Nursing Blog

Signs and Symptoms According Patricia Gonce Morton et al, 2011 are: 1. Organic Change The amount of connective tissue and collagen increases. Cellular elements of the nervous system, muscles, and other vital organs disappears. The number of cells whose normal function decline. The amount of fat increases. The use of oxygen decreases. During rest, the amount of blood that is pumped decreases. The amount of air the lungs expired less. Hormone excretion declined. Sensory and perceptual activity decreased. The absorption of fat, protein, and carbohydrates decreased. Thicken the arterial lumen. 2. Nervous System Signs: A decrease in the number of neurons and an increase in the size and number of neuroglial cells. Decrease nerves and nerve fibers. Atrophy of the brain and an increase in dead space in the cranium. Thickening of the leptomeninges in the spinal cord. Symptoms: Increased risk of neurological problems; cerebrovascular injury, parkinsonism. Conduction of nerve fibers across the sy...

When HG is severe and/or inadequately treated, it may result in: Loss of 5% or more of pre-pregnancy body weight Dehydration, causing ketosis and constipation Nutritional deficiencies Metabolic imbalances Altered sense of taste Sensitivity of the brain to motion Food leaving the stomach more slowly Rapidly changing hormone levels during pregnancy Stomach contents moving back up from the stomach Physical and emotional stress of pregnancy on the body Subconjunctival hemorrhage (broken blood vessels in the eyes) Difficulty with daily activities Hallucinations Some women with HG lose as much as 30% of their body weight. Many sufferers of HG are extremely sensitive to odors in their environment; certain smells may exacerbate symptoms. This is known as hyperolfaction. Ptyalism, or hypersalivation, is another symptom experienced by some women suffering from HG. As compared to morning sickness, HG tends to begin somewhat earlier in the pregnancy and last significantly longer. While most women ...

What are the symptoms of typhoid fever? The incubation period is usually one to two weeks, and the duration of the illness is about four to six weeks. The patient experiences poor appetite; abdominal pain; headaches; generalized aches and pains; fever, often up to 104 F; lethargy (usually only if untreated); intestinal bleeding or perforation (after two to three weeks of the disease); diarrhea or constipation. People with typhoid fever usually have a sustained fever as high as 103 F-104 F (39 C-40 C). Chest congestion develops in many patients, and abdominal pain and discomfort are common. The fever becomes constant. Improvement occurs in the third and fourth week in those without complications. About 10% of patients have recurrent symptoms (relapse) after feeling better for one to two weeks. Relapses are actually more common in individuals treated with antibiotics. Source : http://www.medicinenet.com

Shock Symptoms Shock is defined as abnormal metabolism at the cellular level. Since it is not easy to directly measure cellular problems, the symptoms of shock are indirect measurements of cellular function. Shock is the end stage of all diseases, and symptoms will often be dependant on the underlying cause. Vital signs As the patient goes through the various stages of shock, vital signs change. In the early stages, the body tries to compensate by moving fluids around from within cells to the blood stream with an attempt to maintain blood pressure in a normal range. However, there may be a slight rise in the heart rate (tachycardia = tachy or fast + cardia or heart). Think of donating blood. A unit of blood (or about 10% of your blood volume) is removed, yet the body compensates well, except for a little lightheadedness, which is often resolved by drinking fluids. Another example is exercising and forgetting to drink enough fluids and feeling a little tired at the end of the day. As th...

Symptoms or signs of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years (or more) after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space (pleural effusion) are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma . Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face. These symptoms may be caused by mesotheliom a or by other, less serious conditions. Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms : Chest wall pain Pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung Shortness of breath Fatigue or anemia Wheezing, hoarseness, or...

A blockage in the heart's arteries may reduce or completely cut off the blood supply to a portion of the heart. This can cause a blood clot to form and totally stop blood flow in a coronary artery, resulting in a heart attack (also called an acute myocardial infarction or MI). Irreversible injury to the heart muscle usually occurs if medical help is not received promptly. Unfortunately, it is common for people to dismiss heart attack symptoms. What are the warning signs of a heart attack ? The American Heart Association and other medical experts say the body likely will send one or more of these warning signals of a heart attack: Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes. Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arms. The pain may be mild to intense. It may feel like pressure, tightness, burning, or heavy weight. It may be located in the chest, upper abdomen, neck, jaw, or inside the arms or shoulders. Chest disc...

