BBC News | Health | Medical notes | UK Edition

Acne

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 17:41:30 GMT

Acne is an inflammatory skin condition that causes spots.

Age-related macular degeneration

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:39:43 GMT

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness. It is just one form of macular disease, which affects the eye's retina.

Alcohol

Wed, 09 Aug 2000 11:17:02 GMT

William Hague's boast that he once drank 14 pints of beer a day may impress some voters - but probably not his doctor.

Alzheimer's and dementia

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:11:30 GMT

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative and irreversible brain disorder that causes intellectual impairment, disorientation and eventually death and is the most common cause of dementia.

Amnesia

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:43:38 GMT

Memory loss or amnesia is usually temporary and it can be triggered by both psychological and physical trauma.

Anabolic steroids

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:36:44 GMT

Anabolic steroids can boost sporting performance - but at a serious cost to long-term health.

Anaemia

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:43:39 GMT

Anaemia, or lack of red blood cells, is a very common medical problem.

Anaphylactic shock

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:43:37 GMT

The facts about peanut allergy and other forms of anaphylactic shock

Anaesthesia

Tue, 02 May 2006 15:00:41 GMT

Anaesthesia is a key part of the preparation for any operation.

Ankylosing spondylitis

Mon, 07 Jun 1999 12:29:00 GMT

Ankylosing spondylitis is a disease which causes progressive stiffening of the spine, and which, if left untreated, can cripple sufferers.

Antibiotics

Fri, 05 Nov 1999 20:12:37 GMT

Superbugs are becoming more common - and some doctors fear they herald the end of the age of antibiotics. BBC News Online looks at the problems facing the 20th century's greatest medical advance.

Anti-coagulants

Thu, 26 Oct 2000 11:51:09 GMT

Anti-coagulants are prescribed to millions of people to treat and prevent the life-threatening effects of a clot blocking a blood vessel.

Anthrax

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:43:39 GMT
Anthrax is a rare infection which, in its most severe forms, is likely to prove fatal.

Anxiety disorder

Wed, 20 Dec 2000 10:06:48 GMT
Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental illlnesses in the UK and cover everything from panic attacks to post-traumatic stress disorder.

Arsenic poisoning

Mon, 27 Sep 1999 16:33:00 GMT
Arsenic is known best as a deadly poison, although in small doses it does have medical benefits. BBC News Online looks at the workings of the chemical made most famous through detective fiction.

Arthritis

Fri, 11 Apr 2003 15:21:22 GMT
Arthritis is a very common medical condition, estimated to affect around seven million people in the UK.

Asbestos disease

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:43:41 GMT
Over 3,000 people a year die from asbestos diseases in the UK and the number is set to treble by 2020. Diseases include cancer of the lining of the chest and lungs. Only 25% of those who develop this cancer are still alive a year after diagnosis.

Asperger's syndrome

Mon, 12 Feb 2001 16:53:59 GMT
Asperger's syndrome is a form of autism which often manifests in "eccentric" behaviour rather than pronounced and obvious disability.

Asthma

Thu, 08 Jan 2004 13:06:26 GMT
This long-term condition is relatively easy to control yet it is responsible for 180,000 deaths a year.

Autism

Thu, 03 Mar 2005 09:56:27 GMT
Research suggests levels of autism have increased by ten-fold over the last decade. BBC News Online examines a perplexing condition.

Baby breathing difficulties

Mon, 14 Feb 2000 11:10:39 GMT
Apnoea attack, or near cot death, occurs when a baby stops breathing for a few seconds. It affects around 500 babies a year.

Back pain

Wed, 27 Jul 2005 16:27:53 GMT

Bird flu

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:51:36 GMT
The BBC News website looks at bird flu - and the fears it could spread between humans.

Biliary Atresia

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:45:53 GMT
Around 50 children are born with biliary atresia every year in England and Wales. The condition affects the liver and is potentially fatal if not operated on early.

