High blood sugar, formally known as hyperglycemia, occurs when blood sugar levels of diabetes patients become elevated, above a level that is considered healthy. Prolonged hyperglycemia that goes untreated can have serious implications such as...
You need an adequate supply of dietary iron to help form hemoglobin, the protein that transports oxygen around your body. Insufficient intake of iron can lead to iron deficiency anemia. This condition causes weakness, poor work performance and a...
Every day, your body works to maintain balance -- and not just the kind that keeps you from falling over. From the amount of fluid in your body to the level of protein in your blood, balance is what keeps you healthy. Blood proteins like albumin...
When your doctor or other health professional tells you you have a "high sugar count," it means you have been diagnosed with a high blood-glucose level. According to Harvard Medical School's Edward S. Horton, M.D., normal fasting blood glucose,...
If your blood sugar tests higher than normal, you may have what is known as prediabetes. Having prediabetes means that your blood glucose levels are above the healthy range, but not high enough to be classified as having type 2 diabetes. If you...
White blood cells, also called leukocytes, help your body fight infection. You require white blood cells in order to help fight infection and disease and maintain a strong immune system. Maintaining a healthy, vitamin-rich diet is important in...
Chronic high blood sugar can cause serious health problems. Excess glucose weakens blood vessels and can lead to heart and kidney damage, as well as blindness. Controlling blood sugar should be done with a combination of diet and exercise, and...
Glucose is the form of sugar used by your body as fuel to create energy in the cells. Extra glucose is stored in your liver and muscles as glycogen. When glucose is needed, the glycogen, which is much like a starch, is converted back into glucose....
A high-salt diet contributes to hypertension -- high blood pressure -- and this can affect your red blood cells. High blood pressure is linked to anemia -- low iron in your red blood cells -- and to heart disease. A high red blood count is an...
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...
Your blood is made up of three kinds of cells: Platelets are constantly regenerating and help your blood clot in the event of an injury. Red blood cells contain the hemoglobin necessary to transport oxygen through your body. White blood cells help...
White blood cells play an important role in the immune system as they scavenge the blood for invading viruses, bacteria and fungi. Individuals with a high white blood cell count, a condition called leukocytosis, typically do not present with any...
White blood cells scavenge the circulatory system for bacteria, viruses and other foreign invaders, playing a very important role in the body's immune system. A high white blood cell count on its own does not necessarily cause any specific medical...
Carbohydrates can raise blood sugar, and counting carbohydrates is one method diabetics use to prevent large spikes in blood glucose. Before you can implement a carbohydrate counting meal plan, you will need to consult with a doctor or dietitian...
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in which open sores develop on your colon and rectum. This disease is thought to be caused by an abnormality of your immune system, but may be hereditary as well. People who are white and...
Your blood count -- the number of red blood cells in your body -- depends on many factors, including the foods you eat. If you are a patient with anemia, or a low blood count, consuming foods with a high iron content will allow your bone marrow to...
Protein is one of the nutrients the body needs to maintain health. The amount of various types of protein in your blood is usually very small. Too little or too much protein may be an indication that something is wrong. Doctors check protein...
Urosepsis is the acute condition of a systemic infection in the blood that develops secondary to a urinary tract infection (UTI), and then circulates throughout the entire body. A lay term for this critical condition is blood poisoning because an...
Regular exercise may enhance your body's ability to respond to physical demands. Aquatic exercise has the added bonus of improving muscle tone and reducing fat levels without excess strain on the joints which may increase healthy white blood cell...
White blood cells are part of the immune system and responsible for controlling infection-causing pathogens. A high white blood cell count is not necessarily bad, but may indicate the presence of an infection, inflammation or other disease. While...
If your doctor orders a lumbar puncture test for you, he does so based on your symptoms. Something has led him to believe you have a disease or condition in your brain or spinal column. An examination of the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) reveals...
Red blood cells fulfill the vital function of carrying oxygen from your lungs to the various cells and tissues of your body. Red blood cells also take carbon dioxide back to your lungs to be expelled when you exhale. Your bone marrow forms red...
White blood cells are disease-fighting cells that scavenge the blood stream for bacteria, viruses and other foreign particles. Certain medical conditions can cause white blood cell levels to rise, specifically a condition called leukocytosis,...
Knee pain can be caused by many things. You can have an injury to the tendons, ligaments or muscles surrounding the knee. Your pain can also be due to a form of arthritis. The only way to tell is to see your doctor for a proper diagnosis. Tests...
Platelets are cell fragments that are present in blood. They help stop bleeding from skin wounds, ulcers and damaged and diseased organs. In healthy individuals, each milliliter of blood contains between 250,000 and 500,000 platelets, according to...
Classic metabolic syndrome describes a group of risk factors linked to obesity, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, which says an individual's chance for having heart disease and other health conditions, such as diabetes and...
You can lower your cholesterol with diet. More than 102 million American adults have high cholesterol levels, according to the American Heart Association. Nutrition plays a significant role in the development, prevention and treatment of high...
Conditions or habits, known as risk factors, increase the chance for developing heart disease. Heart disease risk factors consist of cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and obesity. Many individuals have at least one...
Naprelan (naproxen) is a medication used to reduce pain, inflammation and stiffness in such medical conditions as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis (joint pain in children) and ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis of the spine). According to...
Childhood cancers are hard to indentify, but seventy five percent of childhood cancers can be cured. Learn about childhood cancers in this video.