Health A–Z
Conditions, symptoms, tests and everyday health.
Health Glossary — definitions A–Z →61 health topics
A
- Acid Reflux and Heartburn
Patient education
Understand reflux symptoms, practical relief and the warning signs that should not be dismissed as acidity.
- Alcohol Related Harm and Dependence
Patient education
Alcohol can affect the liver, heart, brain, sleep, mental health and relationships. Dependence can develop when the body adapts and drinking becomes difficult to control. Support should be respectful and…
- Anaphylaxis and Severe Allergic Reactions
Patient education
Recognise severe allergic reactions and why immediate emergency treatment is essential.
- Animal Bites and Rabies Prevention
Patient education
Rabies is a preventable viral disease that becomes extremely dangerous once symptoms develop. Possible exposure requires immediate wound care and prompt medical assessment. Do not wait for symptoms, wait to see…
- Antenatal Care and Pregnancy Warning Signs
Patient education
Antenatal care supports the health of the pregnant person and baby through planned review, prevention and timely management of problems. Register for care early and agree an individual schedule. Feeling well does not…
- Antibiotics and Preventing Resistance
Patient education
Antibiotics treat selected bacterial infections. They do not treat viruses such as an uncomplicated cold or influenza. Resistance occurs when microorganisms develop ways to withstand medicines, making infections…
- Anxiety and When Worry Becomes Overwhelming
Patient education
Learn about anxiety symptoms, evidence informed support and why new physical symptoms should not automatically be labelled anxiety.
- Asthma and Living With an Action Plan
Patient education
Learn about asthma assessment, inhaler technique and symptoms of a severe attack.
- Atrial Fibrillation and Palpitations
Patient education
Palpitations are an awareness of the heartbeat, such as racing, fluttering or skipped beats. They can have harmless or important causes. Atrial fibrillation, or AF, is one rhythm disorder in which the upper heart…
B
- Be a Smart Patient
Patient education
Practical health and safety advice for Indian families: plan appropriate checkups, keep records securely, use medicines safely and prepare for consultations.
- Breast Changes and Breast Awareness
Patient education
Breasts can change with hormones, pregnancy, breastfeeding, age and many benign conditions. Breast awareness means knowing what is usual for you and reporting a new change. It does not require a rigid monthly test,…
- Breastfeeding and Early Infant Feeding
Patient education
Feeding support should protect the baby’s nutrition and the parent’s wellbeing without blame. Breastfeeding can provide important benefits, but pain, attachment difficulties and concerns about intake deserve…
- Burns and Safe First Aid
Patient education
Burns may result from hot liquids, flames, electricity, chemicals or other exposures. The skin appearance alone may not reveal injury depth. Prompt safe first aid can limit damage, while large, deep or high risk…
C
- Cataract and Changes in Vision
Patient education
Learn about gradual cataract symptoms and why sudden vision loss must be assessed differently.
- Cervical Cancer Prevention and Screening
Patient education
Persistent infection with certain high risk human papillomavirus types can cause cervical precancer and cancer. Prevention includes HPV vaccination, appropriate screening and treatment of abnormal findings. These…
- Chikungunya and Persistent Joint Pain
Patient education
Chikungunya is a mosquito transmitted viral infection that can cause fever and pronounced joint pain. Rash, headache and fatigue may also occur. It can resemble dengue and other illnesses, so diagnosis should…
- Childhood Nutrition and Growth
Patient education
Children need sufficient energy and varied nutrients for growth, learning and immunity. Growth is best assessed over time using age appropriate measurements and charts, not by comparing siblings or judging appearance…
- Chronic Kidney Disease and Early Protection
Patient education
Learn why kidney disease may be silent and how blood and urine tests guide long term care.
