Health A to Z

Paget's disease of bone

Also called Osteitis deformans

Bone remodelling gone wrong, making bone bigger but weaker. Usually silent, and found on an X-ray or a blood test done for something else.

Paget's disease of the nipple

An eczema-like rash on the nipple that is usually a sign of breast cancer underneath. Treated as eczema for months is the common story.

Palliative and end of life care

Also called End of life care, Hospice care, Advance care planning

Not giving up, and not only for the last few days. It is care aimed at living as well as possible for as long as possible.

Pancreatic cancer

Diagnosed late because the early signs look like indigestion. Painless jaundice is the one that must never be watched and waited.

Pancreatitis

Inflammation of the pancreas. Acute pancreatitis can be life-threatening within hours, and the pain has a distinctive shape.

Panic disorder

Also called Panic attacks

Attacks of overwhelming physical fear, and then the fear of the next one. The second part is the disorder.

Parasomnias

Also called Sleepwalking, Night terrors, Nightmares, Sleep paralysis, REM sleep behaviour disorder

Odd things happening during sleep. Common and harmless in children; in an older adult, acting out dreams is an early warning worth knowing about.

Parkinson's disease

Dopamine-producing cells dying, affecting movement, mood and much else. Medication timing is not a detail here, it is the treatment.

Pathological demand avoidance

Also called PDA, Extreme demand avoidance

An anxiety-driven need to avoid everyday demands. Ordinary parenting strategies make it worse, reliably.

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Also called PID

Infection spreading up from the cervix. Treating it late is what causes infertility, so treatment starts before the tests come back.