What is a heart attack? Readers Comments 2 Share Your Story A heart attack (also known as a myocardial infarction or MI) is the death of heart muscle from the sudden blockage by a blood clot in a coronary artery that supplies blood to the heart. Blockage of a coronary artery deprives the heart muscle...
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5 Symptoms of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Types, Treatment & Lifespan
Spinal muscular atrophy definition and facts* Share Your Story *Spinal muscular atrophy facts medically edited by Melissa Conrad Stöppler Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited (hereditary) disease that results in destruction of lower motor neurons, nerve cells in the brain stem and spinal cord that control essential voluntary muscle activity. This genetic disorder is...
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Ciguatera Fish Poisoning: Toxin Test & Symptoms
What is ciguatera poisoning? Readers Comments 5 Share Your Story Ciguatera is a type of food poisoning. The ciguatera toxin may be found in large reef fish, most commonly barracuda, grouper, red snapper, eel, amberjack, sea bass, and Spanish mackerel. These fish live in coral reef waters between latitudes of 35 degrees south to 35...
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Apgar Score: Test Results on the Apgar Scale for Babies
What is the Apgar score? Most term infants make a successful and uneventful transition from living within the womb to the outside world. Some will need some medical intervention, and very few will require extensive resuscitation. A reproducible and rapidly determined rating system is necessary for evaluation of the condition of the newborn infant. The...
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Antro-duodenal Motility Study Alternatives & Side Effects
What is an antro-duodenal motility study? An antro-duodenal motility study is used to evaluate the ability of the muscles of the stomach and the first portion of the small intestine (duodenum) to contract. Conditions in which there is abnormal contraction of the muscles of the stomach and the small intestine are referred to as motility...
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Hand Joint Replacement Surgery: Procedure & Implants
What happens in joint replacement surgery? Joint replacement surgery involves replacing a destroyed joint with an artificial joint. In knee or hip replacement surgery, the artificial joint is made out of metal and plastic. In the case of joint replacement in the hand, the new joint is most commonly composed of silicone rubber or the...
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Vitamin A Supplement Benefits, Side Effects, Dosage & Uses
What is vitamin A-oral, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Oral vitamin A is used to treat vitamin A deficiency. Carotene compounds (found, for example, in egg yolk, butter and cream) are gradually converted by the body to vitamin A (retinol). Vitamin A supports growth and bone development, vision, reproduction, and development and...
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Dilaudid vs. Oxycodone: Differences Between Opioid Painkillers
Dilaudid vs. Oxycodone Dilaudid (hydromorphone hydrochloride) and oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone, Oxecta, Oxaydo, Xtampza ER, and Roxybond) are both opioid narcotic pain relievers. Oxycodone is also used as a cough suppressant, and is often available in forms combined with other non-narcotic pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or aspirin. Side effects of Dilaudid and oxycodone that...
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What Is Achondroplasia? Symptoms, Treatment & Genetics
Achondroplasia facts Achondroplasia is a genetic disorder of bone growth. Achondroplasia is the cause of the most common type of dwarfism (short-limbed disproportionate dwarfism) Achondroplasia is the most common cause of short stature with disproportionately short limbs. The appearance of the person with achondroplasia is characteristic. Intelligence is normal in people with achondroplasia. Complications of...
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Episiotomy Pain, Stitches & Healing
What is an episiotomy? An episiotomy is an incision made between the vagina and the rectum in order to increase the size of the opening of the vagina and facilitate the delivery of a baby. How common is episiotomy? An episiotomy is performed in a large percentage of vaginal deliveries in the United States, but the...