Diagnosing Allergies

Allergy testing If you think you have an allergy, tell your doctor about the symptoms you're having, when they happen, how often they occur and if anything seems to trigger them. Your doctor can offer advice and treatment for mild allergies with

Avoiding Allergies 

The best way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid the substance that you're allergic to, although this isn't always easy or practical. Below is some practical advice that should help you avoid the most common allergens. House Dust Mites One

Treating Allergies

The treatment for an allergy depends on what you're allergic to. In many cases, your doctor will be able to offer advice and treatment. They'll advise you about taking steps to avoid exposure to the substance you're allergic to, and can recommend m

Allergies

An allergy is a reaction the body has to a particular food or substance. Allergies are very common. They're thought to affect more than one in four people in the UK at some point in their lives. They are particularly common in children. Some

Causes of Back Pain

Your back is a complex structure made up of bones, muscles, nerves and joints. This can often make it difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of the pain. Most cases of back pain aren't caused by serious damage or disease but by minor sprains, strains

Diagnosing Back Pain

Most cases of back pain do not require medical attention and can be treated with over-the-counter painkillers and self-care. However, you should visit your GP if you are worried about your condition or struggling to cope with the pain. Seeing you

Treating Back Pain 

Treatments for back pain vary depending on how long you have had the pain, how severe it is, and your individual needs and preferences. The various treatments for back pain are outlined below. Short-Term Back Pain Initially, back pain is usually t

Preventing Back Pain 

Keeping your back strong and supple is the best way to avoid getting back pain. Regular exercise, maintaining good posture and lifting correctly will all help. If you have recurring back pain, the following advice may be useful: Lose weight �

Neck Pain

Neck pain or a stiff neck is a common problem and generally nothing to worry about. The pain and stiffness usually gets better after a few days or weeks, and is rarely a sign of a more serious problem. You can get a painful or stiff neck if y

Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain is a common problem with a number of different causes. It's often a symptom of another problem. There are a number of reasons why you might be experiencing shoulder pain, which include: Poor posture Frozen shoulder – a

Back Pain

Back pain is a common problem that affects most people at some point in their life. It may be triggered by bad posture while sitting or standing, bending awkwardly, or lifting incorrectly. It's not generally caused by a serious condition. Find Out

Treating Appendicitis 

If you have appendicitis, your appendix usually needs to be removed as soon as possible. This operation is known as an appendectomy or appendicectomy. Surgery is usually also recommended if there's a chance you have appendicitis but it's not been p

Complications of Appendicitis

If appendicitis isn't treated, the appendix can burst and cause potentially life-threatening infections. Call 999 for an ambulance if you have abdominal (tummy) pain that suddenly gets much worse and spreads across your abdomen. These are signs your

Symptoms of Appendicitis

Appendicitis typically starts with a pain in the middle of your tummy (abdomen) that may come and go. Within hours, the pain travels to your lower right-hand side, where the appendix is usually located, and becomes constant and severe. Pressing o

Diagnosing Appendicitis

Appendicitis can be tricky to diagnose unless you have the typical symptoms, which are only present in about half of all cases. Also, some people's appendixes may be located in a slightly different part of their body, such as: The pelvis B

Appendicitis

Appendicitis is a painful swelling of the appendix. The appendix is a small, thin pouch about 5-10cm (2-4 inches) long. It's connected to the large intestine, where stools (faeces) are formed. Nobody knows exactly why we have an appendix, but remo

Infertility Complications

Complications of Infertility Some infertility treatments can cause complications, including side effects from medication, multiple pregnancy and stress. Side Effects of Medication Some medications used to treat infertility can cause side effects.

Infertility Treatment

Treating Infertility The treatment you are offered will depend on what is causing your fertility problems and what is available from your local clinical commissioning group (CCG). Eligibility For Treatment Fertility treatment funded by the NHS

Preventing Infertility 

For some, adopting a healthier lifestyle through simple lifestyle changes, or staying up to date with regular health checks and tests, may help to prevent infertility. Lifestyle changes Weight Women who are underweight or overweight ovulate (rele

Diagnosing Infertility 

Around 84% of couples conceive naturally within one year of having regular (every two to three days) unprotected sexual intercourse. You should visit your doctor if you have not conceived after one year of trying. You should visit your doctor sooner

Causes of Infertility 

Infertility can be caused by many different things. For 25% of couples, a cause cannot be identified. Infertility in Women Ovulation Disorders Infertility is most commonly caused by problems with ovulation (the monthly release of an egg). Some pro

Infertility

Infertility is when a couple cannot get pregnant (conceive), despite having regular unprotected sex. Around one in seven couples may have difficulty conceiving. This is approximately 3.5 million people in the UK. About 84% of couples will conc

Anal Cancer

Anal cancer is a rare type of cancer that affects the very end of the large bowel. Less than 1,200 people are diagnosed with cancer of the anus each year in the UK. Symptoms of anal cancer The symptoms of anal cancer are often similar to more

Hair Loss

Alopecia is the general medical term for hair loss. There are many types of hair loss with different symptoms and causes. Some of the more common types of hair loss are described below, including: Male- and female-pattern baldness Alopeci

Amnesia

Memory loss, also called amnesia, happens when a person loses the ability to remember information and events they would normally be able to recall. It could be something that happened seconds or minutes ago, or a memorable event that occurred in t