Healthcare 2013 by The Herald Bulletin

Blankenship: Cognitive decline with age not normal By Rebecca R. Bibbs For The Herald Bulletin

ANDERSON — Many forms of dementia remain leaving under-diagnosed, those who have it without treatment until they are moderately advanced. Though dementia can’t be cured, many associated symptoms can be reduced and even slowed with treatment at early onset, said certified neurologist Dr. Larry Blankenship, Jr., of Central Indiana Neurology. “There’s a lot of denial out there. People don’t want to think their loved one has dementia,” he said. “I think one of the solutions is public education. The public needs to understand that cognitive decline with age is not normal.” Ideally, Blankenship said,

doctors would start screening we will see some dramatic patients for dementia-related treatments,” he said. conditions at age 70. Bu he Caregivers also must be admitted over-scheduled fam- prepared to ensure the physiily physicians already spend- cal safety of individuals with ing significant time to control dementia and act as advocates to protect their wards’ a patient’s diabetes, arthritis and high blood financial futures, said pressure often don’t those who work with diagnose properly caregivers. causes of dementia Sandy Zentz, who unless pressed by careruns a number of caretakers. giver support groups “Physicians often through Community don’t have time to diag- Blankenship Hospital, agreed many nose the disorder. It people wait until their requires a long discussion loved ones condition has with the family and the advanced before asking for help, which often puts the patient,” he said. Even with current medica- patient in danger. tions, Blankenship said, cog“They’re always desperate nitive decline can only be by the time I get the call,” she slowed, not cured. said. “It happens so quickly, “There’s nothing I think but when you live with somewe’re going to see come to one, you don’t notice it as market in the next few years much.” In one instance, Zentz said, or so, but I think in the future

a caregiver she knew went to Florida for several months, as they did each year. But the woman’s husband grew increasingly confused, driving onto the exit ramp and becoming combative with his wife. Zentz, who was a caregiver to her father who had Alzheimer’s disease before he died 17 years ago, said she can tell when a senior should have a caregiver, such as when an older person is left in a car in a parking lot. As with a small child, she stressed, it’s never acceptable to do that, even though the person is an adult. “I can tell that caregiver has gone in for a prescription or a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk. And it freaks me out,” she said. “It’s about safety. When you are leaving your

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loved one alone, that is not safe.” Though it’s uncomfortable to do, caregivers also must take legal responsibility for a loved one with dementia. That means removing their names from Know the 10 signs the checkbook, for Alzheimer’s transferring title MUNCIE — “Know to a home or oth- the 10 Signs,” a free er property and workshop on detecttaking away the ing the warning signs car keys. of Alzheimer’s disMelanie Mor- ease, will be held at ris, senior care the Muncie Senior navigation coor- Center, 2517 W. dinator at St. Vin- Eighth St., on Friday, cent Anderson March 1, from 10 to Regional Hospi- 11 a.m. tal, said develop- The session, which ing a cooperative is free to the public, plan for the care requires registration of a family mem- by contacting the ber can be shared Alzheimer’s Associarather than shoul- tion at (800) 272dered by one 3900. individual. “A lot of times, the family has to piecemeal the care of a person with dementia together,” she said. “When families are successful, a lot of times, it’s that they have managed to share the responsibility.” ■

TYPES OF DEMENTIA Dementia, caused by physical changes in the brain, refers to the loss of memory and other mental functions to a degree that it interferes with daily functions and quality of life. Dementia can affect memory, ability to think, language, judgment and behavior.

Alzheimer’s disease A progressive form of dementia, AD is not considered a normal part of aging. The risk for AD is higher among older people and those with close blood relatives who have it. Additional, though inconclusive, risk factors may include being female, long-term high blood pressure and head trauma.

Vascular dementia Also known as “vascular cognitive impairment,” vascular dementia is caused when blood flow to the brain is blocked, often by a small stroke, reducing the brain’s access to oxygen and nutrients. Responsible for up to 30 percent of diagnosed cases of dementia, it is considered the second most common type of dementia next to Alzheimer’s disease.

