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Medical Articles

A comprehensive A to Z collection of medical articles.

Please note that all content on this website (including, but not limited to, copy, images, commentary, advice, tips, hints, guides, observations) is provided as an informational resource only.

It is certainly not a substitute for correct and accurate diagnosis or recommendation or treatment by a medical professional. Please ensure that you obtain proper guidance from your GP or other medical professional. The information provide on this website does not create any patient-medical expert relationship, and must not be used in any way as a substitute for such.

A picture of a woman's face that has a lot of acne on it. The background is black and has a white word on it saying – Acne

Acne

Acne vulgaris is known as a common acne skin condition that can affect people throughout their entire life. Acne is often associated with teenagers, as it can be linked to hormonal changes that happen during puberty. However, adults...
 A man in a red lumberjack shirt and a yellow beanie is scratching his arm – the man looks in pain. The word – Allergies – can also be seen

Allergies

Allergies are the body’s reaction to a specific 'thing'. This 'thing' could be a chemical, a protein, or a food substance. Essentially, your body can develop an allergy to pretty much anything!
A bearded, pale man in an off-white t-shirt; he has his left hand to his forehead and looks unwell and slightly dizzy. The word – Anaemia – can be seen

Anaemia

Anaemia is a condition in which there is insufficient haemoglobin and red blood cells in the body, meaning there isn’t enough to meet the body’s requirements to function as it should.
 A close up of a man blowing his nose. The word – Anaphylaxis – can be seen

Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a severe reaction in the body caused by a specific trigger, such as an allergy. In comparison to a normal allergic reaction that may display mild symptoms, anaphylaxis can sometimes be life-threatening if not treated...
 A man in a dark suit is clutching where his heart is with both of his hands – it looks as though the man is suffering from severe pains in his chest. The word – Angina – can be seen

Angina

Angina is where you suffer pain in your chest which is caused by a lack of blood flow to your heart. It is not a heart attack, but could be a warning sign that you are at...
 A man sitting on a sofa; his hand is raised to his head, although stressed. The words – Anxiety and Stress – can be seen

Anxiety and Stress

Are you currently experiencing increased feelings of anxiety? Do you find it hard to relax and clear your thoughts? If these symptoms fit your current situation, you might be experiencing what doctors refer to as –...
 A man in a white t-shirt and a black and red lumber jack shirt has his left hand against his stomach - he looks in pain. The word – Appendicitis – can be seen

Appendicitis

Appendicitis is a condition caused by the inflammation of the appendix.
 A man, sideways on, with his eyes shut, is taking a shot from his ventolin inhaler. The word – Asthma – is visible

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung condition that affects airways and lung function.
 A person lying on a sofa clutching her stomach, as though in pain. The words – Bowel Polyps – can be seen

Bowel Polyps

Bowel polyps are small growths on the inner lining of the bowel, or rectum, or lining of the colon, they can also be referred to as colon polyps.
 A woman in a white t-shirt. She is holding a pink

Breast Cancer In Women

Breast cancer is the most common cancer to occur in women. According to the NHS website, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with a form of breast cancer during their lifetime
 A white plate on a white background. On the plate is a rolled up tape measure; a fork is coming out from the tape measure. The words – Bulimia Nervosa – can be seen

Bulimia Nervosa

Eating disorders are on the rise, with approximately 2 in 100 women in the UK developing bulimia nervosa in their lifetime.
 A man in a white t-shirt is holding/rubbing his throat with his left hand – he looks as though he is in some discomfort. The word – Catarrh – can be seen

Catarrh

Catarrh is a build-up of mucus in the airways, or in a cavity of the body. It tends to affect the back of the nose, the back of the throat and the sinuses, causing discomfort.
 The waist and lower half of a woman. She is wearing jeans and a white t-shirt. Her hands are in front of the zip and button part of the jeans. The words – Cervical Cancer – can be seen

Cervical Cancer

The cervix is a part of the female reproductive system. It is a small ring that sits between the vagina and the womb.
 A young lady wearing a very thick jumper. She also has gloves and a hat on. She is holding her hands to her face, as though she is very cold. The word – Chilblains – can be seen

