Swallowing is a process of moving food and drink from the mouth to the stomach. It is composed of three phases that starts in the throat and extends down to the esophagus. Swallowing is partly voluntary but mainly an involuntary reflex that comprises a well coordinated sequence of events to complete its function. The >> Read More ...
Digestion is the process by which food is broken down into simpler substances so that it can be absorbed by the alimentary tract. It is both a mechanical and chemical process that starts from the time food enters the mouth. Problems with digestion (maldigestion) may arise in any part of the alimentary tract. A disruption >> Read More ...
What is swallowing? The intake of food (ingestion) involves two mechanical processes. First the food is chewed (mastication) and then it is swallowed (deglutition). Once food enters the pharynx, the other processes like motility, digestion and absorption is involuntary. Swallowing is therefore the process of passing food >> Read More ...
Joint pain (arthralgia) during pregnancy and after childbirth is quite a common occurrence and is caused mainly due to the hormonal changes that come about during pregnancy. Even normal weight gain in pregnant women can put additional strain on the joints and cause varying amount of discomfort or even pain. A change in the >> Read More ...
What are Leg Ulcers? Ulcers are crater-like open sores that are a result of erosion of tissue. On the leg, these ulcers are visible on the skin and extend deep into the underlying tissue. Ulceration may occur for a number of reasons and with proper treatment and care, it can heal fairly quickly (acute). However, in >> Read More ...
As the “master gland”, most of the effects of the pituitary gland is on the other endocrine glands of the body. Disorders of the pituitary gland is often only detected by the signs and symptoms of various diseases attributed to these other glands. Pituitary gland problems can be seen either as an excess or >> Read More ...
What is the Pituitary Gland? The pituitary gland is considered as the master gland of the body because its hormones control other endocrine glands, which in turn influence various and diverse activities in the body. It is largely influenced by the hypothalamus, which is the control center that processes the incoming >> Read More ...
The bile ducts are a series of tubes that drain bile from the liver and either direct it to the gallbladder for temporary storage or pass it into the duodenum where it can be expelled with the feces. The biliary tree as it is known has many different parts, all of which serve the same function, and are prone to a number of >> Read More ...
What is Projectile Vomiting? Projectile vomiting is vomit that exits the mouth with such force in that it is propelled over a short but significant distance. It is often sudden with excessive vomitus passed out in each attack. Nausea usually does not precede projectile vomiting and it can occur suddenly without any >> Read More ...
Dizziness and nausea are two common complaints that may occur simultaneously and often without any other clinical features to highlight a possible cause. Even with the presentation of vomiting and headaches, it is difficult to isolate a possible cause without considering a person’s medical history, events that >> Read More ...