Dementia with Lewy bodies The leading cause of progressive

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dementia in elderly adults, individuals with this condition have an accumulation of alpha-synuclein protein in specific parts of the brain. Noticeable symptoms include lack of alertness or attention, often in the form of drowsiness, lethargy, staring into space or disorganized speech. Additional symptoms may include hallucinations, and Parkinsonslike motor rigidity.

Frontotemporal dementia Caused by shrinkage of the brain’s frontal and temporal anterior lobes, there is no real loss in memory or spatial skills. This condition, which appears to run in families, usually presents with changes in behavior, such as inappropriate social demeanor, lack of tact or absence of empathy, or problems with language, such as a decreased ability to form or understand speech.

Mixed dementia This diagnosis is given when there appears to be a combination of symptoms pointing to both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Source: National Institutes of Health

The Herald Bulletin ❤ February 27, 2013

County forms new suicide prevention coalition By Emma Bowen Meyer For The Herald Bulletin

ANDERSON – Suicides in Madison County accounted for a whopping 30 percent of the suicides that occurred in east central Indiana in 2010, the most recent year with available statistics. Community leaders have sprung into action to save lives by increasing not only awareness, but the ability of the average resident to step in as a bridge to a safe place. “So many people are trained in CPR,” said Susie Maier, director of outpatient services for Aspire, Indiana Behavioral Health System. “They aren’t expected to do heart surgery – just step in and get the person to the next safe place. I’d really like to see people trained with a method to talk to someone considering suicide and get them to the next safe place. They don’t have to be the psychiatrist.”

Having developed this method, called QPR (Question, Persuade, Respond), members of the newly formed Madison County Suicide Prevention Coalition are now training members of various agencies, including law enforcement, in the hopes of saving lives. In addition they are trying to form a Maier survivors support group, which would not only include those who attempted suicide but also those who are left in the aftermath. This coalition is comprised of members from many community organizations, such as Community Hospital Anderson, St. Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital, the United Way, the Madison County Health Department and the

The Herald Bulletin ❤ February 27, 2013

Anderson Police Department. While the state of Indiana has a suicide prevention plan in place, Maier feels strongly that Madison County needs a plan specifically meeting its needs. “The message we want to convey is one of hope,” said Maier. “We have a lot of solutions we can offer people – along with many resources. When people feel hopeless and helpless and feel alone and isolated, they sometimes see suicide as a means to solve a problem.” She is touting the message that better solutions are available. While hopelessness can stem from many situations, most often a loss of relationship is the primary catalyst. Loss of job, enormous stress, financial poverty, and raising children as a single parent typically factor into the loss of relationship and also compound the problem.

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“The chances that someone considering suicide will walk in here and talk with me or a therapist are small,” said Maier. “But the chance they will speak to a friend or family member are much better. We just need to teach people how to respond.” Often people are backward about asking if a friend is contemplating suicide. Whether it is embarrassment or a desire to remain uninvolved, Maier insists it is contributing to the problem. Rather than shying away from the uncomfortable topics, residents need to dive in. For the last several years the suicide rate in east central Indiana has been higher than both the state and national rates. In 2010, Indiana ranked twentyninth out of the fifty states at a rate of 13.3. The rate of the United States as a whole was 12.4.

Study: Better TV might improve kids’ behavior The Associated Press

SEATTLE — Teaching parents to switch channels from violent shows to educational TV can improve preschoolers’ behavior, even without getting them to watch less, a study found. The results were modest and faded over time, but may hold promise for finding ways to help young children avoid aggressive, violent behavior, the study authors and other doctors said. “It’s not just about turning off the television. It’s about changing the channel. What children watch is as important as how much they watch,” said lead author Dr. Dimitri Christakis, a pediatrician and researcher at Seattle Children’s Research Institute. The research was to be published online last week by the journal Pediatrics. The study involved 565

The Associated Press

Nancy Jensen, second from left, looks on as her son Joe, 2, is given a special treat of a little TV time at their home in Seattle. Seattle parents, who periodically filled out TV-watching diaries and questionnaires measuring their child’s behavior. Half were coached for six

months on getting their 3-to5-year-old kids to watch shows like “Sesame Street” and “Dora the Explorer” rather than more violent programs like “Power Rangers.” The

results were compared with kids whose parents who got advice on healthy eating instead. At six months, children in both groups showed improved behavior, but there was a little bit more improvement in the group that was coached on their TV watching. By one year, there was no dif ference meaningful between the two groups overall. Low-income boys appeared to get the most short-term benefit. “That’s important because they are at the greatest risk, both for being perpetrators of aggression in real life, but also being victims of aggression,” Christakis said. The study has some flaws. The parents weren’t told the purpose of the study, but the authors concede they probably figured it out and that might have affected the results.

