Body mass index (BMI) – what are the pros and cons? Body mass index (BMI) is a useful screening tool for obesity and being overweight, but it has some limitations (see below). It is thought to reflect body fat (either too much or too little). How is BMI calculated? BMI = your weight (in kg) […]
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What is a ‘resident doctor’? On 18th September 2024, the British Medical Association (BMA; the doctors union), announced that junior doctors working across the NHS will now be called resident doctors instead – in a change intended to better reflect their expertise. They called for this change, as they feel the term ‘junior’ is “infantilising and […]
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A-Z medical words and abbreviations Here is a list of commonly used medical words and abbreviations for people working in healthcare. A Words Abdomen: the tummy area from the lower ribs to the pelvis Abdominal: of the abdomen Abrasion: typically non-serious scrape or cut Abscess: pocket of pus that forms due to an infection Acute: […]
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10 ways to stay well and look after yourself this winter Winter illnesses Sickness rates increase over the winter. This is due to a combination of infections, lower temperatures and falls in the elderly. But there are things they and you can do, to reduce the likelihood of sickness in the winter. 1. Wait a […]
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How can I check results of my blood tests? We recommend your join an excellent free web service called Patient Knows Best (PKB). It shows your latest blood test results. It can also show (for some people), your letters and medicines, plus information about your diagnoses and treatment. You can also set up alerts, monitor […]
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How can I manage my own symptoms of chronic disease? In this article, we will describe how you can better manage the symptoms of your chronic disease. This is called self-management. Self-management refers to a range of things you can do to live better with your long term conditions by managing your own health more […]
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What you need to know about your allergies? It’s a good idea to keep a record of all your allergies. This includes: things like natural allergies (e.g. hay fever, bee stings, gluten) drugs you are allergic to, and how you react to them (e.g. hives, rash, fever). Allergies are a key part of your medical […]
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How much alcohol is too much? There is no agreed definition of an alcoholic. And no agreed level of ‘too much’. And many people in the UK drink too much but are not ‘alcoholics’. Actually, at MyHSN, we don’t like the phrase alcoholic. It is judgemental. An ‘alcohol problem’ is a better phrase. It is […]
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What do the tonsils do (5 functions)? In this article we will describe what do the tonsils do, and explain their 5 functions. 1. Four types People have four kinds of tonsils: palatine tonsils (visible at the back of the throat), lingual tonsils (at the base of the tongue), tubal tonsils, and adenoid tonsils Collectively, […]
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What do the kidneys do? (7 functions) The kidneys have 7 functions: Waste removal – remove wastes (including urea and creatinine) from the body in urine Water and salt(s) removal – salts include sodium and potassium Acid removal Make renin – controls blood pressure Make erythropoietin (EPO) – stimulates red cell production in the blood […]
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