Glossary

Arteriovenous malformation is the term for a tangle of blood vessels between the arteries and veins with abnormal connections.

Blood from the arteries drains directly in the veins bypassing the normal tissues which essential substances such as oxygen and nutrition.

The process can be painful and make the normal tissues fragile as well as making the heart work faster so it keeps up with the extra blood flow.

Arteriovenous malformation affects around 1.4 in every 100,000 people.

Arthritis can affect anybody, at any age. In the UK around 10 million people live with the condition which causes pain and inflammation in the joints. There are two main types of arthritis…Osteoarthritis – The most common form which affects the smooth lining of the joint & Rheumatoid Arthritis – A result of the body’s immune system targeting affected joints leading to pain and swelling. The latter is usually found people aged between 40 and 50 and is three times more likely to affect women.

A congenital disorder which stiffens the joints which usually leads to nerve and muscle degeneration and impairment in the limbs. The condition can affect movement in the hips, feet, ankles, shoulders, knees, wrists…any limbs in the body!

Also known as Arthrogryposis multiplex cogenita (AMC) the illness was originally diagnosied as a single disease although medical research shows arthogryposis is a combination of muscle disorders.

The name comes from the Greek term which means “curving of joints”.

A term used to describe a number of conditions which affect the joints, usually in the arms and legs.

The condition is normally diagnosed in utero or at birth.

Despite the cause of arthrogryposis being unknown it is thought to be related to not enough space in utero and low amniotic fluid.

Also known just as ’arthrogryposis’ the condition describes joint contractures in two or more areas in the body which is present at birth.

Named after Austrian doctor, Hans Asperger – who first described the condition in 1944.

Asperger’s is a form of autism which affects how a person understands the world, communicates to others and processes information.

Asperger syndrome is a form of developmental disorders commonly known as ASD – autistic spectrum disorder. The condition differs from autism – children with the Asperger’s usually have an average level of language development and intelligence, although their communication skills can deteriorate as they become older.

It’s estimated 1 in 100 people in the UK have ASD.

People with Asperger syndrome see, hear and fell the world differently to others, although they do not usually have to cope with learning disabilities that affects most patients living with other forms of Autism.  However, they may have specific learning difficulties.

The condition is more common in men than women.

Around 700,000 people in the UK live with autism.

The illness can affect anyone at any age, although the condition usually starts in childhood. During an asthma attack you can feel breathless and wheezy. The symptoms can vary from mild to severe and occur irregular interviews which could be on an hourly or daily basis.

An asthma attack is when the air passages become inflamed and start to swell disrupting the nerve endings in the airways. This narrows the airwaves making it more difficult for the air to travel to and from the lungs.

Asymmetric diplegia is a form of cerebral palsy which affects one side of the body more than the other. For example one leg may be slightly shorter than the other. This is usually in both the thigh (femur) and the shin (tibia).

A heart condition that causes an irregular and usually faster heart rate which can be much higher than 100 times a minute.

The average heart rate is between 60 and 100 bpm.

Symptoms include shortness of breath, dizziness and tiredness.

A condition which affects the ability to interact and communicate with others. People with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can also have behaviour problems and experience difficulty concentrating.

There are more boys with the condition than there are girls and its estimated 1 in 100 people in the UK have ASD.

There’s no cure for the condition although support is available in the form of educational and behavioural programmes.

Autoimmune Disease affects up to 50 million people in America. The illness decides your healthy cells are foreign which means the immune systems start attacking health cells.

The condition can cause abnormal organ growth and changes in organ function.

Also known as Arteriovenous Malformation AVM is a group of blood vessels which are not formed properly and have a higher rate of bleeding than normal.

They can occur anywhere in the body and are very rare.

B12 deficiency is caused by a lack of oxygen.

Symptoms include weak muscles, numbness, trouble walking, nausea, weight loss, irritability, fatigue, and increased heart rate.

The condition can be treated by  vitamin B12 supplements.

A common cause of back pain is an injury like a pulled muscle (strain).

Sometimes, medical conditions like a slipped disc, sciatica (a trapped nerve) or ankylosing spondylitis (a long-term condition in which the spine and other areas of the body become inflamed) can cause back pain.

Very rarely, back pain can be a sign of a serious problem such as a broken bone, cancer or an infection.