Binswanger's disease

Mon, 12 Apr 1999 18:12:00 GMT
Lawyers acting for Edgar Pearce - the Mardi Gra bomber - have claimed he suffers from Binswanger's disease, a rare form of dementia that can change the way people think.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Mon, 31 Jan 2000 12:43:00 GMT
A Scottish hospital has launched an inquiry after a surgeon agreed to remove healthy limbs from patients suffering from a psychological disorder. BBC News Online looks at the condition.

Boxing

Fri, 24 Sep 1999 11:20:00 GMT
Many doctors see boxing as an unacceptably dangerous sport - the BMA would like to see it banned.

Brain haemorrhage in pre-term babies

Mon, 07 Jan 2002 10:02:04 GMT
One of the risks to babies born prematurely is that their undeveloped blood vessels will bleed into the brain.

Brain tumours

Thu, 18 Aug 2005 11:06:21 GMT
Brain tumours information

Burns and scalds

Thu, 15 Sep 2005 14:38:18 GMT
How to avoid and treat burns and scalds.

Cannabis

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:45:51 GMT
Opinion is sharply divided over whether cannabis should be legalised for medicinal use.

Cataracts

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 17:22:36 GMT
One in three people over the age of 65 has a cataract. Left untreated cataracts can significantly impair vision.

Cerebral aneurism

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:45:52 GMT
An aneurism is a dilation, or swelling, of a blood vessel (where part of the vein or artery inflates like a balloon).

Cholera

Thu, 08 May 2003 09:22:15 GMT
Cholera is an intestinal infection caused by a bacteria - and is often linked to contaminated supplies of drinking water.

Cleft lip and palate

Fri, 28 Nov 2003 17:26:29 GMT
A baby which was abandoned by its parents in Portugal was identified partly through a distinctive cleft upper lip. BBC News Online looks at the condition.

Clinical trials

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 13:41:19 GMT

Coeliac disease

Thu, 06 Mar 2003 17:06:30 GMT
Coeliac disease is a gut disorder which can strike at any age.

Collapsed lung

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:45:52 GMT
A collapsed lung prevents the sufferer from absorbing life-giving oxygen into the blood stream in the normal way.

Complementary medicines: A guide

Mon, 23 Aug 1999 09:31:00 GMT
From acupuncture to yoga, all you need to know about the most commonly used therapies.

Conjoined twins

Fri, 25 Aug 2000 12:45:02 GMT
Conjoined twins are a rare phenomenon.

COPD (respiratory disease)

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 17:05:16 GMT
Scientists are developing a treatment for a form of lung disease which is one of the UK's biggest killers.

Crohn's disease

Tue, 20 May 2008 14:44:04 GMT
Information on the inflammatory gut disorder Crohn's disease.

Cystic fibrosis

Mon, 28 Jul 2003 15:46:50 GMT
Cystic fibrosis is an life-threatening inherited genetic disease.

Deep vein thrombosis

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:45:54 GMT
Deep vein thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot in one of the deep veins of the body, usually in the leg.

Depression

Wed, 20 Dec 2000 10:06:48 GMT
Depression is a common mental illness which is estimated to affect up to one in five Britons at some point in their lifetime. Famous sufferers include Sir Winston Churchill.

Diabetes

Tue, 09 Feb 1999 18:51:00 GMT
The hormonal condition diabetes is on the increaseas people lead increasingly unhealthy lifestyles. If untreated it can cause very serious health problems.

Dioxins

Thu, 03 Jun 1999 15:22:00 GMT
Dioxins are present everywhere and are known to be a serious heath threat - BBC News Online looks at the facts.

Diverticular disease

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:25:07 GMT
Diverticular disease is a condition which occurs when pouches of tissue, commonly known as diverticula, pass through the muscular layer of the bowel.

Down's syndrome

Sun, 01 Apr 2001 14:43:08 GMT
Down's syndrome is a genetic condition which affects about one in every 1,000 babies born in the UK.

Drugs

Tue, 14 Sep 1999 14:38:00 GMT
The arrival of recreational drugs has created an explosion in use. BBC News Online looks at the major illegal drugs.