Chilblains

Small, red and itchy patches on the skin are typically known as chilblains. In most cases, chilblains clear up on their own, but sometimes, a visit to the doctor may be required. 
 Shows a man in a pale t-shirt with his left hand covering half of his face; he looks very tired. The words – Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – can be seen

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating condition. The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) estimates that there are up to 1 in 250 individuals suffering with the condition. 
 A woman wearing a crop top and black leggings, holds her hands over the place in her body where the kidneys are – she looks in pain. The words – Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) – can be seen

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Kidneys are the waste filters of your body. Their job is to filter your blood and get rid of anything you don’t need, by passing it in your urine.
A man in a blue shirt coughing, with the text Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) on the left

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, also known as COPD, is a common lung condition characterized by obstruction of the air passages inside the lungs, known as the bronchi. COPD occurs due to the narrowing of the...
 A woman leans forward with her right hand on her side, she looks in pain. The words – Chronic Pain – can be seen

Chronic Pain

When you sustain an injury, or illness, the pain will usually become less severe, as the injury heals. Chronic Pain is ongoing and tends to last longer than six months. It is a type of...
 A woman with both her hands on her stomach, as though in pain. The words – Coeliac Disease – can be seen

Coeliac Disease

Coeliac disease is an auto-immune disease. An auto-immune disease is where your body’s immune system starts to attack itself. Coeliac disease is triggered when you eat something called gluten. Gluten is a type of protein...
 A man covering his mouth with his hand looking shocked. The words – Cold Sores – can be seen

Cold Sores

Cold sores are highly contagious blisters that can appear around the mouth, or on the lips. They are considered to be very common and typically will go away by themselves after 7 to 10 days.
 A woman standing up clutching her stomach with one hand; in the other hand she is holding a toilet roll. The word – Constipation – can be seen

Constipation

Constipation often causes discomfort and sometimes severe pain. It makes going to the toilet an uncomfortable experience. Some causes of constipation may also highlight other health issues.
 A middle aged man in a grey jumper has both of his hands placed where his heart would be – he looks in pain. The words – Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) – can be seen

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common heart conditions affecting people around the globe. It is a medical condition that occurs when blood supply to the heart is blocked.
A man in his 30s, wearing a grey t-shirt, has a white towel around his shoulders, as though just having worked out. He is drinking from a bottle of water. The word – Dehydration – is showing

Dehydration

If you’re feeling thirsty, then you might be a little dehydrated. However, dehydration goes a lot further than just needing a glass of water; it can be a serious condition that, if left untreated, can lead...
 An elderly woman in a striped shirt – she is looking towards the ground and has one hand rubbing her forehead – she looks confused. The word – Dementia – can be seen

Dementia

As an umbrella term, dementia can be thought of as a condition leading to loss of memory, language and problem-solving abilities. By far the most common type is Alzheimer’s disease – generally, this is the type people are most...
 A close up of a woman resting her head in her raised right hand. The background is black. The word – Depression – can be seen

Depression

Depression is one of the most common illnesses affecting millions of lives all around the world. People suffering from depression describe it as an intense, overwhelming feeling of sadness, guilt and worthlessness.
A close up of a hand injecting a dose of insulin into a stomach

Diabetes

It is estimated that more than 4 million people are living with diabetes in the UK (6% of the UK population, or 1 in 16 people). Diabetes type 2 is much more prevalent than type...
 The back view of a clothed man. He has both of his hands against his bottom. The word – Diaarhoea – can be seen

Diarrhoea

Every person has experienced diarrhoea at least once, or even several times throughout their life. Diarrhoea is a very common symptom affecting millions of people all around the world and can be caused by different...
 A woman with both of her ears over her ears. The word – earache – can be seen

Earache

Earache is a common condition that people of all ages can experience. It can range from mild to severe pain. However, it usually doesn’t signify anything too serious.
 A middle aged woman in a checked (pink and white) shirt, is clutching her stomach, as though in pain. The word – Endometriosis – can be seen

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a fairly common and often painful condition in women in which endometrial-like tissue is present outside of the uterus.
 The lower half of a person. The person is wearing pink shorts, pink socks and pink trainers. The image is repeated twice, but ghosted, giving the appearance of the legs shaking. The word – Epilepsy – can be seen

