Diseases & conditions A-Z List
Diseases & Conditions A-Z List - «M»:
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Marfan syndrome
Marfan syndrome is a disorder of connective tissue, the tissue that strengthens the body's structures.
Disorders of connective tissue affect the skeletal system, cardiovascular system, eyes, and skin.
Causes
Marfan syndrome is caused by defects in a gene called fibrillin-1. Fibrillin-1 plays an imp...
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Margarine vs. butter
Is margarine healthier than butter? Neither is ideal, because butter is loaded with saturated fat, and almost all margarines have some saturated fat and trans fatty acids. However, if you must use one or the other, margarine may be better than butter.
Here are some guidelines:
Use canola or olive o...
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Marine animal stings or bites
Marine animal stings or bites refer to poisonous bites or stings from any form of sea life, including jellyfish.
Considerations
The majority of these types of stings occur in salt water. Some types of marine stings or bites can be deadly.
Causes
Causes include bites or stings from various types of ...
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Mastectomy
A mastectomy is surgery to remove the entire breast. It is usually done to treat breast cancer.
Description
You will be given general anesthesia (unconscious and pain-free). The surgeon will make an elliptical cut in your breast:
For a subcutaneous mastectomy, the surgeon removes the entire breast...
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Mastectomy - discharge
You had a mastectomy, the surgical removal of the entire breast, to treat or prevent breast cancer. Your procedure was one of these:
For a subcutaneous mastectomy, the surgeon removed the entire breast and left the nipple and areola (the pigmented circle around the nipple) in place.
For a total or ...
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Mastectomy and breast reconstruction - what to ask your doctor
You may be having a mastectomy, surgery to remove your breast. Most often, a mastectomy is done to treat breast cancer. You may also have breast reconstruction, surgery to create a new breast after mastectomy.
Below are some questions you may want to ask your doctor or nurse about mastectomy and bre...
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Mastoidectomy
A mastoidectomy is surgery to remove cells in the hollow, air-filled spaces in the skull behind the ear. These cells are called mastoid air cells.
Description
The surgery used to be a common way to treat an infection in the mastoid air cells. Such infection usually resulted from an ear infection th...
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Mastoiditis
Mastoiditis is an infection of the mastoid bone of the skull. The mastoid is located just behind the outside ear.
Causes
Mastoiditis is usually caused by a middle ear infection (acute otitis media). The infection may spread from the ear to the mastoid bone of the skull. The mastoid bone fills with ...
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Maternal deprivation syndrome
Maternal deprivation syndrome is a form of failure to thrive that is caused by neglect (intentional or unintentional).
Causes
The majority of cases of failure to thrive in infants and young children (under 2 years old) are not caused by disease. Most cases are caused by dysfunctional caregiver inte...
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Mathematics disorder
Mathematics disorder is a condition in which a child's math ability is far below normal for their age, intelligence, and education.
Causes
Children who have mathematics disorder may have trouble performing simple mathematical equations, such as counting and adding.
Mathematical disorder may appear ...
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McArdle syndrome
McArdle syndrome is the inability to break down glycogen. Glycogen is an important source of energy that is stored in muscle tissue.
Causes
McArdle syndrome is caused by a defect in a gene that makes an enzyme called glycogen phosphorylase. As a result, the body cannot break down glycogen in the mu...
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McCune-Albright syndrome
McCune-Albright syndrome is a genetic disease that affects the bones and color (pigmentation) of the skin.
Causes
McCune-Albright syndrome is caused by mutations in the GNAS1 gene. The abnormal gene is present in a fraction, but not all, of the patient's cells (mosaicism).
This disease is not inher...
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Measles
Measles is a very contagious (easily spread) illness caused by a virus.
Causes
The infection is spread by contact with droplets from the nose, mouth, or throat of an infected person. Sneezing and coughing can put contaminated droplets into the air.
Those who have had an active measles infection or ...
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Meatal stenosis
Meatal stenosis is a narrowing of the opening of the urethra, the tube through which urine leaves the body.
Causes
Meatal stenosis can affect both males and females, but it is more common in males.
In males, it is often caused by swelling and irritation (inflammation) after a newborn is circumcised...
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Mechanical ventilator - infants
A mechanical ventilator is a machine that assists breathing. This article discusses the use of mechanical ventilators in infants.
WHY IS A MECHANICAL VENTILATOR USED?
A ventilator is used to provide breathing support for ill or immature babies. Sick or premature babies often have breathing problems,...
