ascites Archives - Healthhype https://healthhype.com/tag/ascites Current Health Articles on Symptoms, Diseases and Treatment Mon, 07 Mar 2016 23:00:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://healthhype.com/wp-content/uploads/logoicon.png ascites Archives - Healthhype https://healthhype.com/tag/ascites 32 32 Ascites – Fluid Accumulation in the Abdomen https://healthhype.com/ascites-fluid-accumulation-in-the-abdomen.html https://healthhype.com/ascites-fluid-accumulation-in-the-abdomen.html#respond Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:25:19 +0000 http://www.healthhype.com/?p=19267 Most of the abdominal organs are covered by a double layer sac known as the peritoneum. The visceral peritoneum adheres to the organs while the parietal peritoneum lines the inner wall of the abdomen. Between these two layers is a potential space known as the peritoneal cavity. A small amount of peritoneal fluid serves as lubrication to reduce the friction when the two layers rub against each other. This amount is very small and healthy men may have little to no peritoneal fluid while in women it may be up to 20mL at most. Sometimes there is an excess of fluid within the peritoneal cavity to the extent that it can cause abdominal swelling and cause weight gain. What is ascites? Ascites is the medical term for fluid accumulation within the abdomen, or more specifically in the peritoneal cavity (intraperitoneal). It is mainly linked to liver disorders (hepatic) such as cirrhosis but can be due to other conditions that do not involve the liver (non-hepatic). A slight excess of peritoneal fluid will cause no symptoms but as the condition progresses and more fluid accumulates, ascites can present as abdominal swelling, weight gain and difficulty breathing. Ascites may or may not [...]

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]]> https://healthhype.com/ascites-fluid-accumulation-in-the-abdomen.html/feed 0 Effusion Definition, Types, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment https://healthhype.com/effusion-definition-types-causes-symptoms-treatment.html https://healthhype.com/effusion-definition-types-causes-symptoms-treatment.html#respond Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:47:00 +0000 http://www.healthhype.com/?p=19323 Effusion Definition Effusion is the term for accumulation of fluid in a body cavity particularly within the cranial cavity, in the middle ear, around the lungs, around the heart, in the abdomen (peritoneal cavity) and in the joint spaces. It is also referred to as fluid retention or water retention because most of the fluid is composed of water. However, sometimes blood or pus can be mixed with the fluid and collect in these cavities. Difference between Effusion and Edema Fluid retention can also refer to edema which is commonly known as tissue swelling. Edema is the accumulation of excess fluid within the tissues whereas the term effusion indicates collection of fluid within a cavity of the body. There is sometimes confusion about these terms, particularly with certain organs like the lung. For example if there is fluid in the lung then it is known as pulmonary edema but fluid around the lung is known as a pleural effusion. Effusion Meaning What is an effusion? An effusion is an abnormal collection of fluid within a cavity. Sometimes there is a little fluid within some of these cavities that is considered to be normal and is mainly for lubrication or proection. [...]

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]]> https://healthhype.com/effusion-definition-types-causes-symptoms-treatment.html/feed 0 Meigs Syndrome https://healthhype.com/meigs-syndrome.html https://healthhype.com/meigs-syndrome.html#respond Wed, 26 Dec 2012 22:55:48 +0000 http://www.healthhype.com/?p=23660 Definition Meigs syndrome is a triad of medical conditions where there is a benign ovarian tumor (specifically an ovarian fibroma) with ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity) and pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs in the pleural space).  Once the tumor is removed, both ascites and pleural effusion resolves. The exact reason why fluid accumulation occurs in the abdomen and around the lung with a benign ovarian tumor is not fully understood although there are several theories. It tends to occur with an ovarian fibroma but is sometimes seen with other types of benign ovarian tumors and even malignancies. Overall Meigs syndrome is uncommon affecting only 1 out of 100 women with an ovarian tumor. When present, ascites is more commonly seen without a pleural effusion. Pathophysiology Benign tumors, although non-cancerous, can still cause a host of complications in the body beyond the organ where it originates. Most of these complications are a result of the mass pressing against blood vessels, lymphatics and nerves. Sometimes it is associated with abnormal hormone secretion or triggering reactions within the body for reasons that are not clearly obvious at the outset. Meigs syndrome is one such instance. Fluid accumulation occurs in the [...]

