Category Archives: Glossary

The stethoscope is an extremely useful instrument for evaluating lung disease.  This is the main exception to our basic principle, that the vast majority of medical diagnoses are made by careful history-taking, not by physical examination.  That may surprise patients, but it’s absolutely true.  Normal lung sounds are simply a rush of air.  For certainContinue reading “Lung Sounds (by Stethoscope)”

When it comes to the abdomen, we distinguish between conditions within the lumen vs. those outside the lumen.  The “lumen” is the digestive “tube” that begins in the mouth & throat, becomes the esophagus, joins into the stomach, and transitions directly with the small intestine, which connects into the large intestine (whose final segment isContinue reading “The Lumen”

Oftentimes when a patient complains of intermittent chest pain, or shortness of breath with exertion, we might suspect blockage in the Coronary Arteries (see Diagram: The Heart – Anatomy). So we order an EKG, which commonly winds up normal at rest, when the chest pain is gone. However, if the symptoms sound convincing, and theContinue reading “Cardiac Stress Tests”

BNP stands for Brain-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP). It’s made in the heart and has nothing to do with the brain, just that the molecule resembles one in the brain (hence “brain-type“). The test was invented around 2005 and is a quick, easy way to decide if a patient might have Heart Failure. Normal is <100Continue reading “BNP test for Heart Failure”

This means that the body (“soma”) reacts with physical symptoms due to a psychological cause.  It used to be called “psychosomatic”.  Patients may be casually dismissed as “hypochondriacs” by their friends (and medical providers), but that’s inappropriate.  It’s a rather severe form of Anxiety, with or without Depression.  Here are some examples: 1.  A 50-year-oldContinue reading “Somatization Disorder”

Ascites is abnormal free fluid floating in the abdomen (i.e. in the Peritoneal Cavity; see Diagram – The Gastrointestinal System).  The main cause is Cirrhosis of the liver, because scars there block veins passing through the organ, slowing blood flow, so fluid leaks out.  The condition is also called “Portal Hypertension,” meaning too much pressureContinue reading “Ascites”

A laparoscope is an instrument that is inserted into the peritoneal cavity (see diagram toward the end of Gastrointestinal System).   Laparoscopy usually involves incising 3 holes, one for the scope itself (to see), and 2 others for surgical instruments to manipulate around.  Before its invention in the 1980s, surgeons had to perform a laparotomy, i.e. operatingContinue reading “Laparoscopy”

When I began practicing many years ago, the urine pregnancy tests we used were inaccurate until 6-8 weeks of pregnancy.  Now they become positive 1 week after conception, even before the first missed period (conception occurs about 2 weeks after the last normal period, if periods occur regularly every 28-30 days).  I assume this isContinue reading “Pregnancy Tests”

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacteria that lives in the stomach; it’s been around for over 50,000 years.  It’s likely a cause of most Duodenal Ulcers (we all talk about “stomach ulcers,” but most of them occur in the duodenum, the very first part of the small intestine next to the stomach;  see DiagramContinue reading “Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)”

Bronchospasm is when the bronchi are narrowed by either constriction of bronchial muscle, and/or swelling / mucus inside.  See Lower Respiratory Tract, Diagram D (Asthma / Bronchospasm) for a picture-worth-a-whole-bunch-of-words.  Disease wich cause Bronchospasm include: Acute Bronchitis Asthma Chronic Bronchitis After viral lung infections, Post-Viral Bronchospasm can last up to 3 months. Heart Failure, whichContinue reading “Bronchospasm”