Dysentery

Thu, 30 Dec 2004 11:52:33 GMT
Dysentery, an infection of the digestive system, can kill if not treated.

Dystonia

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:36:16 GMT
Dystonia is an incurable neurological movement disorder thought to affect at least 40,000 in the UK alone.

Eating disorders

Wed, 20 Dec 2000 10:06:48 GMT
Eating disorders are responsible for the highest number of deaths from psychiatric illness.

Ebola and other tropical viruses

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:33:42 GMT
BBC News Online examines the facts behind terrifying outbreaks of haemorrhagic fevers in Africa and beyond.

Ecstasy

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:45:55 GMT
The dangers of the recreational drug Ecstasy are still not fully understood - and, as some tragic cases have proved, it can damage health.

Ectopic pregnancy

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:45:50 GMT
One of the most devastating complications of pregnancy is if the embryo starts to grow outside the womb - an ectopic pregnancy.

Eczema

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 17:51:51 GMT
US authorities have ruled two eczema creams should carry warnings that they may increase the risk of cancer.

Electro-convulsive Therapy

Wed, 20 Dec 2000 10:06:48 GMT
Once a commonly used - and controversial - treatment for a variety of mental problems, ECT still bears a stigma despite advances which have made it far safer and more effective.

Emergency contraception

Wed, 27 Jul 2005 17:10:11 GMT
How emergency contraception methods work.

Emphysema

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:45:40 GMT
Emphysema is a progressive lung condition which leaves sufferers struggling for breath.

Encephalitis

Wed, 29 Sep 1999 15:30:00 GMT
Insect-borne diseases are spreading around the world - find out about some of the most common infections.

Endometriosis

Fri, 28 Feb 2003 17:38:36 GMT
Endometriosis is a painful, chronic disease that is estimated to affect up to 25% of all women.

Epilepsy

Tue, 20 May 2003 16:57:30 GMT
Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder which causes fits. At any one time 300,000 people in the UK have active epilepsy.

Epstein-Barr Virus

Mon, 31 Mar 2003 15:36:03 GMT
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) occurs world-wide and infects most people at some point in their lives.

Erectile dysfunction

Tue, 12 Oct 2004 11:00:34 GMT
Erectile dysfunction is the repeated inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse.

Exhaust emissions

Thu, 06 May 1999 11:58:00 GMT
Vehicle emissions can have a serious impact on health.

Laser Eye Surgery

Mon, 04 Jul 2005 13:56:58 GMT
An explanation of the surgical procedure intended to reduce a person's dependency on glasses or contact lenses.

E. coli infection

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:45:49 GMT
E. coli is a common bug which is present everywhere in the environment. Mostly it helps people to stay healthy, providing the body with many vitamins, such as vitamin K. But some strains - such as the 0157 strain - are potentially fatal.

Fat

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:19:00 GMT
Fat is an essential part of the diet, but lots of people eat more fat than they need or is good for them.

Female genital mutilation

Wed, 23 Dec 1998 12:00:00 GMT
The cultural and religious practice of female circumcision is a health hazard that maims and kills young women across the world.

Female sexual dysfunction

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:48:44 GMT
Inadequate sexual function in women is a complex problem that can have many different causes.

Fibromyalgia

Wed, 09 Feb 2005 17:53:01 GMT
Fibromyalgia is a condition which causes widespread pain and severe fatigue.

Flu

Tue, 10 Jan 2006 16:49:40 GMT
Flu and its complications can kill, but most healthy people can shake it off in a few days.

Food additives

Wed, 06 Oct 1999 12:56:00 GMT
The possible health risks of food additives are the subject of fierce controversy among experts.

Gastro oesophageal reflux disease

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:23:18 GMT

Glaucoma

Thu, 22 Jan 2004 22:27:17 GMT
BBC News Online examines what causes glaucoma and how it is treated.