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The Herald Bulletin ❤ February 27, 2013

DOCTOR RATING WEBSITES Numerous websites are available to rate just about any service or product: Restaurant food, hotel service and even a pediatrician’s care. However, a new poll from the University of Michigan shows that only 25 percent of parents say they consider doctor rating websites very important in their search for a child’s physician. But the latest University of Michigan Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health did show that younger parents, those under 30, were more likely to say that online doctor ratings are very important. And mothers were more likely than fathers to say that those ratings are very important. “More and more families are going online not only to find out about medical conditions but also in their search for the right doctor for their child. What we found in the

poll was that the perceived importance of online ratings appears to differ widely based on factors such as parent age and gender,” says David A. Hanauer, a primary care pediatrician and clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at U-M. Hanauer collaborated with the National Poll on Children’s Health regarding this study of doctor rating websites. The poll showed that when it comes to online doctor ratings, mothers (30%) are more likely than fathers (19%) to think such ratings are very important. Parents under age 30 are more likely than parents 30 or older to think doctor rating websites are very important. “These data suggest that younger families are more likely to rely on online ratings, which means over time we’d expect the use of these websites will keep increasing,” Hanauer says.

In the poll, 92 percent of parents rated “accepts my health insurance” as very important and 65 percent rated a convenient office location as very important. A doctor’s years of experience and the grapevine or word of mouth also were rated very important, by 52 and 50 percent, respectively. But nearly one-third of parents who have gone online to view doctors’ ratings reported that they have selected a doctor for their children due to good ratings or reviews. And nearly one-third of parents reported avoiding a doctor for their children due to bad ratings or reviews. Very few adults say they have ever posted ratings or reviews of doctors. “The small percentage of people who actually post reviews suggests that people who depend on online ratings may not be getting an accurate picture of a pediatri-

cian’s care,” Hanauer says. So should parents trust or seek out an online rating? That’s hard to assess, says Matthew M. Davis, M.D., M.A.P.P., director of the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health. “Importantly, there is currently no oversight or regulation for rating websites that collect ‘crowdsourced’ information about doctors. It is hard to verify the reliability of the ratings or whether they are subject to manipulation,” says Davis. “But it is worth noting that word of mouth from family and friends is not regulated, either. On the other hand, those sources of information may be perceived as more directly accountable by parents seeking the information, and therefore more trustworthy.” — ARA Content

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Who has time for sick days? People who have gotten sick report their cold and flu symptoms lasted up to six days, according to the Vicks Second Annual Global Cough and Cold Survey. While health experts advise sick workers to stay home to avoid spreading germs, few of us can afford to take that many sick days off from work or home life. Fortunately, you can get by fighting cold and flu symptoms if you’re not able to take sick days. Here are some tips: 1. Take a multi-symptom medication. An estimated 80 percent of cold and flu sufferers experience more than one cold symptom, according to the survey. That’s why it is important to take a medication that can treat more than one symptom if you are experiencing multi-symptom discomfort. When you are sick with a cold, a multi-symptom

medication can relieve your cold symptoms so you can power through your busy and hectic schedule during the day. 2. Drink lots of fluids. Keep a bottle of water with you everywhere you go and keep drinking throughout the day. The extra hydration not only helps keep your nose moist and might help you breathe and rest easier; it also helps flush toxins from your body. 3. Look for other ways to stay hydrated. Drinking fluids isn’t the only way to keep hydrated. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using cool-moisture humidifiers to help provide relief from coughs and congestion. 4. Eat ... spicy, green and more. Bring on the heat! Eating spicy foods can give you a runny nose, which can be helpful because it helps break

up congestion and remove irritations. Also, eating an assortment of colorful fruits and vegetables, particularly those with a high level of vitamin C, is an effective way to support your immune system. When your body is fighting off a cold or flu, it needs food to fuel your immune system. If you have a fever, try to eat a little more to keep on the road to recovery. 5. Reach for a convenient thermometer. A high fever is often one of the first recognizable signs of illness. If your children seem to be ill, take their temperature with a thermometer to see if they have a fever. With a squirmy sick child it may be difficult to ensure accurate readings, so try non-invasive alternatives. 6. Lessen the stress. Studies have shown that elevated levels of stress can reduce the number of T cells in your

