What Do Anticholinergic Drugs Do?

Symptom improvement comes from blocking the neurotransmitter acetylcholine Anticholinergicdrugs block the action of a chemical messenger calledacetylcholine. It plays a key role in involuntary movements needed for muscle and brain function. It transfers signals betweennervesand certain types of muscles and organs for normal brain and body function. Grace Cary / Getty Images Anticholinergic drugs can improve many types of health problems, such asbladderproblems,depression, andParkinson’s disease. This article includes names of anticholinergic drugs, what they treat, and their side effects....

April 18, 2025 · 3 min · 573 words · Chris Serrano

What Do Beta-Blockers Treat and How Do They Work?

Beta-blockers are a class of prescription medications commonly used to treat conditions related to your heart and blood vessels. For example, your healthcare provider may prescribe a beta-blocker to help lower your blood pressure or treatheart failure. Beta-blockers are some of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. Getty Images / Tatiana Maksimova This is called off-label use. Certain beta-blockers are sometimes used off-label to treat: How Do They Work?...

April 18, 2025 · 4 min · 731 words · Luis Morgan

What Do Breast Cancer Lumps Feel Like?

The lump may also be irregularly shaped. This article explains the differences between noncancerous and cancerous breast lumps. Illustration by Brianna Gilmartin for Verywell Health What Causes Non-Cancerous Breast Changes? Illustration by Brianna Gilmartin for Verywell Health Some people may experience a lump in the breast that comes and goes. Although most lumps are not cancerous, they can be painful and lead to infections. Any changes in your breast should be reported to a healthcare provider....

April 18, 2025 · 6 min · 1092 words · Teresa Frost

What Do Color Blind People See?

Rod and cones are photoreceptor cells that deliver information that the brain interprets as color and shade. Cones detect red, blue, and green colors, while rods describe lightness and darkness. If any of these cells are not functioning as they should, color blindness can occur. Illustration by Mira Norian for Verywell Health Color-blind people see differently depending on what form ofcolor blindnessthey have. In rarer cases, someone who is color blind may not see any color at all....

April 18, 2025 · 3 min · 600 words · Tanner Ford

What Do Different Colors of Discharge Mean During Pregnancy?

Some colors may indicate an infection or problem Experiencingvaginal dischargeduringpregnancyis normal. Vaginal discharge can vary in color, texture, volume, and odor throughout pregnancy. It can also fluctuate during the menstrual cycle. AleksandarNakic/ Getty Images An increase in discharge is also one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. Other colors, likeyellow, green, or gray, can sometimes indicate an infection or other problem. AleksandarNakic/ Getty Images Whats Normal for Pregnancy Discharge? Normal pregnancy discharge, known asleukorrhea, is usually clear or milky white and thin....

April 18, 2025 · 3 min · 550 words · Adam Fox

What Do Hematocrit and Hemoglobin Mean?

The HCT and Hb values are reported as part of acomplete blood count (CBC). If hematocrit and hemoglobin levels are below the normal range, a person is said to haveanemia. Learn more about hematocrit and hemoglobin and what high or low values say about your health. Oliver Cleve / Getty Images What Is Hemoglobin? Hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein in RBCs that carries oxygen and carbon dioxide. It also gives blood its red color....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 249 words · Shelley Ray

What Do High Immature Granulocyte Levels Mean?

If you have high levels of granulocytes (granulocytosis), it can be a sign of a problem. Granulocytes are typically checked as part of acomplete blood count(CBC) blood test. However, high immature granulocyte levels can also be normal during pregnancy and in newborns. KATERYNA KON / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images KATERYNA KON / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images What Are Granulocytes? What Are the Functions of Granulocytes? Granulocytes are white blood cells that play a very important role in managing the immune system....

April 18, 2025 · 1 min · 172 words · Lisa Martinez

What Do Nitrites in Urine Mean?

Almost everyone eats adiet that includes nitrates. Most of the time, nitrates pass through our bodies without causing problems. Bacteria can turn nitrates into similar compounds callednitrites, which are then excreted in urine. Getty Images Read on to learn how nitrates turn into nitrites and whether nitrites are an accurate sign of a UTI. Getty Images What Causes Nitrites in Urine? Nitrates enter our bodies through the foods we eat....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 395 words · Daniel Fowler

What Do Ovaries Look Like?

This article discusses the anatomy andfunction of ovaries, as well as conditions that affect these glands. It also shows what an ovary looks like. The ovary consists of an outer cortex and an inner medulla. peakSTOCK / Getty Images Embedded within the cortex are manyovarian folliclestiny fluid-filled sacs where eggs grow. The medulla is made up of loose connective tissue containing blood vessels,lymphatic vessels, and nerve fibers. Ovarian Follicles At birth, a female baby has about 1 million ovarian follicles....

April 18, 2025 · 3 min · 639 words · Regina Wilson

What Do People Who Are Blind See?

People who are visually impaired do not all see the world in exactly the same way. Blindness is more of a broad category than a narrowly defined disorder. Total Blindness Those who are totally blind see absolutely no light. AndreyPopov / iStock / Getty Images Doctors will record this as “NLP” for no light perception. Most people who have impaired vision have some remaining sight. Just 15% of people with an eye disorder actually fall into the totally blind category....

April 18, 2025 · 1 min · 201 words · Matthew Stout

What Do Strange and Overactive Reflexes Say About Your Health?

A reflex is an automatic body movement that happens involuntarily in response to a stimulus. Healthcare providers sometimes test a person’s reflexes as part of a routine or diagnostic exam. Overactive reflexes occur when muscles have an exaggerated reaction. Istockphoto.com / Stock Photo©velkoi These, along with some strange reflexeslike the Babinski and Glabellarmay indicate a health condition. Many normal reflexes occur in healthy people, such as blinking when something approaches the cornea....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 266 words · Bethany Santos

What Do You Eat on the Blood Type Diet?

It recommends a diet with elements of the A and B diet for people with AB blood. Studies on the benefits of the blood jot down diet are very limited. So, you may benefit from improved wellness by following the plan. Jordi Salas / Getty Images Jordi Salas / Getty Images What Is the Blood key in Diet? The blood key in diet is the basis of a book published in 1996 by naturopathic physician Peter D’Adamo....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 296 words · Kim Reyes

What Do You Wear to a Physical Therapy Appointment?

Makes sense, right? You want to wear the right physical therapy outfit for your condition. What to wear to PT then simply is the same hospital gown you’re already in. Verywell / Joules Garcia Your therapist will verify you are appropriately covered up during your therapy sessions. But what about outpatient therapy? Sometimes exercises are performed ormodalities such as heat, cold, or electrical stimulation are applied. What clothing should you wear to your outpatient physical therapy sessions to allow for movement and other therapies?...

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 385 words · Dawn Tanner