Compartment syndrome occurs when swelling or bleeding in an area creates excessive pressure within a particular muscle compartment area of the body. A recent physical injury is usually the cause of compartmentalized bleeding or swelling. The pressure can prevent blood from flowing to the affected area, necessitating emergency surgery. Failure…
A Pap smear, also known as a Pap test, is an exam used by doctors to screen women for cervical cancer. It can also detect changes in your cervical cells that could lead to cancer later on. Early detection of cancer gives you the best chance of beating it. Pap…
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a disease that affects many aspects of a woman’s health, most notably menstruation and metabolism. There are several signs that a woman may have PCOS that include missed periods, pelvic pain, high glucose or insulin levels, excess weight gain, and fatigue. One of the primary…
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a type of severe, acute lung dysfunction caused by illness or injury that affects all or most of both lungs. Although it is commonly referred to as adult respiratory distress syndrome, it can also affect children. ARDS is caused by a buildup of fluid…
While watching the World Series, the Olympics, or any other major sporting event, it is easy to overlook the tremendous effort that each athlete has exerted to play their sport. Every no-hitter and gold medalist has spent years training, conditioning, and learning how to out-think their opponents. Many of the…
The birth of a child is one of the most joyous occasions in a person’s life. Parents have the right to expect that every precaution will be taken to ensure the mother’s and baby’s health and safety during the labor and delivery process. Unfortunately, this does not always occur, and…
Emergency rooms are frequently chaotic environments. Patients are rushed in for emergency treatment for serious injuries or illnesses. As a result, doctors and nurses are responding quickly to patients’ needs and performing emergency procedures. However, due to the fast-paced environment of emergency rooms, errors are frequently made, causing patients further…
When we send our children to school, we put a lot of faith in the adults who will be watching over them all day. All too often, school and staff members’ negligence results in serious injuries to children. It is the responsibility of schools to provide a safe environment for…
Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM) can monitor the health of the baby during labor by continuously measuring the fetal heart rate. The fetal heart rate pattern must be evaluated in order to establish if the infant is receiving sufficient oxygen during labor and delivery. When a baby is deprived of adequate…
According to the United States Department of Transportation, 1.6 million automotive accidents occur each year as a result of distracted drivers on their cell phones. All of these accidents resulted in approximately 500,000 injuries and 6,000 deaths. According to Verizon Wireless, those who read or compose text messages while driving…