Asthma is a chronic condition affecting the lungs. When in contact with a trigger, the muscles around the airways constrict, and inflammation and mucus in the airways make breathing difficult, causing an asthma attack. There is no cure for asthma, and untreated asthma attacks can be life-threatening, but there are many effective treatments that help … Read more
Schizophrenia is a mental illness that affects the way a person thinks, perceives information, responds emotionally, and behaves. There are different types of schizophrenia that produce their own set of clinical manifestations. Schizophrenia symptoms can be divided into positive or negative categories: Positive symptoms are in addition to reality and include symptoms of psychosis such … Read more
Sepsis is when an infection, usually bacterial in nature, enters the bloodstream causing a systemic infection with an extreme immune response. Sepsis is life-threatening and requires early intervention to prevent septic shock which can lead to organ failure and death. Sepsis often develops very quickly and has a high mortality rate if not recognized and … Read more
Anemia occurs when there are not enough red blood cells or red blood cells do not function properly, resulting in low hemoglobin and a lack of oxygen throughout the body. Anemia is caused by blood loss, decreased red blood cell (RBC) production, or the destruction of RBCs. There are many types of anemia. While some … Read more
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella term that also includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. COPD causes the airways of the lungs to narrow due to inflammation, mucus, or other damage. This affects the ability to breathe normally and often results in shortness of breath, especially on exertion. COPD is a progressive disease that … Read more
A cerebrovascular accident (CVA), more commonly known as a stroke, occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked. Types of Stroke There are two main types of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes are caused by a reduction or complete blockage of blood flow to an area of the brain. Without oxygen and nutrients, … Read more
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by a bacteria, virus, or fungus. In healthy individuals, pneumonia is not usually life-threatening and does not require hospitalization. Those at higher risk, such as the very young or old, patients with compromised immune systems, or who already have a respiratory comorbidity, may require inpatient care and … Read more
Hypertension is high blood pressure. The guidelines were updated by the American College of Cardiology in 2017, and a blood pressure (BP) of less than 120/80 mmHg is now considered normal. Anything above this is considered elevated, and stage 1 hypertension is diagnosed at 130/80 mmHg. BP of less than 90/60 mmHg is considered hypotensive. Hypertension … Read more
Heart failure (HF), sometimes referred to as Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), occurs when the heart can’t supply blood effectively to the rest of the body. The left ventricle of the heart is larger and is responsible for most of the pumping action. In left-sided HF, the left ventricle either loses its contractility, so it can’t … Read more
Dementia is a commonly used term, formerly used to describe a decline in mental cognition that interferes with daily life. Dementia has been replaced in the DSM-V criteria by the term Major Neurocognitive Disorder (MND). Patients with MND experience a significant decline in cognition along with a decrease in the ability to perform everyday tasks. … Read more