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19 March

Chest x-ray interpretation: 7 steps This is a normal chest x-ray. In this article, we will describe how to interpret a chest x-ray in 7 steps (ABCDEFG), after correctly identifying the patient, and describing the type of x-ray. You need to know your anatomy. Firstly .. identification, and what type of chest x-ray is it? […]

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16 March

Most common causes of a high amylase Acute pancreatitis Pancreatic or bile duct blockage Cholecystitis and viral hepatitis Cancer of the pancreas, ovaries, or lungs Perforated ulcer or intestinal obstruction Infection of the salivary glands (such as mumps) or a blockage of the salivary gland duct Macroamylasaemia Tubal pregnancy (may have burst open). A normal blood amylase […]

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16 March

A normal amylase level A normal amylase level is 30-120 u/L. What is amylase? The pancreatic enzyme, amylase is normally secreted into the gastro-intestinal tract (duodenum). Diseases of the pancreas (e.g. pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer) or salivary gland(s), cause amylase to enter the bloodstream. Circulating levels may rise to 30 times the normal values, and […]

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15 March

Most common causes of a high CRP C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is a protein produced by the liver in response to inflammation in the body. A raised CRP level indicates inflammation, which can be caused by various conditions. Here are some common causes of a raised CRP. Infection Bacterial infection: e.g. Pneumonia, urinary tract infection (UTI), […]

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15 March

What is CRP (C-reactive protein)? C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein produced by the liver that increases in response to inflammation in the body, serving as a marker for inflammation, infection and other disease processes. CRP is an acute-phase reactant protein, meaning its levels rise rapidly in response to inflammation. How it works When the […]

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14 March

How to jump the NHS waiting list by 6 months This is alot easier than you might think, but all the top tips below require some work from you. If you do them all, you can jump the waiting list by 6 months – even more if needed. We will now give you 10 ways […]

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12 March

Who works at a GP surgery: and what do they do? GP surgeries and staff, like hospitals, have changed over time. No longer simply GPs, nurses and receptionists, there are many other professionals involved in primary care and at your surgery, to offer you the best patient care. Let’s go through some of them. Doctors General practitioners/GPs – these doctors […]

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12 March

How can I get a prescription without seeing my GP? Yes. There are several ways. You do not need to see a GP to order a repeat prescription. You can order them online, either via the NHS app or the GP surgery’s website. And you may be able to pick them up directly at the […]

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12 March

How do I get a sick note from my GP? A sick (fit) note is a legal document. For the first week, you do not need a doctors fit (sick) note for any illness. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website. […]

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12 March

Can I get longer appointments (20-30 mins) with my GP? Yes. A normal GP appointment in the UK is about 10 minutes, not a huge amount of time, we know. But you can get double (or even triple) appointments (20 or 30 minutes). You need to ask for them. These may be needed if you […]

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