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a condition where people get frequent seizures. It can cause a spectrum of symptoms, depending on the type of epilepsy that you have and what may have caused it.
 The torso of an African-American woman – she clutching her stomach, although in pain. The word – Fibroids – is visible

Fibroids

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in the womb, or uterus area. These growths are made up of muscle and fibrous tissues and can be different sizes.
 A middle aged woman, with her hands behind her back; she looks in pain. The word – Fibromyalgia – is visible

Fibromyalgia

Difficult to diagnose, the symptoms of Fibromyalgia vary from person-to-person and impacts each respective sufferer in different ways. The severity of Fibromyalgia can deviate from being something one can live with to seriously life restricting.
 An image of a man in a blue shirt holding his stomach in pain – the words – Food Poisoning – can be seen

Food Poisoning

Food poisoning is a common illness that people get when they eat something contaminated, or toxic. In most cases, individuals will experience symptoms quickly, and these can make the sufferer feel extremely unwell for a...
 Two clasped hands – one on top of the other. There is a small, red bump on the wrist of the left hand. The words – Ganglion Cyst – can be seen

Ganglion Cyst

A ganglion cyst is a swelling that is filled with fluid. These cysts appear near joints or tendons and can vary in size. Sometimes, ganglion cysts go away by themselves and no treatment is required.
 The clothed torso and bottom of a woman are visible - her body is slightly leaning forward. One hand is clasped around her bottom, although the woman is trying to 'hold something in'. The word – Haemorrhoids – can be seen

Haemorrhoids

Haemorrhoids are enlarged veins that appear as lumps, which can be found in and around the rectum and anus. More commonly, they are referred to as 'piles'
Woman holding her head as if she has a headache with the text headaches next to it

Headaches

Almost everyone will suffer from the occasional headache. However, if you are suffering with them frequently, this is known as a – headache disorder. What this essentially means is that you are suffering from headaches...
 A woman has a finger pointing to her right ear – she look as though she is struggling to hear what is going on. The words – Hearing Loss – can be seen

Hearing Loss

According to the World Health Organization, hearing loss affects 460 million people worldwide. Hearing loss happens when a problem, even a tiny one, occurs in any part of the three sections that make up the...
 A man clutches at his chest where his heart is – he looks in pain. The words – Heart Failure – can be seen

Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF), also known as cardiac failure, is the term used to describe the medical condition when your heart cannot pump blood effectively to other parts of your body. Simply put, heart failure occurs...
 A man is sitting down. His left arm has a blood pressure cuff on it. In the man's other hand is the actual blood pressure machine. The words – High Blood Pressure & High Cholesterol – can be seen

High Blood Pressure/High Cholesterol

A growing number of people in the UK are suffering from both high blood pressure (hypertension) and high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia). But what exactly makes up a diagnosis of high blood pressure, or high cholesterol?
 A middle aged man wearing a light blue shirt. He has his left hand on the top of his head – he looks confused. The words – Huntington's Disease – can be seen

Huntington's Disease

Huntington’s disease is a rare hereditary condition that causes the degeneration of brain cells over time. Progressively, the condition worsens and, subsequently, is usually fatal after approximately 20 years.
 A man in jeans and a blue shirt has both of his hands in front of his crutch, although desperate to go to the toilet. The word – Incontinence – can be seen

Incontinence

We learn how to go to the toilet at a young age. It is drilled into us. The idea that losing control of our bowels, or bladder, in public, is a shameful thing. It is...
 Two feet on a white background - the right hand one is

Ingrown Toenail

An ingrown toenail, usually affecting the big toe, can be a painful condition for people of all ages. The most prominent sign that you have an ingrowing toenail is the pain you experience when wearing...
 A young man lying in bed wide awake. The word – Insomnia – can be seen

Insomnia

Getting a good night’s sleep is not as simple as it seems. Once your body’s internal sleep clock gets used to a few hours of sleep, it becomes more challenging to reset that clock to...
 A bald man with a beard scratching his beard with the word itching in the top right

Itching

Itching is a common skin complaint and, in the majority of cases, is usually not a sign of anything more serious going on. Many things can irritate the skin and all ages can experience itchy...
 A woman clutches her throat; it looks sore. The word – Laryngitis – can be seen

