Insulin is a hormone which helps the body lower the amount of glucose in the blood. If you have diabetes, you either do not produce enough insulin or you do not respond properly to it. You can make it easier to manage diabetes by following a careful diet plan, which can include limiting the amount of sugar you eat.
Read more →
Toenails are made up of a protein called keratin. This protein works to cover and protect the sensitive skin of the nail bed. Sometimes, when the nail becomes injured, it detaches from the nail bed and turns black. Home removal of a toenail should only be done in this case.
Read more →
Chemotherapy attacks cells that divide rapidly. Although this primarily affects cancer cells, healthy human cells, including those in the digestive tract, are also affected. Probiotics are supplements that boost the levels of beneficial microorganisms in the digestive tract.
Read more →
Pap smears are often performed as part of a routine gynecological examination. This screening test allows gynecologists to detect abnormal cells that can be indicative of cervical cancer or cervical dysplasia, which is a precancerous condition.
Read more →
Liver cirrhosis can be the result of certain viral infections (such as the hepatitis viruses) or due to the ingestion of toxins (including large amounts of alcohol). When the liver becomes heavily damaged, it can stop making certain proteins, including the blood protein albumin.
Read more →
Asthma is a condition caused by an overactive immune system. In persons with asthma, the immune system causes inflammation of the airway (the bronchioles), leading to bronchitis. Asthma can be triggered by a number of things, including stress, cold air, exercise and allergies.
Read more →
If you have high cholesterol, one thing commonly recommended by doctors is to lose weight. But if you are underweight or are trying to gain muscle mass, this may not be the best plan. Fortunately, there are other ways to lower your cholesterol without losing weight.
Read more →
The earliest symptoms of an HIV infection typically occur between two to four weeks after the initial infection. This is because it takes time for the virus to infect enough cells to begin spreading throughout the body and affect your health.
Read more →
Blisters are a common ailment of the hands, which can be a result of friction-related damage, or burns. It is important to try to keep the skin over a blister intact, as this will help prevent infection and further skin damage.
Read more →
Three-vessel coronary disease describes problems with three different coronary arteries. The coronary arteries are essential because they supply blood to the heart; problems with these arteries can disrupt blood flow to the heart, which can be dangerous.
Read more →
Chemical peels are a common type of beauty treatment that can be used to treat age spots, some scars and other areas of unusual pigmentation on the skin. Chemical peels work by mildly burning the skin, using acid, to help with pigmentation problems.
Read more →
As the Merck Manuals explain, the body is able to control blood pressure by expanding and constricting blood vessels. This allows the body to raise blood pressure when it is low and also allows the body to regulate the amount of blood that gets to tissues at any given time.
Read more →
DMSO, also known as dimethyl sulfoxide, is a powerful solvent that is also able to penetrate through all tissues except for nails, hair and tooth enamel.
Read more →
High blood pressure puts patients at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Chronically elevated blood pressure allows cholesterol to accumulate in the arteries, resulting in atherosclerosis; it also makes the heart work harder to pump blood, resulting in a greater chance of heart failure.
Read more →
Beta blockers are a type of medication that is commonly used to treat high blood pressure and have an added benefit of sometimes protecting against heart disease. Beta blockers work by blocking the signal that the brain uses to make the heart beat faster.
Read more →
Food allergies are common with certain foods, such as peanuts, milk and eggs, but virtually any food has the potential to cause an allergic reaction.
Read more →
The term "estrogen" actually describes several different related hormones. These estrogens are estrone (predominant form during menopause), estriol (primary estrogen during pregnancy), and estradiol (which is the most common form of estrogen in non-pregnant women between puberty and menopause).
Read more →
Most birth control pills contain estrogen, which disrupts the female body's hormonal cycle. When present in low levels, estrogen prevents the body from making two different hormones, called follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone.
Read more →
Emergency contraception has the ability to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or when normal contraceptive methods fail. Utilizing this method does not interfere with birth control pills.
Read more →
Safety 1st manufactures a variety of products for infants and their parents. Part of its product line includes items for child care, including thermometers. Some of its thermometers are designed to obtain temperature readings from the ear canal.
Read more →