There are various types of diseases of the heart and great blood vessels that may cause a wide array of signs and symptoms. However the more common signs and symptoms of heart disease includes : Chest discomfort or chest pain Shortness of breath (dyspnea) Dizziness and/or fainting Edema (swelling) Other symptoms like >> Read More ...
What is the thymus gland? The thymus gland is a flask-shaped organ lying in the lower neck and upper part of the mediastinum (superior mediastinum) in the chest cavity. It is an important part of the immune system in that it plays a major role in cell-mediated immunity. However, surgical removal of the thymus gland, even >> Read More ...
Anxiety is a common cause of chest pain and is often not an indication of any serious pathology, like a heart attack. The pain may be psychogenic, where the person perceives the pain although it cannot be attributed to any pathology, or it may be related to muscle strain, hyperacidity, acid reflux, stomach cramps or >> Read More ...
The pulse is a palpable pressure wave in response to contractions of the heart (systole). As blood is forcefully pushed out of the heart, the elastic artery walls distend to accommodate the blood and rebounds to keep the blood flowing at pressure. This creates a pressure pulse that is easily felt on the superficial >> Read More ...
Stomach discomfort may vary in sensation. Sometimes it is just mild discomfort or a minor stomach ache, while at other times, it can intensify to the point of severe gastric pain. Diagnosing the cause of stomach discomfort depends on how often it occurs, whether it is intermittent or persistent, trigger factors, and >> Read More ...
Yawning is a reflex action that leads to deep inhalation through the mouth followed by short exhalation. It is an involuntary process like the cough reflex and swallowing reflex. While yawning is a normal mechanism, the exact cause of it is still not yet fully understood. However, in cases where it is excessive, yawning >> Read More ...
Nausea is the sensation of wanting to vomit and may or may not precede actual vomiting. In chronic nausea, vomiting may occur intermittently, especially when exacerbated by certain foods, motion, hunger or stress. Diagnosing the cause of chronic nausea depends on the identifying the onset of the nausea episode(s) as well >> Read More ...
Left sided chest pain tends to cause significant stress as it is often associated with grave consequences like that of a heart attack. This is especially true if the pain is sudden and severe. However, there are various causes of chest pain on the left side that may not be as a result of life threatening medical >> Read More ...
Guide to Urinary Pain The medical term for pain experienced when urinating is known as dysuria. It is a broad term to describe discomfort when urinating including burning during urination. At other times urinary pain may be unrelated to the process of urination. Kidney pain (flank pain), ureteral pain (loin pain), bladder >> Read More ...
What is a bile duct stone? Bile duct stones (choledocholithiasis) are gallstones that are present in the bile ducts, sometimes within the cystic duct of the gallbladder but more frequently in the common bile duct. Most gallstones are formed in the gallbladder and if small enough, it will pass out into the cystic duct and >> Read More ...
