What is aortic stenosis?
Published April 16, 2024 | 
Stenosis is a medical term for narrowing. Aortic stenosis refers to narrowing of the valve at the outlet of the main pumping chamber (left ventricle) of the heart. This valve normally opens widely when the heart contracts and blood is ejected from the ventricle, and it closes tightly to prevent blood from flowing back from the aorta between contractions.
Aortic stenosis can create extra work for the heart as it tries to pump Continue reading
angiogenesis
Published April 16, 2024 | Angiogensis is the term used to describe the formation of blood vessels. Angiogenesis typically occurs during fetal development, wound healing and some other physiological stresses.
When people have significant narrowing of their coronary arteries, they often develop chest pain (angina) and are at risk for heart attack. Improving blood flow to areas of the heart that have diminished circulation is often the main goal of therapy. Bypass surgery and angioplasty are the means most commonly used for that purpose. Continue reading
What is cryoglobulinemia?
Published April 16, 2024 | What is cryoglobulinemia?
The term cryoglobulinemia indicates the presence of cryoglobulins in the blood. These are abnormal forms of protein molecules that precipitate at cold temperatures and redissolve at normal body temperature. Hence, when a person with cryoglobulinemia is exposed to cold, he or she may experience impaired Continue reading
Can a baby be born with too much blood? What’s the term for this and what do you do for it?
Published April 16, 2024 | ( 1997 )
About 1 percent of newborns have more than the normal amount of red blood cells in their bodies when they’re born. This condition is called polycythemia. It can be diagnosed by a blood test, either a hemoglobin or hematocrit. (Normally a baby is born with a hematocrit of approximately 45 to 65 and hemoglobin of 15 to 22.) Continue reading
Polycythemia
Published April 16, 2024 | ( 1998 )
-What is polycythemia? What are its causes and treatment?-
Polycythemia is a medical term indicating that there are too many red cells in the blood. It leads to an increase in hemoglobin levels. Continue reading
Petechiae
Published April 16, 2024 | ( 1999 )
What could be some of the causes of petechiae?
Petechiae (pe-TEE-key-ah) result from tiny areas of superficial bleeding into the skin. They appear as round, pinpoint-sized dots that are not raised. The color varies from red initially to bluish purple as they age and gradually disappear. Petechiae commonly appear on the lower legs, but may be generalized in distribution over the body. Hemorrhages into the skin are known as purpura and large areas of bleeding into the skin are known as eccymoses. Continue reading
Pernicious anemia
Published April 16, 2024 | ( 1998 )
My mother has pernicious anemia. She was thinking of purchasing folic acid pills but read that people with pernicious anemia should not take folic acid. Can you discuss this subject?
Pernicious anemia (PA) is due to a deficiency of vitamin B-12. Vitamin B-12 is needed for the normal production of red blood cells and healthy function of the nervous system. A vitamin B-12 deficiency Continue reading
What is Neutropenia ?
Published April 16, 2024 | ( 1998 )
-I would like to know what is neutropenia and what is the success rate of the treatment.-
Neutropenia is the medical term for an abnormally low number of one type of white blood cell, the neutrophil, in the circulating blood. The neutrophil, which has a characteristic appearance under the microscope, is a very important component of your body’s defenses against many bacterial infections. Continue reading