Tag: Dr David Howdijam (MD)

Cirrhosis is severe scarring of the liver caused by chronic liver disease. As healthy liver tissue is damaged over a long period of time, it is replaced by scar tissue, affecting the structure of the liver and decreasing its ability to function. Cirrhosis is seen with a variety of chronic liver diseases and may take years to develop
The liver is a vital organ located in the upper right-side of the abdomen. Among other functions, it helps convert nutrients from food into essential blood components, produces many of the factors necessary for normal blood clotting, metabolises and detoxifies substances that would otherwise be harmful to the body, and produces bile – a fluid necessary for digestion of fats.

The post Cirrhosis : Basics and laboratory diagnosis appeared first on The Sangai Express.

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Lipids are substances like cholesterol and triglycerides derived from fats. While lipids are necessary for the cells of the body, excess lipids deposit on the walls of the blood vessels and block the flow of blood. Lack of blood supply to vital organs like the heart and brain could result in serious complications like heart diseases and stroke. Due to sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet, increased cholesterol levels is a major health issue throughout the world.

The post Know your test: Lipid Profile appeared first on The Sangai Express.

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Uric acid is a natural substance produced in our body which has both good and bad side effects. Under normal concentrations, it is a very potent antioxidant which accounts for more than 50 percent of the antioxidant activity in our blood. When its levels are normal, it is beneficial. But when it is high, it precipitates into crystals and can be very harmful. In its crystal form, uric acid causes a lot of swelling or inflammation in the various tissues of the body.

The post Know your test: Uric acid appeared first on The Sangai Express.

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An arterial blood gas (ABG) test measures the acidity and the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood from the artery. This test is used to evaluate how well the lungs are able to move oxygen into the blood and to remove carbon dioxide from the blood. The oxygen and carbon dioxide levels of the blood and the pH balance of the blood can indicate the presence of certain medical conditions, such as cardiac, lung or kidney disorders and the presence of other critical conditions such as:

Read more / Original news source: http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/arterial-blood-gases-2/

In the early days of medicine, few medical tests existed that were done at the patient’s bedside. By the 1980s, with the advent of automated technologies, clinical laboratories could run large numbers of tests at low cost. It became common to send samples away to laboratories and then wait days to weeks for results.

The post Point-of-care testing – advantages and limitations appeared first on The Sangai Express.

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Kidney and gallstones represent a widely prevalent and costly health issue. The chemical composition of gallstones or kidney stones is essential to study the aetiopathogenesis of gallstone disease and to help identify the cause of the kidney stone and, where possible, to prevent the recurrence of more stones. Both health conditions are very common in this part of the country.

The post Kidney and gall stones analysis appeared first on The Sangai Express.

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