Medical dictionary

What is HIV? HIV, or “human immunodeficiency virus”, is a sexually-transmitted infection which gradually damages your immune system over time, making you less able to fight off disease. Left untreated, HIV can progress to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV currently affects about 89,000 people in the UK, or 0.16% of the adult population. Every year there are over 4

What is HIV? HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that significantly weakens the body's immune system. The virus' attack on the immune system results in one finding it more difficult to have the ability to fight off infections and disease.  How can HIV affect the skin? What conditions can it cause? HIV can result in various different skin conditions, such as

What is being analysed? HIV testing involves the analysis of blood, saliva, or urine samples to detect the presence of HIV antibodies, antigens, or the virus itself. These tests aim to identify whether an individual has been infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).   What does the result mean? A positive result indicates the presence of HIV in the body, meaning th

What is analysed? The HIV viral load is the amount of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) present in the blood. It is measured as the number of copies of the virus's genetic material (RNA) per millilitre of blood. The HIV viral load is an indicator of how actively the virus is replicating in the body. What does the result mean? The result indicates the concentration of HIV RNA in t

What is being analysed? HLA-B27, or Human Leukocyte Antigen B27, is a protein that plays a crucial role in the immune system. The analysis involves identifying the presence of HLA-B27 in a person's blood.   What does the result mean? A positive result indicates the presence of HLA-B27 in the blood, which is associated with various autoimmune conditions like ankylosing spon

What is hoarseness? Hoarseness refers to uncharacteristic voice changes and sufferers might have difficulty speaking. Vocal sounds may be strained, muffled, raspy, or croaky, and the voice’s pitch or quality may change. It’s almost always caused by a problem in the vocal cords, which are part of the larynx (voice box) and are located in the throat. There are two types of hoarsene

What is Hodgkin's disease? Hodgkin's disease or Hodgkin's lymphoma is a type of lymphoma, a cancer that originates in white blood cells or lymphocytes (defence cells of the immune system). It is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is a network of organs, lymph nodes, ducts, and lymphatic vessels that produce lymph and transport it from the tissues to the bloodstream, which is es

What is Hoffa’s syndrome? Hoffa’s syndrome, also known as infrapatellar fat pad syndrome, is a problem which affects one of three pads of fatty soft tissue that lies under the kneecap (patella) and leads to pain at the front of the knee. The Hoffa’s fat pad acts as a protective cushion, which separates the kneecap from the shin and thigh bones. If this becomes pinched, squashe

What is holistic psychology? Holistic psychology is an approach to psychology that integrates all aspects of an individual: mind, body, and spirit. This is based on the belief that we are whole beings with mental, physical, emotional and spiritual connections (for example, work, societal influences and personal relationships).  The objective of holistic psychology is to understand,