Medical dictionary

What are smell disorders? Smell disorders, also known as olfactory disorders, are those that result in an increase, decrease, absence or change in our sense of smell. Common smell disorders include:     Anosmia Anosmia is the medical term for the complete loss or absence of the sense of smell. It occurs when the olfactory system, which includes the olfactory nerve and

Smile design is a specialised branch of cosmetic dentistry focused on enhancing the aesthetics of a person’s smile. It involves a comprehensive approach to improving the appearance of teeth, gums, and bite through various dental treatments, combining both artistic vision and dental science.What is the goal of Smile Design?Central to smile design is the goal of creating a natural, harmonious smile

What is SMILE laser eye surgery? SMILE laser eye surgery is a relatively new technique that can be used to fix shortsightedness (nearsightedness) and blurry vision (astigmatism). 'SMILE' stands for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction and is a femtosecond laser-assisted refractive procedure.  The procedure corrects vision through the minimum section of the cornea withou

What is smoking cessation? Smoking cessation, or ‘quitting’, as it is more commonly referred to, is the process in which someone stops smoking tobacco. Tobacco contains an addictive substance called nicotine, which means the process of quitting can be very difficult for the individual, as they can experience withdrawal symptoms, just like in any other addiction.   Why

What is snoring? Snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea are disorders characterised by temporary upper airway occlusion at the pharynx level during sleep. This causes problems with sleep, fatigue and breathing, and other related problems. What symptoms can be caused by snoring? As well as snoring, in more severe cases breathing may stop (sleep apnoea) for more than 10 seconds, resulting in

What is social phobia? Social phobia, more commonly known as social anxiety disorder (SAD), is an anxiety disorder involving an overwhelming fear or social situations and interactions. The disorder is fairly common in teenagers, and often disappears as they mature, but for some it can continue into adulthood, and can have a huge impact on the way patients live their lives. It is often couple

What is being analysed? Sodium is being analysed here. Sodium is an electrolyte found in the blood and is important for balancing fluids and acids in the body. The sodium blood test measures the amount of sodium in the blood. What does the result mean? Normal sodium levels in the blood range from 135 to 145 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L). Why is it performed? The sodium bloo

What are soft tissue sarcomas? Soft tissue sarcomas are a type or group of very rare cancers that begin in the soft tissue which support and connect one's body structure. In what tissues are soft tissue sarcomas normally present? There are many tissues that can be affected by soft tissue sarcomas. The main ones include the following: muscles blood vesse

What is solar urticaria? Solar urticaria is a rare condition in which exposure to UV light/radiation produces hives (urticaria). It is difficult to diagnose properly as symptoms can be very similar to other dermatological conditions. However, it can be identified through phototesting.   What are the symptoms of solar urticaria? Generally the areas affected by hives are those w