Diseases & conditions A-Z List
Diseases & Conditions A-Z List - «B»:
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Bloating and menstruation
Bloating is the feeling of a full, swollen belly area, usually due to gas in the intestines. Some women have bloating before or during their period (menstrual cycle).
See also: Abdominal bloating
Information
If you have bloating associated with your menstrual cycle, exercise to sweat out excess fl...
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Blood clots
Blood clots are clumps that occur when blood hardens from a liquid to a solid.
A blood clot that forms inside a blood vessel or within the heart and stays there is called a thrombus. A thrombus that breaks loose and travels from one location in the body to another is called an embolus. The related ...
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Blood culture
A blood culture is a laboratory test to check for bacteria or other microorganisms in a blood sample. Most cultures check for bacteria.
A culture may be done using a sample of blood, tissue, stool, urine, or other fluid from the body. See also:
Bronchoscopic culture
CSF culture
Endocervix cult...
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Blood differential
The blood differential test measures the percentage of each type of white blood cell (WBC) that you have in your blood. It also reveals if there are any abnormal or immature cells.
See also:
Complete blood count (CBC)
Eosinophil count - absolute
How the Test is Performed
The health care provi...
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Blood gases
Blood gases is a measurement of how much oxygen and carbon dioxide is in your blood. It also determines the acidity (pH) of your blood.
How the Test is Performed
Usually, blood is taken from an artery. The blood may be collected from the radial artery in the wrist, the femoral artery in the groin, ...
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Blood glucose monitoring
Blood glucose monitoring refers to the ongoing measurement of blood sugar (glucose). Monitoring can be done at any time using a portable device called a glucometer.
See also:
Glucose test - blood
Glucose test - urine
Glucose tolerance test
How the Test is Performed
The traditional glucose m...
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Blood in the semen
Blood in the semen, called hematospermia, may be undetectable (microscopic) or visible in the ejaculation fluid.
Considerations
Associated symptoms may include:
Pain with urination
Pain with ejaculation
Pain with bowel movement
Tenderness in the scrotum
Swelling in scrotum
Swelling or tend...
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Blood pressure
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force applied to the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body. The pressure is determined by the force and amount of blood pumped, and the size and flexibility of the arteries.
Blood pressure is continually changing depending on activity,...
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Blood smear
A blood smear is a blood test that gives information about the number and shape of blood cells.
How the Test is Performed
Blood is typically drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The site is cleaned with germ-killing medicine (antiseptic). The health care ...
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Blood typing
Blood typing is a method to tell what specific type of blood you have. What type you have depends on whether or not there are certain proteins, called antigens, on your red blood cells.
Blood is often grouped according to the ABO blood typing system. This method breaks blood types down into four cat...
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Bloody or tarry stools
Bloody stools often indicate an injury or disorder in the digestive tract. Your doctor may use the term "melena" to describe black, tarry, and foul-smelling stools or "hematochezia" to describe red- or maroon-colored stools.
Bloody or tarry stools images:
Considerations
Blood in the stool may ...
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Blount's disease
Blount's disease is a growth disorder of the shin bone (tibia) in which the lower leg turns inward, resembling a bowleg.
Causes
Blount's disease occurs in young children and adolescents. The cause is unknown but is thought to be due to the effects of weight on the growth plate. The inner part of th...
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Blue nightshade poisoning
Blue nightshade poisoning occurs when someone eats parts of the blue nightshade plant.
This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or the National Poison C...
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Body lice
Body lice are tiny parasites (Pediculus humanus corporis) that spread through close contact with other people.
There are three types of lice:
Body lice
Head lice
Pubic lice
This article focuses on body lice.
Causes
Lice feed on human blood and live in the seams and folds of clothing. They lay...
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Body mass index
A good way to determine if your weight is healthy for your height is to calculate your body mass index (BMI). Being overweight puts strain on your heart and can lead to serious health problems. These problems include:
Heart disease
High blood pressure
Sleep apnea
Type 2 diabetes
Varicose veins
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