Doctor using digital tablet

Prednisone & LDL Cholesterol

Prednisone is a medication in the corticosteroid class of drugs. These medications can be used to treat a variety of different health problems. Taking high doses of prednisone or taking prednisone for a long period of time can cause side effects, including an increase in the amount of LDL cholesterol in your blood.

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Spilled basket of vegetables

Alkaline Diet for GERD

A sour taste in the back of your mouth or pain in your chest after eating can be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD. People with GERD can use medications for relief, but for many, changes in the diet can help ameliorate some or all of the symptoms.

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Yogurt with strawberry in bowl

Do Probiotics Worsen Bowel Symptoms?

Probiotic are supplements that are often taken to help treat problems with the digestive tract, such as diarrhea. Although probiotics are generally safe, they can cause some gastrointestinal symptoms, particularly if they are used improperly or in high doses.

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Vitamin D isolated

Does Vitamin D3 Cause Dizziness?

Vitamin D-3 is a form of vitamin D known as cholecalciferol. If you consume too much vitamin D-3 from supplements over time, you may develop high levels of calcium in your blood. Although this does not directly lead to dizziness, hypercalcemia can cause dehydration, resulting in dizziness.

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Mother feeding her baby boy.

Does a Nursing Mother's Fiber Intake Affect Her Baby?

Fiber is an important part of the diet and can help you maintain digestive health, as well as reduce the risk of heart disease. Although breastfeeding women need to follow a healthy diet, fiber has little effect on the nutrients in breast milk.

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Doctors examining x-rays

Symptoms of Thoracic Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis results when the bony canal through which the spinal cord courses becomes narrowed and compresses the spinal cord. Although spinal stenosis most commonly occurs in the neck and lower back regions, it uncommonly involves the thoracic spine in the upper and middle back.

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How to Use Alcohol to Clean Out Earwax

Over time, earwax buildup can cause pain, temporary hearing loss and even ringing in the ear (also known as tinnitus). In some cases the ear wax can become so thick that it is termed "impacted" and cannot be cleaned out using a cotton swab.

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Patient Hands With Glucometer

The Effect of Alcohol on Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance and diabetes are not the same thing, but these medical issues are closely related. With insulin resistance, the body stops responding normally to the hormone insulin. This leads to a buildup of blood sugar. If left unchecked, insulin resistance commonly leads to type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

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Furosemide & Potassium

Furosemide is used to treat high blood pressure, liver disease and fluid retention. This medication affects the composition of the urine and can lead to changes in the levels of electrolytes, including potassium.

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How Does the Cardiovascular System Work With the Respiratory System?

An understanding of how the respiratory and cardiovascular systems interact requires knowledge of how each of the systems function independently. The cardiovascular system in the human body is made up of the heart and blood vessels, which are divided into arteries, veins and capillaries.

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British doctor taking senior woman's blood pressure

How the Kidneys Work in Maintaining Blood Pressure

One way in which the kidneys maintain blood pressure is through the regulation of the volume of blood in the body. As the American Heart Association explains, one of the major roles of the kidneys is maintaining the proper levels of electrolytes (such as sodium and potassium) in the body.

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Close-up of saline bag and drip

How Is Enterococcus Faecalis Transmitted?

Enterococcus faecalis is a strain of bacteria that is known as a commensal organism in the intestines. This means that it is normally found in the intestine, particularly the large intestine, of most human beings.

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Pharmacist with pill bottle

Antibiotics for Urinary Tract Infections in Men

Urinary tract infections result when bacteria, such as Eschericia coli or the entrococci family of bacteria, get into the urinary tract. Urinary tract infections in males typically occur in older men, particularly men with prostate problems.

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Woman wearing an earring

Causes of Auditory Nerve Damage

The auditory nerve is responsible for transmitting sounds from the sensory portions of the ear to the brain. Damage to the auditory nerve can lead to a form of deafness called sensorineural hearing loss. Because this form of hearing loss is caused by nerve damage, it can be especially difficult to treat.

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Is Going to Bed on Full Stomach Unhealthy?

When you go to sleep or go into a reclining position, gravity no longer pulls everything in your abdomen straight down. If you have a full stomach, this can cause acid reflux, potentially resulting in long-term damage to your esophagus.

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How to Cure UTI Without Antibiotics

Urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria, such as E. coli, traveling up into the urethra and then gaining access to the rest of the urinary tract. Urinary tract infections are more common in women due to the proximity of the urethra to the anus and because they have smaller urethras.

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How to Take Acidophilus While Taking Antibiotics

Acidophilus supplements can help you prevent the diarrhea and other digestive problems that are associated with antibiotic use, notes MedlinePlus. The intestines naturally contain some non-infectious bacteria. In addition to aiding in digestion, these bacteria help crowd out other, more harmful bacteria.

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How Does Flomax Work for Kidney Stones?

Discover how Flomax works to provide relief from kidney stones, including its mechanism of action and effectiveness in managing symptoms. Learn about the treatment options and why it's a recommended solution for those suffering from kidney stone pain.

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Woman doing the spine twisting pose at fitness studio

How Does Scoliosis Affect the Body?

Although the spine has a natural curvature, it is not designed to have a side-to-side curve. Scoliosis is the result of the spine curving laterally to form an S-shape. This can disrupt the body's alignment and result in pain and deformities. This condition affects 2 to 3 percent of the population in the U.S.

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