Human chorionic gonadotropohin, hCG, is a hormone produced during pregnancy. Cells that form the placenta excrete hCG once an egg has been fertilized and implanted into the uterus. HCG levels double every 72 hours and peak between eight and 11 weeks gestation.

Cholesterol is a type of fat, or lipid, that naturally occurs in a child’s bloodstream and is produced primarily by the liver. Cholesterol levels in children can be influenced by a number of factors, including age, gender, ethnicity and a child's diet.

Exercising and having a normal weight can lower blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic, but many patients wishing to lower their high blood pressure, or hypertension, have turned to drugs for help. The alternatives are numerous.

Plaque is a hard substance that forms and grows inside arteries, causing blood vessels to become clogged and hardened. Arterial plaque formation often leads to heart attacks and strokes by slowly cutting off the blood supply to vital organs.

Poor dietary choices often lay the foundation for high blood pressure, a condition that about one out of three Americans develops. If you are sensitive to the sodium in salt, consuming too much of it raises your blood pressure.

Heart palpitations that develop after drinking beer is most likely a sign of anaphylaxis, a systematic allergic reaction that affects your entire body. Beer contains sulfites, grains and alcohol that can all trigger an allergic reaction. If your heart rate increases after drinking beer, call your doctor immediately.

Your resting heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute when it is at rest -- when you are calm and relaxed. Resting heart rate varies from person to person, but according to the American Heart Association, the normal range is 60 to 100 beats per minute.

Anemia and high blood pressure sometimes go hand in hand in people with kidney failure who are on dialysis. Dialysis, although necessary for a kidney patient's survival, carries certain complications. Healthy kidneys produce the hormone erythropoietin which stimulates the production of red blood cells.

Nutritional recommendations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Institute of Medicine are based on gender and age. As a 37-year-old woman, your nutritional needs are different from men your age and women of other age groups.

Gas pains are a normal occurrence. Although such disturbances are not life-threatening, they can be painful, annoying and disruptive to your daily routines. There are several possible causes of gas pains occurring in the chest, including irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, a bad diet or cardiovascular disease.

Congenital diseases refer to diseases that are present at birth. Sometimes, the congenital condition affects a certain body part or is an inherited condition that affects growth and development.

A doctor who specializes in issues of the heart is called a cardiologist. According to the American College of Cardiology, cardiologists are trained to find, treat and help prevent diseases that attack the blood vessels and the heart.