Medical dictionary

What is stuttering? Stuttering is a condition affecting the fluency of speech. In some cases, it begins in childhood and may persist throughout life. The condition is characterised by interruptions in the production of sounds during speech, known as disfluencies or dysrhythmias. The specialist who treats this condition is a speech therapist, who studies, detects, evaluates, diagnoses and t

  What is a stye? A stye is the result of an inflammation on or inside the eyelid or around the eye. It is a red, hard and painful lump originating from the eyelid’s sebaceous glands or from the eyelashes’ follicles. What are the symptoms of a stye? The symptoms of a stye include a painful lump which grows more and more red, lacrimation (tears) and, sometimes, a sc

What is a subdural haematoma? A subdural haematoma is an accumulation of blood in the skull or within the brain tissue that is caused by a blood vessel rupture in the brain. This can come on suddenly or develop over time. It’s often caused by trauma to the head from a fall or severe blow such as from a car accident. A subdural haematoma can be fatal and requires immediate tre

What is sudden death? Sudden death is a sudden and unexpected cardiac arrest that occurs in people who appear to be in good health. Prognosis As it is unexpected, there is no possible way to prevent or control sudden death. If the affected patient does not receive immediate medical attention, they will die as a result of cardiac arrest. Symptoms of sudden death Sudden death show

What are suicidal thoughts? Suicidal thoughts (also referred to as suicidal ideation) is where a person thinks about taking their own life. It may range from fleeting thoughts to detailed planning, role-playing (acting out the suicide without actually doing it), and even failed attempts. Many people experience suicidal thoughts at some point in their life, but most never seriously consider k

What is photosensitivity? Photosensitivity, commonly known as sun allergy, is the skin’s reaction to sun exposure. Symptoms may be different to other dermatological issues. Among the most common reactions, the following stand out:     Polymorphic light eruption (PLE): this is more common in women and people who have fair skin, but it can also affect men and

What is sun damage? Years of sun exposure can have a profound effect on our skin, eventually leading to sun damage. Although it can feel good to be in the sun, too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause skin ageing and wrinkles, dark spots, thickened skin, skin cancer and other skin changes.   What kind of damage can the sun do to the skin? Too much sun exposure can

What is a supraspinatus tendon tear? A supraspinatus tendon tear is a tear or rupture of the tendon of the supraspinatus muscle, which is located at the back of the shoulder. It is one of the most frequently damaged tendons. It usually develops alongside other rotator cuff muscle tears, which may be the result of trauma or repeated micro-trauma. The tear may be a partial or full thickness tear.

What is supraventricular tachycardia? Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a heart condition where the heart suddenly beats much faster than normal. This type of tachycardia originates from faulty electrical impulses in the upper part of the heart, rather than from the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart). It is less dangerous than ventricular tachycardia. SVT then refers to any non-ve