Goldenhar Syndrome

Tue, 05 Mar 2002 10:39:21 GMT
The rare Goldenhar Syndrome leaves babies with an underdeveloped face and is thought to affect just 75 children in the UK.

Group B streptococcus infection

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 17:01:14 GMT
Group B streptococcus is the most common cause of life-threatening infections in newborn babies in the UK.

Guillain-Barr� Syndrome

Wed, 05 Dec 2001 10:52:20 GMT
Guillain-Barr� Syndrome is a frightening and disabling disease which strikes suddenly, sometimes with devastating effect.

Hayfever

Tue, 24 Jun 2003 10:41:39 GMT
How can it be avoided? And what causes it in the first place? BBC News Online investigates.

Hot weather risks

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:09:47 GMT
Hot weather is affecting the UK. While most enjoy the summer sun, high temperatures can pose a significant risk to health.

Hepatitis B

Tue, 10 May 2005 06:30:14 GMT
Hepatitis B is the most common serious liver infection in the world. It is thought to be the leading cause of liver cancer.

Hepatitis C

Tue, 25 Oct 2005 11:21:00 GMT
Hepatitis C is a virus which can cause serious liver problems.

Hernia

Tue, 11 Mar 2003 11:57:48 GMT
Prince Charles is far from alone in needing an operation to repair a hernia. It is the commonest male operation performed in the UK, with the NHS performing over 100,000 hernia repairs every year.

Heroin

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:48:43 GMT
Heroin use is on the increase. There are about 40,000 registered addicts in the UK, but the real figure could be four times that number. Customs seizures are also at a record high.

HIV

Mon, 27 Feb 2006 17:41:07 GMT
HIV has killed millions of people world-wide since it was first identified as a threat to public health more than 20 years ago.

Human growth hormone

Tue, 23 Jun 1998 09:23:00 GMT
Human growth hormone (HGH) has been helping stunted children in the UK to grow normally since 1959.

Human Papilloma Virus

Thu, 26 Aug 1999 09:30:00 GMT
Human papilloma viruses or HPVs are a group of more than 80 different types of virus, including those that cause genital warts. BBC News Online looks at what they are and what they do.

Hypertension

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 12:37:37 GMT
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can lead to serious complications, including heart attacks.

Hypothermia

Wed, 10 Feb 1999 15:45:00 GMT
Exposure to the cold is estimated to cause 30,000 deaths a year in the UK. Hypothermia is one of the most deadly cold-induced conditions.

Hysterectomy

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 17:18:19 GMT
A hysterectomy is a major surgical procedure, involving removal of the uterus.

Infant fever

Wed, 02 Jun 1999 11:15:00 GMT
Many babies suffer from fever, but only rarely is it something to worry about.

Irritable bowel syndrome

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 16:33:42 GMT
Irritable bowel syndrome is a common and painful disorder about which relatively little is still known.

IVF

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:59:51 GMT
Around 6,000 babies a year are born in the UK to otherwise infertile couples as a result of in vitro fertilisation.

Infectious disease

Thu, 17 Jun 1999 16:37:00 GMT
Malaria is a public health problem in some 90 countries, and causes between 1.5 and 2.7 million deaths world-wide each year.

Japanese encephalitis

Tue, 30 Mar 1999 11:32:00 GMT
Japanese encephalitis is a disease caused by a virus transmitted by mosquitoes - in severe cases it leads to a deadly inflammation of the brain.

Kidney failure

Mon, 15 Oct 2001 14:29:37 GMT
Kidney failure is a serious disease which can have a major impact on life, and can ultimately be fatal. However, it can be successfully treated.

Knee cartilage

Fri, 12 Dec 2003 10:16:08 GMT
The Queen is to undergo a minor operation to remove torn cartilage in her knee for the second time in less than a year. BBC News Online examines the problem.

Knee injuries

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:48:46 GMT
The knee injury suffered by Ruud van Nistelrooy is typical of those suffered by footballers, as BBC News Online discovers.

Legionnaires' disease

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:48:47 GMT
Legionnaires' Disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by a bacteria that contaminates water supplies. It can be fatal.

