Medical dictionary

What are the adrenal glands? The adrenal glands are small glands that are situated on top of each kidney. They are responsible for producing important hormones, such as adrenaline, steroid hormones such as androgens, and corticosteroids. These hormones help the body to control blood sugar, react to stress (e.g injury or illness), regulate blood pressure, and burn fat. The adrenal glands

What is being analysed? The ACTH test measures levels of ACTH in the blood. ACTH is a hormone that stimulates the production of cortisol in the adrenal glands. What does the result mean? The results of the ACTH test can help diagnose disorders of the pituitary and adrenal glands, such as Addison’s disease, Cushing’s syndrome, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Why is t

What is adult ADHD? Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disorder which affects the brain and is characterised by a short attention span and difficulty controlling impulses. ADHD is a congenital disorder, meaning you are born with it, but it can worsen with age and can be confused with age-related forgetfulness. It is estimated that the rate of ADHD in children is f

What is adult circumcision? Male circumcision is the surgical removal of the retractable fold of skin that covers the tip of the penis (foreskin). Although the procedure is normally performed in children for religious or cultural reasons, many adults undergo circumcision for medical purposes. Circumcision in women is referred to as female genital mutilation and has been outlawed by the UK gover

What is aerosol therapy? Aerosol therapy is a technique of administering drugs by inhalation through a nebulizer or compressor. The first is used in clinics and hospitals while the second can be used by the patient in daily life. The latter is most commonly used to treat diseases such as bronchitis, respiratory tract infections, asthma, cystic fibrosis or carcinogenic processes.  

What is aesthetic gynaecology?  Aesthetic gynaecology is quite a new branch of medicine that allows women to alter their intimate body parts, whether it is for sexual function or appearance. Procedures may be surgical or non-surgical.     Why might someone have an aesthetic gynaecological procedure? A woman may want to rejuvenate their body and reproductive system

What is aesthetic orthodontics? Aesthetic orthodontics, often called cosmetic orthodontics, consists of using certain types of braces - removable or fixed - to improve the appearance of adult teeth. There is an increasing demand for cosmetic orthodontics that provides the same results as conventional orthodontics but with a more aesthetically pleasing process. For example, the braces us

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 agoraphobia? Coming from Greek, the word agoraphobia literally means “fear of the public square or market place”, and is often said to refer to a fear of open spaces. However, this is somewhat misleading.   Agoraphobia is actually an anxiety disorder in which you may perceive an environment as unsafe, disproportionately to the actual danger of the situation