brain. Low serotonin levels in the body are linked to instances of depression as well as insomnia. Low levels of serotonin are more common in those who do not consume meat; meat contains an...
Carcinoid tumors are slow-growing tumors usually found in the intestine or an airway of the lung. They are abnormal growths of nerve and hormone-producing tissues and can be cancerous. These tumors produce chemicals such as serotonin that are...
Face redness, or flushing, has a variety of possible causes. Most commonly, the face reddens in response to a trigger that causes vasodilation, such as strong emotions, spicy or hot foods, fever, medications such as Niaspan, and hot flashes during...
Diet can help to control some of the symptoms of carcinoid cancer, but food tolerance is very individual, so you may have to use trial and error to see which options work best for you. Healthy food choices also help to support your overall...
Facial flushing is the sudden and mostly short-lived reddening of your face and neck. The causes of facial flushing are many. A sunburn, a fever, chronic rosacea--a type of inflammatory skin disease-- and hot flashes can all cause your face to...
Carcinoid tumors are a type of slow-growing cancer that arises from hormone-producing cells. Although they can occur in many different organs, the American Society of Clinical Oncology notes that they most frequently arise in the gastrointestinal...
Sudden and often intense warmth in the face or upper body, followed by sweating, dizziness or diarrhea, characterize the occurrence of hot flashes, which are usually related to some form of hormonal change. Hormonal changes may transpire naturally...
Sandostatin (generic name: octreotide) is a medication used to treat acromegaly, a condition of increased growth hormone. It is also used to manage symptoms of carcinoid syndrome (condition of tumors in the digestive tract and lungs) and...
When your cheeks heat up, the blood vessels there widen, allowing more blood to flow into your cheeks. The fairer your skin is, the more this bright red blood shows through your skin, making you blush. Some people seem more prone to blushing than...
Blushing occurs when tiny blood vessels beneath the skin's surface dilate in response to neurological changes in the body. It appears as a rapid reddening of the neck, ears, face and/or chest. In many cases, blushing is associated with stress and...
Tryptophan, an essential amino acid obtained from the diet, is the source for the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that sends messages from nerve cell to nerve cell in your body. Serotonin, manufactured in the brain, lungs and small...
If your face turns red during exercise, the flushing may indicate a health concern or illustrate the need to make changes within your exercise environment. Paying attention to your body during a workout routine and learning your physical cues for...
Blushing is characterized by redness that occurs on the top of the chest, face or neck, says the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). It happens rapidly and for many different reasons, both physical and psychological. Blushing occurs when the...
Hormones are chemical messengers of the body that function in regulating a variety of body processes, such as metabolism, growth and mood. Specialized cells, called hormone-producing cells, are responsible for the production and release of...
Blushing is an abrupt reddening of the facial skin, neck or chest caused by a dilation of blood vessels. According to the MedlinePlus website, it is the body's natural response to extreme emotions such as excitement, anger or embarrassment. In...
Blushing may look cute on cartoon characters, but most people would prefer to avoid that red-in-the-face look that often comes with anger and embarrassment. If strong emotions are causing you to blush, you’ll need to reevaluate the way you...
Anxiety is a ubiquitous experience. When severe, it can indicate a psychiatric problem. Various medical conditions can cause anxiety. Before concluding that anxiety stems from psychological problems, a physician should assess the patient to rule...
In most cases, blushing is a totally normal response to extreme physical and emotional situations. The tell-tale feeling of heat in your cheeks, face and neck shows up as a pink or red flush on your skin. Though blushing can be embarrassing when...
Facial blushing affects men and women, and most people experience it at some point as a physical reaction to an extreme emotional stimulus. Redness occurs when the small, superficial blood vessels dilate, causing a sudden rush of blood just below...
Hot flashes are most commonly associated with women going through menopause; however, men frequently get hot flashes as well. The reasons for this unwanted condition are varied and require research to eliminate natural causes and then isolate and...
Hormones are chemicals produced by the body that can have many effects on multiple tissues throughout the body. As a result, many medications have been designed that mimic the effects of these naturally produced hormones. One example, octreotide,...
Niacin, a B vitamin, is found naturally in a variety of foods, animals and plants such as fish, poultry and eggs. It is also available as an over-the-counter and prescription strength nutritional supplement. When combined with an exercise routine...
Vitamin B3, also know as nicotinic acid and niacin, is a water-soluble vitamin and one of the 13 essential vitamins you need for your body to function optimally. Vitamin B3 is found in several foods, including some vegetables. You can get your...
Lung cancer causes several types of symptoms. including generalized, whole body symptoms such as fatigue and weight loss. Lung cancer also causes symptoms from the invasion of the tumor into normal tissues, as well as symptoms related to various...
Although the appendix serves no known purpose, it is thought to possibly play a role in the immune system. Learn about the symptoms, possible causes, and treatment options for appendix cancer in this video.
