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…
Tag: Medicine
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….
Tonsillitis
Tonsils are two masses of tissue located on either side at the back of the throat – in the pharynx region, to be specific. Healthy tonsils are pink in colour and can be seen in the mirror when you open your mouth wide and stick your tongue forward. Tonsils function as part of the immune…
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…
Why Do We Get Fever?
Fever, or pyrexia, refers to an increase in body temperature beyond its normal range. While our temperature may vary slightly during the course of the day (by not more than 1.0°C – 1.5 °C, usually higher in the evening than in the morning) and due to other factors such as exercise, menstrual cycle phase, hot…
Measles
Measles is caused by a virus that enters the body via the respiratory system. It is a highly contagious disease which has the potential to cause serious complications. Fortunately, the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963 and subsequent implementation of global vaccination drives has significantly reduced the incidence of measles and/or its complications over…
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…
The Bio Log 