Health Conditions

Allergy

The word allergy is derived from the Greek, allos ‘the other’ and ergon ‘action’ which is to mean a state of the organism, of the body, with differences in its reactivity

Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting an estimated 850,000 people in the UK.

Amniocentesis

Amniocentesis is a testyou may be offered during pregnancy to check if your baby has a genetic or chromosomal condition, such as Down's, Edwards' or Patau'ssyndromes.

Amputation

An amputation is the surgical removal ofpart of the body,such asan arm or leg.

Amyloidosis

Amyloidosis is a group of rare but serious conditions caused by deposits of abnormal protein, called amyloid, in tissues and organs throughout the body.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Motor neurone disease is a rare condition that progressively damages parts of the nervous system. This leads to muscle weakness, often with visible wasting.

Anaesthesia

Anaesthesia means "loss of sensation". Medications that cause anaesthesia are called anaesthetics.

Anal cancer

Anal cancer are cancer cells that form into benign or malignant tumors in the tissues of the anus.

Anal fissure

An anal fissure is a small cut or tear in the lining of the anus. The crack in the skin causes severe pain and some bright red bleeding during and after bowel movements. At times t…

Anal fistula

An anal fistula is a small tunnel that develops between the end of the bowel and the skin near the anus

Anal pain (proctalgia)

Anal pain (pain in the bottom) can be distressing, but is often just the result of a minor, treatable condition.

Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction to a trigger such as an allergy.

Aneurysm, abdominal aortic

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a swelling (aneurysm) of the aorta the main blood vessel that leads away from the heart, down through the abdomen to the rest of the body.

Aneurysm, abdominal aortic

Angelman syndrome

Angelman syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects the nervous system and causes severe physical and intellectual disability.

Angina

Angina is chest pain that occurs when the blood supply to the muscles of the heart is restricted. It usually happens because the arteries supplying the heart become hardened and na…

Angina pectoris

Angina pectoris (stenocardia) is the result of myocardial ischemia . Stenocardia is the medical term for chest pain or discomfort due to coronary heart disease.

Angioedema

Angioedema isswelling underneath the skin. It's usuallya reaction to a trigger, such as a medication or something you're allergic to.

Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a long-term (chronic) condition in whichthe spine and other areas of the body become inflamed.

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a serious mental health condition. It's an eating disorder where a person keeps their body weight as low as possible.

Antacid medicines

Antacids are medicines that counteract (neutralise) the acid in your stomach to relieve Indigestion and heartburn .

Anticoagulant medicines

Anticoagulants are medicines that help prevent blood clots. They're given to people at ahigh risk ofgetting clots, to reduce their chances of developingserious conditions such as s…

Antidepressants

Antidepressants are a type of medication used to treat clinical depression or prevent it recurring.

Antifungal medicines

Antifungal medicines are used to treat fungal infections, which are most commonly found on the skin, hair and nails.