If you're suffering from discomfort due to your urinary tract, your physician may administer a urine pH test to measure the acidity of your urine. Primary causes may be kidney stones, certain medications or infection. Generally, the normal pH...
Hormones affect growth, reproduction, mood, sexual function and metabolism. Even small imbalances can cause huge problems. To stay balanced, hormone levels can be tested in three ways. Measuring hormone levels in blood, urine and saliva can help...
Antibodies are a type of specialized protein generated by the immune system. Antibodies each contain two heavy chain proteins, which link to two smaller light chain proteins. The light chain contains a variable region that allows for an antibody...
Hoodia is derived from a plant that grows in Southern Africa. It is also sometimes referred to by its scientific name "Hoodia gordonii." Used in Africa to help suppress hunger during long hunting trips, it has garnered interest in weight loss...
As you age, the eyes' supporting muscles weaken. The fat migrates onto the area above your upper eyelids. Often, too, it drops to your lower lids. For many, upper eye puffiness is not simply an aesthetic matter; it can also impair the vision....
Venipuncture is the technical term used to describe the routine removal of blood from a vein for subsequent laboratory testing. You may undergo this procedure as part of the observation or diagnosis of a wide range of medical conditions. The...
Potassium is a mineral necessary for maintaining fluid balance in the body. It is vital for a number of functions, including all muscle contractions. Having too much potassium (hyperkalemia) or too little potassium (hypokalemia) in the body can...
Water-treatment systems correct a number of problems, including water hardness, quality and taste. But sometimes water treatment systems aggravate health problems. Other times, water contaminants diminish the performance of water-treatment...
Prescription drugs in the United States have passed rigorous clinical trials for safety and efficacy to obtain Food and Drug Administration approval. Most of these drugs are used to treat numerous conditions that range from mildly annoying to...
Diabetes is characterized by elevated blood sugar levels due to abnormalities of insulin production by the pancreas and abnormal insulin function, or both. The adverse effects of chronic high blood sugar render diabetes the most common cause of...
The first step in preventing proteinuria, a condition in which the urine contains abnormal amounts of protein that can impair kidney function, is to determine the existing protein levels in your urine, so your doctor can assess whether they fall...
Dementia and Huntington's disease are neurological disorders that result in a progressive loss of function. Huntington's disease, an inherited disease that begins when the patient is in her 30s and 40s, can progress into dementia. When a patient...
If your home's water tastes or smells bad, you should determine whether it contains dangerous contaminants. Potential problems include bacteria, viruses and parasites, though these are unlikely if your home receives water from a public water...
Plants have been used to treat health conditions for centuries, and many people incorporate herbal remedies into their personal health care regimens. More than 17 percent of Americans said they had used natural products in a 2007 survey cited by...
People whose physicians have recommended statins and a low-fat diet may also wish to track their blood triglyceride levels at home. Triglycerides are a type of fat in the blood that may contribute to the formation of plaque and blockages in the...
Dostinex treats medical conditions caused by the body when it produces too much of the prolactin hormone. Dostinex also treats fertility problems, pituitary tumors and menstrual cycle conditions. The pituitary gland produces prolactin; Dostinex...
Polymyalgia rheumatica, or PMR, is an inflammatory disorder of unknown cause that affects older adults. Establishing the diagnosis requires the presence of typical symptoms plus laboratory tests showing evidence of inflammation, such as elevated...
Garlic may get a bad rap for stinking up your breath, but cooking with fresh garlic offers so many health benefits that it may be worth the effort of keeping breath mints on hand. It may relieve infections and have implications in cancer...
Your body requires zinc to function normally, and obtains a regular supply from your diet and the environment. Zinc toxicity is not a common problem, but can occur from overuse of supplements or significant environmental exposure. There are...
Buckwheat honey comes from bees who feed primarily on buckwheat. This dark-colored honey imparts a rich flavor to baked goods and other recipes, and you may opt to use it as a sweetener for beverages as well. This honey is quite good for you,...
Each time your child eats or drinks something, his body converts nutrients into a sugar known as glucose, which is the energy source for every cell in his body. The glucose molecules that aren't needed to produce energy stay in his blood and can...
Marijuana contains a mind-altering chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol, known as THC. Heavy use of marijuana, according to a 2003 study by Harrison Pope, published in the journal "Drug and Alcohol Dependence," can impair a young person's ability...
The early signs and symptoms of high cholesterol in the blood are mainly clinical and can be seen in the results of routine laboratory testing. Later signs and symptoms include clogged arteries and a heart attack.
Cholesterol exists naturally within the body. We also ingest cholesterol-containing foods. The body utilizes cholesterol to make bile acids for digestion and various other functions, but abnormal cholesterol levels can lead to health problems....
According to The State of Connecticut Office of Health Care Access, acute care hospitals are facilities that provide treatment or surgical services for people on a short term basis for disease or trauma. An acute care hospital requires a license...
According to the National Kidney Foundation more than 26 million Americans -- one in nine adults -- have renal disease. Millions more people are at increased risk for the disease, and most don't know it. If the disease is found and treated early,...
U.S. Pharmacopeia, USP, is an organization that provides quality testing and monitoring of dietary supplements. If all tests pass, then the supplement company can display a USP seal of approval on the label, packaging, and marketing materials of...
High cholesterol levels are directly related to increased risk of heart attack, heart disease and stroke. The American Heart Association, or AHA, and MayoClinic.Com advise that you get your first cholesterol test at age 20 and follow up with...
According to the World Health Organization, swine flu, also known as H1N1, is a contagious respiratory infection. It is caused by the influenza type A virus that was first recognized in 2009. Originally, scientific laboratories indicated the...
Pancreatitis is an inflammatory condition that occurs when pancreatic digestive enzymes become active within the gland and attack the pancreas itself. Learn about the different causes of, symptoms of, and treatments for pancreatitis in this...
Candidiasis or a yeast infection is an infection caused by a group of microscopic fungi or yeast. There are more than 20 species of Candida, the most common being Candida albicans. These fungi live on all surfaces of our bodies. Learn about the...
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a disease wherein the body does not produce adequate, or any, insulin to control blood sugar, which can result in coma or death if insulin is not delivered into the body regularly. Learn more about diabetes type 1...
Nail fungus is a common nail disorder. Get expert tips and advice on nail treatments in this video.
