The heart is a muscle surrounded by a fibrous sac containing sheath called the pericardium. There is normally 2 to 3 ccs of fluid between the heart and the pericardial lining. If excessive fluid builds up in the space between the pericardium and the heart, this is called a pericardial effusion.
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Knee pain is a very common condition. Certain characteristics of knee pain, such as pain after sitting, can help to narrow the possible causes, but are not perfectly specific to any one disease. Multiple diagnostic approaches can help to establish the cause.
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Hyperlipidemia means high fat and cholesterol in the blood. The amount and types of fat and cholesterol in the blood are determined by a complicated interaction of a persons genetic makeup and environmental factors such as the diet.
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The eyelids, or palpebrae, have some of the thinnest skin of the body and serve to protect the eyes. The eyelashes also protect the eyes from sweat, dust and debris. Secretions such as tears keep the eyes moist. Infections and inflammation can occur within the skin and glands of the eyelids, leading to swelling.
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Sterols, also known as steroid alcohols, are a class of chemicals that play multiple important roles in the body. They have parts that can dissolve in fat-like molecules and parts that can dissolve in water.
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Muscle problems have many possible causes. Inflammation of the muscle, called myositis, causes muscle weakness and wasting. Several types of drugs are linked to the development of myositis in some people.
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Lung cancer causes several types of symptoms. including generalized, whole body symptoms such as fatigue and weight loss. Lung cancer also causes symptoms from the invasion of the tumor into normal tissues, as well as symptoms related to various hormone-like compounds produced by the tumor.
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Coughing up phlegm in the morning can occur with a variety of short- and long-term conditions affecting the lungs. People with a productive cough -- meaning one that leads to expulsion of phlegm, or sputum -- often report their cough is worst in the morning.
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The organs work together to keep the body healthy. If one organ becomes dysfunctional, it can affect the others. Congestive heart failure can lead to elevated liver enzymes. However, liver enzymes can become elevated for other reasons independent of heart failure.
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Edema means swelling of the soft tissues. It tends to occur in the feet, ankles and legs or the back in persons who are lying flat for long periods of time. It also most frequently occurs in both legs. The presence of edema in both legs has a broad number of possible causes.
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The blood pH is a measure of the acidity of the blood. It stands for "power of hydrogen" and represents the concentration of hydrogen ions, which make the blood acidic. Acidic or alkaline blood can interfere with processes in the body and be both a result of disease and a cause of further problems.
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Iron is a mineral found mostly in red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes. These are the most common blood cells in the bloodstream. Blood also contains white cells, or leukocytes, which are part of the immune system, platelets involved in healing, and a variety of proteins.
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