Medical dictionary

What is bronchopulmonary dysplasia? Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease which also once went by the name of chronic lung disease of infancy. The condition affects newborns, generally those who were born premature, who have been on a ventilator and required long-term use of oxygen. This can cause damage to the lungs and while some infants recover, some experience long-term

What is a bronchoscopy? A bronchoscopy is a medical procedure performed to visualise the airways and to detect any lung disease. It may also be carried out during treatment for certain lung problems. What does a bronchoscopy involve? The device used, called a bronchoscope, is a tube measuring roughly one centimetre in diameter and around 60 centimetres in length. The bronchoscope may

What is a brow lift? A brow lift, also known as a forehead lift or browplasty, is a cosmetic procedure to combat sagging brows, which can give the face an older or tired look. The procedure can provide a rejuvenated appearance of the forehead and the brow and eye area.   Why is a brow lift done? As we age, the forehead area naturally begins to move down because the skin and s

What is Brugada Syndrome? Brugada syndrome is a potentially life-threatening heart rhythm disorder that is mostly inherited. It is much more common in men than women and can be diagnosed with an electrocardiogram. An echocardiogram is also needed to find abnormalities in the structure of the heart. There is also a genetic test that can identify any genetic alteration confirmin

What is a bruised kidney? A bruised kidney, also known as a renal haematoma, is an injury caused by trauma to the kidney. In most cases, this is due to a road traffic accident or sports accidents. The trauma results in bleeding inside the kidney, which can be serious. 10 per cent of people with abdominal traumatic injury have renal haematoma and about thr

What is it? Bruxism, more commonly known as teeth grinding, is when a person clenches or grinds their teeth. This can cause temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems and wear and tear of the tooth surface. The condition affects between 10 and 20 per cent of the population. It may happen during the day or throughout the night, although it is more common when sleeping, when it is much more diff

What is building confidence? Building confidence aims to help people build the confidence they need to succeed in their goals, whether they are personal, social or professional goals. Often, people without confidence don’t take actions due to fear and doubt in their abilities, but those with confidence will have faith in their ability to improve, cope with unexpected situations and t

What is bulimia?   Bulimia is a mental health condition and a type of eating disorder typically characterised by a cycle of enforcing strict rules about eating; binge eating (eating large amounts of food in a short space of time without control) after not following these rules; feeling guilty for losing control; purging this food in attempts to lose the calories and then exper

What is bullying? Bullying refers to the psychological, physical or verbal abuse that most typically occurs between students, both in the classroom and in social networks (cyber bullying) – although it can also occur between adults and in the workplace. Bullying often occurs over an extended period of time rather than as a one-off occasion. Those affected are usually boys and girls of pre