Category: Diseases
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Meningitis: It’s not a headache
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Overview Meningitis is an infection and swelling around the brain. The membrane around the brain and spinal cord is called the meninges. Some causes of meningitis include viral infections, bacteria, parasites, and fungi. In some cases, the meningitis can resolve itself without treatment. In other cases, it can be life-threatening,…
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From Flutter to Frenzy: Tachycardia Simplified
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Overview Tachycardia is a heart condition where the heart rate is faster than normal; a normal heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute, while tachycardia is over 100 beats per minute. However, during exercise or stressful situations, it is normal to have a faster heart rate; it is only concerning…
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Your Heart, Out of Rhythm: A-Fib Simplified
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Overview Atrial fibrillation, or A-Fib, is a dangerous type of arrhythmia, but less than its counterpart V-Fib. This arrhythmia affects the upper chambers of the heart, the atria. It is the most common type with about five million Americans estimated to have it. A-Fib most commonly leads to blood clots,…
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A Brief Attack Can Change a Lifetime
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Overview A transient ischemic attack is the same as a stroke with not as long-lasting damage. A brief blockage of blood flow lasts about a few minutes. Having a TIA episode is a warning that a stroke is coming with about 1 in 3 people having the chance that a…
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Heartbeats at a Snail’s Pace: Bradycardia Simplified
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Overview Bradycardia is a heart condition in which the heart rate is slower than normal. A normal heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute, while those with bradycardia have a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute. It is important to note that bradycardia can be considered normal;…
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How Spina Bifida Affects Child Development, and How It’s Treated
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Overview Spina bifida is a spine condition that is usually found at birth. The term translates to “split spine,” and what happens is a part of the neural tube fails to develop correctly. Though the severity differs from case to case, this disease can cause problems with the spinal cord,…
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Understanding Childhood Cancer: All You Need to Know About Wilms Tumor
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Overview Wilms Tumor, or nephroblastoma, is a type of cancer that is almost always found in children. For the most part, this disease only affects one kidney, but occasionally affects both. This is the most common type of kidney cancer, and makes up 6% of all childhood cancer cases. It…
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Human Immunodeficiency Virus
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Overview: HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a disease that affects the body’s immune system and hinders the body’s ability to protect itself from various diseases and infections. If HIV isn’t treated soon enough it can become AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). AIDS is the most advanced version of HIV and typically…
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COVID-19
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Overview COVID-19 (also known simply as coronavirus) is a respiratory disease that is often confused with influenza, promises, or even a cold. COVID mainly attacks our lungs and all aspects of our respiratory system. COVID-19 is spread through an infected person who breathes out droplets of the virus. It can…
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Rescue in a Heartbeat: Sudden Cardiac Arrest Simplified
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Overview Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a medical emergency that results in the sudden loss of heart activity. Although it is similiar, this is NOT a heart attack. The differences between the two can be read here. It is also noted that a heart attack can lead to sudden cardiac…