What is AKI (acute kidney injury)? AKI is a rapid reduction in kidney function – resulting in failure to: Remove water and electrolytes (minerals such as potassium), and, Remove waste (such as urea and creatinine) from the body. ‘Rapid’ means AKI occurs over hours or days. It is a serious illness, and usually requires admission […]
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What causes AKI (acute kidney injury)? 9 key causes of AKI The ‘VOID-RIGHT’ mnemonic is useful: V – vasculitis (e.g. lupus (SLE) nephritis; all rare) O – obstruction I – infection (sepsis) D – dehydration R – renal artery stenosis (with bilateral thrombosis) I – interstitial disease (acute tubular necrosis (ATN); drugs (e.g. antibiotics, NSAIS, […]
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10 AKI (acute kidney injury) facts AKI used to be called ‘Acute Renal Failure (or ARF)’. AKI is a simpler phrase in some ways; but there is no real injury, in a trauma sense. We will now go through 10 in depth facts about AKI. 5 Key Points Acute Kidney Injury (AKI): a rapid loss […]
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Strengths and limitations of BMI BMI and body fat Body mass index (BMI) is associated with but is not a direct measure of body fat. Therefore, it is useful in screening for obesity, but is not a diagnostic measure of obesity and does not displace clinical judgement. BMI and risk BMI’s association with health risk […]
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Treatments for mental health problems Psychological Therapies Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT): A problem-focused approach to help individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviours Psychodynamic Therapy: Explores the unconscious thoughts, feelings, and experiences that underlie an individual’s mental health concerns Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT): Combines CBT with mindfulness techniques to help individuals manage emotions and […]
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When should I go to GP for mental health? When to Seek Help Persistent feelings of low mood or anxiety: If you’ve been experiencing these emotions for more than two weeks, it’s time to seek support Symptoms of psychosis: Hallucinations – where a person hears, sees and, in some cases, feels, smells or tastes things […]
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How antidepressants work In this article, we will describe how antidepressant tablets work. Different kinds of antidepressants target different neurotransmitters. Common antidepressant groups Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants available. They include citalopram and sertraline. Both drugs affect a serotonin transporter but also affect other serotonin receptors to relieve major depression. Serotonin and […]
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How to stop antidepressants The key is to taper off the medication gradually to minimise withdrawal symptoms. Tapering off antidepressants The NHS recommends that patients should not stop taking antidepressants suddenly. Instead, the dose should be slowly reduced over several weeks or months, depending on the type of antidepressant, dosage, and treatment duration. Common types […]
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Best apps for mental health problems In this article we will describe the best apps in the UK for mental health problems. Anxiety and Stress Calm: A popular app that offers guided meditation, sleep stories, and relaxing music to help reduce anxiety and stress Headspace: A well-known app that provides personalised meditation sessions and tracks […]
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What is an ideal HbA1c? An ideal HbA1c level depends on whether you have diabetes or are at risk of developing it. Normal HbA1c = 20-42 mmol/mol (or 4-6%). Non-diabetics: A normal HbA1c level is below 36 mmol/mol (5.5%) People at risk of developing diabetes (prediabetes): An ideal HbA1c level is below 42 mmol/mol (6%) […]
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