Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is an enzyme that is found in the liver, muscles, heart, and blood. When cells that contain AST are inflamed or damaged, AST is released into the blood. This means that elevated...
A fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is a screening test for bowel cancer. This test checks for hidden blood in the stool, which can be a sign of bowel cancer. FIT tests are increasingly used to...
Bowel cancer is cancer that begins in the large bowel (colon) or rectum, and is one of the most common cancers in the world (Rawla et al., 2019). In 2020, there were more than 1.9...
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein that is produced by the liver. Your liver releases more CRP into the bloodstream when there is inflammation in your body. Inflammation is part of your body’s immune response...
Thyroxine (T4) is one of the two major thyroid hormones that controls how your body uses energy. T4 is produced by the thyroid gland from tyrosine and iodine, and production is regulated by the pituitary...
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme that is produced all over the body. While the exact function of ALP is not known, it is believed to be important in many body processes (Cleveland Clinic, 2021)....
T3 (triiodothyronine) is a thyroid hormone that plays a key role in regulating metabolism, growth, and development. It is primarily produced by the thyroid gland as inactive T4, which is then converted into the active...
Discharge from the penis is when any liquid other than urine comes out of the urethra. There are different types of male discharge that can have different causes – some of them are completely healthy...
Vaginal discharge is a normal body process that keeps the vagina clean, balanced, and healthy. Discharge is usually white or clear in colour and can be either thick or thin in consistency. Vaginal discharge is...
