TORCH Screening in Pregnancy: What You Need to Know Pregnancy is a delicate period, and certain infections can pose serious risks to both pregnant women and newborns. Among these, TORCH infections include Toxoplasma (Toxo), other pathogens (e.g., syphilis), Rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). These infections are particularly concerning due to their potenti...
Testosterone: More Than Just a "Male Hormone" What Is Testosterone? Testosterone is a steroid hormone primarily produced in the testes (in men) and ovaries/adrenal glands (in women, in smaller amounts). While it’s known as the key male sex hormone, women also need it for various bodily functions. Key Roles of Testosterone: In Men: Muscle growth, libido, sperm production, bone s...
Fatigue? Low Mood? Your 25-OH-VD Level Might Be the Culprit! Ever wondered if you’re getting enough vitamin D? Meet 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-VD) – the gold-standard blood test that reveals your true vitamin D status! What is 25-OH-VD? It’s the main form of vitamin D circulating in your blood, reflecting your body’s vitamin D stores from: Sunligh...
The Specific Alarm Within Your Arteries: Understanding Lp-PLA2 1. The "Rusting" of Arteries and the Inflammatory Hotbed You may have heard that inflammation is at the root of many diseases. Within our cardiovascular system, there exists a special, blood-vessel-specific type of inflammation. You can think of our blood vessels as an important water pipeline, and atherosclerosis is like the pr...
