Medical dictionary

What is chronic pain? Chronic pain, sometimes described as persistent pain, refers to pain which lasts for longer than 12 weeks, despite medication or treatment being prescribed. Usually, over time, pain settles, but in some cases it can go on for a long time, affecting mental wellbeing, and causing discomfort and distress to those experiencing it. Chronic pain is relatively common, with est

What is clinical nutrition?Clinical nutrition can be defined as the study and overall analysis of the relationship between ingested food and the overall wellbeing of the human body. Nutritionists are responsible for assessing a patient's nutritional intake, and more specifically, how these nutrients are digested, transported, absorbed, stored, metabolised, and utilised before and after being

What is a cluster headache? A cluster headache is a very serious, but fortunately rare, type of headache. They present with a shooting pain that affects only one side of the head, often in the area near the eye, and affects approximately one person in every 500. Generally, cluster headaches appear for the first time in people in their 30s and 40s, although it can occur at all ages. They are mo

What is personal development coaching?Coaching is a psychological discipline involving a process of personalised counselling and training during which the coach (or trainer) accompanies the individual in their personal development to achieve the established goals or objectives. During this process, the coach helps the individual to discover and optimise their abilities and performance, building an

What is colitis?Colitis refers to the inner lining of the colon becoming inflamed. Colitis can be a symptom of a condition that affects other parts of the body, which causes fevers, chills, fatigue and dehydration. There are many types of colitis that are usually classified by the cause of each one. The two most common types of colitis include ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease,

What is complex paediatric care? Complex care in paediatrics is treating the child holistically - and includes the input from the family and carers - where the patient has rare, difficult-to-treat conditions, or more than two chronic conditions.    It's anything that isn't a fast, easy fix, or something that they've seen previous paediatricia

What is constipation?The term “constipation” refers to infrequent bowel movements or difficulty passing stool. Constipation is usually defined as when a patient makes less than three bowel movements a week. These bowel movements may be difficult, even painful, and the individual may strain themselves trying to go.Occasional constipation is common, and can be related to change of routine, going on

What are contraceptive methods? Contraceptive methods prevent or reduce the possibility of pregnancy. They also help to plan the optimal time to have a child. Currently, there are multiple types of contraceptives administered orally, vaginally, as an injection, by subcutaneous, or physical implant. Common contraceptives include the pill, patch, implant, IUD, IUS and condoms. Regarding their

What is coronary heart disease?  Coronary heart disease (CHD), also known as ischaemic heart disease or coronary artery disease (CAD), is when the coronary arteries narrow over time due to a build-up of fatty material within the artery walls. The coronary arteries are responsible for supplying the heart with oxygenated blood. Is there a cure for coronary heart disease? If treated