Platelet aggregation is one of the factors that leads to cardiovascular disease and increases risk of heart attack and stroke. Blood thinning drugs such as warfarin and aspirin are used to decrease platelet aggregation for some individuals. There...
A serious health condition called thrombocytopenia, or low blood-platelet count, could cause internal bleeding and stroke. The causes of low platelets include leukemia, immune system disorders and medication side effects. According to Dr. Serkan...
Potassium is an important electrolyte in the body's cells. Its functions include helping stimulate muscle contractions, maintain an appropriate fluid balance, and preserve the acid-base balance in the blood. Low potassium can cause weakness,...
Pantoprazole, or Protonix, belongs to a class of medications known as proton pump inhibitors. According to the National Institutes of Health, pantoprazole is used to heal and prevent erosive esophagitis, an inflammation of the esophagus caused by...
Follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is so called because its cells grow in a circular pattern in the lymph nodes, according to the American Cancer Society. The average age at diagnosis is 60, with the disease largely occurring in both the lymph...
Lenalidomide, an immunomodulating agent with the brand name Revlimid, is a new therapy for multiple myeloma. It is most often used with chemotherapy for patients who have relapsed after initial treatment. Although it is chemically similar to...
Nosebleeds are a common but scary part of childhood. The medical term for nosebleeds is epistaxis. According to St. Louis Children's Hospital, they are fairly common in children but become less common in the adolescent years. Most nosebleeds are...
Leukemia, or blood cancer, is a malignancy of the white blood cells, the cells that fight infection in the bloodstream. Children with leukemia produce a large number of abnormal white blood cells inside the bone marrow, the space inside bones that...
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the thin layer of tissue that surrounds the brain. Bacteria and viruses cause most cases of meningitis in children. Health providers can diagnose meningitis clinically and by doing a lumbar puncture,...
Thrombocytopenia is the term used to describe a low platelet count. Platelets are the blood cells responsible for clotting off blood and preventing excessive bleeding. There are many reasons for a decreased platelet count, but in general,...
CLA stands for conjugated linoleic acid. It is part of the fatty acid family and can be found naturally in meat and dairy products. CLA plays a role in antioxidant and anticancer properties. In fact, it is reported by the University of Idaho's...
Clarithromycin is a semi-synthetic antibiotic used to treat respiratory tract infections, ear infections and acute maxillary sinusitis. People who have shown hypersensitivity to erythromycin or any other macrolide antibiotics should not take...
Thrombocytopenia is the second-most common type of blood disorder in pregnancy, according to Capt. Jeffrey Levy, a doctor of osteopathic medicine at DeWitt Army Community Hospital, in a 2002 Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine...
The spleen is part of the lymphatic system and has a vital role in the body's immune system function. The spleen produces white blood cells (WBCs) that help fight infection; filters old, damaged blood cells from the circulatory system; and stores...
Acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, is a common type of leukemia, according to the National Marrow Donor Program. Bone marrow is responsible for making white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. With AML, the bone marrow produces immature cells...
Bone marrow is the soft spongy tissue inside the bones that give rise to stem cells. Stem cells consist of cells that have not differentiated into a "type." As these stem cells mature, they differentiate according to their intended function and...
The immune system is made up of cells that identify and eliminate foreign bacteria, viruses and fungi. A properly functioning immune system is essential for life. A number of conditions that can affect infants and young children are inherited...
Platelets and white blood cells are two of the main blood cell types in the body. Abnormal levels of these cells can be a sign of illness, disease or complications. Thrombocytopenia, or a low platelet count, can have serious consequences because...
Thrombocytopenia, a low platelet count, is the second most common blood disorder in pregnancy, affecting 8 percent of pregnancies, according the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine article "Thrombocytopenia in Pregnancy." Platelets...
Epistaxis is the medical term for a nosebleed. Although temporary nasal drying or irritation causes most nosebleeds, frequent spontaneous epistaxis can be a symptom of underlying disease. Physical examination, blood tests and diagnostic imaging...
Thrombocytopenia is a medical condition characterized by low numbers of blood platelets. Because platelets are responsible for blood clotting after injuries, thrombocytopenia can become serious. There are many causes of the condition; for example,...
Platelets are colorless blood cells essential for the clotting of blood. Platelets prevent blood loss by clumping together and plugging holes in the blood vessels. A low platelet count, or thrombocytopenia, often displays symptoms such as...
If you have a cerebral aneurysm, you may need to make some changes to your lifestyle to avoid complications of your disorder. If your doctor tells you to stop taking fish oil, she is most likely concerned about the effects fish oil has on your...
Green tea, the unfermented leaves of Camellia sinensis, retains much of the color of the plant's leaves, while black tea, derived from fermentation of tea leaves, takes on a darker color. Dozens of countries produce tea; however, most green tea...
Platelets are the unsung heroes of blood clots and scabs. Without these sticky blood cell fragments, a minor shaving cut could prove deadly. Although indirect, the diet plays a role in platelet formation, along with the protein fibers needed to...
Thrombocytes, or platelets, are the most important cells involved in blood clotting of blood. Platelets help in the clotting of blood by working together with clotting factors produced by the liver. Vitamin K is needed in the activation of several...
Use of coffee as a stimulant may have begun in Portugal, was popularized in the Arab world and from there spread through Europe. Though coffee is cherished for its mild stimulant effect, coffee's health effects, including those on heart disease,...
Platelets are cells that are formed in the bone marrow to help the blood clot properly. Approximately 150,000 to 450,000 platelets should be found in 1 microliter of blood. Many medical conditions and chemical substances can cause low blood...
A serum iron blood test identifies high iron levels within the blood circulation. Although it is not a routinely ordered blood test, the serum iron test is ordered when a physician suspects iron overload. Although iron plays an important role in...
