When stuff breaks

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) By: Robert Guo, 4th year medical student | Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University What is it and why does it matter for my health?  Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as “acid reflux” or “heartburn”, occurs when stomach contents escape from the stomach and move into the esophagus [...]

HEART ATTACK What is a heart attack? The heart, similar to any other part of the body, needs a supply oxygen provided by blood. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is reduced because of the formation of a clot, which prevents blood flow and leads to damage to the heart. What [...]

When the bone marrow produces too many red blood cells   The Latin word “polycythemia” means “many blood cells”. Polycythemia vera (PV) occurs when the number of red blood cells in your bloodstream is higher than normal because the bone marrow is producing too many of them. Who gets PV? PV can occur in all age [...]

When the bone marrow produces too many white blood cells   What is it? All blood cells (red, white, and platelets) are produced by the bone marrow. Leukemiais a type of cancer in which the bone marrow produces too many blood cells. Lymphocyticleukemiais when the bone marrow produces too many lymphocytes, a type of whiteblood cell. [...]

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is long-term impairment of kidney function. The kidneys work just like a coffee filter. They remove toxins from the blood. Toxins leave the body through the urine. What happens when they don’t work? Toxins that are normally removed by the kidneys build up in the blood, making you sick and causing [...]

When the spinal canal becomes too narrow Your spine is a collection of bones (vertebrae) stacked on top of each other. Down the middle, there is a hollow passage called the spinal canal. This is where the spinal cord lives, protected by the bones surrounding it. What is spinal stenosis? “Stenosis” means narrowing. In this [...]

Anemia is a condition where red blood cells cannot do their job. So what is the job of a red blood cell? The role of red blood cells is to deliver oxygen to your body. Anemia occurs when the level of red blood cells is too low to do this job properly. What can cause anemia? [...]

Resources Patient Education PDF Diet Log Low FODMAP Diet What is the role of the stomach and intestines? The role of the intestines is to move food from the stomach to the anus, while absorbing nutrients and excreting waste along the way. What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a “functional” gut [...]

High Blood Pressure What is high blood pressure? What is considered high blood pressure? A blood pressure above 140/90 is considered high. What are the factors that influence blood pressure? Stiff blood vessels (Atherosclerosis): Blood vessels narrow as we age, and this can make the blood pressure higher. Smoking and diabetes can make this happen earlier in life. [...]

ABDOMINAL HERNIAS What is a hernia? The abdominal wall is made of fat, muscle, and skin that keep all of our organs inside. A hernia is a gap in the tough lining of the abdominal wall. The red areas highlight “weak spots” in the abdominal wall where hernias are found commonly. The central circle is the [...]