Leprosy

Mon, 07 Sep 1998 12:58:00 GMT
Leprosy is a painful condition which, although curable, can leave sufferers deformed and crippled if left untreated.

Lupus

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 16:58:36 GMT
Lupus is a disease that can affect many parts of the body and occurs when the immune system - the body's natural defence against infections - goes wrong.

Lyme disease

Wed, 06 Oct 1999 15:37:00 GMT
A tick-borne disease which can cause severe joint problems is becoming more prevalent in Europe. BBC News Online has the facts about Lyme disease.

Lymphatic filariasis

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 12:25:15 GMT
Lymphatic Filariasis, also known as elephantiasis, is a severely disfiguring disease which affects 120m around the world.

Malaria

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:48:47 GMT
Malaria kills over a million people a year and is second only to tuberculosis in its threat to world health.

Marburg virus

Mon, 04 Apr 2005 09:54:16 GMT
The Marburg virus has killed more than 140 people in a major outbreak in Angola

Meningitis and septicaemia

Thu, 22 Jan 2004 17:03:46 GMT
Meningitis is an inflammation of the brain lining and is mostly found in bacteria and viruses - the bacterial form is the more life-threatening.

Menopause

Thu, 23 Sep 1999 14:05:00 GMT
The facts about the menopause and the devastating consequences of premature menopause.

Menstrual problems

Mon, 20 Mar 2006 14:29:41 GMT
Menstrual problems are one of the four most common reasons why women of a reproductive age see their GP.

Methadone

Tue, 22 Feb 2000 15:48:39 GMT
Methadone is used as a way to wean addicts off heroin, but can be addictive itself.

Migraine

Fri, 03 Sep 1999 18:21:00 GMT
Migraine is a debilitating condition characterised by severe headaches and a range of other physical symptoms which affects approximately 10% of the UK population.

Miners' lung disease

Fri, 26 Mar 1999 10:50:00 GMT
A lifetime of breathing in coal dust can put miners at risk of developing respiratory diseases like pneumoconiosis and emphysema.

Minor strokes

Fri, 08 Oct 1999 11:03:00 GMT
Minor strokes can cause temporary weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, or may be warning signs preceding a major stroke.

Motor neurone disease

Mon, 20 Aug 2001 09:13:56 GMT
Motor neurone disease is a progressive fatal condition that causes muscle wastage.

MRSA 'superbugs'

Thu, 24 Feb 2005 11:25:51 GMT
BBC News Online examines what we can do about MRSA, the so-called "superbug" scourge of the wards.

Multiple births and fertility treatment

Mon, 21 Dec 1998 13:41:00 GMT
In the last 30 years, there has been a huge rise in multiple births, due mainly to the increasing use of fertility treatment.

Multiple sclerosis

Mon, 05 Jun 2006 13:57:12 GMT
Multiple sclerosis is an incurable degenerative disease that attacks the central nervous system. Drugs are available to treat the symptoms but they are very expensive, and not universally available on the NHS.

Mumps

Fri, 13 May 2005 08:55:44 GMT
Mumps is a viral infection that most make an easy recovery from but can, rarely, lead to severe complications.

Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy

Wed, 03 Mar 2004 10:10:02 GMT
Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy is a controversial condition about which little is still known.

Muscular dystrophy

Wed, 09 Feb 2005 16:29:10 GMT
Article about the different types of muscular dystrophy

Myalgic encephalomyelitis

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:11:43 GMT
Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome has only been recognised by doctors in recent years after originally being dismissed as 'yuppie flu'.

Nosebleeds

Mon, 25 Jan 1999 14:01:00 GMT
Nosebleeds are more often annoying than a serious health threat, although they can indicate the presence of other underlying illnesses.

Q&A: Obesity

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 17:40:01 GMT
Obesity is a major issue around the world, and as more and more people put on excess weight it is a problem that is only likely to get worse.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Wed, 20 Dec 2000 10:06:48 GMT
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder in which the sufferer is compelled to undertake bizarre and upsetting behaviour in response to irrational thoughts or images.

