Day: February 22, 2024

What are veneers? Veneers are thin layers of material that cover the front of the teeth. Veneers can be placed on one tooth or a few of your teeth. Your dentist or dental practitioner fixes veneers to your teeth. You can’t take veneers off. Veneers can be made of: porcelain (ceramic) composite resin (of plastic and glass) Why would I want veneers? Veneers help to improve the appearance of your teeth. They’re not used to repair damage. Veneers don’t straighten your teeth or fix your bite. Veneers can be useful if your teeth are: discoloured or stained a bit crooked oddly

What are vegetarian and vegan diets? Vegetarian and vegan diets help reduce your risk of disease. They can also provide you with all the protein, minerals and most vitamins your body needs. Vegetarians don’t eat meat, poultry or seafood. However, there are different types of vegetarian diet: Lacto-ovo vegetarians eat eggs and dairy products. Vegans don’t eat any animal products, including honey and gelatine. Pescatarians are not strictly vegetarian as they eat seafood, but still focus on a diet high in plants. People may follow a vegetarian or vegan diet for religious reasons, or as a sustainable, ethical choice. What

A balanced diet What are the 5 food groups? A healthy diet does not need to be complicated. Eat foods from the 5 food groups every day. The 5 food groups are: vegetables and legumes (beans) fruit grains and cereals lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs, legumes (beans), tofu, nuts, seeds milk, cheese, yoghurt or alternatives Each food group has important nutrients. The amount of each food you need will vary during your life. Your diet will depend on factors such as: how active you are whether or not you are growing whether or not you are pregnant or breastfeeding Why should I eat vegetables

What is a vasectomy? A vasectomy is a permanent method of male contraception. It involves cutting both the tubes (vas deferens) that carry sperm from your testicles. This prevents sperm from mixing with semen and reaching your penis. A vasectomy should prevent your partner from becoming pregnant. What are the benefits of surgery? You or your partner should not need to use another method of contraception. Are there any alternatives to a vasectomy? The only other method of male contraception is to use a condom, but the risk of failure is higher. A sterilisation is a permanent method of female contraception. hormone implants a coil

What is a vasectomy? A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that is a form of contraception. From the time you have a vasectomy, you are unlikely to have more children from sexual intercourse.   A vasectomy doesn’t change your libido (sexual desire) or ability to reach orgasm. It won’t stop the production of semen. A vasectomy can sometimes be reversed, but it is generally permanent. What vasectomy procedure will I have? There are two ways you can have a vasectomy operation: Open procedure method 1 or 2 small openings are made in the front of your scrotum. Your doctor will then cut and seal

What is vasculitis? Vasculitis occurs when there is inflammation of your blood vessels. The inflammation can cause blood vessels to narrow. This may reduce blood flow to part of the body (ischaemia) or cause blood clots (thrombosis). Vasculitis can happen from a range of medical conditions (vasculitic disorders), most of which are quite rare. Some common types of vasculitis include: giant cell (temporal) arteritis — affects arteries of the head and neck polymyalgia rheumatica — inflammation and swelling in joint and muscles Kawasaki disease — affects skin, mucous membranes, lymph nodes, and blood vessels polyarteritis nodosa — affects arteries, kidneys, gut, nerves, and skin What

Circulatory system What is the circulatory system? Your circulatory system, also called the cardiovascular system or vascular system, moves oxygen, nutrients and hormones to your body’s cells to use for energy, growth and repair. Your circulatory system also removes carbon dioxide and other waste products that your cells do not need. These key parts of your circulatory system maintain blood flow to all the cells in your body, so you can survive: blood — made up of red and white blood cells, plasma and platelets the heart — a muscular organ that pumps blood to all parts of your body blood vessels, include arteries, capillaries

Peripheral vascular disease What is peripheral vascular disease? Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is also known as ‘peripheral artery disease’ (PAD). It usually refers to narrowing of the arteries leading to your legs and feet. What are the symptoms of peripheral vascular disease? The most common symptom of PVD is painful cramping in your leg muscles. This is triggered by physical activity, such as walking or climbing stairs. The pain usually develops in your calves (lower leg). Sometimes your thigh or buttock muscles can be affected. It can range from mild to severe. The pain will usually go away after 5

What is vascular dementia? Vascular dementia is a form of dementia that develops because of problems with the blood’s circulation to the brain. It causes problems with reasoning, planning, judgement, memory and other thinking. Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. People with vascular dementia tend to decline more rapidly than people with Alzheimer’s disease. What are the symptoms of vascular dementia? The symptoms of vascular dementia are often similar to those of Alzheimer’s disease, and the 2 conditions often occur together. The symptoms of vascular dementia depend on which part of the brain is

What are varicose veins? Varicose veins are enlarged and twisted veins in your leg. Varicose veins tend to run in families and are made worse by pregnancy and standing up a lot. Both legs contain a system of deep veins, which are buried within the muscles of your leg, and a system of superficial veins which run just underneath your skin. Sometimes weaknesses in the walls of the superficial veins cause them to enlarge. The result is a build-up of pressure in the veins, which bulge out as varicose veins. Varicose veins. What are the benefits of surgery? Surgery should help

What are varicose veins? Varicose veins are swollen, twisted blood vessels just under your skin. They are most common on the legs and feet. Healthy leg veins have tiny one-way valves to help blood flow up to your heart. Varicose veins happen when these valves in the veins become damaged or stop working. This causes blood to flow back down your leg and pool in your veins, stretching them. Blood that collects in varicose veins can flow backwards into smaller blood vessels called capillaries. These enlarge and form ‘spider veins’. Varicose veins are especially common in pregnancy. Visit the Pregnancy Birth and Baby page

What is a varicocele? A varicocele (pronounced vari-co-seal and sometimes spelled varicocoele) is a network of swollen veins in your scrotum, near your testicle. Some people say it feels like a ‘bag of worms’. It usually occurs on the left side of the scrotum but it can also occur on both sides. It’s uncommon to have a varicocele only on the right side. A varicocele can develop around puberty. It is more common as you get older. What causes a varicocele? A varicocele is caused by a problem in the veins that drain blood from the testicles. Veins contain valves that keep blood flowing