Medical Conditions

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) occurs when there is an abnormally low level of glucose in the blood. It may happen two to five hours after eating a meal (reactive type) or as a result of not...

The auscultatory method is a method of measuring blood pressure. Although newer methods are present, this method is considered a very accurate way of measuring blood pressure and is still,...

Taking blood pressure readings at the ankle, also known as blood pressure in the calf, is done when blood pressure cuffs are a poor fit for the size or shape of both arms and when blood pressure...

Varicose veins occur most often in the legs and feet. The veins in the legs must pump blood back to the heart, which requires it to pump the blood upward against gravity. To do this, the leg veins...

MELD, which stands for Model End-Stage Liver Disease, is a tool used to determine the degree of illness in patients waiting for liver transplant. The MELD scoring system, originally designed by...

Low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia or low blood glucose, is a condition in which the sugar in your blood drops too low to sustain normal functioning. The condition can lead to both short-...

In many cases, knee pain can be a sign of damage, arthritis or wear and tear on the joint. However, leg pain can be a sign of a blood clot, which is often shrugged off as simple leg pain.

Central lines provide direct access into the blood stream. Specific conditions may require placement of these lines, and they can remain in place for long-term use. Care must be taken with the...

Insulin resistance is a characterized by your body's inability to properly use insulin, a substance created and released from your pancreas to enable your body's cells to utilize glucose. It is...

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a group of conditions caused by damaged blood cells inside bone marrow. It causes a low blood cell count. In the early stages of myelodysplastic syndromes you...

The adrenal gland is a part of the human endocrine system. It produces vital hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline that people need to respond to stress and everyday living. Without the two...

Adrenal gland dysfunction occurs when adrenal glands do not make enough of the hormones cortisol, aldosterone or adrenocortioctropin (ACTH). It is the result of damage to the adrenal cortex which...

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of disorders in which blood cells inside bone marrow don't form properly or are dysfunctional. MDS can progress to acute myeloid leukemia. There is no...

Varicose veins can be an unsightly and potentially embarrassing condition. They are something that most of us will have to deal with as we age. While varicose veins do not pose a health risk, they...

Every man will experience some type of erectile problem at some point in his life. Intermittent problems are fairly normal, but persistent problems are a cause for concern. According to the Mayo...

Blocked penile veins result in abnormal blood flow into and out of the penis. As a result, blood often becomes trapped in the penis, resulting in veno-occlusive priapism. This is a condition of a...

DVT, or deep vein thrombosis, is a condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the deep veins in your body. It most often occurs in the leg. This condition can cause serious...

DVT, or deep vein thrombosis, refers to blood clot formation in a deep vein, usually in the calf or thigh. You may be at risk for DVT if you have surgery, especially if the procedure is on your...

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a medical condition in which a blood clot (thickened blood clumps) forms in veins that run deep into your body muscles and connect with the vena cava, your body's...

Ischemic colitis is an intestinal disorder that causes pain and inflammation in your colon due to a lack of blood flow, according to the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, abdominal...

Iron is a metal that is essential to the body's health. Cells need iron for basic life-sustaining functions like the transport of oxygen and DNA synthesis. However, unlike other nutritional...

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic and painful condition that usually affects legs and arms. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common circulatory condition in which blood flow...

Iron overload, medically known as hemochromatosis, is an inherited condition in which your body contains too much iron. According to the Mayo Clinic, your body is unable to break down the iron, so...

Myelodysplastic syndrome occurs when there is something abnormal about the body's bone marrow. This condition is caused by a number of different factors.

A hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin, or HCG, is produced in many situations but mainly during pregnancy. HCG is present in the blood of a woman at all times, but during pregnancy the...

Potassium is an electrolyte in the body that helps maintain its balance. When its blood levels are too high, problems may occur. According to Medline Plus, a high level of blood potassium...

A glucose serum test determines the amount of sugar in your blood. A low glucose serum level can be a sign of a condition called hypoglycemia.

Signs of poor blood circulation to limbs include pain in the arms and legs, sore or swollen feet and legs and low temperatures in the extremities. Without care, poor blood circulation can cause...

Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States. A stroke occurs when there is a blockage of blood flow to the brain. Often a stroke is the result of a blood clot. A stroke can...

Anemia is a common blood disorder in which there aren't enough red blood cells or the oxygen-carrying protein known as hemoglobin. This causes problems with blood getting oxygen to tissues. Two...

Elbow pain may be caused by overuse, arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, nerve damage, injury, infection or tumor. Pain may be severe, and you may experience limitation in movement. Your pain may...

Blood in the stool during weight loss can be a frightening thing to witness. Blood may be bright red or old blood may be brown or even black if the blood is coming from the upper quadrant of the...

Treatment is often sought by men who experience erectile dysfunction (ED), or the inability to have or maintain an erection for a period long enough to allow for sex. Methods of treatment vary,...

Diastolic pressure is the bottom number of your blood pressure reading and indicates your blood pressure when your heart is at rest between beats. A diastolic number below 60 can indicate low...

The blood-pressure cup releases and the reading shows a slightly elevated blood pressure. The other arm shows a blood pressure higher than the first. Images of heart attacks, blood clots and all...

Erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is the inability to get and keep an erection in order to perform sexual intercourse. Antihypertensives, also known as blood pressure medications,...

An abnormal decrease in white blood cells in your blood is called leukopenia. White blood cells (or leukocytes) play a major role in fighting disease and illness.

Venous insufficiency occurs when your veins are unable to circulate blood properly. This condition often goes hand in hand with varicose veins, which are large, twisted veins that most commonly...

Triglycerides are a type of fat. The body converts excess calories into triglycerides that are used for energy between meals. High blood triglyceride levels develop when people consistently...

A nose bleed happens when you lose blood from tissue that lines your nose. Bleeding usually occurs from one side only, however, bleeding from both nostrils is not unusual. Most nose bleeds occur...

Uroxatral is a drug used for enlarged prostates. It is primarily used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Uroxatral is in the drug grouping of alpha-adrenergic blockers. These...

Jaundice is caused by an excess of bilirubin, a yellow-orange pigment in the blood resulting from the normal breakdown of hemoglobin in red blood cells. The more the disintegration of red blood...

Once the heart stops beating, it no longer pumps blood and oxygen. Cells begin to die, and the body cools and stiffens. Decomposition begins, and the rate of decomposition depends on the...

Compression therapy is beneficial for reducing edema (swelling) and varicose veins. Compression therapy involves wearing a compression garment, usually throughout the day. Compression therapy is...

Spider veins are related to varicose veins, or veins that become swollen and twisted due to weak or damaged vein valves. The damaged valves cause blood flowing back to the heart to back up and...

Sildenafil citrate has two medical uses: it is marketed as Viagra to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), or impotence, in men and as Revatio to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (high blood...

Complete blood count (CBC) is actually a set of tests used to evaluate general health, as well as to aid in diagnosing a number of disorders such as anemia, infection and leukemia. In order to...

According to the American Liver Foundation, more than 25 million people in the United States suffer from liver, bile duct or gallbladder diseases. The liver, the body's largest organ, is...

Ischemic foot means that not enough blood is flowing through the arteries from the heart to the foot. The ischemic foot pain occurs because the foot is not receiving enough oxygen and nutrients.

Many people grow up hearing that they should drink their milk, because calcium helps strengthen bones and teeth. This is true, but the nutrient also plays a role in metabolic function within the...