Urine can turn dark due to dehydration, kidney or bladder infection, eating too many deep-colored foods such as beets, or drinking lots of soda. However, people might also experience a darkening of urine when taking multivitamin supplements. This...
Although stool is normally brown, changes in color are not usually indicative of a medical emergency; they're more usually brought about by eating foods that contain coloring. Medication side effects can also change the feces to different colors....
Di-indole methane, also known as diindolylmethane or DIM, is a compound found in the mustard family of plants, also known as brassica. This includes broccoli, collard greens, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, turnips, rutabaga and several others. The...
Dark urine and weight loss occurring together are symptoms that should not be ignored; both of these can indicate serious medical conditions, usually involving the liver or kidneys. Normal urine is the color of yellow straw, and doctors generally...
Tylenol is one of the most common over-the-counter (OTC) medications used today. It is used by many Americans to treat headaches, arthritis, pain and fever. The mechanism by which Tylenol reduces fever and decreases pain is unknown, according to a...
A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an infection that can occur in both men and women. Antibiotics are used to cure a urinary tract infection; however not every antibiotic will work for this purpose. A person taking antibiotics for another type...
As of 2008, over 30 percent of American adults were considered obese, while about 65 percent were considered overweight, according to the "World Journal of Gastroenterology". Billions of dollars are spent each year on weight management. An...
Dehydration is a dangerous condition for both children and adults. Dehydration occurs when your child does not take in enough fluid to replace the fluid she loses during the day. Healthy adults may be able to successfully treat mild to moderate...
Hepatitis C is a disease that infects the liver and causes it to be inflamed. A person may not even realize that he has been infected with the virus, although some people do report a couple of symptoms such as body aches and fatigue. According to...
Cholestatic liver disease is a condition that causes an obstruction of bile flow. Liver cells produce bile, which passes through a tubular transport system within the liver to the gallbladder. Bile moves from the gallbladder into the small...
The liver is a complex organ that carries out many important functions in babies. Located in the right upper part of the abdomen, the liver helps detoxify the body from noxious drugs and substances. It also stores vitamins and minerals, produces...
Hemoglobin is the red pigmented, oxygen-carrying protein found in red blood cells. When hemoglobin is present in the urine, it is termed hemoglobinuria. Certain conditions and diseases can result in red blood cell destruction within the...
Tracleer (bosentan) is a medication used to manage pulmonary (of the lungs) arterial hypertension (high blood pressure). Signs of pulmonary arterial hypertension include chest pain, fatigue and weakness. According to MedlinePlus, Tracleer is an...
Ezetrol (ezetimibe) is a brand name Canadian medication used to lower blood cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that builds up in your blood vessels. Total occlusion (blockage) of the blood vessels in your heart can lead to a...
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus--HCV. The infection causes swelling or inflammation of the liver that in turn prevents its major function of eliminating waste products such as alcohol from the body. Hepatitis C can...
The liver is a large organ that is essential for the normal functioning of the body. This organ produces the substances that digest fats and carbohydrates, and helps to clear the body from toxins. When a man has severe problems with the liver,...
Cancer of the pancreas, also called pancreatic cancer, is the overgrowth of abnormal cells in the pancreas, an organ found in the abdomen. The pancreas is responsible for producing chemicals that help digest food and hormones that control blood...
Pain refers to an uncomfortable feeling that can occur as a result of trauma or an underlying medical condition. In some instances, pain can be felt in the back, chest, stomach and muscles. Sometimes, the pain can be acute and resolve on its own....
Autoimmune liver disease, or autoimmune hepatitis disease, causes your body's immune system to attack your liver cells and your bile duct cells. Your liver becomes inflamed, called hepatitis. If your doctor diagnosis you with autoimmune liver...
This herbal swamp plant, which grows in India, has medicinal uses including the treatment of wounds, slowing cancerous tumor growth and improving circulation in your body. It claims to stop swelling in hands and feet, the American Cancer Society...
Niacin, also known as vitamin B-3 has a number of effects on the body. One of the reasons people take niacin supplements is to increase the levels of HDL cholesterol, also known as "good" cholesterol, in the body. Niacin works by changing the way...
Tri-Sprintec (ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate) is an oral contraceptive medication used to decrease your chances of conceiving a child. According to Drugs.com, this birth control pill prevents ovulation (egg release) and alters your uterine...
Hyperbilirubinemia is a condition in the human body when a high amount of the bile pigment, bilirubin, is retained in the blood stream. Bilirubin is produced during the chemical process of the breakdown of hemoglobin. If the body is not able to...
Hemolytic anemias are red blood cell deficiencies caused by the premature destruction of these cells in the circulation. The normal circulatory lifespan of a red blood cell is approximately 120 days. Premature hemolysis--the term for red blood...
Hyperbilirubinemia refers to elevated bilirubin levels in the blood plasma. Bilirubin comes in two forms, water-soluble and water-insoluble. Water-soluble bilirubin is called conjugated bilirubin, and water-insoluble bilirubin is called...
With chronic renal failure, the damaged kidneys are no longer able to perform the vital function of eliminating metabolic waste and excess water from the body. The adverse effects stemming from the loss of kidney function are wide ranging,...
Anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used to treat conditions that cause pain and inflammation in the body. The body’s immune system releases inflammatory cells in response to infections but also in response to injured tissues. Inflammation...
Statins, also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, are drugs that lower blood cholesterol, according to the National Institutes of Health. High cholesterol levels can narrow or block the flow of blood in the arteries. Statins reduce the amount...
A urinary tract infection can affect the bladder, urethra and kidney. It is common during pregnancy due to the changes in your body. As the uterus grows larger, it puts pressure on the bladder, blocking the flow of urine. If the bladder is not...