Osteoporosis

Fri, 08 Jul 2005 12:25:56 GMT
Osteoporosis - a gradual weakening of the bones - affects one in three women and one in 12 men, and is on the increase among the young.

Ovarian cancer

Fri, 17 Mar 2000 20:38:01 GMT
Ovarian Cancer

Ovary grafting

Thu, 23 Sep 1999 12:18:00 GMT
BBC News Online examines the possibilities, benefits and potential drawbacks of the world's first 'ovary graft' operation.

Oxygen injury therapy

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:48:46 GMT
Rally driver Colin McRae is reputed to have used a pressurised oxygen treatment to speed his recovery from injury.

Pancreatitis

Fri, 01 May 2009 16:32:40 GMT
Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammatory condition which can cause severe symptoms.

Parkinson's Disease

Thu, 13 Mar 2003 17:33:49 GMT
Parkinson's Disease afflicts the nervous system. It is incurable, but the symptoms can be managed.

Q&A: Passive smoking

Mon, 18 Oct 2004 14:46:53 GMT
BBC News Online examines the evidence on the health risks of breathing in other people's tobacco smoke.

Pasteurellosis

Mon, 21 Aug 2006 09:57:56 GMT
What is rabbit flu and how can it infect humans?

Peptic Ulcer Disease

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:24:33 GMT
Peptic ulcer disease is a condition associated with a break in the lining of either the stomach or portion of the small intestine, known as the duodenum.

Personality disorder

Wed, 13 Oct 1999 16:46:00 GMT
To many people, personality disorder conjures up images of violence and fear, but doctors are undecided about who has a disorder, let alone how to treat it.

Pesticides

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:52:32 GMT
Pesticides have been associated with everything from cancer and infertility to Gulf War syndrome and eye abnormalities, but solid evidence proving a link has been thin on the ground.

Plague

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:52:33 GMT
Plague killed millions of people in Europe in the Middle Ages, when it was also known as the Black Death.

Pneumonia

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 07:57:19 GMT
Pneumonia is a common respiratory disease, and kills around one in 20 people who contract it.

Q&A: Polio

Tue, 31 May 2005 10:10:33 GMT

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Wed, 20 Dec 2000 10:06:48 GMT
Those recovering from a traumatic event - such as a school shooting or a major crash - are at risk of severe psychological harm.

Premature babies

Mon, 10 Nov 2003 10:32:18 GMT
BBC News Online examines the risks associated with a premature birth.

Prion diseases

Wed, 18 Aug 1999 11:59:00 GMT
Prion diseases are all fatal and include the new variant of CJD - the brain disorder thought to be caused by eating BSE-infected beef.

Progressive supranuclear palsy

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:52:29 GMT
A closer look at this condition, closely related to Parkinson's disease.

Prozac

Thu, 21 Jan 1999 11:30:00 GMT
The anti-depressant drug Prozac has transformed millions of lives since it was launched in the 1980s, but it is not the miracle that some claim.

Pre-Menstrual Syndrome

Fri, 21 May 1999 10:22:00 GMT
Pre-Menstrual syndrome is a potentially debilitating cluster of up to 150 symptoms that affects up to a half of all women between the ages of 20 and 50.

Psoriasis

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 18:00:07 GMT
A plant extract could signal a breakthrough in the treatment of a skin condition blighting the lives of one million sufferers in the UK.

Radiation sickness

Wed, 06 Oct 1999 16:15:00 GMT
Exposure to radiation can cause devastating and long-lasting damage to the body's tissues.

Radon

Mon, 28 Jun 1999 14:35:00 GMT
Radon is a gas that seeps into homes from radioactive rocks buried deep underground. If inhaled, it can cause cancer. Fortunately, it is easily dealt with.

Refugee health

Wed, 18 Aug 1999 09:19:00 GMT
A large displaced population - such as that fleeing ethnic cleansing in Kosovo - has to contend with health risks such as disease and exposure.

