Cholesterol analysis is important for assessing the risk of cardiovascular disease in people of all levels of age and health. Total cholesterol is a measurement made with a simple blood test, and has a normal level below 5.2 millimoles per liter...
Triglycerides are a form of lipids, which are the molecules found in fats and oils. Along with cholesterol levels, triglycerides in the blood are an important indicator of cardiovascular health. High triglyceride levels (along with high levels of...
A cholesterol test performed in the United States will give you an answer in mg/dl, which indicates the number of milligrams per deciliter. A cholesterol test done anywhere else in the world will give you a total cholesterol reading in mmol/litre....
There are two units of measurement for blood glucose level. In the U.S., blood glucose level is noted in milligrams per deciliter, or mg/dl, which is a unit used in medicine to measure the concentration of substances in the blood. Other areas of...
One of the daily functions of the body's cells is maintaining the right amount of water and electrolytes. Maintaining the right amount of electrolytes involves balancing the ones that have a negative charge with those that have a positive charge....
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is produced by our body and comes from foods that are of animal origin. Cholesterol supports hormone and cell tissue production.Too much LDL cholesterol can lead to heart disease and stroke. Cholesterol scores...
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is an important part of your body's overall health. However, high levels of certain types of cholesterol can have a detrimental effect on your heart. Understanding cholesterol and the risk factors...
For those who suffer from diabetes or who may be at risk, the blood sugar test is the gold standard of measurement. However, more than one type of test is usually used, depending on the status of the patient. The tests all measure the body's...
Potassium is an essential ion found within the cells of the body. The delicate balance between potassium outside the cell, known as the extracellular fluid K+ and the potassium inside the cell, called the intracellular fluid K+ helps maintain the...
Type 2 diabetes is characterized by inefficient use of blood glucose by decreased production of insulin or ineffective insulin that is produced. Type 2 diabetes usually is controlled by diet and exercise or oral medications. Eventually, the...
If the levels of potassium within the body are low, then the condition called hypokalemia occurs. According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," potassium is the major positively charged ion in the internal cellular environment that is...
Your blood cholesterol levels can be reported using two different types of measurement. In the United States, your values will be reported in milligrams per deciliter or mg/dL. In Canada and Europe, the measurement for cholesterol is expressed in...
Glucose is a simple sugar that is readily transported through your bloodstream and used by your cells for fuel. If your blood glucose increases significantly -- a condition called hyperglycemia -- it acts like a chemical sponge, drawing water from...
Your blood sugar level after a meal, or postprandial blood glucose, reflects how your body responds to an influx of glucose from food. Abnormally high or low blood sugar levels after meals may indicate diabetes. Whether or not you've been...
Glucose monitoring helps you to manage your diabetes and avoid the symptoms of high or low blood glucose. Abbott Diabetes Care manufacturers the FreeStyle Lite and FreeStyle Freedom Lite glucose monitors. The FreeStyle Lite is a smaller model than...
Pregnancy is a joyous time when you discover all of the changes your body supports to create a healthy baby. Some of the changes are fun to watch, such as your ever-growing belly. Others are not so appealing and could even become dangerous -- like...
Happy bodies like happy cholesterol. Good cholesterol, or happy cholesterol, officially called HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, reduces your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, repairs cells, makes them waterproof, assists in...
The fasting blood glucose test is part of most regular medical checkups and your doctor may also order one if she suspects you have hypoglycemia or diabetes. If your fasting glucose is between 50 and 100 mmol/L, you have normal glucose. If your...
Homocysteine is a chemical produced when an amino acid called methionine is broken down. Elevated homocysteine levels are linked to an increased risk of stroke, heart disease and peripheral artery disease. The risk of developing blood clots deep...
Cholesterol levels in the blood are measured differently in the United States than in other areas of the world, specifically Europe. In the U.S., mg/dL, or milligrams per decileter of blood, is the standard measurement. The world standard for...
Electrolytes are minerals with an electric charge that are found in body fluids. These include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, phosphate, bicarbonate and sulfate. Electrolytes carry either a positive or negative charge. The human...
Low blood potassium is a condition called hypokalemia. Approximately 98 percent of the body's potassium stores are located within cells in what is known as intracellular fluid, or ICF, according to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine." A...
Exercise is an important tool for managing diabetes as it helps to improve blood sugar levels, increase overall fitness, and reduce body fat. Exercise also reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke. One thing that diabetics should be aware...
Significant weight gain leading to obesity is a primary risk factor in a number of diseases, including cardiovascular issues and type 2 diabetes. A main symptom of diabetes is high blood sugar levels, or hyperglycemia, due to reduced insulin...
Low blood sugar, also called hypoglycemia, occurs when blood glucose levels drop below normal. Normal blood glucose levels range from 80 to 120 mg/dL (4.4 to 6.6 mmol/L). Common causes of low blood sugar are associated with too much insulin,...
Potassium plays an extremely important role in the electrophysiology of your body's cells. According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," potassium or K+ is the major positively charged ion in the cells. In fact, approximately 98...
Potassium is a mineral and an electrolyte, meaning it helps to conduct electrical impulses in your body. Because it is the most significant mineral present in the greatest amount inside your cells, potassium plays several important functions....
One of the best ways to measure your heart health is via a test known as a lipid panel that measures your overall cholesterol and triglyceride levels. While both triglycerides and cholesterol are types of lipids or fats in the blood, your body...
Tightly controlled calcium levels are critical to good health. The body stores calcium primarily in bones, with the remainder circulating in the blood; the two sources can exchange their supply to maintain blood calcium within the proper limits....