HealthCare 2013

Tips to fight the cold, cough and flu this year body, and T cells are important to keep your immune system strong. If you’re feeling sick, have fun and relax to help you better cope with symptoms. You could also try exercise or meditation to relieve stress. The National Institutes of Health in the U.S. has stated that it’s okay to exercise even if you have a cold. The simple act of sweating helps drive out destructive germs and toxins from your body.

The Herald Bulletin ❤ February 27, 2013

Questions remain on heart supplemental calcium By Rebecca R. Bibbs For The Herald Bulletin

ANDERSON — Doctors and medical organizations are somewhat in limbo when it comes to advising women on dietary and supplemental calcium because of a recent spate of conflicting studies weighing its effect on heart health. Women often are encouraged to consume adequate calcium for the proper bone formation of a fetus while pregnant and to promote their own bone health later in life. Dr. Chad Feldman, board certified invasive cardiologist at St. Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital, said further study of the role played by calcium in the heart health of women is crucial. “Calcium is not only important for the heart. It’s an ion that’s important for many dif-

ferent processes,” he said. the risk of dying of a coroRecent studies conducted nary event than women who by researchers throughout take between 600 mg and 999 the world have come to a mg per day. wide number of conclusions “What’s really dangerous when it comes to too much about studies like this is peocalcium or its source: ple will stop taking ◆ A Harvard Univertheir calcium supplesity study published in ments when it may be the American Journal of indicated,” Feldman Clinical Nutrition said. That’s why he recappears to demonstrate ommends that women discuss their risks and no link between the use of supplements and options with their dochardening of the arter- Feldman tors. ies. In the meantime, ◆ A study published in the Feldman said he believes journal Heart by Zurich Uni- women probably are safe conversity’s Institute for Social suming high-calcium foods and Preventative Medicine like dairy products, vegetareported mineral changes bles like spinach or broccoli, caused by calcium in blood and seeds or nuts. vessels that could double the “I think the weight of the risk of heart attack. evidence shows dietary calci◆ The British Medical um is not something we have Journal reported women with to worry about,” he said. calcium intakes greater than Many cardiologists 1,400 mg per day have twice including those who con-

The Herald Bulletin ❤ February 27, 2013

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ducted a controversial National Institutes of Health study published last year were surprised and skeptical when it revealed chelation therapy may benefit those with heart disease by removing calcium. Typically used to remove heavy metals like lead, arsenic and mercury to prevent long-term effects of poisoning, chelation therapy also has been used as an alternative treatment for heart disease since 1954. The $30 million study, partially funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, revealed chelation therapy may reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and death by 18 percent. The results were most striking among the one-third of study patients who had diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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CONTINUED from Page 9 » reported the use of chelation therapy grew by 68 percent to 111,000 people between 2002 and 2007. Though covered by Medicare from 1967 to 1996, chelation therapy now is an out-of-pocket expense of $800 to $5,000, depending on the method used. Dr. Thomas George Eyrich, a naturopath in Indianapolis, the closest place where chelation therapy is available, said objections of mainstream practitioners to the use of chelation therapy stem from its inability to generate as much income as bypass surgery. “I’ve never seen one case where the calcium got dangerously low,” he said. “If your body is low in calcium, it will break it down from your bone and your teeth and dump it into your blood stream. Your doctor has no idea whether calcium in your blood comes from a bone.”

