Medical dictionary

What is SMILE laser eye surgery? SMILE laser eye surgery is a relatively new technique that can be used to fix shortsightedness (nearsightedness) and blurry vision (astigmatism). 'SMILE' stands for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction and is a femtosecond laser-assisted refractive procedure.  The procedure corrects vision through the minimum section of the cornea withou

What is smoking cessation? Smoking cessation, or ‘quitting’, as it is more commonly referred to, is the process in which someone stops smoking tobacco. Tobacco contains an addictive substance called nicotine, which means the process of quitting can be very difficult for the individual, as they can experience withdrawal symptoms, just like in any other addiction.   Why

What is snoring? Snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea are disorders characterised by temporary upper airway occlusion at the pharynx level during sleep. This causes problems with sleep, fatigue and breathing, and other related problems. What symptoms can be caused by snoring? As well as snoring, in more severe cases breathing may stop (sleep apnoea) for more than 10 seconds, resulting in

What is social phobia? Social phobia, more commonly known as social anxiety disorder (SAD), is an anxiety disorder involving an overwhelming fear or social situations and interactions. The disorder is fairly common in teenagers, and often disappears as they mature, but for some it can continue into adulthood, and can have a huge impact on the way patients live their lives. It is often couple

What is being analysed? Sodium is being analysed here. Sodium is an electrolyte found in the blood and is important for balancing fluids and acids in the body. The sodium blood test measures the amount of sodium in the blood. What does the result mean? Normal sodium levels in the blood range from 135 to 145 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L). Why is it performed? The sodium bloo

What are soft tissue sarcomas? Soft tissue sarcomas are a type or group of very rare cancers that begin in the soft tissue which support and connect one's body structure. In what tissues are soft tissue sarcomas normally present? There are many tissues that can be affected by soft tissue sarcomas. The main ones include the following: muscles blood vesse

What is solar urticaria? Solar urticaria is a rare condition in which exposure to UV light/radiation produces hives (urticaria). It is difficult to diagnose properly as symptoms can be very similar to other dermatological conditions. However, it can be identified through phototesting.   What are the symptoms of solar urticaria? Generally the areas affected by hives are those w

What is being analysed? Soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) analysis measures the concentration of soluble transferrin receptors in the blood. Transferrin receptors play a crucial role in transporting iron into cells, and their levels can indicate the body's iron status. What does the result mean? The result of sTfR analysis provides insights into the body's iron metabolism. E

What is somatic symptom disorder (SSD)? Somatic symptom disorder, which was previously known as somatization disorder or somatoform disorder, is a mental disorder that has an extreme focus on physical symptoms, such as pain or fatigue that causes the individual severe emotion distress and anxiety. This causes disruption to their daily life, affecting their overall ability to function. The physi