Tummy ache
Tummy ache or abdominal pain is pain of any sort in or around the abdomen - the area of the body between the chest and the legs. In the majority of cases the cause is minor or never found - in nearly half the children admitted to hospital with ... [... more]
BBC |
Ankylosing spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a condition where the spine becomes inflamed and stiff, causing it to lose its normal shape. Sometimes it affects other joints in the body, such as the hips, knees and ankles. AS usually starts in the late teens and ... [... more]
BBC |
Postnatal depression
Postnatal depression is a common problem that usually begins in the six weeks after leaving hospital but it can occur months or even a year later. Symptoms of postnatal depression include: low mood, difficulty coping with looking after yourself ... [... more]
BBC |
Spina bifida
At its worse, spina bifida can have devastating effects. But by simply taking a supplement before and during pregnancy, the risk can be reduced by 70 per cent. Spina bifida means 'split spine'. There are 33 vertebrae in the spine; if one or more ... [... more]
BBC |
Pre-eclampsia
Each year in the UK, about ten women and as many as 1,000 babies die because of a condition related to pregnancy called pre-eclampsia. In fact pre-eclampsia may occur in its mildest form in one in ten pregnancies, and severely in one in ... [... more]
BBC |
Peripheral vascular disease
An intermittent pain in the legs or arms can be a symptom of peripheral vascular disease, which, if left untreated, can lead to amputation. Pain in the legs not only prevents normal daily activities, but is also a warning sign that someone could ... [... more]
BBC |
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
Dr Rob Hicks looks at the symptoms and stages of this condition that affects the nervous system. It's been around since the American Civil War and has been known by many different names. Now, this condition that causes the body to undertake its ... [... more]
BBC |
Hydatidiform mole
Dr Rob Hicks looks at the consequences when a hydatidiform mole forms in pregnancy, in place of a foetus. An in-depth look at a condition that affects as many as one in 1,000 pregnancies in the UK. A hydatiform mole is a growth that forms inside ... [... more]
BBC |
Causes and prevention
Everyone who has suffered from chickenpox is at risk of developing shingles. We look at the early symptoms, how the virus develops and how it can be treated. Shingles is a viral infection caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, often ... [... more]
BBC |
Urine retention
Imagine you're bursting to go to the loo, but you're stuck in traffic, and can't get anywhere near a toilet. This is how urine retention feels. Worse still, there are some people who have urine retention and, although they can get to a toilet, ... [... more]
BBC |
What are the signs of misccarriage?
A miscarriage is a pregnancy that ends naturally before the unborn child can survive (usually considered to be before about the 24th week, although thanks to modern technology some babies born at 23 weeks survive). There are many causes for ... [... more]
BBC |
Dupuytren's contracture
Dupuytren's contracture is a common condition caused when the fibrous tissue in the palm of the hand thickens and shortens. We explain some of the symptoms and treatment. The precise cause of Dupuytren's contracture is unknown. At least one ... [... more]
BBC |
