Medical dictionary

What is a bruised kidney? A bruised kidney, also known as a renal haematoma, is an injury caused by trauma to the kidney. In most cases, this is due to a road traffic accident or sports accidents. The trauma results in bleeding inside the kidney, which can be serious. 10 per cent of people with abdominal traumatic injury have renal haematoma and about thr

What is it? Bruxism, more commonly known as teeth grinding, is when a person clenches or grinds their teeth. This can cause temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems and wear and tear of the tooth surface. The condition affects between 10 and 20 per cent of the population. It may happen during the day or throughout the night, although it is more common when sleeping, when it is much more diff

What is building confidence? Building confidence aims to help people build the confidence they need to succeed in their goals, whether they are personal, social or professional goals. Often, people without confidence don’t take actions due to fear and doubt in their abilities, but those with confidence will have faith in their ability to improve, cope with unexpected situations and t

What is bulimia?Bulimia is a mental health condition and a type of eating disorder typically characterised by a cycle of enforcing strict rules about eating; binge eating (eating large amounts of food in a short space of time without control) after not following these rules; feeling guilty for losing control; purging this food in attempts to lose the calories and then experiencing hunger

What is bullying? Bullying refers to the psychological, physical or verbal abuse that most typically occurs between students, both in the classroom and in social networks (cyber bullying) – although it can also occur between adults and in the workplace. Bullying often occurs over an extended period of time rather than as a one-off occasion. Those affected are usually boys and girls of pre

What is a bunion? The hallux valgus or bunion is a bony deformity at the base of the big toe on the inside of the foot. It occurs when the big toe is pushed inward towards the rest of the toes, forcing the joint at the base of the foot outwards, causing the appearance of a bony lump or protrusion on the inside of the foot.   What are the symptoms of a bunion? The main sy

What is burnout?The term ‘burnout’ was first used in the 70s by German-American psychologist Dr Herbert Freudenberger to describe the symptoms of exhaustion professionally. He published a book entitled "The High Cost of High Achievement," and defined burnout as: “the extinction of motivation or incentive, especially where one’s devotion to a cause or relationship fails to produce the desired

What are burns? Burns are injuries to the skin and other tissues of the body that can happen to anyone. They develop following contact or exposure to agents such as the sun, heat, electricity, radiation, certain chemicals, or objects and other substances of a high temperature. Burns can be mild to very severe, causing symptoms that range from mild discomfort to excruciating pain. Scalds

What is bursitis? Bursitis is the inflammation or painful irritation of fluid-filled sacs called bursas, most commonly affecting the hips, shoulders, elbows, and knees. The function of these sacs is to help the normal movement of the joints and avoid direct friction between them. Bursitis can affect any of the joints in the body. There are two types of bursitis: acute and chronic. Acute burs