Your kidneys help maintain normal blood concentration by removing wastes, excess fluid and electrolytes such as potassium. Potassium, blood urea nitrogen, or BUN, and creatinine blood tests can monitor kidney function in patients diagnosed with...
Elevated creatine levels in the body are detected through increased creatinine found in the blood or urine through lab testing. Creatine is muscle fuel for the human body. This amino acid is produced by the liver, kidneys and pancreas and obtained...
The human body naturally produces creatine from amino acids, mostly in the liver and kidneys. Creatine travels in the bloodstream to the muscles, where it is used to produce energy. Your body stores about 95 percent of its creatine in skeletal...
Creatine is a nonessential dietary element commonly found in meat and fish that has the potential to help you gain weight. Your body also naturally produces creatine, but creatine supplementation is popular among weightlifters wanting to increase...
Creatine is an organic acid that your liver can synthesize from the amino acids arginine and glycine. In addition to eating foods like beef, poultry and eggs to obtain creatine, many athletes take supplements to gain more of the compound. Many...
Creatine kinase, or creatine phosphokinase, is a type of specialized protein, called an "enzyme," found in your skeletal or voluntary muscles, as well as in your heart and brain. It plays a vital role in helping your body use an internal fuel...
Enzymes are structures composed of protein chains that help to catalyze chemical reactions within your body. Many different types of enzymes are responsible for specific functions, and they are found in different areas of the body. In regards to...
Creatine kinase is an enzyme, or form of protein, that the body uses for quick energy. Normally, creatine kinase is confined to muscle cells. When damaged, the muscle cells may leak, allowing creatine kinase to enter the bloodstream. Elevated...
The statins are a group of six prescription medications for high cholesterol that can decrease blood levels of triglycerides and LDL, or "bad," cholesterol. The safety and tolerability profile of these drugs is generally good, but there are...
As many as 25 percent of Americans over age 45 take cholesterol-lowering medications called statins, according to the April 2011 issue of the Harvard Health Letter. Although statins effectively reduce the cardiac risks of high cholesterol, the...
Kidney cancer ranks among the most common types of carcinoma affecting adult men and women in the United States. Since the 1970s, national rates of kidney cancer have increased steadily. However, improved screening and treatment options have...
Creatine is a naturally occurring compound that is comprised of the three amino acids called arginine, glycine, and methionine, and it is used primarily as a performance enhancing supplement. Creatine can be synthetically manufactured and sold...
Creatine is a supplement most commonly used to enhance exercise. While creatine isn't used to help you sleep better, there are connections between the supplement and your sleep habits. Quality sleep is an important part of your overall health, so...
Red yeast rice is rice that has been fermented by red yeast. It has been used in China for hundreds of years as a food preservative, food coloring agent, spice, an ingredient in rice wine and as a treatment for several medical conditions,...
Polymyositis is a type of inflammatory myopathy, a muscle disease that causes weak and inflamed skeletal muscles. According to the Mayo Clinic, polymyositis mainly affects adults between 30 and 50 years old, although it can strike individuals of...
Creatine is a precursor to chemicals that help synthesize adenosine diphosphate or ADP, a main source of muscle energy. Although creatine is an amino acid derivative produced in your liver and kidneys, you can also get it from commercial...
High blood glucose levels may increase your risk of both long- and short-term health complications. Hyperglycemia is the medical term for high blood glucose. Elevated levels of creatine in your body may signal the presence of kidney damage due to...
Creatine is a natural amino acid that is produced in your liver, pancreas and kidneys. Creatine can also be found in proteins like fish or meat, and according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, it is a fundamental source of energy for...
Cellular respiration is defined as the set of all metabolic processes in your body that use oxygen to convert nutrients such as sugars and fats into a molecule called ATP. ATP is known as a "molecular currency" that transfers energy to the organs....
Hyperlipidemia is a medical term used to describe high blood levels of cholesterol and another blood-borne fat, or lipid, called triglyceride. Creatine is a naturally occurring substance in your body used for energy production. Consumption of...
Inclusion body myositis, or IBM, is an inflammatory disease of the muscles. The inflammatory response involves cells and chemicals of the immune system infiltrating and damaging the muscles. There are two types of inclusion body myositis: a...
Tricor is a drug that is used to control triglycerides and total cholesterol. Sold under the generic name fenofibrate, this drug reduces the amount of low-density lipoprotein in the blood and increases the amount of high-density lipoprotein....
Dry skin is a common problem that can occur due to weather changes, frequent bathing or using harsh soaps. Dry skin can also be a sign of a more serious medical condition. If you experience chronic dry skin, contact your doctor who can perform a...
Lab test results in children versus adults can be different for several reasons. If your health care provider suggests that your child have her creatine levels measured, he may request either a blood or urine test be performed. Both tests are...
Crestor is the brand name of rosuvastatin calcium, one of a class of cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins. These drugs reduce the production of harmful low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the liver by inhibiting the action of an...
Holy basil is an aromatic herb cultivated for culinary use, as well as for its significance in Hindu spiritual practices and in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. Holy basil tea has been used for more than 5,000 years in India, where the herb is...
Niacin is commonly used in combination with other statin drugs to reduce blood lipid levels and cholesterol throughout the body. As with many drugs, niacin comes with side effects that may affect your daily life. One of these side effects is...
The kidneys are paired organs in the lower back. They filter the blood to remove fluid, excessive chemicals and waste products; in the process they make urine. In addition, they regulate the mineral content of the blood and the acidity of the...
A heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction, is typically caused by a complete blockage of one or more of the arteries supplying blood to your heart. The interruption in blood flow causes damage to that part of the heart, which can be...
