Medical emergencies

(Soy Protein Allergy, Soybean Food Allergy) Many people are allergic to soy protein or anything containing soy protein, including: edamame hydrolyzed vegetable (soy) protein (HVP) miso natto shoyu sauce soy (soy albumin, soy fiber, soy flour, soy grits, soy milk, soy nuts, soy sprouts) soya soybean (curd, granules) soy protein (concentrate, isolate) soy sauce Tamari Tempeh textured vegetable protein (TVP) tofu The following food additives may contain soy protein: flavoring (includin ...

See also:

Soy allergy, Soy allergy - Soy Allergy Allergies

Read more here: » Soy allergy: Encyclopedia II - Soy allergy - Soy Allergy Allergies

Bowel obstruction is mechanical blockage of the intestines, preventing the normal transit of the products of digestion. It can occur at any level in the digestive tract, and is a medical emergency. Although many cases are not treated surgically, it is a surgical problem. Bowel obstruction - Causes. Bowel obstruction - Small bowel obstruction. Causes of small bowel obstruction include: Adhesions from previous abdominal surgery Hernias containing bowel < ...

Including:

• Bowel obstruction - Causes
• Bowel obstruction - Small bowel obstruction
• Bowel obstruction - Large bowel obstruction
• Bowel obstruction - Differential diagnosis
• Bowel obstruction - Signs symptoms and causes
• Bowel obstruction - Diagnosis
• Bowel obstruction - Treatment

Read more here: » Bowel obstruction: Encyclopedia - Bowel obstruction

In medicine, a burn is a type of injury to the skin caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, or radiation (an example of the latter is sunburn). Immediate first aid for burns consists of immersing the injured area in cool clean water to cool the injured tissues. There are in modern vernacular terminology three degrees of burns. First-degree burns are usually limited to redness and pain at the site Second-degree burns additionally have blistering of the skin Third-degree burns addition ...

Including:

• Burn injury - Scald

Read more here: » Burn injury: Encyclopedia - Burn injury

Anaphylaxis is a severe and rapid systemic allergic reaction to a trigger substance, called an allergen. Minute amounts of trigger substances may cause a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis may occur after ingestion, inhalation, skin contact or injection of a trigger substance. The most severe type of anaphylaxis - anaphylactic shock - will usually result in death in mere minutes if untreated. The word is from New Latin (derived from Greek ἀνα-/ana, meaning "up, again, back, against") + φύλ� ...

Including:

• Anaphylaxis - Immediate action
• Anaphylaxis - Symptoms
• Anaphylaxis - Causes
• Anaphylaxis - Treatment
• Anaphylaxis - Reference

Read more here: » Anaphylaxis: Encyclopedia - Anaphylaxis

A wound is type of physical trauma wherein the skin is torn, cut or punctured (an open wound), or where blunt force trauma causes a contusion (a closed wound). Before any medical or paramedical evaluation, a wound is considered as minor when: it is superficial (a "flesh wound"); it is away from natural orifices; there is only a minor bleeding; it was not caused by a tool or an animal. Any other wound should be considered as severe. If there is any doubt, ...

Including:

• Wound - Types of wound
• Wound - Open
• Wound - Closed
• Wound - First aid
• Wound - Minor Open Wounds small cuts and grazes
• Wound - Severe/Major Open Wound
• Wound - If an object is embedded in a wound
• Wound - Minor Closed Wounds contusions
• Wound - Major Closed Wounds hematoma and crushing injuries
• Wound - Wound healing

Read more here: » Wound: Encyclopedia - Wound

Bleeding is the loss of blood from the body. Children are put more in danger by bleeding as they have less blood to lose. The average adult human will be in medical danger after 2 liters (2 quarts) and could die of hypovolemic shock if more blood is lost. The complete loss of blood is referred to as exsanguination. Bleeding - Types of bleeding. minor traumatic bleeding: bleeding from small and superficial wounds; the loss of blood is not dangerous and the bleeding will stop spontaneously; the m ...