Eyrich, whose father and grandfather each had heart disease, said most average people and even mainstream doctors have little knowledge of how vitamins and minerals interact with one another in the body. That’s what can bring on dangerous imbalances, he added. “What I think is people buy the cheap calcium, the calcium bicarbonate, and that probably is causing stones and other blockages,” he said. “They throw their magnesium off and they throw their phosphorous off, and bam, they have a problem.” Though he agrees with Feldman that each person should consult with his or her doctor, Eyrich also suggests sitting down with a nutritionist or dietitian. “The public doesn’t have enough knowledge to put the whole package together. You can’t just do one thing and think it will solve all your problems,” he said.

KEEP YOUR OFFICE HEALTHY A flu outbreak in your workforce can cause problems in several different areas of your business. The best flu prevention is encouraging and educating workers on how to be proactive at fending off the flu virus. Here are some tips on keeping the office healthy and productive from Staples, which has every product a business needs to succeed. ◆ Stay away from people who are, or appear to be, sick. Encourage your employees to be alert for those that look like they may be infected with the flu, both at work and in their personal lives. ◆ Steer clear of crowds and high-traffic areas. The more people there are, the higher the chances are that someone is carrying flu germs. Workers can decrease their odds of catching the flu by timing their errands and shopping at offpeak times whenever possi-

HealthCare 2013

ble and doing their best to stay out of particularly germy areas, such as hospitals and schools. ◆ Encourage employees to cover their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing. This can help stop germs, flu or otherwise, from spreading. You can make this practice even easier for your workers by keeping several boxes offacial tissues within easy reach of employee areas. ◆ Make hand-washing a top priority. Washing your hands is one of the single best methods of flu prevention, killing most flu virus germs that you come into contact with. Making this a company-wide practice will help keep your workforce healthy. Posting signs reminding employees to wash their hands before leaving the restroom and providing-hand sanitizer-are great ways to stay proactive. — ARA Content

The Herald Bulletin ❤ February 27, 2013

MEDICAL GLOSSARY A ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS): a syndrome characterized by suppression of the immune system, rendering the body susceptible to various illnesses; the late, symptomatic stage of HIV disease. ANALGESIC: a drug or therapy that reduces pain. ANUERYSM: an abnormally stretched, dilated section of a blood vessel that is prone to bursting. ANTIBIOTIC: an agent that kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria. ARTHRITIS: joint inflammation.

B BENIGN: a mild, non-lethal illness, especially a non-cancerous tumor. Contrast with

The Herald Bulletin â?¤ February 27, 2013

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malignant. BIOPSY (BX): a procedure in which a sample of cells or tissue is taken for laboratory examination. BODY MASS INDEX (BMI): a measurement of body fat determined by dividing a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weight (in kilograms) by height (in meters squared).

C CANCER: a malignant neoplasm or tumor characterized by abnormal cell proliferation CHOLESTEROL: a fatty substance in animal tissue that is an essential component of cell membranes, certain hormones, and nerve fiber insulation. CIRRHOSIS: a type of liver damage in which normal liver cells are replaced with fibrous scar tissue. COMA: a state of deep unconsciousness; a vegetative state.

MEDICAL GLOSSARY CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE: heart dysfunction that leads to a build-up of fluids in the body.

using an endoscope, a narrow, flexible fiber optic instrument that conducts light. ENZYME: a protein that induces or accelerates a chemical reaction.

D DEHYDRATION: loss or lack of water in the body. Dehydration may result from prolonged vomiting or diarrhea, and may disrupt many bodily processes. DEMENTIA: chronic loss of mental capacity. DEPRESSION (DYSTHYMIA): a mood disorder characterized by prolonged sadness or grief. DIABETES MELLITUS (DM): a disease caused by insufficient insulin production or lack of responsiveness to insulin. DIURETIC: an agent that increases loss of water from the body through urination.

E ECZEMA: a type of skin rash. EDEMA: swelling caused by accumulation of fluid in body tissues.

EMBOLISM: a blood clot that travels through the bloodstream and becomes lodged in a blood vessel, causing a blockage. ENDOSCOPY: a method of examining the interior of a body cavity or hollow organ

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FATIGUE: unusual, prolonged, or excessive tiredness. FIBROMYALGIA (FIBROMYOSITIS): a condition characterized by pain throughout the body, often accompanied by fatigue. FOOD GUIDE PYRAMID: a diagram showing what foods are included in a balanced diet. A healthy diet includes 6-11 servings of breads and grains (the bottom level of the pyramid); 3-5 servings of vegetables; 2-4 servings of fruit; 2-3 servings of meat, fish, beans, or nuts; 2-3 servings of dairy products; and limited fats and oils.