- Contraception and Family Planning
Patient education
Contraception helps people plan whether and when to become pregnant. Choices include condoms, pills, injections, implants, intrauterine methods and permanent procedures, with availability varying by location. The…
- COPD and Chronic Breathlessness
Patient education
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, causes persistent airflow limitation and breathing symptoms. Tobacco smoke is an important cause, but indoor cooking smoke, occupational exposures and other factors…
D
- Dementia and Changes in Memory
Patient education
Dementia describes a group of conditions affecting thinking, memory and everyday function. It is not an inevitable consequence of ageing. Occasional forgetfulness differs from a persistent decline that affects…
- Dengue and Warning Signs During Recovery
Patient education
Understand dengue assessment, supportive care and why deterioration can occur after fever falls.
- Depression and Getting Support
Patient education
Understand depression, treatment options and when urgent support is needed.
- Diarrhoea and Preventing Dehydration
Patient education
Learn safe fluid replacement, food advice and warning signs during diarrhoea.
E
- Ear Pain and Hearing Loss
Patient education
Ear pain can arise from the outer or middle ear, wax, injury or sometimes a nearby jaw or dental problem. Hearing loss may be gradual or sudden. The timing and associated symptoms are important because some causes…
- Epilepsy and Seizure First Aid
Patient education
A seizure is a temporary disturbance of brain activity that may affect movement, awareness, sensation or behaviour. Not every seizure involves shaking, and one seizure does not automatically mean epilepsy. A first…
F
- Fatty Liver Disease and Metabolic Health
Patient education
Fat can accumulate in the liver for different reasons. When associated with metabolic risk, the condition may be described as metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD; older reports often…
- Food Poisoning and Safer Food Handling
Patient education
Foodborne illness can result from bacteria, viruses, parasites or toxins in food and drink. Diarrhoea, vomiting, cramps and fever may occur. Symptoms can begin at different intervals after exposure, so the last meal…
G
- Gallstones and Gallbladder Pain
Patient education
Gallstones are solid deposits that form in the gallbladder. Many cause no symptoms and are found incidentally. A stone that blocks normal drainage can cause upper abdominal pain, often on the right or in the centre.…
- Glaucoma and Protecting Sight
Patient education
Glaucoma is a group of conditions that damage the optic nerve. The common forms can progress quietly with few early symptoms. Lost vision generally cannot be restored, but appropriate treatment can reduce further…
- Gout and a Suddenly Painful Joint
Patient education
Gout is an inflammatory arthritis caused by urate crystals in a joint. It often causes sudden intense pain, warmth and swelling, sometimes in the big toe but also elsewhere. A painful red joint is not automatically…
- Gum Disease and Bleeding Gums
Patient education
Understand gum inflammation, daily cleaning and symptoms that require urgent dental assessment.
H
- Haemorrhoids and Rectal Bleeding
Patient education
Haemorrhoids, often called piles, are enlarged vascular cushions around the anus or lower rectum. They can cause itching, discomfort, a lump or bright red blood. Rectal bleeding has several possible causes, however,…
- Heart Failure and New Swelling
Patient education
Heart failure means the heart is not meeting the body’s needs effectively because of problems with filling, pumping or both. It does not mean the heart has stopped. It can cause breathlessness, fatigue and fluid…
- Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke
Patient education
Heat illness occurs when the body cannot manage heat effectively. Outdoor work, exercise, poorly ventilated homes and some medicines can increase risk. Heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke, which is an…
- Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C
Patient education
Hepatitis B and C are viral infections that can affect the liver. They are different infections with different prevention and treatment approaches. Both can remain silent for years, so testing may be appropriate even…
I
- Influenza and Preventing Respiratory Infections
Patient education
Influenza is a viral respiratory infection that can cause sudden fever, body aches, headache, fatigue and cough. Other infections, including COVID 19, can look similar. Most people recover, but some develop serious…
- Insomnia and Better Sleep
Patient education
Understand insomnia, useful sleep habits and why persistent sleep problems deserve assessment.
- Iron Deficiency Anaemia
Patient education
Understand why low iron develops and why finding the cause matters alongside treatment.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Patient education
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a disorder of gut and brain interaction that can cause recurrent abdominal pain with changes in bowel habit. Constipation, diarrhoea or both may occur. Symptoms are real and can…
K
- Kidney Stones and Colicky Pain
Patient education
Understand kidney stone symptoms, treatment choices and when a blocked urinary system can become an emergency.
