Medical dictionary

What is a low cholesterol diet? Hypercholesterolemia is one of the most serious conditions today. Having high blood cholesterol has been shown to be a direct cause of cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol is considered high when total cholesterol is above 200 mg/dl, a situation that is aggravated if it exceeds 250 mg/dl. Some of the most common causes are genetic determinants (the body makes more

What is low-grade lymphoma?   Lymphoma is the most common type of blood cancer. It occurs when the white blood cells (lymphocytes) change and grow excessively out of control. These white blood cells are found in the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, bone marrow and other parts of the body. There are two main types of lymphoma; non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphoma, which both involve different

What is low vision? Low vision is suffered by people who have difficulties in their daily lives because of alterations in vision that can be limiting. They usually have a visual acuity of 0.3 or less or a loss of visual field of less than 20 degrees. Hence, low vision is when you have lost a certain amount of your vision, making daily tasks difficult. Low vision may be characterised by a los

What is being analysed? Lp-PLA2, or Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2, is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in inflammation within blood vessels. This analysis specifically measures the levels of Lp-PLA2 in the blood. What does the result mean? The result of the Lp-PLA2 analysis provides insights into the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Elevated levels may indicate increased

What is a lumbar discectomy? Lumbar discectomy is a surgery that is performed when the patient has a herniated disc in the lumbar part of the spine. This causes back pain that spreads to the legs and causes severe muscle weakness. The surgical procedure can remove part or all of this pad to relieve the pain. A lumbar discectomy is typically done as a minimally invasive (keyh

What is a lumbar fusion? Lumbar fusion, also called spinal fusion, spondylodesis or spondylosyndesis, is a surgical procedure to permanently join two or more vertebrae in the spine to prevent movement between them.   Why is a lumbar fusion performed? This surgery is recommended for the treatment of fractures, instability due to degenerative disease, tumours and other ailments that

What is lumbar spinal disc herniation?   A spinal disc herniation, herniated disc, or a slipped disc, refers to a condition affecting one of the discs in the spine. Between each vertebrae in the spine, there is a cushion, known as an intervertebral disc. A tear in the outer, fibrous ring of one these discs can allow the central, jelly-like section of the disc to budge out. This is ca

What is a lumbar nerve root block?A lumbar nerve root block, also known as a transforaminal epidural, is an injection of local anaesthetic and anti-inflammatory steroids to provide pain relief. It is administered to the ventral epidural space and around exiting nerve roots that run on either side of the lumbar section of spine. By providing pain relief, this should help patients to improve th

What are Lumineers®? Lumineers® are ultrathin veneers of about 0.3mm thickness. They are distinct from conventional veneers as it is not necessary to cut the tooth and so anaesthesia is not required. They are simply bonded to the top of the teeth, covering up a variety of dental problems and giving the patient a beautiful white smile. Lumineers® vs veneers: pros and cons B