Day: October 1, 2023

What are ACE inhibitors and ARBs? Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are medicines commonly prescribed for hypertension. These medicines work by relaxing your blood vessels. Your doctor may also prescribe ACE inhibitors or ARBs if you have: heart failure chronic kidney disease diabetes with too much protein in your urine (proteinuria) had a heart attack (myocardial infarction) There are many ACE inhibitors and ARBs available in Australia. The different ACE inhibitors and ARBs have similar effects on your medical condition but have different dosages and potential side effects. The ARB medicines all have names ending in “sartan” so you might

What is an angiogram? Angiography is a procedure in which a liquid contrast agent is injected into the bloodstream to make blood vessels visible on a scan. The image produced by the scan is called an angiogram. Angiography can be used to look at blood vessels in the heart, lungs, brain, kidneys or other parts of the body. It is usually done in hospital. As well as being used for diagnosis, angiography can also be used to guide procedures that treat some abnormalities of the blood vessels, such as narrowing or clots. For example, narrowed arteries may be treated by

Everyone feels angry sometimes. Anger can be a good thing because it allows us to express our emotions. It’s what we do when we’re angry that can cause problems. For example, anger expressed as violence or ignoring a person is not appropriate. What is anger? Anger is a normal human emotion. It can range from feeling annoyed to intense rage. What are the signs and symptoms of anger? Anger makes your heart rate and blood pressure go up as your body produces more of the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline. This is the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response. You may feel

What is anaphylaxis? Anaphylaxis is the most severe type of allergic reaction. It can happen after exposure to certain triggers, such as: food – commonly milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts and seafood bites and stings – including tick bites and snake bites some medicines Anaphylaxis develops rapidly and can be fatal, so should it always be treated as a medical emergency. If anaphylaxis progresses, it can lead to a dangerous drop in blood pressure. This is known as ‘anaphylactic shock’. What causes anaphylaxis? Anaphylaxis is triggered by the immune system when it recognises a harmless allergen as ‘dangerous’ and releases a natural chemical called histamine. Histamine causes inflammation when it is

This page will give you information about different forms of anaesthesia. If you have any questions, you should ask your GP or other relevant health professional. What is an anaesthetic? An anaesthetic is a combination of drugs that causes loss of sensation. General anaesthetic — A combination of drugs that produce deep sleep. You will not be aware of what is happening and afterwards you will not remember anything that has happened. Epidural or spinal anaesthetic — Involves injecting local anaesthetics and other painkillers near your spinal cord to give pain relief in certain areas of your body. Local anaesthetic — Temporarily stops nerves working

What is anaemia medicine? Anaemia medicines are used to treat anaemia, a condition where your blood test result shows a low red blood cell count or low haemoglobin level.  The medicine used to treat anaemia will depend on its cause. The most common type of anaemia is iron-deficiency anaemia, usually caused by not eating or absorbing enough iron, or by losing blood. It is common in rapidly growing children and teenagers, during pregnancy and in people with long-term conditions such as kidney disease. Medicines to treat iron-deficiency anaemia include tablets or liquids, or intravenous (IV) infusions that are given through the vein. Other types of anaemia can be

What is anaemia? Anaemia is when you don’t have enough red blood cells or haemoglobin. Red blood cells and haemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that makes them red, are important because they carry oxygen from the lungs around the body. It’s important to find and treat the cause of the anaemia to prevent it coming back, as well as the anaemia itself. What are the symptoms of anaemia? If you have anaemia, you may experience a range of symptoms, including: fatigue or weakness a fast heartbeat or heart palpitations dizziness, light-headedness or headaches shortness of breath, even when doing things you could usually

What are anabolic steroids? Anabolic steroids are synthetic (man-made) drugs that are similar to the male hormone testosterone. Their proper name is anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS). They are swallowed as tablets, applied as a gel, or injected into a muscle. Anabolic steroids are different from corticosteroids, which are medicines used to treat conditions such as arthritis or asthma. Both are sometimes referred to simply as ‘steroids’. Anabolic steroids can be used for medical purposes, but people also sometimes take them to improve their performance in sport, their appearance or their body image. When used for performance, anabolic steroids are classed as performance and

What is amyloidosis? Amyloidosis is a group of diseases that can affect the brain, heart, joints or kidneys. It is a rare condition that is caused when the body produces an abnormal protein called amyloid. This protein can collect in different organs in the body such as the kidneys or the heart and stop them working as well as they should. What are the symptoms of amyloidosis? The symptoms of amyloidosis will depend on where the amyloid protein builds up in your body. Amyloidosis symptoms might be difficult to tell apart from symptoms of other medical conditions. They can include:

What is an amputation? An amputation is the loss or removal of a part of your body, such as an arm or leg. The loss of a limb can be a life-changing experience, but there is help and support available. Why might an amputation be needed? There are several reasons why someone might need to have an amputation. These can include: diabetes complications peripheral vascular disease (narrowing of the arteries leading to your legs and feet) other causes of severely reduced blood supply to the limb severe infection cancer serious injury Many people can use a prosthesis (artificial limb) or mobility device

What is an ambulance? Ambulances are vehicles that transport people needing emergency medical care. Sometimes they also transport people needing non-emergency medical support. You may need an ambulance to take you to hospital if you are sick or injured, after an accident, or an ambulance may be needed to take you from one hospital to another. There are several types of ambulance, all specially equipped. Types of ambulances include: Vans The van is the most common type of ambulance vehicle across Australia. These are used by advanced care paramedics for serious medical emergencies and patient transport officers for non-emergency situations.

What is AATD? Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, also known as AATD, or as genetic or inherited emphysema, is a common, inherited genetic condition that can cause chronic lung and liver disease. It can be managed to slow down the progress of the disease. Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is a protein made in the liver and circulated through the blood. It helps protect your lungs and liver from damage. If you have a deficiency of AAT protein, you are more at risk of 2 main sets of problems: In the lungs, AATD can cause emphysema, which may appear earlier than it might otherwise, as well as asthma, chronic

What is alopecia? Alopecia means hair loss. There are different types of alopecia. Some types can cause you to lose hair from a single area. Other types can cause hair loss from several areas of your head, face or body. Common types of alopecia include: male pattern hair loss female pattern hair loss alopecia areata telogen effluvium How is alopecia causes? Androgenetic alopecia Androgenetic alopecia is the name for both male pattern hair loss and female pattern hair loss. It usually runs in families. It is caused by the effects of androgens (male hormones) on your hair follicles. Most of the