L
- Leptospirosis After Floodwater Exposure
Patient education
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection associated with exposure to water or soil contaminated by infected animal urine. Floodwater and certain agricultural or sanitation work can increase risk. In Kerala and other…
M
- Malaria and Fever After Mosquito Exposure
Patient education
Malaria is a parasitic infection transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Fever, chills, headache and body aches may occur, but the pattern is not always regular or distinctive. Malaria can become severe quickly, and…
- Menopause and Managing Symptoms
Patient education
Menopause marks the end of menstrual periods because ovarian hormone production has changed. The transition beforehand is called perimenopause. Hot flushes, sleep disruption, vaginal dryness, mood changes and altered…
O
- Osteoarthritis and Keeping Joints Moving
Patient education
Learn about osteoarthritis, suitable activity and why a hot swollen joint needs prompt assessment.
- Osteoporosis and Preventing Fragility Fractures
Patient education
Understand silent bone loss, fracture assessment and the roles of exercise, nutrition and medicines.
P
- Peptic Ulcers and H pylori
Patient education
A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of the stomach or the first part of the small intestine. Helicobacter pylori infection and certain anti inflammatory pain medicines are important causes. Ulcers are not simply…
- Pneumonia and Breathing Symptoms
Patient education
Recognise pneumonia symptoms, how treatment is chosen and why breathing difficulty needs timely care.
- Preventing Falls in Older Adults
Patient education
Falls can cause injury and loss of confidence, but they should not be accepted as unavoidable ageing. They often result from several interacting factors, including balance, muscle strength, medicines, eyesight and…
R
- Recognising a Possible Heart Attack
Patient education
Learn why chest pressure and related symptoms can be an emergency and why rapid assessment matters.
- Recognising Stroke and Acting Quickly
Patient education
Learn common stroke warning signs, why symptoms that disappear still matter and what to avoid while waiting for help.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis and Early Joint Swelling
Patient education
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that can affect joints and other parts of the body. It differs from osteoarthritis and is not simply wear with age. Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce…
S
- Sexually Transmitted Infections and Testing
Patient education
Sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, can spread through sexual contact, and some can also spread through blood or from parent to baby. Many cause no symptoms. Testing and treatment should be confidential,…
- Sleep Apnoea and Daytime Sleepiness
Patient education
Sleep apnoea involves repeated breathing interruptions during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnoea occurs when the upper airway repeatedly narrows or closes. Loud snoring can be a clue, but not everyone who snores has…
- Stopping Tobacco With Support
Patient education
Stopping smoked or smokeless tobacco benefits health at any age. Cigarettes, bidis, hookah and chewing tobacco all carry risks. Nicotine dependence can make quitting difficult, and repeated attempts are common.…
T
- Tooth Decay and Dental Abscess
Patient education
Tooth decay develops when acids produced by bacteria damage tooth structure. It may begin without pain and later cause sensitivity or toothache. A dental abscess is a collection of pus from infection and needs dental…
- Tuberculosis and Completing Treatment
Patient education
Learn when to consider TB, how it is assessed and why completing the prescribed course protects patients and families.
V
- Vaccination Across Life Stages
Patient education
Understand how vaccine needs change with age, pregnancy, health risks and travel.
- Vertigo and Dizziness
Patient education
Dizziness can mean spinning, faintness, unsteadiness or a vague light headed feeling. Vertigo specifically describes an illusion of movement. These sensations have different causes, so describing what you feel is…
- Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Patient education
Vitamin B12 supports red blood cell formation and nervous system function. Deficiency may cause anaemia, nerve problems or both. A normal haemoglobin level does not rule it out. Early recognition matters because some…
W
- Wheezing and Breathing Difficulty in Children
Patient education
Wheeze is a whistling sound that can occur when lower airways narrow. Viral illnesses, asthma and other conditions can cause it. Infants may have bronchiolitis, while sudden symptoms can follow choking or an allergic…