Brain Surgery, in Layman's Terms Quiz

Answer: Heart attack

A myocardial infarction is known as a heart attack in layman's terms. It occurs when the blood flow to any part of the heart is blocked for a long enough time that part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies. This blockage usually happens because of the buildup of fatty residues (also called plaque) in the coronary arteries, large veins which supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. It is unrelated to the heart pain felt when you break up with someone that meant a lot to you, but the symptoms may be similar.

During a heart attack, a person may experience symptoms such as chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, or sweating. Prompt medical attention is crucial to minimize the damage to the heart muscle and improve the chances of survival. There are differences between males and females in the symptoms, and also varying degrees of severity, so it is critical to seek medical attention if you have even mild signs.

Treatment for a heart attack often involves medications to dissolve or prevent blood clots, procedures such as angioplasty to open blocked arteries, and lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of future heart problems. It's important for individuals to be aware of the symptoms of a heart attack and seek immediate medical help if they or someone else experience them. Early intervention can save lives and prevent long-term complications.

Answer: Shingles

Herpes zoster is commonly known as shingles in layman's terms. It is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the exact same virus that causes chickenpox, a common childhood ailment. After a person has had chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in the body's nerve tissues. Later in life, typically during periods of weakened immune function or stress, the virus can reactivate, causing shingles. We all had it as kids; is it that bad as an adult? (Answer: no, it's worse.)

The primary symptom of shingles is a painful rash that usually appears as a single stripe of blisters that wraps around either the left or right side of the torso. When I say "painful", I actually mean it. However, this rash can also occur on other parts of the body including the face and eyes. Other symptoms may include itching, tingling, or burning sensations, fever, headache, and fatigue.

There really is no treatment for shingles other than waiting it out and being as comfortable as possible. Alleviating the symptoms and getting as much rest as possible are highly recommended. Additionally, there are vaccinations against shingles but their efficacy rates are low.

Answer: Acid reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is commonly known as acid reflux in layman's terms. It is that feeling of nausea as you read through this section of interesting information. It is a chronic digestive disorder where stomach acid or bile flows back into the esophagus, the tube connecting the mouth and stomach. This backwash can irritate the lining of the esophagus, causing symptoms and potential complications over time.

GERD symptoms often include persistent heartburn, a burning sensation in the chest that worsens after eating or when lying down. Individuals may also experience regurgitation of sour-tasting liquid, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, chronic cough, hoarseness, sore throat, and a sensation of a lump in the throat. GERD stems from a malfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a muscle ring that acts as a valve between the esophagus and stomach. Normally, the LES opens to allow food into the stomach and closes to prevent backflow. In GERD, the LES may weaken or relax abnormally, leading to acid flowing back into the esophagus. Contributing factors include obesity, pregnancy, hiatal hernia, smoking, certain medications, as well as personal dietary choices such as spicy, fatty, or acidic foods, caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated beverages, especially late at night.

Answer: Stroke

A cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is commonly known as a stroke in layman's terms. It occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted or reduced. This prevents brain tissue from getting the oxygen and nutrients needed. Furthermore, this can lead to brain cells dying within minutes. Strokes are critical medical emergencies where prompt treatment is crucial for minimizing brain damage and improving outcomes.

There are two main types of strokes. The first is an ischemic stroke, which is the most common type, about seven times more often than the second kind, a hemorrhagic stroke. An ischemic stroke happens when a blood clot blocks or narrows an artery leading to the brain. The clot can form in an artery within the brain itself or travel from another part of the body. The hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts which leads to bleeding in or around the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes can be caused by conditions such as high blood pressure, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), or trauma.

It is vitally important to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. These can include sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination; and a sudden severe headache with no known cause. The acronym FAST is often taught to help catch strokes as they happen (as per the American Stroke Association):
F = Face Drooping - Does one side of the face droop or is it numb?
A = Arm Weakness - Is one arm weak or numb?
S = Speech Difficulty - Is speech slurred?
T = T = Time to call 911 - Stroke is an emergency. Every minute counts.

Answer: High blood pressure

Hypertension is commonly known as high blood pressure in layman's terms. It is a condition where the force of blood against the walls of the arteries is consistently too high. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and recorded with two numbers: systolic pressure (the higher number, measuring the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats) and diastolic pressure (the lower number, measuring the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats). Normal blood pressure is typically around 120/80 mmHg. Hypertension is diagnosed when the systolic blood pressure is 130 mmHg or above or the diastolic is 80 mmHg or above. Or both.

Hypertension is often called a "silent killer" because it usually has no symptoms until significant damage has occurred. When symptoms do appear, they can include headaches, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, chest pain, dizziness, and visual changes. If left untreated, hypertension can lead to serious health problems, including heart disease (such as heart attacks and heart failure), stroke, kidney damage or failure, eye damage, peripheral artery disease, and aneurysm.

Isn't reading about hypertension pressure enough to start causing hypertension?!

Answer: Ear inflammation

Otitis is commonly known as an ear inflammation in layman's terms. It is usually classified according to where it occurs in the ear: Otitis interna is an inner ear infection and can be referred to as labyrinthitis. Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear and is the one commonly found in infants and children. Finally otitis externa is an infection of the ear canal, and some call it "swimmer's ear" because of its prevalence amongst those who participate in aquatic sports. A different, unrelated, problem can be found in your kids, especially as teenagers, and it's called selective hearing in layman's terms.

