Medical dictionary

What is abdominal pain, and what are the different types?Abdominal pain can be a symptom of many conditions. It is the name given to pain that radiates between the chest and the groin. There are three different types of abdominal pain, which are categorised as follows: burning pain: this type of abdominal pain could be caused by gastritis, an ulcer, or acid refluxcolic pain: could be due

What does it mean if your smear test results are abnormal?   If you have an abnormal smear test result, this does not mean you have cancer. Instead, you have some changes in the cells of your cervix. Depending on how abnormal these changes are, there is a potential for these cells to develop into cancer in the future.   Some types of abnormal result will not need treatment, w

What is acne? Acne, otherwise known as acne vulgaris is a very common skin condition, usually featuring blackhead and whitehead spots, which happens when hair follicles and pores become blocked by oil and dead skin cells. What are the different types of acne? The six main types of acne are as follows: Blackheads – Small, black or brown spots that are caused when the open p

What is acupuncture?    Acupuncture is a form of alternative or complementary medicine. It is derived from ancient Chinese medicine. There are many techniques used, the most famous using thin needles placed in specific areas known as acupuncture points. This procedure seeks to stimulate certain parts of the body, affecting their function. Acupuncturists say that these points co

What are age spots? Age spots, also known as liver spots, are brown or black, flat spots or blotches on the skin that are very common in people over the age of 50. They can vary in size and sometimes form patches of darker skin. They can sometimes appear on younger people who get a lot of sun exposure. Despite commonly being known as liver spots, they have no relation to the liver. 

What is alcoholism? Addictions to toxic substances are chronic diseases that affect the brain and behavior, characterised by the dependence on one or more drugs which are harmful to the body: in this case, alcohol. Alcoholism may also be known as alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, or alcohol use disorder. What are the symptoms of alcoholism? Indicators of alcohol misuse or alcohol add

What is an allergy? An allergy is a reaction of the immune system to exposure to a substance in the environment which is usually harmless for most people. Examples include: Pollen Certain foods, e.g. peanuts Certain drugs Dust mites Contact with certain substances, e.g. latex, nickel Insect stings Allergies can affect several parts of the body. However, the most freque

What is Alzheimer's disease? Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that affects cognitive functions, particularly memory. It is the most common form of dementia in the UK. As it advances, it leads to memory loss, impaired judgment, and difficulty with daily tasks. Although there is no cure, treatments can help manage symptoms, making ongoing research an

What is anaemia?   Anaemia is a condition in which there is a low concentration of haemoglobin in red blood cells, or a deficiency in the number of red blood cells themselves. Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to cells throughout the rest of the body, and haemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that gives the blood its red colour and binds to oxygen molecules, allowing red bl