Health A-Z Medical Reference

An X-ray takes a picture of the inside of your body, mainly your bones. These painless, common procedures use radiation but are considered generally safe.

There are many reasons you might need to get a blood transfusion. Learn how to prepare for the process and the potential risks.

If you or your child has been exposed to lead, you both should be tested. A lead blood test is simple, and it provides information that could save your life.

Concerned you might inherit a genetic condition or pass one along to your baby? Genetic counseling can help you deal with your worries by learning more about your genetic makeup.

Thyroid nodules are lumps on the thyroid gland, often harmless but should be checked by a doctor. Learn about symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.

A thyroid storm or thyroid crisis is a rare but possibly life-threatening condition in which your body suddenly starts overproducing thyroid hormones. Here’s what you should know.

There are simple tests that can tell you whether you have a thyroid problem or not.

A small gland plays a big part in how your body runs.

When you manage your condition, you can live a full, active life with sickle cell disease. Follow tips for a healthy lifestyle that can help reduce your chances of pain.

Thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid, the gland that regulates your body’s metabolism. Here’s what you should know about this condition.

If you have hyperthyroidism, it means your thyroid is overactive and produces too much of a hormone called thyroxine. Learn more about the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of hyperthyroidism.

Rabies is a virus that attacks the central nervous system. This article explains how it’s transmitted, what it looks like, and what to do if you’re bitten by an animal that might be infected.

Reasons you need an ear exam.

There’s no sure way to prevent a bladder infection, but there are some things you can do you lower your risk. WebMD explains.

WebMD explains the diagnosis and treatment of bladder infections.

Bladder infections can be painful, but they’re often easily treated. WebMD explains their causes in men and women.

It’s important to treat bladder infections before they go to your kidneys. WebMD explains the symptoms of an infected bladder.

A kidney infection like pyelonephritis is a serious condition that’s treatable but can be life-threatening. Learn more about the signs and symptoms of a kidney infection, who gets them, & how they’re treated

A barium enema can help your doctor get a better look at what’s going on in your colon. Find out how the test works and the conditions it can find.

Antibiotics are the medications doctors use to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs). Learn how they work and how your doctor decides which meds and dose to give you.

When are your intestines like a telescope? When you have intussusception, a painful abdominal condition that needs immediate medical attention.

An antinuclear antibody test can help your doctor diagnose an autoimmune disease such as lupus. Find out how this blood test is done and what your results might mean.

Your glands could be swollen for a number of reasons. Find out what the cause might be, and what to do.

A phosphate blood test can diagnose everything from calcium deficiencies to kidney failure. Learn about what’s involved in getting the test done.

An overnight dexamethasone suppression test can help you find out whether you have Cushing syndrome and what’s causing it. Find out how the test works, how it’s done, and what your result means.

Your doctor says you need a urine culture. Here’s what you need to know about this test, which can spot a urinary tract infection (UTI).

What’s in your pee says a lot about your health. Your doctor may order a uric acid urine test if he suspects problems like gout or kidney stones.

This blood test is often ordered at routine exams. Here’s what it can tell about your health.

Having too much or too little sodium in your urine sample can be an indication of a kidney or other health issue. Learn more about how a urine sodium test works.

Your lymph nodes, along with your spleen, tonsils, and adenoids, help you fight off illness and infections. Learn more about your lymph nodes’ part in this first line of defense.

Your body needs to have the right amount of the mineral potassium so that your nerves, muscles, cells, and heart are working well. Your doctor may order a blood test to make sure your potassium in the right range.

Learn which conditions your sedimentation rate helps your doctor diagnose. Also, find out how the test can guide your treatment.

To figure out the source of your stomach problems, your doctor may order a stool sample culture test. Learn what you need to know before the test, how it's performed, and what the results mean.

A prolactin test measures the amount of a hormone called prolactin you have in your blood. The hormone usually rises if a woman is pregnant or has just given birth to help produce breast milk.

Valley fever’s symptoms start out much like those of the flu. But this illness comes from a fungus that lives in the soil, and a few cases are serious.

How do you tell if your body is making enough red blood cells? That’s where a reticulocyte count test comes in. Learn more about how it works and why it’s important.

If you have dehydration or an electrolyte imbalance in your blood, you may need an osmolality serum test. Learn more about how this test works.

Experiencing swollen legs and foamy urine? It might be nephrotic syndrome. Learn more about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of this medical condition at WebMD.

Do you bite your nails? Find out what might be causing this bad habit and how to break it.

A partial thromboplastin time test tells you how long it takes your blood to clot. Learn what it looks for, when you might need one, and what the results mean.

If your calcium levels are too high or too low, you may need a parathyroid hormone blood test to learn why. Tiny parathyroid glands in your neck may be making too much or too little hormone to balance the calcium levels in your blood.

Find out more about this genetic disorder that causes unusual flexibility and thin skin.

Your doctor might want you to get a luteinizing hormone test to check your fertility or check for a pituitary gland problem

A prothrombin time test tells you how long it takes your blood to clot. Learn what it looks for, when you might need one, and what the results mean.

An amylase test can tell your doctor about your pancreas -- and more. Find out why and how the test is done.

Having a nuclear kidney nuclear medicine scan? Find out how to prepare and what to expect.

If you’re having certain symptoms like stomach pain or diarrhea, your doctor might order a gastrin test. Here’s what to expect and what the results may mean.

Sickle cell disease is the most common blood disorder passed down from parents to children. Learn how a gene mutation causes it.

Sickle cell disease symptoms range from extreme pain to fatigue and others. Learn how to spot the symptoms of this blood disorder.

Sickle cell disease can lead to serious complications. Learn more about your options to treat and manage this condition.