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Tag Archives: Shortness of Breath

Cardiomyopathy, Idiopathic Dilated

What Is Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy? Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) is a disorder of myocardial (heart muscle) function characterized by dilation or enlargement of the cardiac chambers and reduction in the ability of the ventricles (lower chambers) to contract with the required force ...

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Iron Deficiency

What Is Iron? Iron is an essential mineral that is required for normal body function. Almost two-thirds of iron in the body is found in hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to tissues. Smaller amounts of ...

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Vitamin B12 Deficiency

What Is Vitamin B12? Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is a highly complex vitamin that functions in two coenzyme forms: adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin. These forms of the vitamin play important roles in the physical and chemical processes by which amino ...

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Sarcoidosis

What Is Sarcoidosis? Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease characterized by hard granulomas and inflammation of the alveoli in lungs that occurrs in 80% of patients. Alveoli are the tiny one cell thick round structures that are clustered at the ...

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Pulmonary Hemosiderosis, Idiopathic  (Lane-Hamilton Syndrome)

What Is Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis? Pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare and severe pulmonary syndrome characterized by a triad of recurrent episodes of alveolar hemorrhage (bleeding into air sacs), hemoptysis (coughing blood), and iron deficiency anemia. Q: What is the prognosis ...

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Bronchiectasis

What Is Bronchiectasis? Bronchiectasis is a pulmonary disorder characterized by chronic dilation of bronchi (main airways) and bronchioles (small airways) with chronic inflammation and swelling, increasing the risk of infection. In bronchiectasis, mucus produced to trap foreign substances, such as ...

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Polymyositis

What Is Polymyositis? Polymyositis is a body-wide connective tissue disease resulting from autoimmune attack of skeletal muscles that is characterized by inflammatory and degeneratory changes. The course is unpredictable being marked by spontaneous flare-ups and remissions. Polymyositis can begin slowly or abruptly according ...

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Asthma

What Is Asthma? Asthma is a chronic immune respiratory condition characterized by narrowing and inflammation of the lung airways (large bronchi, bronchial tubes and small bronchioles) in response to an allergen as the trigger or stimulus. As such, asthma occurs ...

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Scleroderma (Systemic Sclerosis)

What Is Scleroderma? Scleroderma is a chronic skin manifestation of progressive systemic sclerosis characterized by generalized thickened, edematous skin firmly bound to subcutaneous tissue which causes limited movement. Systemic sclerosis a connective tissue disease that involves destructive changes in the ...

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Angina Pectoris

What Is Angina Pectoris? Angina pectoris, or simply angina, is a coronary syndrome characterized by an oppressive substernal pain (pain under breastbone) or pressure brought on by exertion and relieved by rest that results from failure of coronary arteries to ...

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Anemia, Refractory Iron Deficiency In Childhood (Unresponsive To Iron)

What Is Refractory Iron Deficiency Anemia In Childhood? Refractory iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a microcytic (small cell) type anemia. It is characterized by formation of abnormally small, pale red blood cells and iron depletion, or inadequate iron content in ...

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Bronchoalveolitis Leading to Bronchitis and Pneumonia

What Is Lymphocytic Bronchoalveolitis? Lymphocytic bronchoalveolitis is a pulmonary disorder characterized by lymphocytic airway inflammation of the bronchi (main passageways branching from the windpipe), bronchioles (small passageways), and alveoli (air sacs) at the end. The chronic, productive cough that develops ...

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Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy: definition

A cardiac disorder of myocardial (heart muscle) function characterized by dilation of the cardiac chambers and reduction in the ability of the ventricles (lower chambers) to contract often resulting in symptomatic heart failure.

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