Some of the symptoms of otitis, generally, are irritation or pain in the ear, aural drainage of fluids, fever, ringing in the ears, partial or complete hearing loss from the ear in question, and often a sore throat. Otitis can often be caused by an infection, and that can be either viral or bacterial. In the case of the latter, antibiotics are often prescribed. Painkillers help treat the symptoms while in some extreme cases, ear tubes, and in some cases, surgery may be necessary to repair damaged ear structures.

Answer: Collapsed lung

Why does a pneumothorax make you sad? Because you are feeling deflated.

A pneumothorax is commonly known as a collapsed lung in layman's terms. It occurs when air leaks into the space between the lung and the chest wall, called the pleural space, causing the lung to collapse partially or completely.

A pneumothorax can be caused by trauma or injury to the chest, such as a rib fracture or penetrating chest wound. It can also occur spontaneously, without any apparent cause, due to the rupture of small air-filled sacs in the lung called blebs or bullae. Certain medical procedures, lung diseases (such as emphysema), or underlying lung conditions (such as asthma) can also increase the risk of a pneumothorax. There are occurrences, however, where a pneumothorax can happen spontaneously, and these are the most difficult for the person whose suffering to identify.

Pneumothorax symptoms can be all over the place, making it tough to initially realize what you have. You might suddenly feel sharp chest pain that takes your breath away. Breathing can get laborious and you might find yourself huffing and puffing more than usual. Your heart might start racing, and your skin could even turn a bluish tint. Plus, you might notice less or no sound when you take a breath on the side where the problem is.

Treating a pneumothorax depends on how bad it is and what type it is. For small ones that aren't causing much trouble, doctors might just keep an eye on them. They might give you extra oxygen to help your lung get back to normal. If things are more serious, they might put in a chest tube to let the trapped air out and help your lung re-inflate. In really tough cases, surgery might be needed to fix things up, especially if the pneumothorax keeps recurring or if it's a tension pneumothorax.

Answer: Sore throat

Pharyngitis is commonly known as a sore throat in layman's terms. It is the more precise medical term for the inflammation or irritation of the pharynx, the part of the throat located behind the mouth and nasal cavity, and often connecting to the Eustachian tubes which connect your ears to your throat as well. Pharyngitis can be acute, lasting for a short duration and often caused by viral or bacterial infections, or chronic, lasting for an extended period. It is often a pain in the... throat... to deal with.

Diagnosis of pharyngitis typically involves a physical examination, assessment of the patient's medical history, and, in some cases, laboratory tests such as throat swabs or rapid antigen tests to determine the presence of bacterial infections like strep throat. Pharyngitis can wreak havoc with your throat in different ways depending on what's causing it. You might feel a sore throat that makes swallowing a pain, and your throat might look red and swollen. Talking or swallowing can be uncomfortable, and your neck glands might puff up. You could also get a scratchy or hoarse voice, a fever, a cough, or simply feel tired and achy.

The treatment for pharyngitis really depends on the underlying cause. Acute viral pharyngitis usually resolves on its own within a few days with rest, hydration, and over-the-counter pain relievers to alleviate symptoms. Antibiotics are not effective against viral infections but may be prescribed for bacterial infections such as strep throat. Lozenges, gargling with salt water, humidifiers, and avoiding irritants such as smoking, are all effective at minimizing the symptoms.

Answer: Broken leg

A tibial fracture refers to a break or fracture in the tibia, which is the larger of the two bones in the lower leg, commonly known as the shinbone. Tibial fractures can vary in severity, location, and complexity, and they can occur due to a variety of causes, including trauma, overuse, or underlying medical conditions. Age can also play a part, with older people more susceptible to weak bones, poor health, and/or lower bone density. It is often unrelated to stage performances, hence, it is still safe to tell an actor "break a leg".

There are several ways to classify a broken leg. These generally go by three categories: the location of the fracture (proximal, middle, or distal third of the bone), the pattern of the fracture (such as transverse, oblique, or spiral), and whether the fracture is open (the bone breaks through the skin) or closed (the skin remains intact).

Treatment for a tibial fracture or, in fact, any other bone break depends on various factors, including the type and severity of the fracture, the patient's age and overall health, and the presence of any associated injuries (that may not always be related to the break itself). Treatment options may include immobilization with a cast or brace, traction, and, in more extreme cases, external fixation (using metal pins or screws outside the body), or internal fixation (surgery to realign and stabilize the fracture with plates, screws, or rods). Physiotherapy and rehabilitation may also be recommended to restore strength, mobility, and function to the affected leg even after the break itself is healed.

Answer: Indigestion

Dyspepsia is an ailment commonly known as indigestion in layman's terms. It refers to discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen that is often associated with difficulty in digesting food. It's a common digestive problem that can occur persistently in some individuals, or as a one-off individual event in others. Maybe it's related to that rare steak you had or the slightly off hummus that was in the back of your fridge.

Dyspepsia presents with a range of symptoms, all of which typically involve discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen .This often manifests after eating, especially a large meal. These symptoms may include feelings of fullness or bloating, nausea, belching, an acidic taste in the mouth, heartburn, acid reflux, and a loss of appetite.


Treatment for dyspepsia is varied and should be tailored to address the underlying cause. This can involve lifestyle modifications like consuming smaller, more frequent meals, avoiding trigger foods, managing stress, and quitting smoking. Over-the-counter antacids or acid reducers may be recommended to alleviate symptoms of heartburn or acid reflux, while prescription medications may be prescribed for more severe or persistent symptoms. In some cases, if an H. pylori infection is present, antibiotics may be necessary.