Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic disorder that manifests as lung, liver and/or skin disease. Specifically, the most common effects are emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with fewer patients experiencing cirrhosis of the...
Your liver is your largest internal organ, performing many important functions such as storing energy, making blood proteins, cleaning your blood of toxins and other potentially harmful substances, and making bile for digestion. Liver cancer is a...
Your liver is responsible for absorbing nutrients from foods, converting proteins, fats and carbohydrates into energy, cleansing toxins like alcohol and poisons from your blood and producing bile, a yellowish-green liquid that aids in digestion....
Your liver, an organ approximately the size and shape of a football, is essential for life. According to MayoClinic.com, your liver helps you process food and absorb the beneficial nutrients contained within, eliminate toxic substances such as...
Four primary liver enzymes can be elevated in the bloodstream, indicating possible damage to the liver. These include the transaminases AST and ALT, also known as aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, respectively and the...
Fatty liver disease, also called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, occurs when fat builds up in the liver. This relative harmless disease may cause a feeling of fullness or pain in the right side of the abdomen, according to FamilyDoctor.org, an...
It's not unusual to be alarmed by the sight of blood, but unchecked bleeding can be downright terrifying. Fortunately, your body contains a number of proteins called human coagulation factors, or clotting factors, that aid in staunching the flow...
The liver stores blood, produces bile, manufactures vitamins and other components necessary for blood clotting and filters the blood to remove essential nutrients and toxins. It then metabolizes or breaks down and changes these nutrients and...
Your adrenal glands maintain numerous metabolic processes and help to control the production of certain hormones. Although adrenal fatigue is a common term, this condition is not a true medical diagnosis, according to MayoClinic.com. Adrenal...
Liver cysts are fluid-filled crevices or sacs in the liver. The majority of hepatic (liver) cysts are unremarkable and never produce symptoms, however in some cases, hepatic cysts may signal an underlying disease. Also, in certain cases, according...
The countless functions of the liver include digestion of proteins and fats, purification of the blood via removal of toxic wastes, control of glucose levels in the body and the production of proteins needed for blood coagulation. All diseases...
The National Institutes of Health suggest several causes of male breast pain which can be linked to medical conditions from gynecomastia to alcoholism with liver damage, injuries, mediation use, shingles or mastitis--an infection in the breast...
Liver damage in infants can occur from a number of causes. Liver damage can be related to chronic disease, such as biliary atresia, or may develop acutely, occurring suddenly and severely from genetic diseases or infection. Symptoms of liver...
The liver synthesizes components of digestion and blood clotting factors and serves to store energy and detoxify the blood. Its significance often under recognized the liver and biliary tract cannot be artificially synthesized, bypassed, or...
According to the American Society of Clinic Oncology, men claim less than 1 percent of all breast cancer cases. In fact, male breast cancer and female breast cancer are very similar. The cancer can affect the different structures of the breast...
Hemoglobin is a component of red blood cells that allows them to transport and distribute oxygen throughout your body and organs. Abnormal hemoglobin levels may indicate the presence of a serious illness. Without hemoglobin, red blood cells are...
Triglycerides, a type of lipid that circulates in your blood, and they often take a backseat to cholesterol, although they are just as important to your heart health. Triglycerides are important, as they serve as a source of energy when your...
The liver is a large organ located in the upper right side of the abdomen. Its function is to clear the body of harmful toxins that would otherwise build up in the body, as well as digest food and transform it into energy. Liver cysts are...
Your liver is one of the most important organs in your body. It carries out many critical functions to keep you healthy, including helping process food you eat, regulating the amount of cholesterol and glucose in your blood, removing toxins, drugs...
Chronic liver disease is the 10th most common cause of death in the U.S., according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Chronic liver disease is actually a general term applied to many disorders of the liver, including hepatitis, which...
Heart disease is the primary cause of death in Americans, killing over 1 million men and women each year, according to the National Cholesterol Education Program. The main cause of heart disease is high cholesterol. Cholesterol does not present...
L-proline belongs to the group of non-essential amino acids. The mammalian tissue synthesizes its own non-essential amino acid sources; hence, the name "non-essential." L-arginine serves as the precursor of L-proline, a basic amino acid found in...
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a condition in which fat accumulates in the liver similar to that seen in alcoholics. This disease is quite common and can show no signs or symptoms, while others may experience inflammation and scarring. In...
High levels of triglycerides contribute to an increased risk for heart disease, known as the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Although classified as a lipid, triglycerides differ from cholesterol, another type of...
Protein is an essential macronutrient, but for some people, too much protein can worsen health problems. If you suffer from kidney or liver disease, or some genetic conditions related to the urea cycle or metabolism, your doctor may recommend a...
Swelling of the feet and ankles is usually due to a condition called edema, which is swelling caused by the accumulation of fluid in the body's tissues. Although swelling may not seem like a major health concern, edema usually occurs when major...
Diurex water pills are designed to help alleviate temporary water weight gain. The active diuretic ingredient in these pills is caffeine. Check with a doctor if you are suffering water retention because it may have a medical cause. Also, consult a...
Triglycerides are fats obtained from the diet that are carried in the blood. Most triglycerides consumed are in the form of butter, margarine and oils. Excessive caloric intake, including calories from alcohol and sugar, is also converted to...
Triglycerides are the main form of dietary fat. A triglyceride molecule consists of three fatty acids attached to a glycerol backbone. It is the predominate type of fatty acid that determines a triglyceride's classification. Some common fatty...
