Health A to Z

Bladder cancer

Blood in the urine, once, painlessly, is enough to be investigated. It is the symptom people most often dismiss because it goes away.

Bladder pain syndrome

Also called Interstitial cystitis, BPS, Painful bladder

Cystitis symptoms with no infection, for years. Repeated negative urine tests are the diagnosis, not evidence that nothing is wrong.

Bladder stones

Stones forming in a bladder that does not empty. Almost always a symptom of an outflow problem rather than a problem in itself.

Body dysmorphic disorder

Also called BDD

A preoccupation with a perceived flaw others cannot see. Not vanity, and it carries a very high suicide risk.

Boils and skin abscesses

Also called Furuncle, Carbuncle, Skin abscess

A collection of pus under the skin. Antibiotics alone rarely fix one; it needs draining, and squeezing it at home makes it worse.

Borderline personality disorder

Also called BPD, Emotionally unstable personality disorder, EUPD

Emotions that arrive faster, harder and last longer than other people's. Usually built by trauma, and treatable.

Bowel cancer

Also called Colorectal cancer, Colon cancer, Rectal cancer

The fourth most common cancer in the UK, and one of the most survivable when caught early. The screening kit is the whole point.

Bowel polyps

Also called Colonic polyps, Adenomas

Growths in the bowel that are usually harmless and are how most bowel cancers begin. Removing them is prevention that works.

Brain abscess

A pocket of pus in the brain. Headache with fever and any new neurological sign needs a scan, not a painkiller.

Brain injury

Also called Acquired brain injury, ABI, Traumatic brain injury, Head injury

The same person, running on changed hardware. The hidden effects outlast the visible ones by years.