Giving information on conditions

Angina

What it is: Chest pain due to reduced heart blood flow
Cause: Coronary artery disease
Symptoms: Tight/heavy chest pain on exertion, relieved by rest/GTN
Diagnosis: History, ECG, coronary angiogram
Management: GTN, beta blockers, statins, lifestyle
Red flags: Pain at rest → possible ACS
Lifestyle: Stop smoking, exercise, diet

Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)

What it is: Heart attack or unstable angina
Cause: Coronary plaque rupture + clot
Symptoms: Crushing chest pain, sweating, nausea
Diagnosis: ECG, troponin
Management: Antiplatelets, PCI, oxygen if needed
Red flags: Persistent chest pain → emergency
Lifestyle: Risk factor modification

Heart Failure

What it is: Heart unable to pump effectively
Cause: MI, HTN, valve disease
Symptoms: Breathlessness, ankle swelling, fatigue
Diagnosis: BNP, echocardiogram
Management: ACEi, beta blocker, diuretics
Red flags: Sudden breathlessness, pulmonary oedema
Lifestyle: Fluid control, daily weight, exercise

Valve Disorders

What it is: Narrowing or leaking heart valves
Cause: Degeneration, rheumatic disease
Symptoms: Breathlessness, chest pain, syncope
Diagnosis: Echocardiogram
Management: Monitoring, valve surgery
Red flags: Syncope, worsening SOB
Lifestyle: Infection prevention, exercise advice

Asthma

What it is: Chronic airway inflammation
Cause: Allergens, exercise, infections
Symptoms: Wheeze, SOB, cough
Diagnosis: Spirometry
Management: Reliever + steroid inhalers
Red flags: Frequent reliever use
Lifestyle: Avoid triggers, inhaler technique

COPD

What it is: Progressive airflow limitation
Cause: Smoking
Symptoms: Chronic cough, sputum, breathlessness
Diagnosis: Spirometry
Management: Inhalers, pulmonary rehab
Red flags: Exacerbation with severe SOB
Lifestyle: Smoking cessation, vaccines

Bronchiectasis

What it is: Permanently widened airways
Cause: Recurrent infections
Symptoms: Chronic productive cough
Diagnosis: CT chest
Management: Physiotherapy, antibiotics
Red flags: Haemoptysis
Lifestyle: Airway clearance

Sarcoidosis

What it is: Inflammatory granulomatous disease
Cause: Unknown autoimmune
Symptoms: Fatigue, SOB, lymphadenopathy
Diagnosis: Chest X-ray, biopsy
Management: Often none; steroids if severe
Red flags: Organ involvement
Lifestyle: Monitoring

OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnoea)

What it is: Breathing pauses during sleep
Cause: Obesity, airway collapse
Symptoms: Loud snoring, daytime sleepiness
Diagnosis: Sleep study
Management: CPAP
Red flags: Driving risk
Lifestyle: Weight loss

Lung Cancer

What it is: Malignant lung tumour
Cause: Smoking
Symptoms: Persistent cough, haemoptysis, weight loss
Diagnosis: CT + biopsy
Management: Surgery, chemo, radiotherapy
Red flags: Coughing blood
Lifestyle: Smoking cessation

GERD

What it is: Acid reflux
Cause: Weak oesophageal sphincter
Symptoms: Heartburn, regurgitation
Diagnosis: Clinical ± endoscopy
Management: PPIs, lifestyle
Red flags: Dysphagia, weight loss
Lifestyle: Avoid trigger foods

Peptic Ulcer Disease

What it is: Ulcer in stomach/duodenum
Cause: H. pylori, NSAIDs
Symptoms: Epigastric pain, bleeding
Diagnosis: Endoscopy
Management: PPIs, antibiotics
Red flags: Haematemesis, melaena
Lifestyle: Avoid NSAIDs

Hiatus Hernia

What it is: Stomach pushes into chest
Cause: Weak diaphragm
Symptoms: Reflux, chest discomfort
Diagnosis: Endoscopy
Management: PPIs, surgery if severe
Red flags: Persistent vomiting
Lifestyle: Weight loss

Gallstones

What it is: Hardened bile crystals
Cause: Cholesterol imbalance
Symptoms: Often asymptomatic
Diagnosis: Ultrasound
Management: Surgery if symptomatic
Red flags: Infection signs
Lifestyle: Healthy diet

