Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

The major positive ion (cation) found inside cells. The chemical notation for potassium is K+. The proper level of potassium is essential for normal cell function. An abnormal increase in potassium (hyperkalemia) or decrease in potassium (hypokalemia) can profoundly affect the nervous system and heart, and when extreme, can be fatal. The normal blood potassium level is 3.5’5.0 milliEquivalents/liter (mEq/L),…

The carriage of the body as a whole, the attitude of the body, or the position of the limbs (the arms and legs). “Postural” pertains to the posture or position. For example, postural hypotension is a drop in blood pressure (hypotension) due to a change in body position (a change in posture) when a person moves to a more vertical position:…

A drop in blood pressure (hypotension) due to a change in body position (posture) when a person moves to a more vertical position: from sitting to standing or from lying down to sitting or standing. Postural hypotension is more common in older people. The change in position causes a temporary reduction in blood flow and therefore a shortage of…

Pertaining to the posture or position of the body, the attitude or carriage of the body as a whole, or the position of the limbs (the arms and legs). Postural hypotension is a drop in blood pressure (hypotension) due to a change in body position (a change in posture). It occurs when a person, often an older person, moves…

After mealtime. A postprandial rise in the blood glucose level is one that occurs after eating.

The period just after delivery, as with postpartum depression. Postpartum refers to the mother, and postnatal to the baby.

Bleeding after a surgical procedure. The hemorrhage may occur immediately after the surgery or be delayed. It need not be restricted to the surgical wound. Common causes of postoperative hemorrhage are from tissues which cannot be entirely prevented from bleeding and depend on blood clotting to stop the hemorrhage, problems in the normal clotting mechanism of blood, and clips…

Care given after surgery until the patient is discharged from the hospital or surgicenter and, in some cases, continuing on an ambulatory basis. Postoperative care is aimed at meeting the patient’s physical and psychological needs directly after surgery.

After surgery. As opposed to preoperative, before surgery.

Short for postoperative; after a surgical operation. The opposite of postop is preop.