Medical dictionary

What is a SLAP tear? A SLAP tear is a type of shoulder injury. Your shoulder is surrounded by a band of tissue called the labrum to keep the joint stable. The labrum in your shoulder can tear in many ways. A SLAP tear involves the labrum being torn where it connects to your biceps tendon, both at the front or back. What are the symptoms? Symptoms of a SLAP tear include: a clicki

What is sleep apnoea?Sleep apnoea is the interruption of breathing that occurs when you are asleep. The most common type of sleep apnoea is known as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Obstruction of breathing causes a drop in oxygen levels in the body, which makes it difficult for the patient to have a restful night of sleep and will, therefore, show signs of tiredness the next day. In addition,

What are sleep disorders? Sleep disorders are problems related to sleep. They are a set of alterations that occur in the different phases of sleep, preventing you from enjoying a proper, continuous and restful sleep. There are many different types of sleep disorders and these can be grouped into four main categories: Problems falling asleep and staying asleep Problems staying awake Pr

What is sleepwalking? Sleepwalking is a type of parasomnia and a sleep behavioural disorder that occurs during deep sleep. Someone who is sleepwalking is in a state of being asleep and awake at the same time. Symptoms of sleepwalking Someone who sleepwalks can be identified by the following points: Being in a state of sleep and either able or unable to respond to communicat

What is a slipped disc? The spine or backbone is made up of segments of bone (vertebrae) separated with fibrocartilaginous discs, which provide flexibility and act as shock-absorbers. A slipped disc is when one of these soft cushions of tissue pushes outwards. They are often painful, due to the fact that the spinal cord (part of the central nervous system) passes through the middle of them.

What is a smear test? A smear test, also known as a cervical screening test, checks for the human papillomavirus (HPV) and any abnormal changes to the cells of the cervix. Having abnormal cells can sometimes develop into cervical cancer, so identifying and treating them early can help prevent this from happening.   Who needs to have a smear test? Anyone with a cervix between the a

What are smell disorders? Smell disorders, also known as olfactory disorders, are those that result in an increase, decrease, absence or change in our sense of smell. Common smell disorders include:     Anosmia Anosmia is the medical term for the complete loss or absence of the sense of smell. It occurs when the olfactory system, which includes the olfactory nerve and

Smile design is a specialised branch of cosmetic dentistry focused on enhancing the aesthetics of a person’s smile. It involves a comprehensive approach to improving the appearance of teeth, gums, and bite through various dental treatments, combining both artistic vision and dental science.Central to smile design is the goal of creating a natural, harmonious smile that complements the individual’s

What is SMILE laser eye surgery? SMILE laser eye surgery is a relatively new technique that can be used to fix shortsightedness (nearsightedness) and blurry vision (astigmatism). 'SMILE' stands for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction and is a femtosecond laser-assisted refractive procedure.  The procedure corrects vision through the minimum section of the cornea withou