Wheezing is a symptom of an underlying condition that causes some form of obstruction of the respiratory tract/airway, rather than a medical condition in itself. It is characterised by a shrill whistling or coarse rattling sound that is observed when breathing – often more apparent during exhalation (breathing out) than inhalation (breathing in). Wheezing can…
Category: Non-communicable Diseases
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) refers to a group of eye conditions that affect the retina, and are caused by a genetic predisposition. It is estimated to affect around two million people around the world, and can often run in families – although it is not unusual for only one person from a family to be affected….
Conjunctivitis
The conjunctiva is a thin, clear membrane that lines the inside of the eyelid and the white part of the eye (sclera). Conjunctivitis – or pink eye, as it is sometimes known – is a medical condition where the conjunctiva gets inflamed, usually due to a viral/bacterial infection, allergic reaction or being triggered by an…
Hypertension and Hypotension
As discussed in ‘What’s in a Heartbeat?’, blood pressure is recorded as a measure of two values – systolic and diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is a measure of the pressure exerted by blood on arterial walls as the heart contracts to pump blood out, and is the highest level of pressure experienced during a heartbeat….
Synaesthesia
Synaesthesia, or synesthesia in American English, is a neurological phenomenon wherein the activation of one sense (via a sensory or cognitive pathway) causes the involuntary activation of a second, unrelated sense (via another sensory or cognitive pathway) at the same time. For example, hearing a particular music note may trigger a person with synaesthesia to…
Sciatica
The sciatic nerve has the largest diameter of all the nerves in the human body. It originates in the lower spinal cord and extends all the way down through the hip, buttock and posterior part of the thigh before branching out above the knee joint and continuing down to the foot. Sciatica is not a…
What’s in a Tumour?
The body of a living organism is made up of cells. A cell’s life cycle involves dividing to generate new cells that replace the older ones which eventually die. The rate at which regeneration occurs and the lifespan of a given cell depends on its location and function in the body. For instance, epithelial cells…
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neuro-developmental disorder that is usually diagnosed during childhood. Although it is more commonly diagnosed in boys, this is mostly because boys tend to show their symptoms more, externally. However, there is no evidence to suggest that actual incidence is higher in males than in females. Sometimes, symptoms may…
Transverse Myelitis
Transverse myelitis (TM) is a neurological disorder that affects around 1-8 per million people annually. It involves inflammation of the spinal cord, which is made up of neurons (nerve cells) responsible for carrying nerve impulses between the brain and the rest of the body. ‘Transverse’ refers to the spinal cord being affected across a particular…
The Bio Log 