Anxiety attacks are surprisingly common and occur most frequently in women. They can be caused by a variety of things that are specific to that individual e.g. fear of going outside or news that...

Blood pressure is defined as the pressure exerted by circulating blood on the walls of the arteries and is highest in the large arteries leaving the heart. It is measured in millimetres of mercury...

Our heart is controlled by electrical activity which allows it to pump in a co-ordinated way. A disturbance in the normal electrical activity is known as an arrhythmia.  Arrhythmias can cause the heart to stop...

Triage is the initial assessment and sorting of casualties based on medical need and likely response to treatment. In a multiple-casualty situation, triage is essential to effectively sort casualties and prioritise their order of...

Cerebral compression occurs when there is a build up of pressure inside the skull. Cerebral compression can be caused by bleeding into the skull or swelling of the brain tissue after a head injury. It...

The heart is a very complex organ, made up of many specialised structures designed to work in unison. The heart can suffer from a variety of problems with the most common being a heart...

AEIOU TIPS is a mnemonic device taught to first responders to deal with Altered Mental State (AMS) patients.  Although a first responder’s job doesn’t include rooting out the cause of unconsciousness, being aware of underlying issues...

SEEP is a first aid mnemonic used to remember the key steps for dealing with major bleeding. It stands for Sit or lay, Examine, Elevate and Pressure.  Sit or lay Your first action should...

Asthma is one of the most common medical conditions. Across the world, an estimated 300 million people are living with asthma. It is very common in childhood with around 1 in 7 children suffering from...

Meningitis is caused by inflammation of the meninges which are the protective layers of the brain. It is caused by a variety of bacteria and viruses. Viral meningitis is rarely contagious and is usually...

Diabetes is a disease resulting in high blood sugar levels in the body. It is due to a problem with the body’s production or response to insulin. Insulin is the hormone which controls the level of...

A normal temperature ranges from 36 to 37 degrees Celsius. A fever may indicate an infection or an illness. People often use a thermometer to measure their body temperature at home when feeling ill....

A heart attack is caused by a sudden obstruction of the blood supply to a section of heart muscle. It is usually caused by a blood clot (thrombus), which leads to a blockage in...

Angina is characterised by chest pain, which comes on with exercise or emotion and is relieved by rest. It is caused by narrowing of the coronary artery network, such that when the heart muscle is...