A tag used for questions on the mechanisms responsible for the initiation, development, and treatment of pathological processes in humans and animals.
Questions tagged [pathophysiology]
48 questions
25
votes
1 answer
Why do you die if you cannot breathe?
I was wondering what the actual reason for death by suffocation is. Obviously it is related to oxygen deprivation. But what is the underlying cause of death?
Is it due to insufficient oxygen for aerobic respiration, and the resulting lack of ATP…
Meep
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21
votes
3 answers
Why is the heart adversely impacted by chronic psychological stress, yet it benefits from routine physical exercise?
Chronic psychological stress is commonly said to be deleterious to the heart, and predispose one to cardiovascular disease. Yet the opposite is said about regular aerobic exercise. Physiologically, What is the difference between psychological stress…
froimovi
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20
votes
3 answers
What causes a 'stuffy' or 'runny' nose when you have a cold?
When humans get the common cold, a common symptom is a stuffy or runny nose. Is that the body's immune response or is that the virus's doing?
Gabriel Fair
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9
votes
1 answer
Why gout attacks mostly big toe?
A gout attack typically causes pain, swelling, redness, and warmth (inflammation) in a single joint, most often the big toe.
What makes big toe more susceptible for gout?
Also I was said that it mostly occurs in right big toe, if this is correct…
JM97
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8
votes
1 answer
How does myopia develop, exactly?
Recently I was reading about myopia and I understood a few basic facts about it:
Its initial cause is a constant spasm in the ciliary muscle.
To do less work, the eyeball elongates a tiny bit.
During adolescence, because of the growth of the body,…
user132181
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8
votes
2 answers
What is the biological reason for a burst appendix being potentially lethal?
Given that the appendix does not seem to be used by the human body, what is the biological reason that it is potentially lethal when this organ bursts?
Also, what would cause the 'burst'?
user9474
6
votes
1 answer
How does vitamin C increase iron uptake?
I've read that vitamin C increases the iron uptake in the human body. How does that work, physiologically?
Al Lelopath
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5
votes
1 answer
How can heart disease cause excessive sweating?
According to google:
What can cause sudden sweating?
Excessive Sweating. A person with
excessive sweating has a condition called hyperhidrosis. ... In
adults, the most common cause of hyperhidrosis is emotional stress.
However, excessive…
inf3rno
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4
votes
2 answers
What is the cause of a protuberant belly in kwashiorkor?
Kwashiorkor is a PEM (Protein–energy malnutrition) usually characterised by a pot belly. Why is there a pot belly in the case of a malnutrition? I have found contradictory reasons. This paper says that it is due to a fatty liver. This website says…
Bipasha
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4
votes
1 answer
What is the reason behind more severe proteinuria in nephrotic syndrome than in nephritic syndrome?
Why is there less protein loss via urine in case of nephritic syndrome than in case of nephrotic syndrome?
user8041
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3
votes
2 answers
Pneumonia in children after abdominal operations
This textbook says:
Consequently, young children are prone to suffer from pneumonia after abdominal operations, because they resist breathing (being abdominal) due to pain. As a result the secretions in the lungs tend to accumulate, which…
JM97
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3
votes
1 answer
Pathophysiology of pink frothy sputum in pulmonary edema
Pulmonary edema is a condition where fluid leaks into the alveolar spaces. This can be due to to hemodynamic causes like left heart failure and pulmonary venous obstruction or microvascular injury or increased capillary permeability.
Clinically we…
Polisetty
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3
votes
1 answer
Predictive Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) for Bipolar Disorder
Are there any validated SNPs that are either predictive of developing bipolar spectrum disorder or are associated with its pathophysiology?
user560
3
votes
1 answer
Can non-carbonated energy drinks boost alcohol intoxication?
I just read news article about
banning caffeine in alcohol drinks and
about that energy drinks increase the urge to drink alcohol.
Energy drinks cause sugar intoxication - answer about it here in the thread Decreasing the alcohol proof and…
Léo Léopold Hertz 준영
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3
votes
1 answer
Hypersensitivity Simultaneously in Ear canals
I got experimental data where hypersensitivity (i.e. tonic pain when touching ear canal) was recognised for about 100 minutes.
I do not know which type of hypersensitivity is this one.
IgM can reach ear canal, I think (not sure) - it is just in…
Léo Léopold Hertz 준영
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