Because of the lowered calcium levels, there may be muscular twitching and the combination of loss of consciousness associated with twitching may give the impression of an epileptic fit. Even if consciousness is not lost, the peculiar feelings and apprehension may cause panic and anxiety and the over-breathing may continue. If looked for, this over-breathing [...]

Dopamine is an amine necessary in the conduction of nervous impulses. Another amine, 5 hydroxy tryptamine (5-HT), has been shown to be present in less than normal amounts in depression. Depression is common at the menopause. It may be improved when oestrogen, the female hormone, is given to treat the physical symptoms of oestrogen lack. [...]

The rest, about 15 per cent, are found when another child in the family is known to have the disease, and this is picked up during routine testing of the other children. The diagnosis can be established by a special test, which estimates the salt content in the child’s sweat. It is a .difficult test [...]

Cancer is classified according to the cell of origin and the organ of origin. For example, the most common type of cancer in women is called adenocarcinoma of the breast. ‘Adeno’ tells us that the cancer began in the cells lining the milk-producing glands in the breast. ‘Carcinoma’ just means cancer. There are other types [...]

No. If you have certain medical conditions, your doctor may decide that HRT would not be a particularly good idea. If you have certain other conditions, he may refuse to prescribe it for you at all. Whether you can (or should) take HRT depends on your doctor’s assessment of the risks involved, and whether you [...]

One of the questions many women ask about hysterectomy is the effect of the surgery on their sexuality, sexual interest, satisfaction and response. Because these areas of a woman’s life are usually shared, sexual partners also have an interest in the answers. Information, where available, is included about the impact on sexuality and sexual function [...]

There are two biological clocks that govern our sleep-wake rhythm, the circadian rhythm and the ultradian rhythm. Ultradian rhythm. This is the 90 minute cycle that goes on round the 24 hour clock. There is some practical significance of this rhythm to those who have sleeping problems. There is a brief period of low arousal [...]

Writer’s cramp is a condition which is widely known to be particularly resistant to treatment. A thirty-two-year-old single woman had a very good and highly paid job managing a large office. Over a period of two years she had developed writer’s cramp. The condition had progressed to such an extent that writing was virtually impossible. [...]

Minerals are also considered extremely important in the treatment of arthritis. Disturbance in the body’s mineral metabolism is usually indicated in arthritis. Therefore, the restoration of proper mineral balance in the tissues is imperative for effective and fast recovery. Various mineral supplements are used by different practitioners. For the United States, the mineral supplements most [...]

The cause of a febrile convulsion, is, as the name implies, a fever or high temperature. Any of the common childhood infections such as chickenpox, tonsillitis, upper respiratory, ear, bowel or urinary infections may cause a high temperature and therefore cause a febrile convulsion. It is unclear whether it is how quickly the temperature rises, [...]