Medical dictionary

What is gynaecomastia? Gynaecomastia, occasionally referred to as ‘man boobs’, is the medical term for enlarged male breasts. It is a common hormonal disorder that only affects males, making their breasts larger than normal due to an excess quantity of male breast tissue. It usually occurs more in teenage boys and older men. The extent of gynaecomastia symptoms varies from pe

What is a haemangioma? A haemangioma is a type of birthmark that is formed by a collection of blood vessels just under the skin. It is often referred to as a “strawberry mark” because of its reddish colour and texture. Haemangiomas can be superficial or deep. A superficial haemangioma is simply a raised red area on the surface of the skin, whereas a deep haemangioma involves swol

What is being analysed? Haematocrit is a blood test that measures the percentage of red blood cells (RBCs) in your blood. It provides valuable information about your overall blood health and oxygen-carrying capacity. What does the result mean? The haematocrit result indicates the proportion of RBCs in your blood volume. A higher haematocrit suggests dehydration, polycythaemia (excess

What is haematuria? Haematuria is the presence of blood in the urine. Bleeding may arise from any part of the urinary tract. The urinary tract includes the kidneys (most people have two, where urine is made), ureters (the tubes connecting each kidney to the bladder), the bladder, the prostate gland (in men) and the urethra.      Is haematuria always visible? There

What is haemochromatosis? Haemochromatosis is an inherited condition in which the blood has too much iron in it. Although iron is an important component of the blood, iron overload can damage the liver, pancreas, heart, and joints, among other body parts, leading to unpleasant symptoms. Haemochromatosis most commonly affects white Europeans, particularly people of Celtic origin. What

What is analysed?Haemoglobin is a complex protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs for exhalation.A haemoglobin analysis measures the level of haemoglobin in the blood. Haemoglobin serves as a marker for the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity.What does the result mean?The result of the test indicates the

What is being analysed? The analysis focuses on identifying abnormal haemoglobin variants or mutations in the blood. What does the result mean? The result indicates the presence, absence, or type of haemoglobinopathy, providing valuable information about the individual's blood health.   Why should the analysis be conducted? Conducting this analysis helps diagnose and

What is haemoglobinuria?   Haemoglobinuria is the presence of excess haemoglobin in the urine. Haemoglobin is a molecule in red blood cells (RBCs), which helps transport oxygen and carbon dioxide through the body. Red blood cells tend to live for about one hundred and twenty days and then break down into parts that can produce a new red blood cell. This normally occurs in the splee

What is haemophilia? Haemophilia is a rare inherited blood disorder that affects the ability of the blood to clot correctly during bleeding. This is because the blood has low levels of clotting factors which are specific proteins found in the blood. These clotting factors help the platelets to clot the blood and there are 13 types of clotting factors. In a healthy individual, when you cut yours