The Herald Bulletin â?¤ February 27, 2013

MEDICAL GLOSSARY pressure.

G GALL BLADDER: an organ beneath the liver where bile is stored. GASTROENTERITIS: inflammation of the stomach and intestines. GENE (adjective GENETIC): the basic unit of heredity. Genes contain hereditary information encoded in the form of DNA (or RNA in some viruses). GLUCOSE (BLOOD SUGAR): a form of sugar that is the body’s primary fuel. The liver stores glucose after meals and releases it again as needed. Abnormally low or high levels of glucose in the blood may indicate a metabolic disturbance (e.g., diabetes).

H HEMOPHILIA: a hereditary disease in which a person

I IMMUNE SYSTEM: the body’s defense system that protects against foreign invaders INFECTION: a condition in which the body is invaded by an infectious organism INSOMNIA: inability to sleep. INSULIN: a peptide hormone produced in the pancreas that enables cells to use glucose. Lack of or insensitivity to insulin results in diabetes. ISCHEMIA: reduced blood supply to bodily tissues.

J does not produce sufficient blood clotting factors and is prone to prolonged bleeding. HIV DISEASE: infection with the human immunodeficiency virus, which attacks the body’s

The Herald Bulletin ❤ February 27, 2013

immune system. AIDS is the late, symptomatic stage of HIV disease. HYPERGLYCEMIA: high blood sugar. HYPERTENSION: high blood

HealthCare 2013

JAUNDICE: (icterus, itcteric) yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes due to high bilirubin levels in the blood. Jaundice is often a sign of liver

MEDICAL GLOSSARY damage or gallbladder disease.

K KETONE: a byproduct of fat metabolism. When the body does not have enough glucose, the liver converts fatty acids into ketones, which are used as fuel by the muscles. KIDNEY: one of two beanshaped organs located in the lower back part of the abdominal cavity. The kidneys filter waste material from the blood and excrete urine. KIDNEY STONE: An accumulation of substances (e.g., drug crystals, minerals) in the kidneys, leading to blockage and pain.

L LAPAROSCOPY: a procedure in which a lighted instrument is inserted through an

abdominal incision for the purpose of diagnosis, biopsy, or surgery. LESION: a tissue injury or wound. LIPID: a fat. LYMPH NODE: a small, beansized organ located throughout the body, with concentrations in the neck, groin, and armpits.

M MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI): a sensitive, non-invasive method for viewing soft tissues of the body using a magnetic field. MALARIA: A disease caused by the presence of the sporozoan Plasmodium in human or other vertebrate erythrocytes, usually transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected female mosquito of the genus Anopheles that previously

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The Herald Bulletin â?¤ February 27, 2013

MEDICAL GLOSSARY sucked blood from a person with malaria. MALNUTRITION: lack of the minimum amount of nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, minerals, etc.) necessary for good health. METABOLISM: the processes of building the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s molecular structures from nutrients (anabolism) and breaking them down for energy (catabolism). Also, the chemical processing or breakdown of food, drugs, and toxins. MORBIDITY: sickness; the state of being affected by disease.

N NATUROPATHY: a system of natural healing based on the philosophy that the body has the ability to cure itself. NAUSEA: stomach distress characterized by an aversion

The Herald Bulletin â?¤ February 27, 2013

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to food and an urge to vomit. NEURALGIA: nerve pain. NONINVASIVE: a device or procedure that does not require puncturing the skin. NUTRIENT: an agent that promotes proper growth and metabolism.

O ONCOLOGIST: a physician who specializes in the treatment of cancer. OPIATE (NARCOTIC): a class of drugs (e.g., heroin, codeine, methadone) that are derived from the opium poppy or produced synthetically and have opium-like effects. Ophthalmologists: rained to provide the full spectrum of eye care, from prescribing glasses and contact lenses to complex and delicate eye surgery. They may also be

MEDICAL GLOSSARY involved in eye research. OSTEOARTHRITIS: degenerative joint disease. OVER-THE-COUNTER (OTC): drugs that are available without a prescription.

affects psychological or mental functioning or behavior.

