Disease, coronary artery
Disease, coronary artery: A major cause of illness and death, coronary artery disease (CAD) begins when hard cholesterol substances (plaques) are deposited within a coronary artery.
(The coronary arteries arise from the aorta adjacent to the heart and supply the heart muscle with blood that is rich in oxygen. They are called the coronary arteries because they encircle the heart in the manner of a crown.)
Rupture of the plaques in the coronary arteries can cause a tiny clot to form which can obstruct the flow of blood to the heart muscle producing symptoms and signs of CAD that may include:
Chest pain (angina pectoris) from inadequate blood flow to the heart;
Heart attack (acute myocardial infarction), from the sudden total blockage of a coronary artery; or
Sudden death, due to a fatal disturbance of the heart rhythm.
Read Also:
- Disease, Crohn
An Update On The Advances In Crohn’s Disease. Click here for more information or to sign up.
- Disease, Cushing
Disease, Cushing: The constellation of symptoms and signs caused by an excess of cortisol hormone. Cushing disease (or syndrome) is an extremely complex hormonal condition that involves many areas of the body. Common symptoms are thinning of the skin, weakness, weight gain, bruising, hypertension, diabetes, thin weak bones (osteoporosis), facial puffiness and, in women, cessation […]
- Disease, degenerative joint
Disease, degenerative joint: Also known as osteoarthritis, this type of arthritis is caused by inflammation, breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of the joints. Among the over 100 different types of arthritis conditions, osteoarthritis is the most common, affecting usually the hands, feet, spine, and large weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees. […]
- Disease, exaggerated startle
Disease, exaggerated startle: A genetic disorder also known as hyperekplexia in which babies have an exaggerated startle reflex (reaction). This disorder was not recognized until 1962 when it was described by Drs. Kok and Bruyn as a disease with the onset at birth of hypertonia (stiffness), exaggerated startle response, strong brain-stem reflexes (especially head-retraction reflex) […]
- Disease, Fahr
Disease, Fahr: This syndrome described in 1930 by T. Fahr is a genetic (inherited) neurological disorder characterized by abnormal deposits of calcium in certain of areas of the brain (including the basal ganglia and the cerebral cortex). Symptoms may include motor function deterioration, dementia, mental retardation, spastic paralysis, dysarthria (poorly articulated speech), spasticity (stiffness of […]