Sugar Editorial Picks
Feb 05, 2007 -
If you are a surfer in your heart and soul, nothing can compare to the freedom of gliding over ocean waves, with nothing but a board between you.
But in the winter, your only option is to snowboard, but the feeling of being locked into bindings that are attached to a board, isn't much like surfing at all. Until now.
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Other Search Results
Sep 04, 2008 -
Overview
- Definition
- Alternative Names
- How the test is performed
- How to prepare for the test
- How the test will feel
- Why the test is performed
- Normal Values
- What abnormal results mean
- What the risks are
- Special considerations
- References
Illustrations
Blood test
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Definition
Total iron binding capacity (TIBC) is a blood test that shows if there is too much or too little iron in the blood. This test helps measure the ability of a protein called transferrin to carry iron in the blood.
Alternative Names
TIBC
How the test is performed
Blood is drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand.
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Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Cholesterol's Effect on the...
- Cholesterol's Effect on the...
- Risk Factors
- Symptoms
- Diagnosis
- Lifestyle Changes
- Treatment
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
New Guidelines for Children and Adolescents
In 2007, the American Heart Association (AHA) established new guidelines for assessing and treating high cholesterol in children and adolescents. According to the AHA’s scientific statement:
- LDL (“bad") cholesterol goals for children should be 190 mg/dL or less for children without heart disease risk factors and 160 mg/dL or less for children with heart disease risk factors.
- Children who are overweight or obese, as well as those with a family history of high cholesterol and heart disease, should get their cholesterol levels checked.
- For overweight and obese children with cholesterol imbalances, diet changes and exercise should be tried before drug treatment. For children with cholesterol imbalances who have a family history of cholesterol and heart problems, statins are the best first-line drug therapy.
Herbs and Supplements
- Garlic, whether raw or in supplement form, does not help lower LDL in patients with moderately high LDL levels, according to a 2007 Archives of Internal Medicine Study.
- Policosanol, a dietary supplement derived from sugar cane, has no effect on cholesterol, indicates a 2006 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study.
Diet Plans
- In a 2007 JAMA comparison study of four diet plans (Atkins, Ornish, Zone, and LEARN), the low-carbohydrate Atkins diet was best at raising HDL (“good cholesterol”) levels and lowering triglyceride levels, but did not affect LDL levels.
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Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Causes
- Risk Factors
- Symptoms
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Medications
- Other Treatments
- Complications
- Prevention
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
New Research:
- Patients who have the most common type of gastric bypass surgery, the Roux-en-Y, are at increased risk for kidney stones, beginning 6 months after surgery, according to a study published in 2006.
Causes of Kidney Stones:
- Calcium stones form when there is an imbalance in the urine substances that promote and block the formation of stones. Often, the cause of this imbalance is unknown.
- Having acidic urine or too much uric acid in the body leads to the formation of uric acid stones.
- Struvite stones are almost always caused by urinary tract infections due to bacteria that produce certain enzymes.
- Other stones, including cystine and xanthine stones, are usually due to genetic abnormalities.
Treatments:
- In about 85% of patients, the kidney stones are small enough that they pass through normal urination, usually within 2 - 3 days.
- Certain medications can prevent recurrence of stones in people who are at high risk.
- Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a technique that uses sound waves (ultrasound) to break up simple stones in the kidney or upper urinary tract. The shock waves are delivered from outside the body.
- Surgery may be necessary if the stone or stones are too big to pass, and cannot be broken down through ESWL.
- A change of diet and increased drinking of fluids, especially water, will help prevent a recurrence.
Introduction
Kidney stones are hard, solid rocks that form in the urinary tract.
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May 22, 2009 -
Calcium does the body good. Not only does it build strong bones and teeth, it aids with muscle function and helps keep your heart beating regularly. While there are plenty of food sources for this bone-building mineral other than dairy, I am not sure I have been meeting the recommended daily intake (RDI) of 1,000 milligrams.
- 3 Comments
May 20, 2009 -
We eat for our health and to feed our our bones, blood, and bowels, but some nutrients just don't play well with others. Take calcium and iron for instance. Calcium can reduce your ability to absorb iron by as much as 50 percent.
- 2 Comments
Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Causes
- Risk Factors
- Complications
- Symptoms
- Diagnosis
- Dietary Factors
- Treatment
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
FDA Issues Labeling Changes for Drugs That Boost Red Blood Cells
In November 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made several changes to the prescribing labels for erythropoiesis-stimulating drugs. These drugs -- epoietin alfa (Epogen, Procrit) and darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp) -- increase the production of red blood cells.
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Jan 23, 2009 -
Wouldn't it be great if our bodies really were like clockwork and our digestive systems stayed regular no matter what? Unfortunately, that's not how it works because stress, traveling, and diet changes can cause constipation. Eating enough fiber (25 to 30 grams a day), drinking plenty of water, and exercising can help keep you regular, but eating certain foods and drugs can get in the way.
- 15 Comments
Apr 14, 2009 -
While I love a massage, I have found the relaxing strokes of Swedish massages just don't penetrate the deep kinks that accompany overuse injuries from serious training. That is why I appreciate the targeted technique of active release therapy (ART). It is like no other therapeutic technique I've tried when it comes to healing a chronic injury.
- 3 Comments
Oct 08, 2008 -
In This Report
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Causes
- Symptoms
- Diagnosis
- Risk Factors
- Complications
- Treatment
- Resources
- References
HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M
Highlights
Congenital Hypothyroidism and Maternal Hyperthyroidism
Thyroid-lowering medications used for treating Graves’ disease, the most common cause of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), can cause babies to be born with hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Research presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Thyroid Association suggests that hyperthyroidism can be effectively managed during pregnancy without causing newborn hypothyroidism. The researchers suggest that:
- Pregnant women with Graves’ disease should take the lowest possible dose of their thyroid medication
- It is safe for women with Graves’ disease to maintain thyroid levels in the upper-normal range while pregnant
Low-Normal Thyroid and Metabolic Syndrome
- Thyroid levels in the low-normal range may increase the risk of unhealthy cholesterol levels, high blood sugar, and abdominal obesity -- indicators of metabolic syndrome -- according to a 2006 study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
- Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions, (including abdominal obesity, high blood sugar, and unhealthy cholesterol levels), which increases the risk for heart disease.
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