Diseases & conditions A-Z List
Diseases & Conditions A-Z List - «D»:
-
Diet - clear liquid
A clear liquid diet is made up of only clear fluids and foods that turn to clear fluids when they are at room temperature. It includes things like clear broth, tea, cranberry juice, Jell-O, and Popsicles.
This diet is easier to digest than other foods. It still gives you the important fluids, salts,...
-
Diet - constipation
The foods you eat may cause, worsen, or relieve constipation.
Function
Normal stool patterns are different for everyone. Some people may have a bowel movement more than once a day while others may have one every other day. Normal stools should not be painful or difficult to pass.
Constipation is de...
-
Diet - full liquid
A full liquid diet is made up only of fluids and foods that are normally liquid and foods that turn to liquid when they are at room temperature, like ice cream. It also includes strained creamy soups, tea, juice, Jell-O, milkshakes, pudding, and popsicles.
You can NOT eat solid foods when you are on...
-
Diet - liver disease
A person with liver disease must eat a special diet. This diet protects the liver from working too hard and helps it to function as well as possible.
Function
Proteins normally help the body repair tissue. They also prevent fatty buildup and damage to the liver cells.
In people with severely damag...
-
Diet and disease
There are nutritional and dietary elements that have proven relationships to certain diseases or conditions. For additional information on FDA-approved health claims, refer to nutrition labeling.
Information
This article discusses the following:
Calcium and osteoporosis
Fiber and cancer
Fruits,...
-
Diet and eating after esophagectomy
Your esophagus is a tube that moves food from your throat to your stomach. You had surgery to remove part, or all, of your esophagus. The remaining part of your esophagus was reconnected to your stomach.
You will probably have a feeding tube for 1 to 2 months after surgery. This will help you get en...
-
Dietary fats explained
The fats you eat give your body energy that it needs to work properly. During exercise, your body uses up calories, or energy, from carbohydrates after 20 minutes. Then it depends on calories from fat to keep you going.
You also need fat to keep your skin and hair healthy. Fat also helps you absorb ...
-
Diffuse interstitial lung disease
Diffuse interstitial lung disease refers to a group of lung disorders in which the deep lung tissues become inflamed.
Causes
The lungs contain tiny air sacs (alveoli), which is where oxygen is absorbed. These air sacs open up or expand with each breath.
The tissue around these air sacs is called th...
-
Digestive diseases
Digestive diseases are disorders of the digestive tract, which is sometimes called the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
In digestion, food and drink are broken down to small parts (called nutrients) that the body can absorb and use as energy and building blocks for cells.
The digestive tract is made up ...
-
Digital rectal exam
A digital rectal exam is an examination of the lower rectum. The doctor uses a gloved, lubricated finger to check for abnormalities.
How the Test is Performed
The doctor will first examine the outside of the anus for hemorrhoids or fissures. Then the doctor will put on a latex glove and insert a lu...
-
Digitalis toxicity
Digitalis is a medication prescribed to certain heart patients. Digitalis toxicity is a complication of digitalis therapy, or it may be occur when someone takes more than a large amount of the drug at one time. (This is called an acute ingestion.)
The most common prescription form of this medication...
-
Digoxin test
The digoxin test checks to see how much of the medication digoxin you have in your blood. Digoxin is a type of medicine called a cardiac glycoside, which is used to treat certain heart problems.
See also: Digoxin overdose
How the Test is Performed
Blood is typically drawn from a vein, usually from...
-
Dilated cardiomyopathy
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart becomes weakened and enlarged, and it cannot pump blood efficiently. The decreased heart function can affect the lungs, liver, and other body systems.
There are several different types of cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most comm...
-
Dimenhydrinate overdose
Dimenhydrinate is a type of medicine called an antihistamine.
Dimenhydrinate overdose occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally takes more than the normal or recommended amount of this medication.
This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison...
-
Diphenhydramine overdose
This article discusses the health effects from an overdose of diphenhydramine, a type of medicine called an antihistamine, which is found in various allergy and sleep medicines.
Overdose occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally takes more than the normal or recommended amount of a drug or ...
