The electrocardiogram, also called an EKG or ECG, is a test that records electrical activity within the heart. With each heartbeat, an electrical signal is conducted through specialized nerves from the upper to lower chambers of the heart. This causes …
Stomach “growling” is typically associated with hunger or an absence of food in the stomach. The medical term for intestinal rumbling is borborygmus (bor-boh-RIG-mus). If you say this out loud, you may find that pronouncing the word mimics the sound …
We spend approximately one-third of our lives asleep, but sometimes sleep can be elusive.
Almost everyone has experienced transient insomnia–the occasional inability to fall asleep, or waking up feeling unrefreshed. Thankfully, it’s usually short-lived, lasting only a few days.
Chronic …
The Greek word “apnea” means “without breath”. In sleep apnea, there is an involuntary cessation of breathing that occurs while sleeping. These pauses in breathing can last anywhere from 10 seconds to as much as a minute. Snoring is also …
Recently, I was asked a question about when a person should be started on blood pressure medication. This made me think about how the treatment recommendations have changed over time, several times in fact since I was in medical school. …
On a recent visit to see my mother, I watched her check her blood pressure with her home machine. I was surprised to find out that she wasn’t really following the best procedures for getting an accurate blood pressure reading. …
Infection caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis (also called meningococcus) is a very serious illness. It can cause meningitis, which is an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, and can also cause infections in the blood, …
I was a formula-fed baby myself, which is not surprising considering the year that I was born. In the late 50’s two “modern” baby formulas were introduced, Similac and Enfamil, both of which were aggressively advertised with exaggerated and unsubstantiated …
