The spleen is an organ located in the left upper abdomen. It is highly vascular, meaning it holds a high volume of blood. A spleen injury may occur from blunt force to the abdomen, such as from playing sports or a motor vehicle accident, or as a...
The first 24 to 48 hours immediately following surgery is a critical time period. Many things need to happen in order to safely recover. A patient needs to awaken from anesthesia, vital signs need to be stable, and the patient must start to...
Hypotension is word that describes low blood pressure. In general, blood pressure reflects both the heart's ability to pump blood and the amount of fluid in the patient. A fast heart rate is the body's way of trying to distribute oxygen and...
The Mayo Clinic explains that some doctors consider a blood pressure as being low if the top number is lower than 90 or the bottom number is lower than 60. Furthermore, if a person has a healthy top number, but a low bottom number, he still has...
According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," shock is defined as multisystem organ hypoperfusion. Blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues are impeded. Shock may be due to trauma, heatstroke, blood loss, an allergic reaction,...
An aortic aneurysm occurs when a weakness causes bulging in the aorta, a major artery responsible for carrying the blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The existence of an aortic aneurysm does not often cause symptoms; however, if the...
Patients undergoing surgery are at risk for developing circulatory problems such as hypovolemic shock due to loss of fluids and blood. Patients undergoing major procedures, as well as those in generally poor health, are most at risk for fluid...
Diabetes insipidus is a condition in which the body produces large volumes of urine. One type of diabetes insipidus, known as neurogenic or central diabetes insipidus, is caused by a problem in the brain that causes it to produce too little of a...
Saunas have been used for centuries for everything from sacred religious rites to healing. Even today saunas are a regular fixture in health and fitness centers across the United States and in many countries throughout the world. Saunas can be...
Also known as hypotension, low blood pressure can be as dangerous for people as high blood pressure. The Mayo Clinic explains that it can lead to heart and neurological disorders, and produces symptoms that include dizzizness, blurry vision,...
Before booking a spa appointment for a body wrap, you may want to assess the risks and benefits. While body wraps provide a quick way to lose a few inches for a big event and claim to purge toxins from the body, they also come with risks. Always...
Internal hemorrhaging is bleeding on the inside of the body. Internal bleeding can occur almost anywhere in the body. Common sites include the stomach, lungs and brain. Signs of internal hemorrhaging will vary depending on the location of the...
Steam rooms are commonplace in many fitness facilities and even some private homes. They are commonly used for a wide range of purposes from relaxation of the muscles to alternative healing. When using a steam room for any purpose, it's important...
Hypovolemia occurs when the body has lost too much blood or body fluid to support normal circulation and body functions. Though hypovolemia has many causes, the main treatment for hypovolemia is to replace blood or fluid that has been lost,...
A blood transfusion is a common medical procedure in which donor blood is infused into a patient to replace important components of the blood. Blood has several components, including white blood cells, red blood cells, plasma and platelets....
Water is essential for human life. Your body's function revolves around the use of water in countless biochemical reactions and processes throughout every organ system. When you exercise, water is lost through the evaporation of sweat from your...
A nosebleed, also referred to as epistaxis, occur from conditions such as an injury to the nose, dry air and taking medications that thin the blood, according to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library Home Edition. First aid treatments are...
Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis is a disease that most often affects small dogs; it is also more commonly seen in younger dogs aged 2 to 5 years. Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis is a potentially fatal disorder characterized by bloody stools and blood in...
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that has effects throughout the body. One way in which dopamine can be used medically is in the treatment of hypovolemic shock, which occurs when a patient's blood volume is dangerously low. In this case, an infusion...
The Blood Pressure Association, the UK's leading blood pressure charity dedicated to preventing stroke and heart attack, defines low blood pressure as a reading lower than 90/60. Although this condition is natural for some and is not a cause for...
Signs of blood pressure problems are not always abundant or clear. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health, elevated blood pressure or hypertension typically has no signs or...
Low blood pressure, or hypotension as it is also known, is any reading lower than 90/60 mm Hg, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood institute. The body is very sensitive to changes in blood pressure. Special cells in the arteries can...
Along with body temperature and pulse rate, blood pressure is one of the primary vital signs and something your doctor invariably assesses during a physical exam. Although many of us are concerned about hypertension, or high blood pressure, few...
Cesarean section is the most common surgery performed in the United States; nearly one third of all deliveries are cesarean sections, according to the Center for Disease Control. Bleeding can occur from the uterine or skin incision, from the...
Low blood pressure, or hypotension, can be a serious medical problem, compromising blood flow to the body organs and tissues. Low blood pressure often presents with dizziness or fainting when rising to a standing position, caused by insufficient...
MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, describes diabetes insipidus as rare disease in which the kidneys do not properly reabsorb fluids into the body. The resulting signs and symptoms include a frequent need to urinate...
Addison's disease is a condition marked by a lack of production of hormones--including cortisol--by the adrenal glands. Cortisol is a hormone which helps modulate the body's stress response. An acute adrenal crisis, also known as an Addisonian...
The spleen is an organ located in the upper left portion of the abdomen. Functions of the spleen include helping the body fight infections, destroying damaged cells and helping regulate the amount of blood in the body, according to MedlinePlus....
Low blood pressure, also known as hypotension, is not considered a problem as long as no symptoms are present, according to the American Heart Association. However, a sudden drop in blood pressure, a condition known as orthostatic hypotension, can...