Your kidneys filter out waste products from your blood and excrete them in the form of urine. Urine often has a yellow color, due to the presence of a compound called urochrome, which is produced when your red blood cells break down. Many things can alter the color of your urine, including vitamins.
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The coronary arteries are responsible for providing blood to the heart. If the arteries become narrowed or blocked, patients may require bypass surgery, which replaces the diseased artery with a graft. A triple bypass surgery involves bypassing three coronary arteries.
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Fluoxetine (Prozac) is a member of the class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are often used to treat mood disorders such as depression. If you stop taking fluoxetine, you may develop "withdrawal" symptoms, more appropriately called "SSRI discontinuation syndrome."
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Having high cholesterol and high blood pressure increases your risk of developing cardiovascular problems, including atherosclerosis, a stroke and a heart attack. There are some over-the-counter medications and supplements you can take to help lower your cholesterol, blood pressure or both.
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The only birth control patch that is marketed in the United States is the Ortho Evra patch, though most methods of hormonal birth control work in a similar way. The Ortho Evra patch is a method of hormonal contraception, similar to "the pill."
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A bone scan is a radiologic technique in which a small amount of a radioactive chemical, also known as a tracer, is injected into the veins. This tracer is used to help visualize how fast bones are being broken down and reformed.
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Your A1C levels are a commonly used indicator for diabetes control. Hemoglobin is the protein that allows red blood cells to transport oxygen. Glucose reacts with hemoglobin to form A1C; the higher your blood glucose levels, the more hemoglobin A1C you will have.
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The shoulder is a complex joint with multiple tendons and muscles surrounding it. Diagnosis of muscle and tendon tears within the shoulder requires tests that allow visualization inside the joint. Arthrograms and MRI scans are different tests that can be used to detect damage to the rotator cuff.
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Although some changes in vision may be a natural part of aging, blurred vision may be a sign of an underlying eye disease. One cause of deteriorating vision is a condition called macular degeneration.
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Most foods that are safe for adults are also safe for children. Edamame, which is simply young soybeans, provides many nutrients and is generally safe for kids. It is important to prepare it properly, however, to avoid choking, and the amount of soy children eat each day should be limited.
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The first step for the formation of glucose from photosynthesis is the absorption of light. According to Estrella Mountain Community College's website, when sunlight hits an organism that can perform photosynthesis (such as a plant), one of three things can happen.
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Eat a bowl of cereal or a piece of fruit and your body will convert the carbohydrates in your meal to glucose--the form of sugar cells in the body rely on for quick energy. Glucose circulates through the blood stream, powering your muscles, organs, and brain. But how exactly does your body use glucose?
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The short answer to the question is no. Hot flashes typically occur shortly before menopause and may continue for the first two or so years after menopause. Although it is not exactly known what causes hot flashes, according to the Mayo Clinic it is believed to be linked to low estrogen levels.
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Trazodone is an antidepressant that acts primarily by increasing brain levels of serotonin, a chemical that regulates mood. Trazodone is a generally safe medication, but it has several potential side effects that can be dangerous.
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Cells within the stomach, known as the parietal cells, are responsible for the production and secretion of gastric acid. This acid is critical for breaking down food and for activating enzymes which are needed for digestion.
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Cells in the human body require many compounds to survive. The main substances found in every cell are a combination of lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids and proteins.
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Pulse oximeters are devices that are used to indirectly measure the amount of oxygen in the blood by measuring a quantity known as oxygen saturation, or SpO2. SpO2 is a measurement of the percentage of hemoglobin molecules that are bound to oxygen.
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Although most prescription medications are safe for use, some patients have an abnormal immune system that reacts poorly with certain drugs.
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Tendons are bands of connective tissue that connect muscles to bones. The tendons in the ankle allow muscles in the leg (such as the calf muscles) to move the foot. Torn tendons are a common sports injury and, aside from being painful, can cause weakness or loss of function of some motions within the ankle.
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Tetanus shots are required to help prevent infections from a bacteria, which secretes a toxin that makes the muscles in the body tighten and lock. All infants and children should receive tetanus toxoid as part of their DTaP/Tdap vaccine series.
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