Acute intermittent porphyria is a rare genetic disorder that causes porphyrins to build up in the body. This can lead to acute AIP attacks, characterized by severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, psychosis and, in severe cases, paralysis and...
Platelets are blood cells that facilitate clotting. When platelet levels drop below the normal level of 150,000 per microliter, a person has thrombocytopenia. Platelets, the smallest blood cell, are actually cell fragments. Platelets clump...
Sodium feredetate, also called sodium ironedetate and sold as Sytron, is used to treat iron deficiency anemia and iron deficiency caused by rheumatoid arthritis. It breaks down in the intestines and is better absorbed than other types of iron,...
A high level of potassium in the body, a condition called hyperkalemia, occurs most often due to impaired kidney function, according to Dr. Ruben Mesa, a hematologist at the Mayo Clinic. Other reasons for high levels of potassium in the body...
Ice itself is not unhealthy. Made of water, it contains no calories or fat. However, filling up on ice could get in the way of consuming foods that contain nutrients, potentially leading to malnutrition. Eating ice has been credited with weight...
If you're experiencing food cravings, your body may be trying to tell you something. Food cravings have a variety of physical or emotional causes, but ultimately, you may crave the food because it satiates a need in your body. Consult a doctor if...
Bone marrow is the spongy tissue found in the center of bones. It is responsible for making red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Marrow is mainly found in flat bones such as the skull, ribs, vertebrae, shoulder blades, hip bones,...
The study of medicine takes many years. It is impossible for any one physician to have a complete grasp of all areas of medicine. As such, it is divided into various disciplines, not only for ease of study, but also for efficient practice. There...
Grapefruit seems like an innocuous addition to your diet, but it may cause serious medication interactions. Grapefruit enhances the actions of certain medications. If you take immunosuppressants that prevent organ rejection after organ...
The urge to eat non-food items or ice may be a symptom of inadequate iron intake, as noted by Mayo Clinic hematologist Ruben A. Mesa, M.D. Lack of adequate iron intake often leads to a condition known as iron deficiency anemia. The Institute of...
Thalassemia minor is an inherited disorder characterized by a low concentration of hemoglobin and fewer red blood cells than normal. Most people with thalassemia minor have normal or even elevated iron stores, especially if they have received...
A low platelet count, technically known as thrombocytopenia, occurs when the blood loses platelets faster than the bone marrow replaces them. The condition develops from many different underlying causes, and sometimes, no cause can be found. The...
Blood contains substances that help it to clot, thus stopping excess bleeding. Individuals with bleeding disorders lack these substances, which can be dangerous and lead to medical problems. There are treatments for these conditions, but some...
Oncologists are physicians who manage the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cancer. Within the oncology field are several sub-specialties, which allow oncologists to work with specific groups of patients or types of cancer treatments. Each...
Cravings occur when only one type of food will satisfy your urge, often completely independent of hunger. If you munch on chips all day, you may have more than a preference for salty foods. Likewise, if you have an uncontrollable urge to chew on...
Iron is one of the most abundant minerals on the Earth, and it is essential to many of the Earth's life forms, including humans. Humans rely on iron to transport oxygen throughout the body and as a key component of several enzymes, including the...
Iron is a metal that serves as an essential component of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying constitutent of red blood cells, and myoglobin, the oxygen-carrying constituent of muscle cells. While a well-balanced diet theoretically contains all the...
Developed by the Japanese in 1969, Green Magma is a brand of powdered barley grass juice extract resulting from the research of pharmacologist Yoshihide Hagiwara. Young barley grass extracts contain abundant amounts of nutrients and plant-derived...
Infections are now the leading cause of death in people with multiple myeloma. Advances in treatment have extended survival; however, certain myeloma therapies weaken patients' immune systems. For these reasons, the spectrum of infections...
More than 900,000 Americans develop venous blood clots each year, according to a report from the Mayo Clinic, with many cases leading to chronic disability and death. The blood-thinning drugs prescribed to treat blood clots have dangerous side...
Carbonated water conveys a number of health benefits. From soothing indigestion to reducing cholesterol, carbonated water has reemerged as a sparkling, healthful alternative to tap water. How carbonated water does this remains rather shrouded....
Medical doctors in the U.S. hold an undergraduate bachelor's degree and an M.D. degree earned through a four-year course of graduate study in an accredited school of medicine. After medical school, medical doctors enter a period of postgraduate...
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the skin, joints and major organs. An autoimmune disease occurs when the body's own defense system attacks itself. An estimated 1.5 million Americans have the disease, 9 out of 10...
Sickle cell anemia or sickle cell disease is a blood disorder that causes some of the red bloods to assume a sickle or elongated shape, resulting in poor blood flow and improper oxygen delivery. Get expert tips and advice on preventing,...