Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Fibromuscular dysplasia
Constriction or constrictions of an artery supplying the kidney that can lead to impaired blood supply to the kidney, with subsequent release of renin and development of hypertension. Abnormal development of the fibrous and muscular walls of an artery, resulting in impaired blood flow or stenosis. It is most often found in the renal arteries…
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Essential (primary) hypertension
Primary hypertension accounts for almost 95 percent of the hypertensive population. The cause of this type of hypertension remains unknown. High blood pressure that is of an emotional or psychological origin and not a secondary consequence of an identifiable physical disorder. High blood pressure without any obvious cause. High blood pressure (hypertension) for which no…
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Elastic recoil of the aorta
The return to the normal caliber of the aorta after being distended by blood pumped into it from the heart. The return to normal caliber depends on the “elastic” quality of the aorta.
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Eclampsia
A serious condition occurring in late pregnancy that follows preeclampsia, with marked elevation of blood pressure, sometimes convulsive seizures, retention of fluid, and occasionally death of the mother and fetus. A condition characterized by convulsions and coma that may occur in a woman during pregnancy or immediately following childbirth. A serious condition of pregnant women…
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Doppler ultrasonography
A technique using ultrasound waves to determine blood flow. A test done to diagnose obstructions and other abnormalities of the heart, arteries, and veins. It also serves to monitor patients who have had arterial or venous surgery such as a bypass. The shift in frequency produced when an ultrasound wave is echoed from something in…
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Cushing’s syndrome
A condition caused by either excessive amounts of an adrenal hormone (cortisol) in the blood or excessive administration of a synthetic hormone (corticosteroid), which results in an altered body appearance and often hypertension. An endocrine disorder usually affecting young women, produced by over-secretion of cortisone and marked by mood swings, irritability, agitation, physical disfigurement, obesity,…
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Coarctation
A congenital, localized constriction or narrowing of the aorta resulting in hypertension in the upper body (above the constriction) and low blood pressure in the lower body (below the constriction). A pressing together or narrowing of a blood vessel, occurring primarily in the aorta. Constricting or narrowing, especially with reference to a congenital defect of…
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Brand-name drugs
Drugs named by the manufacturing pharmaceutical company and protected by a patent. Brand-name drugs are more expensive than generic drugs but no more effective. An over-the-counter drug.
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Beta receptors
“Targets” on various cells that, when stimulated by epinephrine and norepinephrine (or similar substances), cause a number of responses, including those related to an increased rate and strength of heart muscle contraction, which can increase blood pressure. Post-junctional receptor site that responds primarily to epinephrine which is divided into beta-1 and beta-2 types based on…
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Atrium
One of a pair of small chambers of the heart that receive blood from the veins and expel it into the ventricles, the pumping chambers of the heart. One of the upper chambers of the heart. The right atrium receives venous blood from the systems of the body while the left atrium receives oxygenated blood…
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