Cholesterol is a fatty substance produced by your liver and also obtained in food. Standard cholesterol tests are useful as screening tools to assess individuals at risk for coronary artery disease. Established tests include total cholesterol,...
Height depends on both genetics and a variety of factors, such as good health and nutrition. Adolescents need to eat a variety of balanced meals and healthy snacks to ensure that their bodies will grow optimally. Parents can help their teens...
Depression affects many aspects of a person's--energy levels, mood, motivation and willpower. However, exercise can help alleviate depression symptoms. Though it may take more effort to start and maintain an exercise regimen when depressed, the...
In keeping with its reputation of "silent killer," high blood pressure can wreak havoc in your body without warning signs or visible symptoms. Yet, regular check-ups can easily help diagnose it. What's more, losing excess weight, dietary changes...
Congestive heart failure, also known as heart failure, is the inability of the heart to pump the body's blood through the heart. The blood tends to pool in the heart and build up in the lungs, causing congestion. Heart failure is not a...
The main purpose of the cardiovascular system is transportation, explains Paul A. Iaizzo, Ph.D., Director for Education at the University of Minnesota's Lillehei Heart Institute. The components of this organ system -- the heart, the blood...
Peptides and polypeptides are both chains of amino acids. Your endocrine system secretes peptides and polypeptides. After they are secreted, your blood distributes peptides and polypeptides to end organs such as your heart, kidneys and liver....
Regulation of sodium in your body requires tight controls of the amounts of fluid in your body. Your body has a number of "sensors" that detect your overall sodium level, many of which are in the kidneys. When your sodium levels are too high,...
Blood tests for cardiac problems measure muscle enzymes and other substances released into the blood when there is heart damage. Increased levels of the cardiac biomarkers diagnose and monitor the course of heart attacks and heart failure. Doctors...
A sauna produces a dry heat that can reach as high as 185 degrees F. According to Harvard Health Publications, spending 15 to 20 minutes in a sauna can promote a state of relaxation and stimulate feelings of well-being. Commonly reported...
Heart disease, also called cardiovascular disease, is a general term used to describe any disease that affects the heart and surrounding blood vessels. The most common forms of heart disease include coronary artery disease, arrhythmias and...
Many older men get up at night to urinate, and may consider it normal. However, nocturia--the medical term for waking up needing to urinate--can be caused by serious disease. Nocturia is common: British urologist Lucy Abraham and colleagues note...
Knowledge of cardiac enzymes when used appropriately saves lives. These enzymes, also called cardiac markers, are substances found either exclusively or predominantly in the heart. When the heart is damaged or in distress, such as during or after...
There are four main components of blood: red blood cells which aid in the exchange of blood gases; white blood cells that fight against disease and infection; platelets which are primarily responsible for blood clotting ability; and plasma which...
Sodium is obtained through diet and is also referred to as salt. It is also an electrolyte found in the blood. Low sodium levels, or hyponatremia, can be caused by a number of different ailments, including kidney, heart or liver problems. Consult...
Only a few restaurants in the United States serve chicken kidneys. Yet, this delicacy remains popular in France and China. Chicken kidneys contain a broad range of medicinal nutrients, notes About-ChineseFood.Com. Scientists have used chicken...
Astragalus refers to a number of herbaceous plants in the legume family, Fabaceae, which are more commonly known as milkvetch. The roots of several Astragalus species, including membranaceus, mongholicus and complanatus, are used to make extracts...
When supporting the health of your kidneys, medicinal plants like stinging nettles may have a positive effect on your urinary system. Stinging nettles are traditionally taken as a herbal extract, an infusion or eaten in the diet to tone and...
Depression is an extremely common condition. According to the World Health Organization, depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Mild depression often remits on its own, and mild to moderate depression can be effectively treated...
A variety of herbal products show benefits for prevention and treatment of both high and low blood pressure. All parts of the world and most traditional medicine systems identify certain naturally occurring plants as useful for blood pressure...
Stinging nettle, or Urtica dioica, is found throughout the world as a bright green herb with stinging hairs on its leaves and stems that can result in a painful touch. High in nutrition and medicinal chemicals, people are now turning to this plant...
Sodium and potassium share a common bond in their roles in body function. Both ensure healthy nervous system activity. Each of these minerals also influences blood pressure. Their complementary roles provide the basis for a healthy diet that can...
Water retention causes weight gain during exercise, indicating too much fluid replacement. Increasing fluid intake before prolonged physical activity, also called hyperhydration, may prevent dehydration from likely fluid loss in hot conditions....
Cancer of the lung kills more people than any other type of cancer, and has been known to kill more people than prostate/colon/breast cancer combined. Although smoking cigarettes is a risk factor, many non-smokers have this deadly condition. Lung...
Water retention can cause you to bloat and feel quite uncomfortable. Generally, this condition will develop in response to a high intake of sodium, dehydration or hot weather, or before your menstrual cycle. Regardless of its source, you may get...
