Vaccines expose the immune system to a harmless form, component, or genetic instruction related to a pathogen so the body can practice recognizing it without experiencing the full disease.
Blood tests provide snapshots of processes such as blood cell production, glucose regulation, cholesterol transport, liver function, kidney function, and inflammation.
Antibiotics are medicines designed to treat certain bacterial infections. They do not treat viruses such as those responsible for most common colds and many sore throats.
Fever is a temporary rise in body temperature that often occurs as part of the immune response to infection, although inflammation, medicines, heat illness, and other conditions can also affect temperature.
Blood sugar, or blood glucose, is an important fuel for the body. After carbohydrate-containing foods are digested, glucose enters the bloodstream and the pancreas releases insulin to help move glucose into cells.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance the body uses to make cell membranes, hormones, and other important compounds. Because cholesterol does not dissolve in blood, it travels in particles called lipoproteins.
Inflammation is part of the body’s protective response to injury, infection, or irritation. It involves immune cells, blood vessels, and chemical signals that help isolate damage and begin repair.