Low blood creatinine is much less common than high creatinine and is often not a cause for concern. It usually indicates a lower-than-average production of creatinine, rather than a kidney problem. Because creatinine comes from muscle breakdown, low levels generally…

Creatinine is a normal waste product produced by your muscles. Your healthy kidneys are very efficient at filtering it out of your blood and excreting it in your urine. Therefore, a high blood creatinine level is a key indicator that…

Hyperthyroidism is the opposite of hypothyroidism. Here, the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, sending your metabolism into overdrive. Imagine your body’s gas pedal stuck to the floor. Symptoms include sudden, unexplained weight loss, a racing or irregular heartbeat…

Hypothyroidism is a condition where your thyroid gland—a small, butterfly-shaped gland in your neck—does not produce enough thyroid hormones (T3 and T4). These hormones are the “gas pedal” for your body’s metabolism. A deficiency slows everything down: your heart rate,…

High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) is the defining characteristic of diabetes. It occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin (Type 1) or cannot use insulin effectively (Type 2). Over time, chronic hyperglycemia damages blood vessels and nerves, leading to complications…

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is a medical emergency for people with diabetes taking insulin or certain oral medications. It occurs when blood glucose levels drop below 70 mg The brain relies almost exclusively on glucose for fuel, so a significant…

Low blood pressure (hypotension) is generally defined as a reading below 90/60 mmHg. For some healthy, athletic people, this is normal. But for others, it can cause troublesome symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting (syncope), blurred vision, fatigue, and nausea. These…

High blood pressure (hypertension) is often called the “silent killer” because it typically has no symptoms, even as it silently damages your arteries, heart, brain, and kidneys. It’s a measure of the force of blood pushing against your artery walls.…

Red eyes are a common, non-specific symptom. The redness you see is the dilation of tiny blood vessels on the surface of the sclera (the white part of your eye). This can be caused by a wide range of issues,…