Biliary Colic

What it is: Gallstone causing duct blockage
Cause: Gallstones
Symptoms: RUQ pain after fatty meals
Diagnosis: Ultrasound
Management: Analgesia, cholecystectomy
Red flags: Fever, jaundice
Lifestyle: Reduce fatty foods

Acute Cholangitis

What it is: Infected blocked bile duct
Cause: Gallstones
Symptoms: Fever, jaundice, RUQ pain
Diagnosis: Bloods, imaging
Management: Antibiotics, ERCP
Red flags: Sepsis
Lifestyle: Prevent gallstones

Chronic Pancreatitis

What it is: Long-term pancreatic damage
Cause: Alcohol
Symptoms: Epigastric pain, weight loss
Diagnosis: CT
Management: Enzymes, pain control
Red flags: Diabetes, cancer risk
Lifestyle: Stop alcohol

Gastric Cancer

What it is: Malignant stomach tumour
Cause: H. pylori, smoking
Symptoms: Weight loss, anaemia
Diagnosis: Endoscopy + biopsy
Management: Surgery, chemo
Red flags: Persistent vomiting
Lifestyle: Healthy diet

Coeliac Disease

What it is: Gluten autoimmune reaction
Cause: Genetic
Symptoms: Diarrhoea, bloating, anaemia
Diagnosis: Antibodies + biopsy
Management: Gluten-free diet
Red flags: Weight loss
Lifestyle: Strict gluten avoidance

IBS

What it is: Functional bowel disorder
Cause: Gut-brain axis dysregulation
Symptoms: Abdominal pain, bowel changes
Diagnosis: Clinical
Management: Diet, reassurance
Red flags: Weight loss, bleeding
Lifestyle: Stress reduction

Ulcerative Colitis

What it is: Colon inflammation
Cause: Autoimmune
Symptoms: Bloody diarrhoea
Diagnosis: Colonoscopy
Management: 5-ASA, steroids
Red flags: Toxic megacolon
Lifestyle: Nutrition support

Crohn’s Disease

What it is: Transmural GI inflammation
Cause: Autoimmune
Symptoms: Abdominal pain, weight loss
Diagnosis: Colonoscopy
Management: Steroids, biologics
Red flags: Fistulas, obstruction
Lifestyle: Smoking cessation

Diverticulosis

What it is: Colon outpouchings
Cause: Low fibre
Symptoms: Often none
Diagnosis: Colonoscopy
Management: Fibre intake
Red flags: Diverticulitis
Lifestyle: High fibre diet

Colorectal Cancer (CRC)

What it is: Colon malignancy
Cause: Genetic, lifestyle
Symptoms: PR bleeding, bowel habit change
Diagnosis: Colonoscopy
Management: Surgery, chemo
Red flags: Weight loss
Lifestyle: Screening

Haemorrhoids

What it is: Swollen anal veins
Cause: Straining
Symptoms: Painless bleeding
Diagnosis: Exam
Management: Topicals, surgery
Red flags: Persistent bleeding
Lifestyle: Increase fibre

Hernias

What it is: Tissue bulge through muscle wall
Cause: Weak abdominal wall
Symptoms: Lump, discomfort
Diagnosis: Clinical
Management: Surgery if symptomatic
Red flags: Strangulation
Lifestyle: Avoid heavy strain

Addison’s Disease

What it is: Adrenal insufficiency
Cause: Autoimmune
Symptoms: Fatigue, weight loss, low BP
Diagnosis: Cortisol tests
Management: Steroid replacement
Red flags: Addisonian crisis
Lifestyle: Stress-dose steroids

Cushing’s Syndrome

What it is: Excess cortisol
Cause: Steroids/tumour
Symptoms: Weight gain, striae, moon face
Diagnosis: Cortisol testing
Management: Treat cause
Red flags: Infection risk
Lifestyle: Reduce steroid misuse

Diabetes Mellitus

What it is: High blood sugar
Cause: Insulin deficiency/resistance
Symptoms: Thirst, polyuria, fatigue
Diagnosis: HbA1c
Management: Lifestyle, metformin, insulin
Red flags: DKA/HHS
Lifestyle: Diet, exercise

Diabetes Insipidus

What it is: Inability to concentrate urine
Cause: ADH deficiency/resistance
Symptoms: Extreme thirst, polyuria
Diagnosis: Water deprivation test
Management: Desmopressin
Red flags: Dehydration
Lifestyle: Hydration

