For patients and caregivers, understanding clinical progression, diagnostic imaging results, and pharmacological treatment options is vital for managing acute and chronic health conditions.
Hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells, carries oxygen from your lungs through your bloodstream to all of your cells. Red blood cells are red because of hemoglobin.The amount of hemoglobin you need is based on age and gender. Men need between 14 and 18 gm/dL and women need 12 to 16 gm/dL.
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Your liver produces bile, which breaks down fats and aids in digestion, as well as removes toxins from your body. Every food you eat passes through the liver in some form.
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Trillions of bacteria live in your body. Most are part of the gut microbiota, the helpful intestinal bacteria and yeasts that provide a variety of benefits -- destroying disease-causing bugs, aiding in food digestion, producing vitamins and strengthening your immune system.
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Fatty liver disease is a build-up of fats, mainly triglycerides, in your liver, This common conditions is normally asymptomatic, but a few people may have slight abdominal pain or fatigue. Your doctor may discover that your liver is inflamed during a routine physical examination.
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Maintaining your body temperature is a function of your metabolism -- specifically your basal metabolic rate, or BMR. Your BMR is the amount of calories you burn at rest and can account for between 50 and 80 percent of all the energy you use.
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Candida albicans can cause a myriad of problems -- oral thrush, canker sores, skin rashes and even athlete's foot. Bacteria such as candida can thrive in dark moist areas such as locker rooms and inside your shoes.
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Your body uses potassium in digestion, metabolism, regulating muscle tissue and homeostasis -- balancing the chemical and electrical processes in your body. Excess potassium can lead to loss of muscle and nerve control, an irregular heart beat and cardiac arrest.
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There are two major types of protein in your blood -- albumin and globulin. The majority of blood serum protein is albumin, manufactured by your liver and used for healing, tissue growth and to prevent blood from leaking out of your blood vessels.
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Insulin is a hormone the pancreas produces that helps transport both glucose and triglycerides from the bloodstream into the cells. Glucose is the body's primary source of energy; every cell needs glucose.
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Toxins and free radicals can build up in your body, causing cellular damage and illness. Diet and exposure to environmental toxins can damage the mitochondria in your cells — vital microorganisms that help convert food to energy.
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Hershey's cocoa powder is sugar free and has a rich chocolate taste. Many brownies use both cocoa powder and melted chocolate for depth of flavor. Instead of sugar, you could use a sugar substitute such as Splenda, Equal, erythritol, which is a sugar alcohol, stevia or a combination of these choices.
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Obesity is a known risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The reasons for this are complex but include insulin resistance -- a problem with how the body responds to insulin, the hormone that normally helps metabolize blood sugar for energy.
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Although a sprinkle of cinnamon on your breakfast cereal may not be an effective tool for lowering glucose levels, cinnamon extract, taken in capsule form, might improve blood glucose levels.
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The camphor tree is a large evergreen that grows in Florida, California, South America and Asia and is widely known for its turpentine-like smell, traditionally used in making mothballs. Camphor oils and herbs must be used topically and can be toxic when ingested.
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Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that sits near your vocal cords and produces the T3 and T4 hormones that control your metabolism. To make these hormones, your body uses iodine -- about 80 percent of the iodine you consume is used by your thyroid.
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Fried foods affect your blood sugar because fat slows down digestion. When you eat simple carbohydrates, your body can quickly convert them into glucose and your blood sugar levels rise. Fried foods usually contain carbohydrates, but the fat slows digestion.
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A high-protein, low-carb diet can put your body into ketosis -- a state where your body is burning fat instead of glucose for energy. When you limit your carb intake, your body has to use stored fat for energy, which can be a short-term way to lose a few pounds.
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Excess cholesterol, fat and calcium can collect along the walls of your arteries, forming plaque and restricting blood flow. Called atherosclerosis, this narrowing and hardening of your arteries can lead to cardiovascular disease.
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The strain and dosage of probiotics you need to take while using antibiotics depends on the reason you're using probiotics. Common side effects of antibiotic usage include diarrhea and yeast infections caused by an overgrowth of Candida albicans.
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Yogurt contains live beneficial bacteria called probiotics that help digestion and boost the immune system. In addition, calcium strengthens the muscle in your lower esophagus, helping to prevent acid reflux. Dannon Activia yogurt contains probiotics and is a good source of calcium.
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