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]]> https://healthhype.com/meigs-syndrome.html/feed 0 Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis https://healthhype.com/spontaneous-bacterial-peritonitis.html https://healthhype.com/spontaneous-bacterial-peritonitis.html#respond Wed, 18 Jul 2012 20:26:15 +0000 http://www.healthhype.com/?p=22179 What is spontaneous bacterial peritonitis? Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is a bacterial infection of the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity, and the fluid within it known as the peritoneal fluid. Peritonitis is a condition that occurs with injury or infection of the the abdominal organs. However, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis arises on it is own without preceding injury or infection. It is more likely to occur in conditions and diseases where there is greater fluid accumulation within the cavity but the mechanism by which bacteria are able to enter and contaminate this fluid is still unclear. Spontanous Bacterial Peritonitis Incidence The condition affects adults and children with ascites equally. The incidence is highest in newborns and 5 year olds. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis may arise in as many as 1 out of 5 cases of ascites. There risk of death is greatest among adults with a mortality rate of between 40% to 70% reported. Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis Pathophysiology Peritoneal cavity The peritoneum is a thin membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and some of the organs. There are two layers – the parietal peritoneum and visceral peritoneum. The parietal peritoneum adheres to the inner wall of the abdomen. The visceral peritoneum [...]

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]]> https://healthhype.com/spontaneous-bacterial-peritonitis.html/feed 0 Fluid Bloating of Stomach and Abdomen, Causes and Treatment https://healthhype.com/fluid-bloating-of-stomach-and-abdomen-causes-and-treatment.html https://healthhype.com/fluid-bloating-of-stomach-and-abdomen-causes-and-treatment.html#respond Sat, 09 May 2015 23:52:03 +0000 http://www.healthhype.com/?p=30375 All too often we refer to the abdomen as a stomach but this is incorrect. The stomach is a specific organ that lies in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen, mostly tucked under the left rib cage. The stomach can contain as much as 750mL (about 25oz) of digestive juice excluding the fluid that is consumed. Too much fluid in the stomach could distend it but the stomach is able to quickly push out this fluid to prevent abnormally excessive stretching. The abdominal cavity on the other hand contains very little fluid and sometimes almost none. When there is excessive fluid in the abdomen (sometimes referred to as fluid in the stomach) then this condition is known as ascites. There are many reasons why abdominal distension may arise. It is not always due to fluid accumulation. Even under normal circumstances there may be changes in the volume of the peritoneal fluid. However, these volume changes are minor and not anywhere close to the level that is required to cause visible abdominal distension. Although the term bloating is used to describe distension, bloating can also refer to a sensation of fullness despite there being no visible abdominal distension or fluid [...]

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]]> https://healthhype.com/fluid-bloating-of-stomach-and-abdomen-causes-and-treatment.html/feed 0 Fluid Retention in the Body – Meaning and Causes https://healthhype.com/fluid-retention-in-the-body-meaning-and-causes.html https://healthhype.com/fluid-retention-in-the-body-meaning-and-causes.html#respond Mon, 07 Mar 2016 23:00:33 +0000 http://www.healthhype.com/?p=31327 It is well known that around 60% of human body is composed of water. The balance of water entering the body and being lost has to be carefully maintained as either extreme, both too much and too little water, can be dangerous. Excess water within the body is expelled mainly through the urine but also through the stool, breath as water vapor and via the skin as sweat (perspiration). Sometimes the body retains fluid and this can cause a host of problems. What is fluid retention? Fluid retention simply means that the body is retaining more water than it should. As a result the excess fluid may accumulate in the tissue spaces and body cavities resulting in various symptoms. It can also be retained within cells which may cause these cells to swell and even burst, or within the circulatory system thereby increasing total blood volume leading to disturbances like high blood pressure. The medical term for fluid retention is edema. Sometimes the accumulation of fluid is restricted or more pronounced in one area and then referred to by various other terms. For example, fluid accumulation in the abdomen is known as ascites while fluid in the lungs is referred [...]

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