Medical Blog

Myocardial Contusion

Myocardial contusion refers to a bruising of the heart. It is usually due to an injury to the chest wall.
What is going on in the body?

Injuries to the chest wall can be placed into two general groups. Penetrating injuries are wounds in which the chest cavity is pierced. Two examples are knife stabbings and gunshot wounds. Nonpenetrating injuries involve crush injuries, or compression of the chest. This type of injury is often a result of motor vehicle accidents or explosions. Alone or in combination, these forces can cause a myocardial contusion. Read more…

Hemorrhage - Bleeding

Bleeding is any loss of blood from the body. Bleeding can occur either internally or externally. It can occur through a natural opening such as the vagina. Most bleeding occurs through a break in the skin.
What are the causes and risks of the condition? Read more…

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is the use of water to treat disease or illness. Water has been used to treat disease since ancient times. Hydrotherapy includes whirlpools, sitz baths, sauna and steam baths, douches, and other treatments.
Who is a candidate for the procedure?
Read more…

Endophthalmitis

Endophthalmitis is an inflammation inside the eye caused by an infection. It is a serious condition that can lead to permanent loss of vision, or visual impairment.
What is going on in the body?

The condition most commonly follows surgery in the eye or a penetrating wound of the eye. Infection within the eye caused by bacteria commonly occurs within 4 to 5 days of surgery or injury. Inflammation in the eye caused by a virus or fungus may have a more chronic course, so the diagnosis may be delayed.  Read more…

Domestic Abuse - Abuse, Elder

Elder abuse is the mistreatment of an older person. It may occur while the person is living alone, with others, or in an institution.
Domestic elder abuse refers to mistreatment by someone who has a special relationship with the elder. This person could be a spouse, sibling, child, friend, or other caregiver. Read more…

Cuts - Wounds

A wound is any injury resulting in the breaking of the skin.
What are the causes and risks of the injury?

Many of the common causes of wounds are everyday objects, including the following:  Read more…

C-Spine Injury - Neck Injury

A neck injury is any injury to the soft tissue, bony, or nerve structures of the neck.
What are the causes and risks of the injury?

The most common causes of neck injuries are motor vehicle accidents. Other causes include:
recreational and sports activities, especially contact sports such as football
bullet or stab wounds Read more…

Concussion - Head Injury

A head injury is defined as any trauma to the head that may or may not injure the brain.
What are the causes and risks of the injury?

There are many possible causes for a head injury. Some common causes are bicycle accidents, automobile accidents, falls, and work-related injuries. Contact sports, especially football, are another common source of head injury. Other sports that place a person at risk for head injuries include:
boxing Read more…

Dyspnea - First Aid for Difficulty Breathing

A person who has difficulty breathing is having trouble moving air in or out of the lungs. This can be the result of an airway obstruction, disease, severe allergic reaction, injury, or other medical condition.
What are the causes and risks of the injury?

The causes of difficulty breathing can vary. Causes can be associated with medical diseases and conditions that narrow the airways, such as:
emphysema, a chronic lung disease in which the air sacs are destroyed, seen mostly in smokers
chronic bronchitis, a chronic lung disease also seen in smokers, that is marked by persistent coughing up of sputum from the lungs
asthma, a lung disease in which the overly-sensitive airways become narrowed in response to various triggers

Other causes of difficulty breathing include:
crush injuries to the chest or airways, such as those resulting from a motor vehicle accident or a sports injury Read more…

Closed Head Injury - Head Injury

A head injury is defined as any trauma to the head that may or may not injure the brain.
What are the causes and risks of the injury?

There are many possible causes for a head injury. Some common causes are bicycle accidents, automobile accidents, falls, and work-related injuries. Contact sports, especially football, are another common source of head injury. Other sports that place a person at risk for head injuries include:
boxing Read more…