What is hypernatremia? Hypernatremia is the state where the sodium levels in the blood are higher than normal. It is more correctly defined as a blood sodium concentration exceeding 145 mmol/L. Hypernatremia is a problem that arises when the body loses water without the equivalent loss of electrolytes like sodium. In other >> Read More ...
Definition Hip osteonecrosis is a condition where there is death of the bone that comprises the hip joint. The injury and subsequent death of bone tissue is due to a disruption in the blood supply to the bone. Therefore it is also known as avascular necrosis of the hip. Since the bone death is not due to an infection, >> Read More ...
What is Beriberi? Beriberi is a condition that arises with deficiency of the vitamin known as thiamine, less frequently referred to as vitamin B1. It arises with consuming diets that are low or deficient in thiamine, conditions that affect absorption of thiamine or increased utilization or loss of thiamine. It is one of >> Read More ...
What is psittacosis? Psittacosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium, Chlamydophila psittaci, that is transmitted from birds to humans. The bacteria used to be previously known as Chlamydia psittaci. It is not a commonly seen infection in the general population and bird handlers are at the greatest risk of >> Read More ...
Definition A latex allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction to natural rubber latex found in a variety of household, work-related and medical items. Latex is a commonly occurring substance in modern life and particularly in the health care industry. Exposure to latex is therefore often unavoidable. While it does not cause >> Read More ...
Esophageal Spasm Definition Esophageal spasm are abnormal contractions of the muscular walls of the esophagus (gullet) that is often painful and leads to difficulty with swallowing. The condition is often missed because the abnormal esophageal contractions are not persistent but rather occur in episodes which may pass >> Read More ...
What is a cardiac tamponade? Cardiac tamponade is a condition where the accumulation of fluid around the heart hampers its filling and circulation of blood. The fluid that collects around the heart can either be blood, serous tissue fluid, pus or lymph with fat droplets. Sometimes a solid mass or even gas can restrict the >> Read More ...
What is a prolactinoma? A prolactinoma is a tumor that secretes prolactin, the hormone that is responsible for stimulating milk production. Normally prolactin is secreted in controlled amounts by the pituitary gland, the master gland that sits at the base of the brain and controls most other glands in the body. A >> Read More ...
What is calcific tendonitis? Calcific tendonitis, or calcifying tendonitis, is a condition where calcium deposits form in the tendons of the rotator cuff muscles. These muscles are commonly referred to as the shoulder muscles. Calcific tendonitis can affect any tendon in the body but it is the rotator cuff tendons that are >> Read More ...
What is farmer’s lung? Farmer’s lung is an inflammatory disorder of the lung caused by an immune reaction. It is not an infection but more of an allergic reaction. Farmer’s lung is one type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis associated with an occupational hazard. In farmer’s lung, the reaction arises >> Read More ...
