Disease Guide: Diagnosis, Symptoms & Clinical Treatment Protocols

For patients and caregivers, understanding clinical progression, diagnostic imaging results, and pharmacological treatment options is vital for managing acute and chronic health conditions.

Man Reading Nutrition Label

Lactose Intolerance & Probiotics

Probiotics are bacterial species that don't cause infection in humans, but instead provide some sort of benefit to the digestive tract or other organ systems.

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Possible Side Effects of Dextrose

Dextrose is a common name for the ubiquitous sugar molecule, glucose. In nature, dextrose is exceedingly common. Starch, as in rice and potatoes, is made up of long chains of dextrose, while table sugar contains dextrose chemically bonded to fructose, another sugar molecule.

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ciabatta panini sandwich with chicken and tomato

Sodium Nitrate Consumption During Pregnancy

You probably know you need to avoid certain foods during pregnancy. Alcohol is off limits, and most obstetricians recommend that you limit caffeine. Because of bacterial contamination, it's important to avoid undercooked or raw meats.

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pregnant woman

Digestive Enzymes & Pregnancy

Digestive upset, constipation, acid reflux and other gastrointestinal complaints are common during pregnancy. If you're pregnant and experience any of these symptoms, you might find yourself wondering if supplemental digestive enzymes could help alleviate your discomfort.

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Stomach Pains After Eating During Pregnancy

Pregnancy comes with a host of discomforts--women often have morning sickness starting a few weeks after conception, and continue with back pain, heartburn, uterine pain, and a variety of other symptoms.

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How to Alternate Advil and Tylenol for a Child's Fever

Fevers, while not typically dangerous in their own right, can make children uncomfortable. If you have a child with a fever -- whether it's because of an illness or is a normal response to vaccination -- you may wish to give antipyretic, or fever-reducing, medication.

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Fish Oil Capsules

What Vitamins Clear Away Plaque in the Arteries?

The typical American diet, which is high in animal-based and processed fats, contributes to a buildup of plaque in the arteries. If you have -- or suspect you have -- buildup of arterial plaque, you should take steps to try to clear it away. Certain vitamins may help a bit, but other measures are more effective.

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Backache

A Pulled Back Muscle During Pregnancy

The muscles of the back are surprisingly strong but are meant largely to engage in continuous, low-intensity efforts. Requiring them to move quickly or contract strongly, as they must to lift a very heavy weight, can pull them, leading to painful aching and spasms.

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Multi-ethnic couple eating from same fork

Macromolecules in the Human Digestive System

When you eat food, you take in large molecules called macromolecules that are made up of building blocks that you can absorb into the bloodstream, and that your cells can burn for energy. Your digestive tract breaks down these macromolecules to liberate their building blocks so that the small intestine can absorb them.

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Piece of sugar

Adrenaline & Glucose

Glucose, commonly called blood sugar, is one of the most ubiquitous of biomolecules in nature. Humans ingest glucose in several forms and use the molecule to provide energy to cells. Table sugar and starch are both sources of glucose.

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A Sour Stomach During Pregnancy

Pregnancy has many different physical effects on women; in addition to adjusting to the increased weight of a growing baby, their bodies also change in other significant ways. Blood volume increases, and the heart works harder to distribute blood. Hormone levels change.

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Papaya Enzyme and Stomach Ulcers

Papaya contains an enzyme, called papain, which is commonly sold as a dietary supplement. Some sources say papain can prevent or cure a variety of conditions, including gastric reflux, stomach ulcers and arthritis.

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Close-up of a woman eating peas with a fork

Digestion of Peas

Peas, in addition to containing vitamins and minerals, are healthy sources of vegetarian protein. They also contain plenty of complex carbohydrate, fiber and a small amount of fat.

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Merkel To Testify At Biblis Commission

Gamma Radiation Effects

Gamma radiation is a form of nuclear radiation produced by certain radioactive elements as they decay. In particular, gamma radiation is ionizing radiation, meaning that it is sufficiently energetic to break bonds in genetic material, structural components of cells and other biological molecules.

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Blood sugar test

Side Effects of a Glucose Drink

Insulin-dependent diabetics can find themselves low on blood sugar if they overdose on insulin or go too long without eating. This is very dangerous to the brain, and quickly leads to coma. Such individuals commonly use glucose drinks to significant benefit and with essentially no side effects.

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pills

What Is Tricalcium Phosphate?

Tricalcium phosphate is one of many different calcium salts found in dietary supplements. You can take tricalcium phosphate to supplement your daily calcium needs if you are concerned that you're not getting enough calcium from food sources alone.

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Knee Pain & Pregnancy

As anyone who has ever been pregnant, or has known a pregnant woman, knows quite well, pregnancy can put a great deal of stress on a woman's body. Not only does her weight increase--sometimes dramatically--but her center of gravity shifts. Further, her joints soften in preparation for delivering a baby.

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red blood cells,activated platelet and white blood cells

What Cells Produce Antibodies?

Antibodies are protein molecules that attach themselves to invading pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, marking those pathogens for destruction by other components of the immune system.

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In the bathroom

HCG & Diarrhea

Early in pregnancy, the odds are in favor of you experiencing a number of uncomfortable symptoms, many of which are gastrointestinal in nature. In addition to the classic morning sickness, diarrhea isn't uncommon. In very early pregnancy, it's probably due to your increasing hormone levels -- including levels of hCG.

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