Comprehensive Health: Medical Triage, Nutrition & Disease Management

Symptoms, diagnostic markers, and specialized nutritional protocols are critical components in managing cardiovascular health, organ function, and psychological well-being across the lifespan.

Glass of water, close up, blue background

Side Effects of Nitrates in Water

Nitrate is a naturally occurring form of nitrogen found in many soils. According to "Staying Healthy With Nutrition” by Dr. Elson Haas, soils with heavy agricultural contaminants often measure high in nitrate levels. These high levels cause a variety of unhealthy side effects.

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Red chilli peppers in buckets, Chile

The Side Effects of Hot Peppers

Types of peppers people use in cooking and salads include jalapenos, serranos, cayenne, banana peppers, szechwan and habaneeros. Many dishes such as Indian soups and curries and Jamaican menus contain these peppers.

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Patient walking with crutches in hospital

How to Lessen Arm Pain When Using Crutches

As your torso, shoulders, elbows and wrists work together to compensate for a hurt foot or leg, you may begin to experience arm pain. This is especially the case if you're using your crutches improperly. You can improve your overall experience by adopting a few pain-reducing basics of crutch operation.

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Home Remedies for a Skin Abscess

A skin abscess is another name for a skin boil, a severe, pus-filled infection deep in the skin. Skin abscesses often involve a hair follicle and occur in moist areas of the body, such as the groin area and back of the neck. Boils can take two weeks to fully heal, and most will not heal until they burst and drain.

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Science student looking through microscope in the lab

A List of Bad Bacteria

Bacteria are the oldest and most abundant life form on Earth. These microscopic, single-celled organisms live in all environments -- including in and on the human body. A study published in May 2016 in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A."

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Pills

Pau d'arco Side Effects

Pau d’Arco is a supplement derived from the bark of the Tabebuia avellanedae tree. It contains the compounds lapachol and beta-lapachone, and has been used traditionally to treat fungal infections, inflammation and certain cancers.

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Homemade Sinus Rinse

For people with allergies, colds or sinus problems the use of a homemade sinus rinse may bring relief. Delivered to the sinuses by using a neti pot, a small ceramic pot similar to a teapot; a bulb syringe; or irrigation bottle, a homemade sinus rinse can help clear nasal passages and make breathing easier.

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Does Gabapentin Cause Elevated Liver Enzymes?

Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant that is sometimes used to treat epilepsy. It also may be used to lessen symptoms of postherpetic neuralgia, a complication of shingles that affects your nerve fibers and skin and causes burning pain.

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Nutritional label

How Serious Is a Cholesterol Reading of 225?

If the laboratory results of your most recent blood work revealed a total cholesterol level of 225 mg/dL, your doctor will probably tell you that 225 is higher than she prefers to see, even though a total cholesterol level of 225 is just 25 points over what doctors consider safe.

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Herbal Remedies for Bloating & Water Retention

Although water retention may be the symptom of a more severe medical condition, it is most often the result of a female issue -- menstruation. Arising approximately a week or two prior to a woman's period, premenstrual water retention can make you feel stodgy and unfeminine.

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How to Tape Injured Thumbs

While a mildly injured or sprained thumb isn't a serious ailment, it is necessary to protect the your thumb from further damage by wrapping it with medical tape and a thumb splint. This keeps the thumb in place which, in turn, provides the thumb muscle ligaments enough time to heal.

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Pack of cigarettes on the restaurant table

How Dangerous Is Smoking a Pack Every Week?

Smoking has devastating health consequences, even if you smoke just a pack per week. An October 2005 study report published in "Tobacco Control" found that the relationship between smoking and adverse health consequences occurs even among people who smoke 1 to 4 cigarettes per day.

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Patient in hospital bed speaking to Doctor and Nurse, smiling

Complications After Stent Surgery

Atherosclerosis, a buildup of fatty material called plaque in the arteries, can narrow the vessels that supply the heart with blood. If an artery becomes completely blocked, a heart attack can result. Stents, which are mesh tubes, hold the artery open and prevent it from becoming completely blocked.

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X-ray image of ankle, lateral view.

Complications of ORIF Ankle Surgery

The abbreviation; O.R.I.F. stands for Open Reduction/Internal Fixation. This refers to a variety of open orthopedic surgical techniques where broken bones in the ankle are repaired using various devices to restore the bones to normal position and alignment, thus optimizing healing.

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Young woman lying on bed, portrait, close-up

How to Reduce Nasal Tip Swelling After Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is a cosmetic surgery procedure that involves reshaping the nose. Also referred to as a nose job, rhinoplasty is performed to straighten an unbalanced nose, remove unwanted bumps and treat airway obstructions that are caused by an accident or malformed nasal bones.

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Fresh garlic.

Herbs to Help Reduce Triglycerides

Triglycerides are a type of blood fat that the body uses for energy. Hypertriglyceridemia (high triglycerides) and hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) are collectively known as lipid disorders.

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Fresh ginger with leaves.

Benefits of Ginger Capsules

Ginger is an herb with a multitude of beneficial health properties. Its active compounds--known as gingerols--have proven anti-inflammatory and anti-nausea properties, and may be helpful for treating poor circulation and high cholesterol.

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Men's ear. Close up.

Complications After Ear Tube Surgery

If you or your child experience recurrent ear infections, your doctor or pediatrician may recommend ear tube surgery to help alleviate symptoms. During this procedure, which is also called a myringotomy or tympanotomy, the surgeon inserts a small tube into a tiny hole that she puts in the eardrum.

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What Body Systems Are Affected by Pseudoephedrine?

Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant medication sold over the counter (such as in Sudafed). It is also found as a component in some prescription medications. Pseudoephedrine is available as a tablet, chewable tablet, controlled-release tablet, capsule, syrup, suspension and liquid and as drops.

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Yellow chrysanthemum flowers

Side Effects of Chrysanthemum Herbs

Chrysanthemum -- a flower from the daisy family -- has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating fever, hypertension, dry eyes and headaches, as well as other inflammatory conditions. A study published in the September 2003 edition of the medicinal plant journal "Fitoterapia"

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