Laryngitis

Laryngitis is inflammation of the larynx and causes pain and swelling in the throat. In most cases, the condition will usually go away within 1 to 2 weeks. Most commonly, laryngitis is caused by a...
 A woman in a pink t-shirt clutches her side, where her livers are; she looks in pain. The words – Liver Disorders – can be seen

Liver Disorders

It has been estimated that around 90% of liver disorders are preventable. Despite this, more than 40 people die every day in the UK from liver disease.
 A man in a red polo shirt clutches his chest where his lungs are. The words – Lung Cancer – can be seen

Lung Cancer

Cancer is where cells in a part of the body grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The cancerous cells can destroy and invade healthy tissue, including organs.
 Image shows the top half of a woman who is wearing a pink and white stripy top. Her left hand is gripping her right shoulder – she looks in pain. The words – Multiple Sclerosis – can be seen

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a lifelong condition that affects the spinal cord and brain. There is a wide range of symptoms that arise from this disorder, including issues with vision, balance, leg and arm...
 A man lying on his side in a bed and is fast asleep. The words – Obstructive Sleep Apnoea – are visible

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Obstructive sleep apnoea or OSA is a breathing issue that occurs when you’re sleeping. This condition is caused when the muscles in the body relax and narrow when you go to sleep.
 The bottom half of a man sitting on a chair. The man is gripping his leg, as though in pain. The word – Oedema – can be seen

Oedema

Oedema is a condition that results in the retention of fluid, causing certain areas of the body to swell. The swelling can either occur in one place, or it can be more widespread across the whole...
 Guide by Condition: Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition where your bones become weak. Having weaker bones means that you are more prone to fracturing or breaking them from relatively minor bumps that you would not normally expect to get...
 An image of a man holding the front of his neck and thyroid, with the text – Overactive Thyroid – also visible

Overactive Thyroid

An overactive thyroid is also known as hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis. If you have an overactive thyroid or too many of the hormones, it can cause health issues that may require treatment.
 A close up of a person's hand – it is shaking, as it would with a hand tremor. The words – Parkinson's disease – can be seen

Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative neurological condition. The most common and visible features of Parkinson’s disease are tremors, slow movements and 'shuffling' when walking.
 A middle age woman has her left wrist being clasped by her right hand; the woman looks concerned and worried. The words – Peripheral Neuropathy – can be seen

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a medical condition characterised by damage or destruction of the peripheral nerves, i.e. the nerves that are found outside the brain and the spinal cord. These include the nerves of the...
 A young woman has an arm against her chest and a hand against her mouth, although she's coughing and is in pain. The word – Pneumonia – can be seen

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is the term for what non-medical people generally call a chest infection. It is quite common for people to think that the two things are different, but this is not true.
A man in old jeans and a dark grey t-shirt is leaning forward. One of his hands is on his rear, his other hand is on his stomach – the pose infers that the man is in pain. The words – Prostate Cancer – can be seen

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a serious condition that occurs when cells in the prostate start to grow in an uncontrollable, random manner. Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the UK.
 A middle age man wearing a dark brown polo type of shirt. The man is scratching the area around his right ear - the man doesn't look happy! The word – Shingles – can be seen

Shingles

Shingles is really common. Around 25% of people will get shingles at least once in their lifetime. You are more likely to get a flare-up of shingles as you get older.
A middle age woman wearing a white top and a scarf, has both of arms and hands over her stomach – she looks like she is in a small amount of pain. The words – Stomach Ache – can be seen

Stomach Ache

There are so many organs inside your abdomen that it makes abdominal pain/stomach ache difficult to diagnose, as it can be caused by many different things.
 A middle age woman wearing a denim shirt has both of her hands over her stomach – she looks in pain. The words – Stomach Cancer – can be seen

Stomach Cancer

Stomach cancer is the 4th most common cancer in the world and the 17th most common cancer in the UK. Every year, around 6,600 new cases are registered in the UK.
A close-up of a man's eye wearing sunglasses. The words – Visual Impairment – can be seen

Visual Impairment

Throughout our lifetime our vision is likely to deteriorate. It is a fact that most of us in our older years will require some form of visual correction, such as glasses. There are many conditions...