Medical dictionary

What is percutaneous discectomy? Percutaneous discectomy surgery is a minimally-invasive technique used to treat herniated discs in the spinal column, in the lumbar region as well as the cervical region, without the need for open surgery. Why is it done? Disc herniation is a frequent condition that in many cases is incapacitating, sometimes so much so that rest and rehabilit

What is herpes? Herpes is a disease which is caused by a virus called the herpes simplex virus. Herpes manifests in different areas on the body, and is categorised differently depending on the body part infected.     What types of herpes are there? The most common types of herpes include oral herpes, affecting the mouth or face, and genital herpes (often referred to as

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, is a rare genetic disorder that affects around 1 in 5000 in the UK. It is characterised by the formation of fragile blood vessels, known as telangiectasias, which can lead to frequent bleeding. In some cases, these abnormalities extend to larger blood vessels, forming arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) that can

What is a hiatal hernia? A hiatal hernia is when the stomach bulges up into the chest via an opening in the diaphragm, a large, thin sheet of muscle separating the chest and abdomen.     What are the different types of hiatal hernia? There are two types of hiatal hernia; sliding and para-oesophageal.  Sliding hiatal hernias They move up an

What is hiatal hernia surgery? A hiatal hernia occurs when a section of your stomach pushes up through an opening (called a hiatus) in your diaphragm. The diaphragm is a sheet of muscle located between the abdomen and chest. Hiatal hernia surgery involves pulling the stomach down into the abdomen and then making the hiatus opening in the diaphragm smaller. Why is hiatal hernia

What is HIFU (high-intensity focused ultrasound)?High-intensity focused ultrasound or HIFU is a medical procedure which involves using high temperature, ultrasonic waves to remove problematic portions of bodily tissue. The cheap cost of HIFU compared to other alternatives, combined with its typically non-invasive nature, have led to increased testing, particularly in the past five years. Why

What is the hypertension diet? The hypertension diet is recommended for patients suffering from arterial diseases. Hypertension is high blood pressure and is a common condition in which the force of blood being pumped throughout the body is high, and can have serious consequences of cardiovascular health. Blood pressure is considered to be high when the value is 140 mmHg systolic and 90 mmHg d

What is a high blood pressure pregnancy? If your blood pressure has consistently been going up since the end of the second trimester of pregnancy, you may have gestational hypertension. In a high blood pressure, it is essential that your blood pressure and your baby’s wellbeing are monitored, as in some cases, complications can occur in cases of gestational hypertension.

What is high cholesterol (dyslipidaemia)?Dyslipidaemia is the increase in cholesterol or triglycerides in the blood, or a decrease in high-density lipoproteins (which can lead to atherosclerosis). The increase in the presence of cholesterol, if combined with some other lipid and metabolic irregularities, can lead to the development of increased cardiovascular risk. Dyslipidaemias can be classifie