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Latest addition : 3 October 2011.
The adenoids normally play an important part in the body’s immune defence against invading micro-organisms, but sometimes they can cause problems. What are adenoids? The adenoids are lumps of lymphatic tissue (sometimes called lymph glands or lymph nodes) at the back of the nasal passages. They’re rather like tonsils but found higher up above the throat. What causes enlargement? A child may be born with large adenoids, which have developed in the womb. More commonly, the (...)
Addison’s disease is a rare condition of the adrenal glands. What is it? Addison’s disease (also known as primary adrenal insufficiency) occurs when something damages the adrenal glands, and disrupts the production of corticosteroid hormones there. Consequently, insufficient amounts of these hormones are available, which results in disturbances in body chemistry and leads to a wide range of symptoms. These corticosteroid hormones include: Aldosterone - regulates salt and water (...)
Prevention is always better than cure. This section outlines how regular exercise can give you a healthier heart and how relaxing can help reduce stress levels. Healthy heart Educating people about the risk factors of heart disease and persuading them to adopt a healthier lifestyle can have an impact on the number of people dying from heart disease and stroke. Encouraging people to stop smoking, drink less, eat better and exercise regularly are particularly important. Doctors can (...)
Acromegaly occurs when the body produces too much growth hormone. What causes it? Growth hormone (GH) is produced by the pituitary gland. It stimulates the growth of muscle, cartilage and bone. In rare circumstances, the pituitary gland produces excessive amounts of GH. 95 per cent of the time, this is the result of a pituitary tumour, which is usually non-cancerous. Occasionally, the tumour appears as part of an inherited condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia. In most (...)
This extremely rare inherited condition affects the development of bones. What causes it? The gene responsible for acrodysostosis has not yet been identified and the condition may result from different genetic problems rather than one specific condition. It appears to be inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. This means that if one parent is carrying the gene, they will be normal but there is a one in two chance that any child of theirs will have the condition and seems to be (...)
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