Sickle Cell Anaemia Sickle cell anaemia is a serious disease in which the body makes sickle-shaped (“C”-shaped) red blood cells. Normal red blood cells are disk-shaped and move easily through your blood vessels. Red blood cells contain the protein haemoglobin (an iron-rich protein that gives blood its red colour and carries oxygen from the lungs …
Plague Plague is a serious, potentially life-threatening infectious disease that is usually transmitted to humans by the bites of rodent fleas. It was one of the scourges of early human history. There are three major forms of the disease: bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic. Causes The plague bacteria, Yersinia pestis, is transmitted to humans when they …
MENIERE’S DISEASE Meniere is a disorder of the inner ear that is characterized by a spinning sensation, hearing loss, ringing in the ear (tinnitus) and a feeling of pressure in the ear. The inner ear is mostly responsible for hearing and balance. In most cases, only one ear is affected. However, over time it may …
ENLARGED PROSTATE GLAND An enlarged prostate gland is a non-cancerous increase in the size of the prostate, considered a natural process of aging. The medical term for an enlarged prostate gland is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The prostate is a small, muscular gland found in a man’s lower abdomen just below the bladder. It surrounds …
DIFFUSE IDIOPATHIC SKELETAL HYPEROSTOSIS (DISH) Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis is a type of arthritis that is characterized by the calcification (hardening) of ligaments and connective tissues, the regions where tendons and ligaments connect to the bone. Once the tendon and ligament harden, new growths called bone spurs can form where they connect to the bones. …
BONE TUMOR An abnormal growth of cells in the bone is referred to as a bone tumor. Bone tumor develops when cells in the bone divide uncontrollably, forming a mass or lump of abnormal tissue. A growing tumor replaces healthy tissue with abnormal tissues, weakens the bone and causes it to break. A bone tumor …
RETINAL DETACHMENT Retinal detachment is a serious condition that happens when the retina separates from the underlying tissues that surround it. Retinal detachment pulls the retinal cell away from the layer of blood vessels that supply oxygen and nourishment. When this happens, the retina can’t work properly and can cause partial or total loss of …
PEPTIC ULCER Peptic ulcers are sores that develop in the lining of the stomach, the lower esophagus, or small intestine. There are 3 different types of peptic ulcer, they include: Gastric ulcers that occur on the inside of the stomach Esophageal ulcers that develop inside the esophagus Duodenal ulcers that occur in the upper and …
DEFINITION Myocardial infarction is the medical term for heart attack. The term myocardial infarction place emphasis on the myocardium (the heart muscle) and the significant changes that occur to it. A heart attack occurs when there is a disturbance of blood flow to a part of the heart. This disturbance may be from a decrease …
HYPERKALEMIA Hyperkalemia is an elevated level of potassium in the bloodstream. Potassium is a very significant body mineral. It is one of the main blood minerals called ‘electrolytes’ – the others are sodium and chloride. It carries a tiny electrical potential and is critical to the function of the nerve and muscle cells, including those …
