HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

High AST Normal ALT can be puzzling. Dr. Kevin Lowe explains when macro-AST may be responsible, how laboratories test for it, and why clinical context matters.

You feel perfectly fine—and then suddenly you can't seem to get enough air. A few minutes later, your breathing may be back to normal. What could cause shortness of breath that comes and goes like this? There isn't just one possible explanation. Problems involving the lungs, heart, digestive system, and even anxiety can cause breathlessness that comes and goes. Here are ten possible causes worth knowing about. Asthma is an inflammatory condition of the airways that often caus

Impetigo does not always look the same. Learn how nonbullous impetigo, bullous impetigo, and ecthyma differ.

Good hygiene, proper treatment, and avoiding shared personal items can reduce the spread and recurrence of impetigo.

Impetigo can usually be treated effectively with the appropriate antibiotic. The best approach depends on its type and extent.

Most cases of impetigo improve with treatment, but untreated infection can occasionally spread or lead to other complications.

Protein in the urine may be temporary, but persistent protein or albumin can be an early warning of kidney damage—even when routine kidney blood tests still appear normal.

Although a high BUN can occur when the kidneys are not filtering effectively, kidney disease is not the only possible explanation

But when someone has megaloblastic or unexplained macrocytic anemia, taking folic acid without considering vitamin B12 deficiency can sometimes hide an important clue.

While it is true that hypertension is not entirely under our control, we can take steps to prevent and control it. Here again, controlling our weight through our diet and exercise can contribute significantly to preventing hypertension.

Vitamin B12 plays a critical role in the nervous system, blood cell production, and important metabolic reactions throughout the body. But vit B12 deficiency can develop gradually, and symptoms may appear before the diagnosis becomes obvious.

A low GFR can be frightening. If your GFR or eGFR is decreasing, does that mean your kidneys will inevitably continue to fail?

Learn what low albumin means, its common causes, possible symptoms, and why a low albumin blood test may be an important warning sign.

A high TSH often suggests hypothyroidism, while a low TSH may point toward hyperthyroidism—but thyroid test results are not always that simple. T

An elevated ESR, also known as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate or sedimentation rate, can be an important clue that inflammation is present in the body. But ESR alone cannot tell you what is causing that inflammation

The IGRA blood test looks for an immune response to tuberculosis-related proteins, but it does not automatically tell you whether you have latent TB infection or active TB disease.

In this video, Dr. Kevin Lowe explains the TIBC blood test (Total Iron Binding Capacity), what it measures, and how it helps doctors evaluate iron deficiency.

While many individuals focus on reducing fat and cholesterol in their diets, they often overlook how certain carbohydrates affect blood sugar levels.

Many people assume that high ferritin simply means they have too much iron in their body.

Your cholesterol numbers look fine — but are you actually safe?