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Early diagnosis and treatment of kidney failure is critical to improving length and quality of life in chronic kidney failure patients. Patient outcome varies by the cause of chronic kidney failure and the method chosen to treat it.
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Early diagnosis and treatment of kidney failure is critical to improving length and quality of life in chronic kidney failure patients. Patient outcome varies; it depends on the cause of chronic kidney failure and the method chosen to treat it.
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Hypertension is the term used to describe high blood pressure.Blood pressure readings are measured in millimeters of mercury(mmHg) and usually given as two numbers. For example, 120 over 80(written as 120/80 mmHg).The top number is your systolic p...
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In populations, blood pressures fit a normal distribution, but the attendant risks of heart disease and stroke increase curvilinearly with increasing levels of blood pressure, without any obvious breakpoint ( Fig. 63-1 ). Thus, the separation of normal from high blood pressure is arbitrary, and the definition of hypertension has been a moving target.
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The lower number is the diastolic pressure, which is the pressure when the heart is filling or relaxing before the next beat. Normal blood pressure for an adult is 120/70(on average), but normal for an individual varies with the height, weight, fi...
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The following Clinical Topic Tour provides an overview of hypertension (HTN) and was adapted from materials published by the NHLBI.
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Primary, or essential, hypertension is caused by external factors; secondary hypertension is related to an underlying disorder, such as a congenital heart defect or kidney disease. Factors that increase the risk of high blood pressure include age(...
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Hypertension is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke, leading causes of morbidity and mortality in North America. Concern has been raised that there is inadequate outpatient detection, evaluation, and treatment of hypertension, and that this is resulting in increased hospital admissions with complications of untreated hypertension: heart failure, and end-stage renal disease .
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Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries as it flows through them.
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The National High Blood Pressure Education Program(NHBPEP) was established in 1972 by the National Institute of Health to translate research results on the health hazards of high blood pressure into clinical and public health practice. Before 1900...
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Hypertension is high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries.
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Hypertension is high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries as it flows through them.
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Hypertension is high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries as it flows through them.As blood flows through arteries it pushes against the inside of the artery walls.
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Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, is a life-threatening condition in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the rest of the body.Heart failure is almost always a chronic, long-term condition, although it can sometime...
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End-stage kidney disease is the complete, or almost complete failure of the kidneys to function. The kidneys can no longer remove wastes, concentrate urine, and regulate electrolytes.Renal failure- end stage; Kidney failure- end stage; ESRD.End-st...
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Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues.Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying protein inside red blood cells.
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Anemia is a condition characterized by abnormally low levels of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin.The tissues of the human body need a regular supply of oxygen to stay healthy. Red blood cells, which contain hemoglobin that allows them to deli...
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Anemia is characterized by an abnormally low number of red blood cells in the circulating blood. It frequently affects patients with cancer.
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Anemia is a blood disorder characterized by abnormally low levels of healthy red blood cells(RBCs) or reduced hemoglobin(Hgb), the iron-bearing protein in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to tissues throughout the body. Reduced blood cell volu...
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Anemia is a condition characterized by abnormally low levels of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin(the component of red blood cells that delivers oxygen to tissues throughout the body).The tissues of the human body need a regular supply of oxyg...
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Anemia is a condition characterized by abnormally low levels of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin(the component of red blood cells that delivers oxygen to tissues throughout the body).The tissues of the human body need a regular supply of oxyg...
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Deficiency of red cells, or hemoglobin, in the blood.Anemia is a medical condition in which the quantity of red blood cells falls below an acceptable level. Red blood cells, produced in the bone marrow, contain hemoglobin, the component of blood t...
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Anemia affects more than 30 percent of the world''s population, and it is one of the most important worldwide health problems. It has a significant prevalence in both developing and industrialized nations.
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Bleeding refers to the loss of blood. Bleeding can happen inside the body(internally) or outside the body(externally).
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Hepatitis C is a viral disease that leads to swelling(inflammation) of the liver.Hepatitis C infection is caused by the hepatitis C virus(HCV). People who may be at risk for hepatitis C are those who:.Have been on long-term kidney dialysis Have re...
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Hepatitis C is a form of liver inflammation that causes primarily a long-lasting(chronic) disease. Acute(newly developed) hepatitis C is rarely observed as the early disease is generally quite mild.
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Hepatitis B is inflammation(irritation and swelling) of the liver due to the hepatitis B virus(HBV).
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Hepatitis B is a potentially serious form of liver inflammation due to infection by the hepatitis B virus(HBV). It occurs in both rapidly developing(acute) and long-lasting(chronic) forms, and is one of the commonest chronic infectious diseases wo...
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Virus, also known as serum hepatitis virus, that may lead to chronic infection of the liver in unvaccinated children.Hepatitis B virus(HBV) causes serious illnesses, notably chronic infection of the liver or liver cancer, especially if the virus i...
