Health Article description.An arterial blood gases (ABG) test measures the acidity ( pH) and the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood from an artery. This test is used to find out how well your lungs are able to move oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide from the blood. As blood passes through your lungs, oxygen moves into...

Health Article description.A test for calcium in urine is a 24-hour test that checks the amount of calcium that is passed from the body in the urine. Calcium is the most common mineral in the body and one of the most important. The body needs it to build and fix bones and teeth, help nerves work, make muscles squeeze together, help blood clot...

Health Article description.COPD slowly damages the lungs and affects how you breathe. COPD's effect on breathing COPD makes it hard to breathe because air doesn't flow easily in and out of your lungs. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are two lung problems that are types of COPD. Chronic bronchitis. When you have chronic bronchitis, the airways...

Health Article description.Discusses cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) test that can help show if some types of cancer are present. Covers its use to check how well treatment for ovarian cancer is working or to see if ovarian cancer has returned. Covers possible test results.

Health Article description.Pathologists are medical doctors who specialize in the examination of tissue and blood samples to diagnose disease and who perform autopsies. Pathologists analyze and evaluate tissues removed from people by such procedures as surgery or biopsy. They also are in charge of the clinical laboratories that analyze blood and...

Health Article description.A sweat test, also called a sweat chloride test, measures the amount of chloride in sweat. It is done to help diagnose cystic fibrosis. Normally, sweat on the skin surface contains very little chloride. People with cystic fibrosis have a high level...

Health Article description.Discusses a test that checks urine for a protein called albumin. Covers possible kidney damage and diabetes. Explains how test is done. Discusses normal and abnormal values from the test. Covers what affects the test.

Health Article description.Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause sleep problems. A few examples of these medicines are: Antidepressants. Cold medicines. Steroid medicines. Nonprescription diet aids. Other substances Other substances that may cause sleep problems include: Alcohol. At first, drinking alcohol may cause...

Health Article description.An iron test checks the amount of iron in the blood. Iron (Fe) is a mineral needed for hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Iron is also needed for energy, good muscle, and organ function. About 70% of the body's iron is bound to hemoglobin in red blood cells. The rest is bound to other...

Health Article description.A progesterone test measures the amount of the hormone progesterone in a blood sample. Progesterone is a hormone produced by the ovaries during release of a mature egg from an ovary (ovulation). Progesterone helps prepare the lining of the uterus (endometrium) to receive the egg if it becomes fertilized by a sperm. If...

Health Article description.A follicle-stimulating hormone test measures the amount of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in a blood sample. FSH is produced by the pituitary gland. FSH helps control the menstrual cycle and the production of eggs by the ovaries. FSH also helps control the production of sperm. The amount of FSH varies throughout the...

Health Article description.Describes extremity X-rays, what they are, and why they are done. Provides tips on how to prepare. Also covers risks. Explains normal and abnormal results, as well as what can affect accuracy of tests.

Health Article description.An electromyogram (EMG) measures the electrical activity of muscles when they're at rest and when they're being used. Nerve conduction studies measure how well and how fast the nerves can send electrical signals. Nerves control the muscles in the body with electrical signals called impulses. These impulses make the...

Health Article description.Penile implants to treat erection problems (erectile dysfunction) are either noninflatable (malleable) or inflatable cylinders. They replace the spongy tissue (corpora cavernosum) inside the penis that fills with blood during an erection. The...

Health Article description.Make sure you know about each of the medicines you take. This includes why you take it, how to take it, what you can expect while you're taking it, and any warnings about the medicine. The information provided here is general. So be sure to read...

Health Article description.Recombinant zoster (shingles) vaccine can prevent shingles. Shingles (also called herpes zoster, or just zoster) is a painful skin rash, usually with blisters. In addition to the rash, shingles can cause fever, headache, chills, or upset stomach. Rarely, shingles can lead to complications...

Health Article description.The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) defines military sexual trauma (MST) as experiences of sexual assault or sexual harassment. These traumas occur when a person is in the military. The location, the genders of the people involved, and their relationship do not matter. Sexual harassment may include: A put-down...

Health Article description.Looks at homocysteine as a test to measure homocysteine in the blood. Covers how test is done and what results mean. Explains what could affect results.

Health Article description.A phosphate test measures the amount of phosphate in a blood sample. Phosphate is a charged particle (ion) that contains the mineral phosphorus. The body needs phosphorus to build and repair bones and teeth, help nerves function, and make muscles contract. Most (about 85%) of the phosphorus contained in phosphate is...

Health Article description.The blood uric acid test measures the amount of uric acid in a blood sample. Uric acid is produced from the natural breakdown of your body's cells and from the foods you eat. Most of the uric acid is filtered out by the kidneys and passes out of the body in urine. A small amount passes out of the body in stool. But if...