There are several conditions that fall under the category of Acute Coronary Syndrome: two types of heart attacks called STEMI and NSTEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction) and unstable angina. Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) is essentially a condition where the heart loses its blood supply. When this happens, the heart can stop functioning properly. This is a very serious condition which can rapidly lead to death. ACS is usually diagnosed in an emer ...

Acute liver failure is when the liver rapidly stops functioning properly. The liver normally works to helps process nutrients, create proteins including those that help blood clot, and remove drugs and toxins from the body. Some liver diseases happen over time leading to liver failure. In contrast, acute liver failure happens over the course of only a few days and is extremely serious. Without the liver, many of the functions of the body cannot be performed normally. The blood loses its abi ...

Angina is the medical name for chest pain caused by decreased blood flow to the muscles in the heart. Normally, blood is supplied to the heart muscle through arteries around the heart. As with all organs in the body, the heart requires the oxygen from blood in order to function properly. Plaques made partly of cholesterol can build in these arteries, a condition called coronary artery disease. These plaques make the arteries smaller and less able to provide blood to the heart muscle. A pers ...

Aplastic anemia a condition in which the body does not create enough blood cells causing fatigue, inability to fight infection, and increased risk of bleeding. Bone marrow is the spongy material inside bones where new blood cell components are made from stem cells. The bone marrow makes three different components from stem cells: white blood cells (which fight infection), red blood cells (which transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissues in the body), and platelets (which help keep the body ...

An arrhythmia is an abnormal heartbeat which may or may not have symptoms. An arrhythmia can cause the heart to beat irregularly, too fast, or too slow. The heart’s pumping motion is coordinated by electrical activity that moves in an organized fashion from the top of the heart (the sinus node) through the middle of the heart (the atrioventricular node) and to the bottom of the heart (through the bundle of His and Purkinje fibers). First the electrical impulse reaches the atria at the top whi ...

Atrial fibrillation is a type of arrhythmia or abnormal beating of the heart. Normally, the heart’s pumping motion is coordinated by electrical activity that moves in an organized fashion from the top of the heart (the sinus node) through the middle of the heart (the atrioventricular node) and to the bottom of the heart (through the Bundle of His and Purkinje fibers). First the electrical impulse reaches the atria at the top which causes them to contract, filling the ventricles with blood. Th ...

Atrial flutter is a type of arrhythmia or abnormal beating of the heart. Normally, the heart’s pumping motion is coordinated by electrical activity that moves in an organized fashion from the top of the heart (the sinus node) through the middle of the heart (the atrioventricular node) and to the bottom of the heart (through the Bundle of His and Purkinje fibers). First the electrical impulse reaches the atria at the top which causes them to contract, filling the ventricles with blood. Then, t ...

Bacteremia is the presence of bacteria in the blood. People sometimes refer to bacteria in the blood as “blood poisoning” but the problem is bacteria, not a poison. The bacteria get into the bloodstream in a variety of ways including infection in the skin, bladder, lungs, abdomen, or just about any part of the body. By the time infection gets into the blood, the disease is pretty severe. If your blood pressure is too low, you may need special medicine to keep the blood pressure high (pressor ...

Bedsores are the areas of dead and damaged skin that happen as a result of sustained pressure cutting off circulation to certain areas of the body. Bedsores are also commonly called pressure sores or pressure ulcers. The most common locations for these types of sores are the low back (just above the buttocks), the buttocks, the hips, and the heels. As with all other tissues in the body, when blood supply is cut off, the tissue begins to die. Other factors that contribute to pressure ulcers i ...

Bradycardia is the medical term for a slower than normal heartbeat. A normal heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. If your heart beats less than 60 times per minute, you are considered to have a slow heartbeat or bradycardia. The organs of the body, especially the brain, are dependent on receiving oxygen-rich blood from the heart. If the heart pumps too slowly, the oxygen supply to the head may not be enough and a person may feel dizzy or lightheaded and pass out. Similarly, a ...

Broken Heart Syndrome is the common name of a temporary malfunction of the heart due to physical or emotional stress. The symptoms of broken heart syndrome often mimic a heart attack with similar chest pain. Broken heart syndrome is also called Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and stress cardiomyopathy. Broken heart syndrome is started by a sudden release of stress hormones that cause the heart to temporarily enlarge and not function properly. The release of stress hormones can be caused by any type ...

Brugada syndrome is heart rhythm disorder that is abnormal, runs in families, and can be life-threatening. Brugada syndrome is diagnosed or detected with an electrocardiogram. The problem with Brugada syndrome is that it can lead to unstable heart rhythms that can cause fainting and sudden cardiac death. Often, people who have Brugada syndrome don’t have any symptoms and don’t know that they are at risk for cardiac arrest or heart rhythm abnormalities. The heart’s normal pumping motion is co ...

Diverticulitis is the inflammation of abnormal outpouchings of the wall of the colon. These outpouchings, called diverticuli, are caused by the weakening of the bowel wall that comes with aging. Often, people do not know that they have these outpouchings (a condition called diverticulosis) until they have an episode of diverticulitis. Being older as well as eating a diet which is low in fiber and high in fat contributes to the formation of diverticuli and getting subsequent diverticulitis. D ...

Ischemic colitis is the name given to inflammation of the large intestine (colon) caused by decreased blood flow to the colon. Ischemic colitis can happen in any part of the colon but is most common on the left side of the colon as a result of the blood distribution to that side of the colon. The symptoms of ischemic colitis include abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and having to defecate urgently. Ischemic colitis is most often caused by a small blood clot in the arteries which supply blood t ...