Category: Internal medicine

According to the National Institutes of Health, over time, inadequate calcium intake can lead to low bone mass, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and other serious health issues. This vital mineral is crucial for far more than just strong bones, and a persistent lack of calcium can cause a cascade of problems throughout the body.

Approximately one-third of healthy individuals and over half of those with high blood pressure are considered salt sensitive. This physiological trait is a real medical concern where blood pressure fluctuations directly correspond to changes in dietary salt intake. Understanding this can be critical for managing and preventing serious health complications.

A 2018 study on mice revealed that a diet high in fat and added sugar caused significant splenomegaly, or enlarged spleen, underscoring the link between diet and spleen size. While no single food directly makes your spleen bigger, certain dietary patterns can drive underlying conditions like liver disease and inflammation, which, in turn, can cause the organ to swell.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, deficiencies in vitamins D, B-complex, and C are common in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), highlighting the intricate relationship between nutritional intake and organ function. Understanding what vitamin helps with kidneys and liver is crucial for anyone looking to support these vital organs through diet and, if necessary, supplementation.

Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is a rare condition that involves the excessive loss of serum proteins from the gastrointestinal tract, and its clinical presentation is often dominated by severe peripheral edema. This syndrome results from an imbalance where the gastrointestinal protein loss exceeds the body's ability to synthesize new proteins, leading to a host of related complications.

According to a study on sepsis patients, low albumin levels were linked to increased mortality, highlighting the seriousness of insufficient protein. A lack of protein in the blood, medically known as hypoproteinemia, can affect nearly every system in the body, leading to numerous health complications.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, hypocalcemia is a treatable condition that results from low levels of calcium in the blood and is often caused by abnormal levels of parathyroid hormone or vitamin D. This crucial mineral is essential for bone health, nerve function, and muscle contraction. When levels drop, understanding what causes a low serum calcium is the first step toward effective treatment.

While excess vitamin B12 is often harmlessly excreted in the urine due to its water-soluble nature, abnormally high blood levels detected during a lab test can signal an underlying medical issue that requires investigation.

Megaloblastic anemia, a type of vitamin deficiency anemia, is most commonly caused by a lack of vitamin B12 or folate. It is a condition where the body produces abnormally large, immature red blood cells that cannot function properly. Effective treatment is critical to manage symptoms and prevent long-term complications, particularly neurological damage.

According to a study published in March 2025, significantly lower serum sodium levels were observed in patients with complicated acute diverticulitis. This research highlights that yes, diverticulitis can cause electrolyte imbalance, particularly in severe cases.