Medical Blog

Mitral Regurgitation, Acute

Acute mitral regurgitation is a condition that affects the mitral valve in the heart. The mitral valve does not close completely, causing the blood to flow in the wrong direction. The mitral valve separates the heart’s left atrium, or upper chamber, from the left ventricle, or lower chamber.
What is going on in the body?

The left atrium receives blood from the lungs and passes it through the mitral valve to the left ventricle. The left ventricle pumps blood to the rest of the body. The mitral valve normally remains firm when the left ventricle contracts.  Read more…

Miscarriage

A miscarriage occurs when a woman is pregnant and her womb expels the fetal tissue. It results from natural causes within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
What is going on in the body?

A miscarriage takes place after the fetus and placenta stop growing. This makes pregnancy hormone levels fall. The following symptoms of pregnancy may no longer appear:
breast tenderness
nausea
fatigue
Read more…

Metyrapone Test

The metyrapone test evaluates how the adrenal glands respond to adrenocorticotrophic hormone, or ACTH. ACTH is made in the pituitary gland and travels through the bloodstream to the adrenal glands. There it triggers the release of another hormone called cortisol.

Cortisol affects the breakdown and use of fats, carbohydrates, sodium, potassium, and protein. In this test, the medication metyrapone is given to a person to evaluate the ability of the adrenal gland to make cortisol.
Who is a candidate for the test?
Read more…

Metatarsalgia - Painful Foot Joints

Joints can become painful for a number of reasons. The reasons can range from an injury to a specific joint to an overall condition, such as arthritis, that affects many joints in the body.
What is going on in the body?

Painful foot joints are usually caused by physical stress to the foot. The stress can result from poor bone structure, ill-fitting shoes, being overweight, and overdoing certain activities.  Read more…

Mental Abuse - Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse occurs when a person uses words or actions to make another person think less of himself or herself. It may be accompanied by physical abuse or sexual abuse.
What is going on in the body?

Emotional abusers control their victims in these ways:
Cause their victims to feel lonely and isolated. This is done by controlling what the victims do, what people they see and talk to, and where they go. Read more…

Menopause

Menopause is the point in a woman’s life when menstruation stops for good. This means she is no longer able to have children. Menopause occurs in most women between the ages of 35 and 58. It is a natural event in a woman’s life. Surgical menopause occurs when a woman has both of her ovaries removed.
What is going on in the body? Read more…

Meniere’s Disease

Menir’s disease is a disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of disabling vertigo. Vertigo is a sensation of movement when none is actually occurring. The person may feel that he or she is spinning or rotating abnormally.
What is going on in the body?

Menir’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear. The inner ear is made up of the cochlea and the labyrinth. The cochlea is a snail-shaped structure involved in hearing. The labyrinth is made up of canals in the inner ear that control balance. Within the cochlea and labyrinth are two fluid-filled compartments. The separation between the two compartments is necessary for hearing and balance. It allows the nerves to communicate with each other within that space.  Read more…

LP - Spinal Tap

A spinal tap is a procedure where a special needle is inserted through the vertebrae in the lower back and into the space that surrounds the spinal cord. The space surrounding the brain and spinal cord is filled with cerebral spinal fluid or CSF. The cerebral spinal fluid works like a shock absorber and filter.
Who is a candidate for the test? Read more…

Lower Abdominal Pain - Pelvic Pain in Females

A woman’s pelvis contains the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, vagina, bladder, and rectum. Pelvic pain refers to any pain or discomfort in this area of the body.
What is going on in the body?

Pelvic pain is a common symptom in women. It is frequently, but not always, related to the reproductive system. Other causes of pelvic pain are related to the intestines or urinary tract. Psychological factors can make the pain seem worse, or even cause a sensation of pain where no physical problem exists.  Read more…

Loss of Appetite

Most people have experienced a temporary loss of appetite at some time. This is rarely a worrisome symptom unless it lasts for more than a day or two.
What is going on in the body?

A loss of appetite can be quite concerning when it fails to go away. It can be a sign of a serious underlying condition, such as depression or cancer. It also commonly occurs during a sudden illness, such as an infection. When a loss of appetite continues for a long time, a person is at risk for malnutrition.
What are the causes and risks of the condition? Read more…