What is cyanosis? Cyanosis is the medical term for a blue to purple discoloration of the skin which arises from deoxygenated hemoglobin in the blood stream. It may also be seen on the mucous membranes, especially of the mouth, tongue and eyes. Cyanosis is a sign of low oxygen levels in the blood (hypoxemia). It occurs when >> Read More ...
Lymph nodes of the armpit are known as the axillary lymph nodes. These nose are usually not palpable (felt by touch) but may sometimes become swollen, hard and/or painful. This can arise from a host of possible causes ranging from minor injuries to infections and even cancer. Apart from the armpit itself, disorders or >> Read More ...
What is a blood clot? A blood clot is a coagulated mass of blood cells and other blood components. It plugs any damaged area of the vessel wall and maintains the integrity of the blood vessel by preventing blood from leaking out. A host of factors come into play in blood clotting (coagulation). When an area of the vessel >> Read More ...
Bleeding diseases or blood clotting disorders are a group of conditions that affect the body’s ability to stop blood loss. The mechanism by which blood loss is normally stopped is known as hemostasis and involves several phases. One of these phases is the blood clotting or coagulation >> Read More ...
Anemia is the most common blood disorder where the blood’s ability to carry oxygen is impaired. It is a problem with the red blood cells – either there are too few red blood cells or the oxygen-carrying ability of these cells are lower than normal. When it is associated with insufficient iron, an essential >> Read More ...
Blood clots can be life-saving when it plugs up a broken blood vessel but it can also be deadly when it forms inside an intact blood vessel. You may have a deadly blood clot forming or flowing through your bloodstream without any symptoms. It is only when this blood clot blocks most of the blood supply to an organ that the >> Read More ...
Amyloid is a substance which is composed of different types of proteins. It is a proteinaceous substance in that it is composed largely of protein in addition to other compounds like polysaccharides, lipids and even hormones. In amyloidosis, amyloid is deposited and builds up between the cells of tissues and organs. This >> Read More ...
What is Methemoglobinemia? Methemoglobinemia (met-hemo-globin-emia) is a condition where the quantity of methemoglobin in the red blood cells is higher than normal. It is a congenital condition, meaning that it is present from birth, but can develop in life due to exposure to certain toxins. Although methemoglobin is >> Read More ...
Autoimmune diseases are not longer the mystery it used to be in the past. It is now fairly well understood. These conditions occur when the immune system attacks parts of the body and this leads to inflammation. Since it is long term, there are various complications that may arise over time. Despite greater public >> Read More ...
If there is one abdominal organ that is probably given the least thought by most people then it would have to be the spleen. Many people do not know what the spleen is, where it is located or what it does. It is only in rare cases that the spleen is heard of, like when it has to be removed after a rupture following an >> Read More ...