Including:

• Bleeding - Types of bleeding
• Bleeding - First aid
• Bleeding - Minor traumatic bleeding
• Bleeding - Severe traumatic bleeding
• Bleeding - Externalised bleeding
• Bleeding - Internal bleeding
• Bleeding - Risk of blood contamination
• Bleeding - Medical care

Read more here: » Bleeding: Encyclopedia - Bleeding

A cardiac arrest is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the ventricles of the heart to contract effectively during systole. The resulting lack of blood supply results in cell death from oxygen starvation. Cerebral hypoxia, or lack of oxygen supply to the brain, causes victims to lose consciousness and stop breathing. Cardiac arrest is a medical emergency that, if left untreated, invariably leads to death within seconds to minutes. The primary first-aid treatment for cardiac arrest is cardiopulm ...

Including:

• Cardiac arrest - Etiology
• Cardiac arrest - Treatable causes
• Cardiac arrest - Diagnosis
• Cardiac arrest - Treatment
• Cardiac arrest - First aid
• Cardiac arrest - Other prehospital care
• Cardiac arrest - Hospital treatment
• Cardiac arrest - Ethical Issues

Read more here: » Cardiac arrest: Encyclopedia - Cardiac arrest

An air embolism, or more generally gas embolism, is a medical condition caused by gas bubbles in the bloodstream. Small amounts of air often get into the blood circulation accidentally during surgery and other medical procedures, but an air embolism which shows symptoms is relatively rare. Large emboli can be rapidly fatal. Air embolism - Pathogenesis. Air embolism can occur whenever a blood vessel is open and a pressure gradient exists favoring entry of gas. Because the pressure in most arteries and ...

Including:

• Air embolism - Pathogenesis
• Air embolism - Symptoms
• Air embolism - Avoidance in medicine
• Air embolism - Gas embolism in diving
• Air embolism - Treatment

Read more here: » Air embolism: Encyclopedia - Air embolism

Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib or VF) is a cardiac condition which consists of a lack of coordination of the contraction of the muscle tissue of the large chambers of the heart that eventually leads to the heart stopping altogether. Ventricular fibrillation - Introduction. Ventricular fibrillation is considered a medical emergency. If the arrhythmia continues for more than a few seconds, blood circulation will cease, as evidenced by lack of pulse, blood pressure and respiration, and death wil ...

Including:

• Ventricular fibrillation - Introduction
• Ventricular fibrillation - Historical aspects
• Ventricular fibrillation - Mechanisms of ventricular fibrillation
• Ventricular fibrillation - Detailed description
• Ventricular fibrillation - Prevalence
• Ventricular fibrillation - Treatment
• Ventricular fibrillation - Re-entry
• Ventricular fibrillation - Abnormal automaticity
• Ventricular fibrillation - Triggered activity
• Ventricular fibrillation - Characteristics of the ventricular fibrillation waveform
• Ventricular fibrillation - Power spectrum
• Ventricular fibrillation - Frequency characteristics of ventricular fibrillation

Read more here: » Ventricular fibrillation: Encyclopedia - Ventricular fibrillation

Choking is the obstruction of the flow of air into a person's lungs by a foreign object, commonly food. Choking can become a medical emergency, as choking prevents breathing and will thus starve the brain and other organs of oxygen. If the casualty can still cough effectively they will probably be able to cough up the offending object. The first aid at this point is to stand by and encourage coughing. If the casualty is completely silent and cannot cough or make noise, this indicates a entirely blocked airway. If they are still conscious they should be given up to five back blows. If that does not ...

Read more here: » Choking: Encyclopedia - Choking

Asphyxia or asphyxiation is a condition of severely deficient supply of oxygen to the body. In the absence of remedial action it will very rapidly lead to unconsciousness and death. Asphyxia is the same as suffocation. It comes from the Greek roots a-, "without" and sphuxis, "pulse, heartbeat". Anoxia means the pathological state in which tissues do not get (enough of) oxygen. Asphyxia in humans is a medical emergency. Prolonged asphyxia can result in ...