Replantation surgery

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 17:37:01 GMT
Surgeons can implant fingers to a healthy blood supply in the arm while they treat damaged hand tissue.

Rohypnol: The date rape drug

Thu, 04 Feb 1999 15:59:00 GMT
Rohypnol is a legitimate drug used in the short-term treatment of sleep disorders, but has been abused for more sinister purposes.

Salt

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 09:01:22 GMT
Salt is an essential component of a healthy diet, but many scientists believe too much can cause serious health problems such as stroke and heart disease.

Schizophrenia

Wed, 20 Dec 2000 10:06:48 GMT
Schizophrenia is a severe and complex mental illness with a wide range of symptoms.

Self-harm

Mon, 06 Dec 2004 18:15:30 GMT
People with a history of self-harm deliberately inflict injury upon themselves, for example, by cutting or burning themselves or taking an overdose.

Sexually transmitted infections

Wed, 11 Jun 2003 07:20:53 GMT
There has been a big increase in sexually transmitted diseases. BBC News Online provides details of the most common forms.

Sickle cell anaemia

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 07:42:59 GMT
People with sickle cell anaemia should be screened for a potentially fatal complication, scientists say.

Single Sided Deafness

Fri, 13 Jun 2003 16:47:24 GMT
Single Sided Deafness (SSD) is the complete hearing loss in one ear.

Sleep disorders

Thu, 18 May 2006 16:28:47 GMT
Trouble sleeping is a very common problem - and there are a variety of reasons why people can't get a sound night's rest.

Smoke inhalation

Tue, 08 Aug 2000 11:29:24 GMT
Inhaling hot smoke can have a devastating effect on the delicate tissues of the respiratory system.

Smoking - the health effects

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:52:29 GMT
Smoking is a greater cause of death and disability than any single disease, says the World Health Organisation

Q&A: Stem cells

Thu, 19 May 2005 11:44:59 GMT

Sudden death syndrome

Thu, 19 Aug 1999 12:52:00 GMT
Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome is a disorder of the electrical system of the heart that can lead to the death of apparently healthy people without any warning.

Swine flu

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:11:41 GMT

Tamoxifen

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 15:52:32 GMT
Tamoxifen has made a name for itself as a treatment for breast cancer. But how does it work and what are the side-effects?

Teenage drinking

Thu, 06 Jul 2000 11:53:00 GMT
Doctors are worried about an apparent increase in the number of young teenagers who are drinking heavily.

Tourette Syndrome

Tue, 15 Jul 2003 12:47:52 GMT
Tourette Syndrome is a complex and debilitating neurological disorder which is estimated to affect about 1% of the population

Tooth decay

Fri, 04 Jun 2004 14:53:21 GMT
Tooth decay is one of the most common health complaints in the world.

Tuberculosis

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:24:19 GMT
Health officials are struggling to contain an outbreak of TB in Leicestershire. BBC News online examines a disease which is posing a growing threat around the world.

Typhoid fever

Thu, 30 Dec 2004 12:02:08 GMT
Typhoid fever is a life-threatening illness which is common in many parts of the developing world.

Ulcerative colitis

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:39:48 GMT
Ulcerative colitis is one of two forms of inflammatory bowel disease, which typically affects the large bowel only.

Vibration White Finger

Fri, 22 Jan 1999 11:25:00 GMT
Vibration White Finger is one form of Raynaud's Disease which causes the extremities to turn white and become painful or numb.

Vitamin B6

Mon, 08 Jun 1998 12:22:00 GMT
More than one million people take vitamin B6 it to fight stress and increase energy. B6 is also used in conjunction with magnesium to treat autism.

West Nile Disease

Thu, 03 Jul 2003 09:39:59 GMT
West Nile Disease is a virus which is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Last year alone it killed over 180 people in the States.

Winter vomiting virus

Tue, 22 Jan 2002 19:05:35 GMT
The winter vomiting virus causes unpleasant but non-fatal infections that last only a few days.