We must ensure that the bleeding from the nasopharynx, by way of distinguishing characteristics as follows: Coughing up blood Blood coughed with a burning sensation in the throat Frothy blood mixed with air Pink fresh blood Anemia is sometimes occur Benzidine test negative Vomiting blood Blood spewed by the nausea Blood mixed with leftovers Black blood due to gastric acid mixed Acidic Blood Anemia occurs as cheerfully Benzidine positive test Epistaxis Blood dripped from his nose Coughing quietly sometimes out Fresh red blood Blood is alkaline Anemia is rare

A boil is a localized infection deep in the skin. A boil generally starts as a reddened, tender area. Over time, the area becomes firm, hard, and tender. Eventually, the center of the boil softens and becomes filled with infection-fighting white blood cells from the bloodstream to eradicate the infection. This collection of white blood cells, bacteria, and proteins is known as pus. Finally, the pus "forms a head," which can be surgically opened or spontaneously drain out through the surface of the skin. Pus enclosed within tissue is referred to as an abscess. A boil is also referred to as a skin abscess. There are several different types of boils. Among these are: * Furuncle or carbuncle: This is an abscess in the skin caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. A furuncle can have one or more openings onto the skin and may be associated with a fever or chills. The term carbuncle is sometimes reserved for an abscess that involves a group of hair follicles. The condition of...

Vertigo implies that there is a sensation of motion either of the person or the environment, often perceived as if the room is spinning around you. This should not be confused with symptoms of lightheadedness or fainting. Vertigo differs from motion sickness in that motion sickness is a feeling of being off-balance and lacking equilibrium, caused by repeated motions such as riding in a car or boat. If true vertigo exists, symptoms include a sensation of disorientation or motion. In addition, the individual may also have any or all of these symptoms : nausea or vomiting, sweating, and/or abnormal eye movements. The duration of symptoms can be from minutes to hours, and symptoms can be constant or episodic. The onset may be due to a movement or change in position. It is important to tell the doctor about any recent head trauma or whiplash injury as well as any new medications the affected individual is taking. The person may have hearing loss and a ringing sensation in t...

Symptoms of of Chronic Glomerulonephritis This condition causes high blood pressure (hypertension) and chronic kidney failu re. Specific symptoms include: Blood in the urine (dark, rust-colored, or brown urine) Foamy urine Chronic kidney failure symptoms that gradually develop may include the following: Decreased alertness Drowsiness, somnolence, lethargy Confusion, delirium Coma Decreased sensation in the hands, feet, or other areas Decreased urine output Easy bruising or bleeding Fatigue Frequent hiccups General ill feeling (malaise) Generalized itching Headache Increased skin pigmentation -- skin may appear yellow or brown Muscle cramps Muscle twitching Nausea and vomiting Need to urinate at night Seizures Unintentional weight loss Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease: Blood in the vomit or stools Excessive urination High blood pressure Nosebleed

Chronic obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is comprised primarily of three related conditions - chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma , and emphysema. In each condition there is chronic obstruction of the flow of air through the airways and out of the lungs, and the obstruction generally is permanent and may be progressive over time. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ( COPD ) is a chronic lung disease . COPD is characterized by limitation of airflow in the airway that is not fully reversible , is progressive , and is usually caused by inflammation of the lung caused by exposure to harmful gases that can give you an idea of systemic disorders . These disorders are preventable and treatable . The main cause of COPD is cigarette, smoke pollution from combustion, hazardous gases and particles. Impaired airflow in the airway caused lung inflammation that causes a combination of small airway disease (small airway disease) and parenchymal destruction (emphysema). Signs and Symptoms f...

Signs and Symptoms of Emphysema Emphysema is a disease of the lung tissue caused by destruction of structures feeding the alveoli, in some cases owing to the action of alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency. Smoking is one major cause of this destruction, which causes the small airways in the lungs to collapse during forced exhalation. As a result, airflow is impeded and air becomes trapped, just as in other obstructive lung diseases. Symptoms include shortness of breath on exertion, and an expanded chest. People with this disease do not get enough oxygen and cannot remove carbon dioxide from their blood; they therefore exhibit dyspnea (shortness of breath). At first this occurs only during physical activity. Eventually it will occur after any physical exertion. Later the patient may be dyspneic all the time, even when relaxing. Because breathing is difficult, the patient must use accessory muscles to help them breathe; tachypnea (rapid breathing) may occur they try to extend their exertion. ...