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Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus(HBV).Hepatitis B is a form of viral hepatitis that is also known as serum hepatitis, due to its ability to be spread through body fluids and blood. HBV can cause lifelong infection, ci...
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Dementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases.Chronic brain syndrome; Lewy body dementia; DLB; Vascular dementia.The two major causes of non-reversible(degenerative) dementia are:.Alzheimer''s disease Loss of brain function...
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Dementia is a condition characterized by a chronic decline in cognitive functions contrasted with a person''s usual state of functioning. It is seen most often in people sixty-five years and older, and the incidence increases with age.
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Dementia is a loss of mental ability severe enough to interfere with normal activities of daily living, lasting more than six months, not present since birth, and not associated with a loss or alteration of consciousness.Dementia is a group of sym...
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Dementia is not a specific disorder or disease. It is a syndrome(group of symptoms) associated with a progressive loss of memory and other intellectual functions that is serious enough to interfere with the tasks of daily life.
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Dementia is not a specific disorder or disease. It is a syndrome(group of symptoms) associated with a progressive loss of memory and other intellectual functions that is serious enough to interfere with the tasks of daily life.
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Dementia is a loss of mental ability severe enough to interfere with normal activities of daily living, lasting more than six months, not present since birth, and not associated with a loss or alteration of consciousness.Dementia is a group of sym...
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Dementia is not a specific disorder or disease. It is a syndrome(group of symptoms) associated with a progressive loss of memory and other intellectual functions that is serious enough to interfere with performing the tasks of daily life.
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The term dementia refers to symptoms, including changes in memory, personality, and behavior, that result from a change in the functioning of the brain. These declining changes are severe enough to impair the ability of a person to perform a funct...
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Dementia is a condition characterized by a progressive, irreversible decline in mental ability, accompanied by changes in behavior and personality. There is commonly a loss of memory and skills that are required to carry out activities of daily li...
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A seizure is the physical findings or changes in behavior that occur after an episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.Secondary seizures; Reactive seizures; Seizure- secondary; Seizure- reactive.There are a wide variety of possible sy...
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A seizure is a sudden change in behavior characterized by changes in sensory perception(sense of feeling) or motor activity(movement) due to an abnormal firing of nerve cells in the brain. Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizure...
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A seizure is a sudden change in behavior characterized by changes in sensory perception(sense of feeling) or motor activity(movement) due to an abnormal firing of nerve cells in the brain. Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizure...
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The intense, involuntary muscular contractions that often accompany seizures are referred to as convulsions. Seizures normally last three to five minutes, with a period of unconsciousness that may last for up to 30 minutes.Seizures can result from...
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A break of any size is called a fracture. If the broken bone punctures the skin, it is called an open fracture(compound fracture).A stress fracture is a hairline crack in the bone that develops because of repeated or prolonged forces against the b...
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A fracture is a complete or incomplete break in a bone resulting from the application of excessive force. An injury may be classified as a fracture-dislocation when a fracture involves the bony structures of any joint with associated dislocation o...
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A fracture is a complete or incomplete break in a bone resulting from the application of excessive force.A fracture usually results from traumatic injury to bones causing the continuity of bone tissues or bony cartilage to be disrupted or broken. ...
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A fracture is a complete or incomplete break in a bone resulting from the application of excessive force.A fracture usually results from traumatic injury to a bone, causing the continuity of bone tissues or bony cartilage to be disrupted or broken...
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A fracture is a crack or break in a bone. It results from the application of excessive force through injuries, such as a fall or a hard blow.Up to the age of 50, more men suffer from fractures than women because of occupational hazards.
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Primary infertility describes couples who have never been able to become pregnant after at least 1 year of unprotected sex(intercourse).Secondary infertility describes couples who have been pregnant at least once, but have not been able to become ...
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Infertility is the failure of a couple to conceive a pregnancy after trying to do so for at least one full year. In primary infertility, pregnancy has never occurred.
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Infertility is the failure of a couple to conceive a pregnancy after trying to do so for at least one full year. In primary infertility, pregnancy has never occurred.
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Infertility is the failure to conceive a pregnancy after attempting for at least one full year. In primary infertility, pregnancy has never occurred.
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Erection difficulties - age relatedQuestion:Do most men have difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection (impotence) as they grow older?Answer:Getting older does not mean you will experience impotence, although in some men, sexual responses ma...
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Impotence, often called erectile dysfunction, refers to the male''s inability to achieve or maintain an erection long enough to engage in sexual intercourse.Under normal circumstances, when a man is sexually stimulated, his brain sends a message do...
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Impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction, is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection long enough to engage in sexual intercourse.Under normal circumstances, when a man is sexually stimulated, his brain sends a message down the spinal...
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Peripheral neuropathy is a problem with the nerves that carry information to and from the brain and spinal cord. This can produce pain, loss of sensation, and an inability to control muscles.Peripheral neuritis; Neuropathy- peripheral; Neuritis- p...
