Health Concerns

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK. It’s passed on from one person to another through unprotected sex (sex without a condom). In 2010, 186,753 people tested positive for chlamydia in…

Back pain is a common problem that affects most people at some point in their life. It usually feels like an ache, tension or stiffness in your back. The pain can be triggered by bad posture while sitting or standing, bending…

For mild vaginal thrush, a short course of anti-thrush medicine may be recommended. It is usually taken for between one and three days. If your thrush symptoms are more severe, you'll need to take the treatment for longer. Anti-thrush…

The symptoms of vaginal thrush are usually obvious. Typical symptoms include: itching and soreness around the entrance of the vagina pain during sex  a stinging sensation when you urinate vaginal discharge, although this…

If you're prone to getting thrush, there are a number of self-help techniques you can try to help prevent it coming back. To reduce your risk of developing vaginal thrush: wash your vaginal area with water and avoid using perfumed…

Vaginal thrush can usually be easily diagnosed. If you visit your GP because you think that you may have vaginal thrush they will ask you about: your symptoms whether you've had thrush before whether you've already used any…

The main complications of thrush are: the treatment doesn't work the thrush keeps coming back depression and sexual problems penis problems in male partners When thrush treatment fails to work Anti-thrush medication …

Vaginal thrush is a yeast infection that is usually caused by a type of fungus that lives naturally in the vagina. Most cases of thrush (80-90%) are caused by Candida albicans. The rest are due to other types of Candida fungi. Up to half of…

Flatulence is passing gas from the digestive system out of the back passage. It is more commonly known as ‘passing wind’ or ‘farting’. Farting is often something laughed about but excessive flatulence can be embarrassing and can make you…

Ulcerative colitis is a long-term (chronic) condition affecting the colon. Symptoms include: bloody diarrhoea abdominal pain a frequent need to go to the toilet weight loss These can range from mild to severe, with…

Crohn’s disease is a long-term that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system. Inflammation can affect any part of the digestive system, from the mouth to the back passage, but most commonly occurs in the last section of the…

Constipation is a common condition that affects people of all ages. It can mean that you are not passing stools (poo) regularly, or you are unable to completely empty your bowels. Constipation can also cause your stools to be hard, lumpy,…

The treatment for Kaposi's sarcoma depends on what type you have, your symptoms, how far the cancer has spread and your general health. Many hospitals use multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) to treat Kaposi's sarcoma. These are teams of…

Before diagnosing Kaposi's sarcoma, your GP will ask you about your general health and carefully examine your skin. If you have HIV or AIDS, the examination may be carried out by a member of your local HIV clinic who has experience of…

Kaposi's sarcoma is caused by a virus called the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), also known as the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). It's thought this virus can alter the genetic instructions that control cell growth. This means…

The symptoms of Kaposi's sarcoma vary depending on the parts of the body that are affected. The skin and internal organs are most commonly affected. The skin Any part of the skin, including inside the mouth, can be affected by Kaposi's…

Kaposi's sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that can affect both the skin and internal organs. The most common initial symptom of Kaposi's sarcoma is the appearance of red or purple patches on the skin. The patches then grow into lumps known…

A broken collarbone, or fractured clavicle, is a common injury that usually happens after a fall onto the shoulder. It takes about six to eight weeks to heal in adults and three to six weeks in children. The…

There is currently no cure for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), but treatment can help improve the lives of people with the condition. As well as being cared for by doctors and nurses, a number of other healthcare professionals are often…

Tests for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) can be carried out before, during and after pregnancy. These can determine if a person has SMA, or if a couple is at risk of having a child with the condition. Tests before pregnancy If there are…

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by faulty genes, usually passed on to a child by their parents. The most common types of spinal musclar atrophy – types I, II and III – are caused by a problem with a gene called SMN1. The SMN1 gene…

There are several different types of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) – the disease is classified according to the age at which symptoms develop and how severe they are. In general, SMA affects a person’s physical abilities, such as…

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disease that causes muscle weakness and progressive loss of movement. It occurs due to deterioration in the nerve cells (motor neurones) connecting the brain and spinal cord to the body’s…

If you have symptoms of bladder cancer, such as blood in your urine, you should see your GP. Your GP may ask about your symptoms, family history and whether you have been exposed to any possible causes of bladder cancer - such as smoking.…

Blood in your urine is the most common symptom of bladder cancer. The medical name for this is haematuria and it is usually painless. You may notice streaks of blood in your urine or the blood may turn your urine brown. The blood is not…

It is not always possible to prevent bladder cancer, but you can reduce your risk of contracting it. Stopping smoking If you smoke, giving up is the best way to reduce your risk of developing bladder cancer and preventing it from recurring.…

A diagnosis of bladder cancer, and some of treatments for it, can have a significant impact on your life. Emotional impact The emotional impact of living with bladder cancer can be huge. Many people report experiencing a kind of…

The treatment options for bladder cancer largely depend on how advanced the cancer is. Treatments usually differ between early stage, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and more advanced muscle invasive bladder cancer. Multidisciplinary…

Bladder cancer is where a growth of abnormal tissue, known as a tumour, develops in the lining of the bladder. In some cases, the tumour spreads into the surrounding muscles. The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in your…

There is a strong link between certain types of human papilloma virus (HPV) and the development of abnormalities that may develop into vaginal cancer. HPV vaccination There is now a vaccine that provides protection against the two strains…