Surgery to ease the passage of food contents from the gullet, or oesophagus, to the stomach.
Heller's myotomy
helminths
Worm-like parasites.
hemiplegia
Also called hemiparesis. Paralysis of one side of the body.
Henoch-Schonlein purpura
Inflammation of small blood vessels causing leakage of blood into the skin, joints, kidneys and intestines.
heparin
A substance produced by the body, or given as medication, that reduces the likelihood of the blood to clot, coagulate.
hepatic
Relating to the liver.
hepatitis
Inflammation to the liver with accompanying damage to liver cells.
hepatomegaly
Enlarged liver occuring as a result of any liver disorder.
Herbenden's nodes
Small, fixed bumps on the fingers, usually at the last joint, which are a sign of osteoarthritis.
hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia
A genetic disorder, also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu disease, in which there is a tendency to nosebleeds and sometimes bleeding in the intestines or lungs, along with small red spots or spidery lines on the skin due to enlarged capillaries.
hermaphroditism
A condition in which reproductive organs of both sexes are present in the same individual, so a human is born with both ovarian and testicular tissue
hernia
When part of an organ pushes through the wall of the body cavity that normally holds it. Hernias can develop in many different parts of the body.
herpangina
A disease caused by Coxsackie viruses causing painful mouth ulcers.
herpes gestationis
A rare autoimmune disorder that affects women during pregnancy.
Herpes simplex
The virus responsible for cold sores and genital herpes
Herpes zoster
An infection of the nerves supplying certain areas of the skin that is characterised by a painful rash.
Herpes zoster oticus
A viral infection of the inner, middle and external ear.
herpetic
Associated with herpes viral infection.
hiatus hernia
Protrusion of abdominal contents into the chest cavity through an abnormally large gap in the diaphragm
hidradenitis
Inflammation of sweat glands.
hidradenoma
A benign tumour that originates in a sweat gland.
HIFU
An abbreviation for high intensity focused ultrasound, a relatively new method for treating cancer using focused ultrasound waves.
high-sensitivity C-reactive protein
A protein found in the blood. Raised levels indicate inflammation, and can be used to estimate a person's risk of cardiovascular disease.
hilar lymph nodes
The lymph nodes of the lungs.