There is no single strict definition for ‘life’ or ‘living’ but one of the criteria is a metabolism. In order to function from the cellular level and as a whole multicellular organism, trillions of chemical processes have to continue efficiently – in a systematic and continuous manner. In the >> Read More ...
What is acne vulgaris? Acne vulgaris, the most common form of acne, is a skin disease characterized by the blockage of the pilosebaceous unit (sebaceous gland + follicle), that causes the formation of pimples among other types of skin lesions. It is commonly referred to as a blocked pore because the opening of the >> Read More ...
What is angina pectoris? Angina pectoris (Latin for chest pain) is pain that is caused by injury to the heart muscle (myocardium) during times of increased cardiac activity as a result of impaired blood flow and reduced oxygen supply. Angina pain is often described as a dull, constricting or crushing pain that is felt >> Read More ...
How to identify a headache The term headache refers to a number of different presentations of discomfort or pain in the head. Headaches may be unilateral (one sided) or bilateral (both sides). The duration and onset may be intermittent, episodic or constant. There are acute types of headaches which come on suddenly and >> Read More ...
Hypertension known more commonly as high blood pressure is an elevation of the arterial blood pressure above the upper limits of the normal range. It is defined as a blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or more. It is a global problem associated with various risk factors including obesity, cigarette smoking, alcohol misuse, >> Read More ...
What is hypertension? Hypertension is the medical term for elevated blood pressure. This is a higher than normal pressure within the blood vessels as blood travels through it. High blood pressure in the short term does not cause any significant damage in the body and may even go unnoticed. However, prolonged elevation of >> Read More ...
Cholesterol in the body is thought of as originating solely from the diet through absorption from the gut. However, the reality is that most of the cholesterol is not sourced from food but rather manufactured within the body. Dietary cholesterol or exogenous cholesterol is absorbed from within the intestines. Endogenous >> Read More ...
What are Lipoproteins? When one hears about blood cholesterol levels, there is a bit of a misunderstanding about what exactly is being discussed. The body’s lipids – cholesterol, triglycerides and phosphoplipids – are transported in the blood attached to lipoproteins. Without these lipoproteins, >> Read More ...
What is acanthosis nigricans? Acanthosis nigricans is a type of skin condition characterized by thick dark (hyperpigmented) skin which tends to occur on the skin folds – armpits (axillae), neck, and groin. Typically the hyperpigmented skin has a velvety texture and can therefore be clearly differentiated from >> Read More ...
What is the viral load in HIV? Viral load is an indication of the amount of virus in the bloodstream in HIV infection. It also known as HIV viral load or plasma viral load and is an important means to monitor the progress of the disease and the success of treatment. Regularly monitoring the viral load, at least every 3 >> Read More ...
