Blood pressure refers to the force the fluid within the vascular system exerts on the walls of the vessels. Elevated blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and death. The higher blood pressure is above normal, the greater the risk.
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The left atrium is the chamber of the heart that receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs. Blood moves from the left atrium through the mitral valve into the main pumping chamber of the heart -- the left ventricle -- and then out to the body.
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Steroids, also known as glucocorticoids, can have systemic side effects such as weight gain, fluid retention, and immune suppression. Learn about the common and serious adverse reactions to steroids.
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Group B streptococcus (GBS) refers to the bacteria Streptococcus agalactiae. This germ may cause various infections in people of all age groups. However, infections of newborns are of particular concern due to the infections' severity and potential to be life-threatening.
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