What does blood type mean? Blood type determines who you can donate blood to and who you can receive it from. You must have heard about the terms “blood group” or “blood type.” If you ever have undergone surgery or been admitted to a hospital for medical conditions, your doctor might have examined your blood for various parameters, such as...
What Are the Causes of High Cholesterol?
What are the common causes of high cholesterol? Factors that may increase bad cholesterol in the body Below are few common factors that may increase bad cholesterol in the body: Hereditary: Cholesterol or heart diseases may run in the family and is usually inherited. Comorbid diseases: Diabetes, liver diseases, and kidney and thyroid diseases Smoking cigarettes or passive smoking: Cigarette...
What Are the Stages of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia?
What is staging? Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Staging is the process used to find out whether and how far cancer has spread in the body. Doctors can determine how advanced or serious a cancer is in terms of the size and its metastasis through staging. It is important to know the stage...
What Are the Benefits of Nettle?
Benefits of nettle Nettle is a plant best known for the sting of its leaves. Nettle is a plant best known for the sting of its leaves. The root of this plant has been used to improve urine flow, ease swelling in the joints, and aid blood glucose control. It can be applied as a cream or oil. Nettle can...
What Are the Signs of Salivary Gland Cancers?
Salivary gland tumors are abnormal growths of cells in the salivary glands. The salivary glands produce saliva that is important to lubricate the oral cavity, help with swallowing, digest food, and protect the teeth from bacteria. There are three major pairs of salivary glands are: Parotid glands are present on both sides of the insides of the cheeks Submandibular glands...
What Are the Four Stages of Osteoarthritis?
What is osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis (OA), or degenerative joint disease, has four stages. The higher the grade indicates more severe signs of OA and the need for surgery. Osteoarthritis (OA), also called "wear and tear" arthritis or degenerative joint disease, is a common joint disease affecting over 32.5 million US adults. The joints affected with OA are painful—sometimes swollen and sometimes...
What Are the Types of Breast Implants?
What are the types of breast implants? Breast implants are devices designed to augment the size of a woman's breasts. The different types of breast implants include saline, silicone, round, textured, gummy bear and smooth. Breast implants are U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved devices that are fitted into your breasts to enhance the look, shape and feel of your...
What Are the Natural Contraception Methods?
What is contraception? Birth control pills regulate hormones to prevent pregnancy, but behavioral methods rely on timing and changes to sexual behavior. Contraception, commonly known as birth control, is the adoption of preventive measures to avoid pregnancy. Contraception techniques prevent the sperm from fertilizing the egg (ovum) and forming a fetus in the uterus. So-called “natural” methods rely on behavioral...
What Are Some Uncommon Signs of Early Pregnancy (Week 1)?
The first week of the pregnancy is when the egg has been released from the ovum The first week of the pregnancy is when the egg has been released from the ovum, the egg then combines with sperm and conception occurs. Progesterone and estrogen hormones, which are a part of the normal menstrual cycle, rise dramatically. A new hormone called...
Valley Fever Diagnosis, Treatment & Symptoms
Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) facts Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) is a disease caused by a fungus, Coccidioides, which lives in the soil of relatively arid regions (southwest U.S.); its incidence is increasing. People are infected by inhaling dust contaminated with Coccidioides; the fungus is not transmitted from person to person. Although most people infected with Coccidioides have no symptoms, if symptoms develop,...