Including:

• Asphyxia - Causes
• Asphyxia - Use in suicide and execution

Read more here: » Asphyxia: Encyclopedia - Asphyxia

Pre-eclampsia is diagnosed when a pregnant woman develops high blood pressure (two separate readings taken at least 6 hours apart of 140/90 or more) and 300 mg of protein in a 24 hour urine sample (proteinuria). Swelling or edema (especially in the hands and face) was originally considered an important sign for a diagnoses of pre-eclampsia, but in current medical practice only hypertension and ...

See also:

Pre-eclampsia, Pre-eclampsia - Diagnosis, Pre-eclampsia - Appearance, Pre-eclampsia - Causes, Pre-eclampsia - Pathogenesis, Pre-eclampsia - Therapy, Pre-eclampsia - Reference

Read more here: » Pre-eclampsia: Encyclopedia II - Pre-eclampsia - Diagnosis

The proper way to handle a medical emergency is to activate emergency medical services by calling for help using a local emergency telephone number, such as 911 in Canada or the United States, 999 in the UK, 112 in most of continental Europe, 119 in South Korea, 000 in Australia and 111 in New Zealand. Operators will generally require the caller's name and location and some information on person that is being called about (level of consciousness, injuries, name ...

See also:

Medical emergency, Medical emergency - Response, Medical emergency - Clinical response

Read more here: » Medical emergency: Encyclopedia II - Medical emergency - Response

The word "overdose" implies that there is a safe dosage and therefore the term overdose is commonly only applied to drugs, not poisons. Drug overdoses are sometimes caused intentionally to commit suicide, but many drug overdoses are accidental and are usually the result of either irresponsible behavior (such as overindulging at a party), or the misreading of product labels. Other causes of overdose (esp. heroin) include multiple drug use with counterindications (cocaine/amphetamines/alcoho ...

See also:

Drug overdose, Drug overdose - Types, Drug overdose - Symptoms, Drug overdose - Diagnosis and management, Drug overdose - Common causes

Read more here: » Drug overdose: Encyclopedia II - Drug overdose - Types

Causes of gynecologic bleeding include: Gynecologic hemorrhage - Hormonal. Anovulation is a common cause of gynecological hemorrhage. Under the influence of estrogen the endometrium (uterine lining) is stimulated and eventually such lining will be shed off (estrogen breakthrough bleeding). The anovulation chapter discusses its multiple possible causes. longstanding anovulation can also lead to endometrial hyperplasia and ...

See also:

Gynecologic hemorrhage, Gynecologic hemorrhage - Definition, Gynecologic hemorrhage - Causes, Gynecologic hemorrhage - Hormonal, Gynecologic hemorrhage - Neoplasm, Gynecologic hemorrhage - Trauma, Gynecologic hemorrhage - Bleeding disorder, Gynecologic hemorrhage - Other, Gynecologic hemorrhage - Diagnosis, Gynecologic hemorrhage - Prevention, Gynecologic hemorrhage - First aid, Gynecologic hemorrhage - Clinical treatment

Read more here: » Gynecologic hemorrhage: Encyclopedia II - Gynecologic hemorrhage - Causes

There are 8 reversible causes of cardiac arrest, known as the "4Hs and 4Ts". They are looked for and treated by ambulance technicians/paramedics or by medical staff at the hospital while undertaking advanced life support, protocols for which will be used alongside any specific treatments for each of the causes. Lay rescuers performing basic life support can generally neither identify nor treat them (with the exception of hypovolemia due to external bleeding), and so can offer only supportive treatment ...

