A low blood level of calcium (hypocalcemia), which can make the vervous system highly irritable, causing spasms of the hands and feet, muscle cramps, abdominal cramps, overly active reflexes. Chronic calcium deficiency contributes to poor mineralization of bones, soft bones (osteomalacia) and osteoporosis and impaired growth.

An invasive procedure using a heating or freezing technique to remove abnormal tissue within the heart that causes a faulty electrical pathway to treat certain cardiac arrhythmia conditions.

The sudden stop of the heartbeat.

A diagnostic procedure in which a tiny, hollow tube (catheter) is inserted into an artery to go to the heart in order to image the heart and blood vessels.

The amount of blood that goes through the circulatory system in one minute.

A doctor who specializes in the surgical treatment of diseases affecting organs inside the chest. Generally these conditions are of the heart and lungs.

A doctor that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases/disorders that affect the function of the heart.

Enlargement of the heart.

A chronic disease of the heart muscle that causes it to lose its pumping strength.

The procedure of applying electrical shock to the chest to change an abnormal heartbeat into a normal one.

An individual who possesses an unexpressed, recessive trait.

A flexible tube inserted through a narrow opening into a body cavity.

The determination of the quantity of each type of blood cell in a given sample of blood, often including the amount of hemoglobin, the hematocrit, and the proportions of various white cells. Also called complete blood profile.

The basic unit of any living organism that carries on the biochemical processes of life.

Relating to the brain and its blood vessels.

A sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain. Also known as a stroke.

A fat-like substance in the body.

An illness that is ongoing or that may keep going away and coming back.

The bodily system consisting of the heart, blood vessels, and blood that circulates blood throughout the body, delivers nutrients and other essential materials to cells, and removes waste products. Also called cardiovascular system.

Visual examination of the colon (with a colonoscope) from the cecum to the rectum.

A blood test used to evaluate overall health and detect a wide range of disorders, including anemia, infection and neutropenia. A complete blood count test measures several components and features of the blood, including: Red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelets.

An x-ray procedure that produces cross-sectional images of the body.

A combination of a series of X-ray views taken from many different angles and computer processing to create cross-sectional images of the bones and soft tissues inside the body.

Any trait present at birth, whether the result of a genetic or non-genetic factor.

A genetic disorder characterized by a deficiency in the hormones of cortisol and aldosterone and an over-production of the hormone androgen, which is present at birth and affects sexual development.

A condition in which the heart cannot pump out all of the blood that enters it, which leads to an accumulation of blood in the vessels and fluid in the body tissues.

The state of being awake and aware of one's surroundings.

Spread of infection from one person or organism to another by direct or indirect contact.

The artery supplying blood to the heart.

Cat Scans. (Computed Axial Tomography Scan) This is a painless X-rays that uses a computer to make images of your body. This test can produce images of bone, blood and soft tissues so it is often used for patients who have had an injury like a car collision or sports injury.

A relatively rare endocrine (hormonal) disorder resulting from excessive exposure to cortisol. The condition can occur when the body makes too much cortisol.

Insufficient oxygen in the blood causing a bluish discoloration of the skin.