Oct 23rd, 2019 - Diagnosis Mild forms of von Willebrand disease can be difficult to diagnose because bleeding is common, and, for most people, doesn't indicate a disease. However, if your doctor suspects you have a bleeding disorder, he or she might refer you to a blood disorders specialist (hematologist). To evaluate you for von Willebrand disease, your doctor will likely ask you detailed questions about your ...

Oct 23rd, 2019 - Overview Von Willebrand disease is a lifelong bleeding disorder in which your blood doesn't clot well. People with the disease have low levels of von Willebrand factor, a protein that helps blood clot, or the protein doesn't perform as it should. Most people with the disease are born with it, having inherited it from one or both parents. However, warning signs, such as heavy bleeding after a de...

Oct 22nd, 2019 - Diagnosis Your doctor will base a diagnosis on the following: Medical history. Your doctor will ask about your signs and symptoms and review your medical history. Blood tests. A sample of your blood is analyzed to see whether you have elevated gastrin levels. While elevated gastrin may indicate tumors in your pancreas or duodenum, it also can be caused by other conditions. For example, gastrin ...

Oct 22nd, 2019 - Overview Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a rare condition in which one or more tumors form in your pancreas or the upper part of your small intestine (duodenum). These tumors, called gastrinomas, secrete large amounts of the hormone gastrin, which causes your stomach to produce too much acid. The excess acid then leads to peptic ulcers, as well as to diarrhea and other symptoms. Zollinger-Ellison...

Oct 17th, 2019 - Diagnosis To diagnose iron deficiency anemia, your doctor may run tests to look for: Red blood cell size and color. With iron deficiency anemia, red blood cells are smaller and paler in color than normal. Hematocrit. This is the percentage of your blood volume made up by red blood cells. Normal levels are generally between 35.5 and 44.9 percent for adult women and 38.3 to 48.6 percent for adult...

Oct 17th, 2019 - Overview Iron deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia — a condition in which blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's tissues. As the name implies, iron deficiency anemia is due to insufficient iron. Without enough iron, your body can't produce enough of a substance in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen (hemoglobin). As a resul...

Oct 9th, 2019 - Diagnosis If you've had episodes of blood clots or pregnancy loss that aren't explained by known health conditions, your doctor can schedule blood tests to check for abnormal clotting and for the presence of antibodies to phospholipids. To confirm a diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome, the antibodies must appear in your blood at least twice, in tests conducted 12 or more weeks apart. You can...

Oct 8th, 2019 - Overview Adrenal glands Adrenal glands Perched atop each of your kidneys, your adrenal glands produce hormones that help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure and other essential functions. Primary aldosteronism (al-DOS-tuh-ro-niz-um) is a hormonal disorder that leads to high blood pressure. It occurs when your adrenal glands produce too much of a hormone called aldosterone. Y...

Oct 8th, 2019 - Diagnosis Your doctor will talk to you first about your medical history and your signs and symptoms. You may undergo some of the following tests: Blood test. Tests can measure your blood levels of sodium, potassium, cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce its hormones. A blood test can also measure antibodies associated with autoimmune Add...

Oct 8th, 2019 - Diagnosis Colonoscopy Colonoscopy During a colonoscopy, the doctor inserts a colonoscope into your rectum to check for abnormalities in your entire colon. Rectal cancer is often diagnosed when a doctor orders tests to find the cause of rectal bleeding or iron deficiency anemia. A colonoscopy is the most accurate of these tests. In a colonoscopy, a doctor uses a thin, flexible, lighted tube with...

Oct 8th, 2019 - Diagnosis Diagnosing whooping cough in its early stages can be difficult because the signs and symptoms resemble those of other common respiratory illnesses, such as a cold, the flu or bronchitis. Sometimes, doctors can diagnose whooping cough simply by asking about symptoms and listening to the cough. Medical tests may be needed to confirm the diagnosis. Such tests may include: A nose or throa...

Oct 3rd, 2019 - Diagnosis In general, your doctor may test for Hashimoto's disease if you're feeling increasingly tired or sluggish, have dry skin, constipation, and a hoarse voice, or have had previous thyroid problems or a goiter. Diagnosis of Hashimoto's disease is based on your signs and symptoms and the results of blood tests that measure levels of thyroid hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) pro...

Sep 23rd, 2019 - Diagnosis To diagnose a problem with sweating and body odor, your doctor will likely ask about your medical history and do an exam. The doctor may test your blood or urine. The tests can show if your problem is caused by a medical condition, such as an infection, diabetes or an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). More Information Urinalysis Treatment If you're concerned about sweating and bod...

Sep 18th, 2019 - Diagnosis Your doctor can often diagnose dehydration on the basis of physical signs and symptoms. If you're dehydrated, you're also likely to have low blood pressure, especially when moving from a lying to a standing position, a faster than normal heart rate and reduced blood flow to your extremities. To help confirm the diagnosis and pinpoint the degree of dehydration, you may have other tests...

Sep 13th, 2019 - Diagnosis Your doctor will ask you questions about previous allergic reactions, including whether you've reacted to: Particular foods Medications Latex Insect stings To help confirm the diagnosis: You might be given a blood test to measure the amount of a certain enzyme (tryptase) that can be elevated up to three hours after anaphylaxis You might be tested for allergies with skin tests or blood...

Aug 15th, 2019 - Diagnosis To diagnose anemia, your doctor is likely to ask you about your medical and family history, perform a physical exam, and run the following tests: Complete blood count (CBC). A CBC is used to count the number of blood cells in a sample of your blood. For anemia, your doctor will be interested in the levels of the red blood cells contained in your blood (hematocrit) and the hemoglobin i...

Aug 14th, 2019 - Overview Kidney cross section Kidney cross section Blood enters your kidneys through your renal arteries. Your kidneys remove excess fluid and waste material from your blood through units called nephrons. Each nephron contains a filter (glomerulus) that has a network of tiny blood vessels called capillaries. The glomeruli filter waste products and substances your body needs — such as sodium, ph...

Jul 24th, 2019 - Overview Ovarian cancer Ovarian cancer Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the ovaries. The ovaries — each about the size of an almond — produce eggs (ova) as well as the hormones estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the ovaries. The female reproductive system contains two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries — ...

Jul 15th, 2019 - Diagnosis Your health care provider might do a variety of tests: Pelvic exam. Your health care provider might check to see if your cervix has begun to dilate. Ultrasound. During an ultrasound, your health care provider will check for a fetal heartbeat and determine if the embryo is developing normally. If a diagnosis can't be made, you might need to have another ultrasound in about a week. Bloo...

Jul 12th, 2019 - Diagnosis A blood test to check cholesterol levels — called a lipid panel or lipid profile — typically reports: Total cholesterol LDL cholesterol HDL cholesterol Triglycerides — a type of fat in the blood For the most accurate measurements, don't eat or drink anything (other than water) for nine to 12 hours before the blood sample is taken. Interpreting the numbers In the United States, cholest...