See also:

Cardiac arrest, Cardiac arrest - Etiology, Cardiac arrest - Treatable causes, Cardiac arrest - Diagnosis, Cardiac arrest - Treatment, Cardiac arrest - First aid, Cardiac arrest - Other prehospital care, Cardiac arrest - Hospital treatment, Cardiac arrest - Ethical Issues

Read more here: » Cardiac arrest: Encyclopedia II - Cardiac arrest - Treatable causes

Police agencies routinely offer safety tips and advice for preventing sexual assault. Many argue that there are risk factors for sexual assault that lie with the victim; that is, certain behaviors by the victim exist may increase the chance of sexual assault. Others dispute this, and argue that victim behavior is not a contributing or causal factor. While it is widely accepted that the victim is not to blame, for would-be victims of sexual assault, there are a variety of precautions that may be taken to minimize the chance of f ...

See also:

Sexual assault, Sexual assault - What is sexual assault?, Sexual assault - Doctors and police in sexual assault response and prevention, Sexual assault - What to do after a sexual assault, Sexual assault - What not to do after a sexual assault, Sexual assault - First Aid for sexual assault, Sexual assault - Field care for EMTs, Sexual assault - Clinical treatment, Sexual assault - Prevention of sexual assault, Sexual assault - Immediate victim assistance links, Sexual assault - Research and prevention links

Read more here: » Sexual assault: Encyclopedia II - Sexual assault - Prevention of sexual assault

Lyman Brewer suggests that the first recorded account of ventricular fibrillation dates as far back as 1500 BC and can be found in the Ebers papyrus of ancient Egypt. The extract recorded 3500 years ago may even date from as far back as 3500 BC. It states: "When the heart is diseased, its work is imperfectly performed: the vessels proceeding from the heart become inactive, so that you cannot feel them … if the heart trembles, has little power and sinks, the disease is advanced and death is near". Whether this is a description of ventricula ...

See also:

Ventricular fibrillation, Ventricular fibrillation - Introduction, Ventricular fibrillation - Historical aspects, Ventricular fibrillation - Mechanisms of ventricular fibrillation, Ventricular fibrillation - Detailed description, Ventricular fibrillation - Prevalence, Ventricular fibrillation - Treatment, Ventricular fibrillation - Re-entry, Ventricular fibrillation - Abnormal automaticity, Ventricular fibrillation - Triggered activity, Ventricular fibrillation - Characteristics of the ventricular fibrillation waveform, Ventricular fibrillation - Power spectrum, Ventricular fibrillation - Frequency characteristics of ventricular fibrillation

Read more here: » Ventricular fibrillation: Encyclopedia II - Ventricular fibrillation - Historical aspects

Treatment consists of hydration to lower the osmolality of the blood, replacement of lost electrolytes, insulin to force glucose and potassium into the cells, and eventually glucose simultaneously with insulin in order to correct other metabolic abnormalities, such as elevated blood potassium (hyperkalemia) and elevated ketone levels. Most patients require admission to step-down unit or intensive care unit (ICU) so that vital signs, urine output, and blood tests can be monitored on an hourly basis. In patients with severe alteration of menta ...

See also:

Diabetic ketoacidosis, Diabetic ketoacidosis - Mechanism, Diabetic ketoacidosis - Treatment, Diabetic ketoacidosis - External link

Read more here: » Diabetic ketoacidosis: Encyclopedia II - Diabetic ketoacidosis - Treatment

To diagnose septic shock[1] the following two criteria must be met: A proven source of infection, such as a positive blood culture. Refractive hypotension - hypotension despite adequate fluid resuscitation. In adults it is defined as a systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg, or a MAP < 60 mmHg, or a reduction of 40 mmHg in the systolic blood pressure from baseline. In children it is BP ...

See also:

Septic shock, Septic shock - Definition of septic shock, Septic shock - Types, Septic shock - Causes, Septic shock - Reference

Read more here: » Septic shock: Encyclopedia II - Septic shock - Definition of septic shock