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Peripheral neuropathy is a condition involving the nerves of the peripheral portion of the nervous system. Neurobiologists describe the peripheral nervous system as any part of that system found in the arms or legs.
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The term peripheral neuropathy encompasses a wide range of disorders in which the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord—peripheral nerves—have been damaged. Peripheral neuropathy may also be referred to as peripheral neuritis, or...
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The brain, in turn, sends messages back to those areas. With peripheral neuropathy, damage has occurred to the nerves that connect peripheral portions of the body, and the patient feels pain or numbness.Peripheral neuropathy is not usually conside...
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Hepatic encephalopathy is brain and nervous system damage that occurs as a complication of liver disorders.Hepatic encephalopathy is caused by disorders that affect the liver. These include disorders that reduce liver function(such as cirrhosis or...
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Encephalopathy is a condition characterized by altered brain function and structure. It is caused by diffuse brain disease.Encephalopathy may be caused by advanced and severe disease states, infections, or as a result of taking certain medications.
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Pericarditis is a condition in which the sac-like covering around the heart(pericardium) becomes inflamed.Pericarditis is usually a complication of viral infections, most commonly echovirus or coxsackie virus. Less frequently, it is caused by infl...
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Pericarditis is an inflammation of the two layers of the thin, sac-like membrane that surrounds the heart. This membrane is called the pericardium, so the term pericarditis means inflammation of the pericardium.Pericarditis is fairly common.
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A miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy.(Pregnancy losses after the 20th week are called preterm deliveries.).A miscarriage may also be called a"spontaneous abortion."
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Although it may be psychologically difficult, if a woman has a miscarriage at home she should try to collect any material she passes in a clean container for analysis in a laboratory. This may help determine why the miscarriage occurred.An incompl...
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A miscarriage is the loss of an embryo or fetus before the twentieth week of pregnancy. A pregnancy loss after the twentieth week is called a stillbirth.According to the December 1999 news release from the U.S. government''s National Center for Hea...
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Cardiac tamponade is the compression of the heart that occurs when blood or fluid builds up in the space between the myocardium(the muscle of the heart) and the pericardium(the outer covering sac of the heart).In this condition, blood or fluid col...
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Cardiac tamponade occurs when the heart is squeezed by fluid that collects inside the sac that surrounds it.The heart is surrounded by a sac called the pericardium. When this sac becomes filled with fluid, the liquid presses on the heart, preventi...
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A pinched nerve is caused by some anatomical structure putting pressure on a nerve and impairing its function. This problem may occur in many different areas of the body.
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Nerve compression is the restriction in the space around a nerve that can occur due to several reasons. Functioning of the nerve is compromised.There are a variety of circumstances that cause nerve compression.
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A pinched nerve is a general term that describes an injury to a nerve or group of nerves. The damage may include compression, constriction or stretching.
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Gastrointestinal(GI) bleeding refers to any bleeding that starts in the gastrointestinal tract, which extends from the mouth to the anus.The amount of bleeding can range from nearly undetectable to acute, massive, and life threatening.Bleeding may...
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GI bleeding studies uses radioactive materials in the investigation of bleeding from the gastrointestinal(GI) tract. These studies go under various names such as"GI bleeding scans" or"Tagged red blood cell scans."
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Immunodeficiency disorders occur when the body''s immune response is reduced or absent.
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Dry skin is most common in your lower legs, arms, flanks(sides of the abdomen), and thighs. The symptoms most often associated with dry skin include:.
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Hyperkalemia is a condition caused by higher than normal levels of potassium in the bloodstream.Potassium is involved in regulating muscle tissue, and is part of digestion, metabolism, and homeostasis(maintaining a balance between the many electri...
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Hyperkalemia refers to serum or plasma levels of potassium ions above 5.0 mM. The concentration of potassium is often expressed in units of milliequivalents per liter(mEq/L), rather than in units of millimolarity(mM).
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There are numerous joints in the body that act to stabilize and control bony segments. One example is the knee joint, which joins the femur and tibia.
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Inhibited sexual desire(ISD) refers to a low level of sexual interest. A person with ISD will not start, or respond to their partner''s desire for, sexual activity.ISD can be primary(in which the person has never felt much sexual desire or interest...
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Female sexual arousal disorder(FSAD) occurs when a woman is continually unable to attain or maintain arousal and lubrication during intercourse, is unable to reach orgasm, or has no desire for sexual intercourse.The disorder typically affects up t...
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When they do this, the platelets trigger a series of chemical changes that result in the formation of a blood clot. There are certain hereditary disorders that affect platelet function and impair their ability to start the process of blood clot fo...
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An electrolyte disorder is an imbalance of certain ionized salts(i.e., bicarbonate, calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphate, potassium, and sodium) in the blood.Electrolytes are ionized molecules found throughout the blood, tissues, and cells of t...
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A blood glucose test measures the amount of sugar(glucose) in a sample of your blood.Random blood sugar; Blood sugar level; Fasting blood sugar.Blood is typically drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The...
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