Hyperparathyroidism

What it is: Excess PTH
Cause: Parathyroid adenoma
Symptoms: Stones, bones, groans
Diagnosis: Calcium + PTH
Management: Surgery
Red flags: Hypercalcaemia crisis
Lifestyle: Hydration

Hypoparathyroidism

What it is: Low PTH
Cause: Post-surgical
Symptoms: Tetany, seizures
Diagnosis: Low Ca
Management: Calcium replacement
Red flags: Arrhythmias
Lifestyle: Supplement adherence

ADPKD (Autosomal Dominant PKD)

What it is: Genetic kidney cyst disease
Cause: PKD mutation
Symptoms: Flank pain, haematuria
Diagnosis: Ultrasound
Management: BP control
Red flags: Renal failure
Lifestyle: Hydration

Nephrotic Syndrome

What it is: Protein loss in urine
Cause: Glomerular disease
Symptoms: Oedema, frothy urine
Diagnosis: Urine protein
Management: ACEi, diuretics
Red flags: Thrombosis
Lifestyle: Salt restriction

Cirrhosis

What it is: Chronic liver scarring
Cause: Alcohol, hepatitis
Symptoms: Ascites, jaundice, varices
Diagnosis: Imaging, bloods
Management: Treat cause, transplant
Red flags: Variceal bleed
Lifestyle: Stop alcohol

Viral Hepatitis

What it is: Liver inflammation from virus
Cause: Hep A/B/C/E
Symptoms: Jaundice, fatigue
Diagnosis: Serology
Management: Antivirals/supportive
Red flags: Liver failure
Lifestyle: Vaccination, avoid alcohol

Alcoholic Hepatitis

What it is: Acute alcohol liver injury
Cause: Heavy drinking
Symptoms: Fever, jaundice, RUQ pain
Diagnosis: Blood tests
Management: Steroids, alcohol cessation
Red flags: Liver failure
Lifestyle: Stop alcohol

🫀 Hypertension

What it is: Persistently high blood pressure that strains the heart and vessels
Cause: Often idiopathic; risk factors include obesity, salt, genetics, kidney disease
Symptoms: Often asymptomatic; headaches, visual changes (if severe)
Diagnosis: Repeated BP readings ± ambulatory monitoring
Management: Lifestyle changes, ACEi/ARB, CCB, diuretics
Red flags: Very high BP, chest pain, stroke symptoms
Lifestyle: Reduce salt, exercise, weight loss, stop smoking

🩸 Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

What it is: Blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg
Cause: Immobility, surgery, cancer, pregnancy, thrombophilia
Symptoms: Unilateral leg swelling, pain, warmth, redness
Diagnosis: Wells score, D-dimer, Doppler ultrasound
Management: Anticoagulation (DOAC/warfarin)
Red flags: Sudden SOB → possible PE
Lifestyle: Mobilisation, hydration, avoid prolonged immobility

🫀 Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

What it is: Abnormal widening of the abdominal aorta
Cause: Atherosclerosis, smoking, age
Symptoms: Often asymptomatic; pulsatile abdominal mass, back pain
Diagnosis: Ultrasound screening, CT if needed
Management: Surveillance or surgical repair if large
Red flags: Sudden severe back/abdominal pain → rupture emergency
Lifestyle: Stop smoking, control BP

🫁 Tuberculosis (TB)

What it is: Chronic bacterial lung infection (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)
Cause: Spread via respiratory droplets
Symptoms: Chronic cough, haemoptysis, night sweats, weight loss
Diagnosis: Chest X-ray, sputum culture, PCR
Management: Long-course combination antibiotics
Red flags: Haemoptysis, severe breathlessness
Lifestyle: Treatment adherence, infection control

🫁 Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)

What it is: Scarring of lung tissue causing reduced oxygen exchange
Cause: Autoimmune disease, occupational exposure, idiopathic
Symptoms: Progressive breathlessness, dry cough, fatigue
Diagnosis: HRCT chest, pulmonary function tests
Management: Steroids, antifibrotics, oxygen therapy
Red flags: Rapid deterioration
Lifestyle: Avoid smoking, pulmonary rehabilitation

🧬 Constipation

What it is: Infrequent or difficult bowel movements
Cause: Low fibre, dehydration, medications (opioids), inactivity
Symptoms: Hard stools, bloating, abdominal discomfort
Diagnosis: Clinical; exclude red flags
Management: Fibre, fluids, laxatives
Red flags: Weight loss, blood in stool, severe abdominal pain
Lifestyle: High-fibre diet, hydration, exercise