Q Q: medical abbreviation for every, often used to specify drug dosing schedules (e.g., q6h means every 6 hours). QUALITATIVE: relating to, or expressed in terms of, quality. QUANTITATIVE: relating to, or expressed in terms of, quantity.

P PANCREATITIS: inflammation of the pancreas. PHLEBOTOMY: withdrawal of blood from a vein. PLACEBO: an inert, inactive agent (e.g., pill, injection) that has no treatment value. PLASMA: the fluid, noncellular portion of circulating blood. See also serum. PLASTIC SURGERY: The surgical specialty or procedure concerned with the restoration, construction, reconstruction, or improvement in the form, function, and appearance of body structures that are missing, defective, damaged, or

misshapen. Encompasses both reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. PSORIASIS: a skin condition characterized by scaling and

red patches, due to the overproduction of skin cells. PSYCHOSIS: a serious mental illness. PSYCHOTROPIC: a drug that

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RADIATION THERAPY (RADIOTHERAPY): the use of radiation to treat disease. REFLEXOLOGY: an alternative healing technique that involves putting pressure on various zones of the body. RENAL: having to do with the kidneys. RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA): an autoimmune condi-

The Herald Bulletin â?¤ February 27, 2013

MEDICAL GLOSSARY tion characterized by joint inflammation and destruction of connective tissue.

S SCLERODERMA: an autoimmune condition characterized by hardened skin and connective tissue. SEIZURE: a burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE: a disease (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, HIV) that is transmitted through sexual contact. SUPPLEMENT: a nutrient, usually in pill form, taken in addition to the normal diet.

T THROMBOSIS: development of blood clots within blood vessels or the heart.

TINNITUS: ringing or buzzing in the ears. TOXIN: a harmful or poisonous agent. TRIGLYCERIDE: an organic compound made up of a fatty acid plus glycerol. TUMOR: an abnormal growth of cells. Tumors may be malignant (cancerous) or benign (harmless).

U ULTRASONOGRAPHY (ULTRASOUND): a method of visualizing the internal parts of the body, or a fetus within the uterus, using sound waves. UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS: techniques used by health-care providers (e.g., use of gloves and face masks, proper disposal of used syringes) to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

The Herald Bulletin ❤ February 27, 2013

V VACCINE: a preparation administered to stimulate an immune response to protect a person from illness. VASCULITIS: blood vessel inflammation. VIRUS: a microscopic infectious organism that is unable to grow or replicate outside of a host cell. VITILIGO: a condition in which there is loss of pigmentation — usually around the mouth, eyes, nose, elbows, knees and wrists.

W WASTING SYNDROME: a condition characterized by atrophy of lean body mass and involuntary weight loss. WATER-SOLUBLE: capable of being dissolved in water. Contrast with fat-soluble.

HealthCare 2013

X XENOGRAFT (XENOTRANSPLANT): a transplant of an organ or tissue from a different species.

Y YAWN: An involuntary opening of the mouth, usually accompanied by inspiration; it may be a sign of drowsiness or of vital depression, as after hemorrhage, but is often caused by suggestion.

Z ZINC: an essential trace mineral. Zygal fissure: A figure formed by two nearly parallel cerebral fissures connected by a short fissure at right angles, forming an H.

Minority Health Coalition of Madison County It is the mission of the Minority Health Coalition of Madiso Madi son n Co Coun unty ty “To To Enh nhan ance ce the Qua uali lity ty of Li Life fe Thr hrou ough gh Education, Advocacy and Quality Health Care Services for Raci Ra cial al/E /Eth thni nic c Mi Mino nori riti ties es

Our Prog grams & Serviices • Chronic Disease Self Management • Have a Healthy Baby • Tob bacco Preventtion & Cessattion • Operation Fit Kids • Smiles Start (Oral Health) • Advocacy y, Education & Awareness

(765) 641-8075 1407 Arrow Avenue Anderson, Indiana 46016 18

HealthCare 2013

The Herald Bulletin ❤ February 27, 2013