MCH and MCHC are two closely related blood test results that indicate how much hemoglobin you have. Low MCH or MCHC means that the amount of hemoglobin in your red blood cells is below normal. A low hemoglobin can be caused by not enough iron in your diet.
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The deep red color of some beets can show up in your urine if you eat them, and might make you think you have blood in your urine. This is particularly alarming for people who use blood-thinning medication, as bleeding is one of the risks of such a drug.
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Parents have different styles, from the permissive parent who allows pretty much any kind of behavior to the overly strict parent who lays down rules about everything.
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Low back pain may be due to tightness in muscles. Get more active and stretch for a simple solution.
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Anyone who has tried to lose weight knows how difficult it is to eat a meal without going overboard. Luckily, there are a few ways to curb your food cravings.
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Kidney stones, hard deposits of minerals and acid salts that form inside the kidneys, can be very painful. Several things can cause kidney stones, including over-concentration of the urine, metabolic or genetic disorders, and infections.
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When you cut yourself or scrape the skin, the blood will flow freely at first, then slow and begin the process of forming a clot. Eventually the injury will scar over and heal. Large, deep cuts that lose blood easily or injuries to arteries can be very dangerous.
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Tracking your menstrual cycle can be important for a number of reasons. These include determining your normal pattern, which can help you identify changes that could signal a problem.
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Iron is a very important mineral. Red blood cells in the body contain hemoglobin, a protein that transports oxygen to the cells. Myoglobin performs a similar function for muscle cells. Both hemoglobin and myoglobin contain iron, although most of the iron in the body is found in hemoglobin.
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The wrist is a complex joint made up of eight bones, plus the radius and ulna, the two bones in the forearm. "Broken wrist" can refer to a fracture of any, some or all of these bones.
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The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is one of the four main ligaments that support the knee. The ACL crosses the front of the knee diagonally, and provides support during rotation as well as keeping the tibia from sliding in front of the femur.
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Many people ingest caffeine on a daily basis, whether through coffee, tea or soft drinks. Energy drinks, chocolate and some medications may also be sources of caffeine. While this habit may not create any problems for most people, caffeine can have an impact on your blood pressure.
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Your metabolism, temperature, heart action and digestion are all controlled by the sympathetic nervous system, or SNS, and the parasympathetic nervous system. Ideally, these two systems are balanced, but either system can become overactive and cause problems.
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Diazepam belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. Commonly used for the relief of anxiety and in alcohol withdrawal, diazepam is also used to treat some seizure disorders, help relax muscles and relieve muscle spasms. Benzodiazepines are central nervous system depressants; they slow down the nervous system.
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Magnesium plays a crucial role in maintaining nerve function and preventing peripheral neuropathy. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for this condition.
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Burning when you urinate can range from annoying to truly painful. The medical term for burning on urination is dysuria. Although dysuria is a symptom rather than a disease, it is not something you should ignore, as several potentially serious conditions could cause dysuria.
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At first glance, there may seem to be no connection between thyroid disease and lactose intolerance. Thyroid disease is an immune system disorder; the body mistakenly recognizes a gland or tissue such as the thyroid as an “enemy” and attacks, either destroying the gland or causing it to malfunction.
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Diverticulitis occurs when small pouches in your intestines called diverticula become infected or inflamed. Diverticula most commonly occur in the large intestine or colon. Weak spots in the wall of the colon give way under pressure and small pouches protrude through the colon wall.
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Your urinary tract consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Urine is manufactured in the kidneys and drains down the ureters to the bladder, where it is stored temporarily. When you urinate, urine passes from the bladder through the urethra to the outside.
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Bronchitis is the medical term for a chest cold. Viral infections are the most common cause of acute bronchitis. Dr. Alan Greene, pediatrician and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University, notes that research indicates cold air in and of itself does not cause colds or bronchitis.
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