Glossary of Terms
a test that uses ultrasound to see how blood moves through your heart
see heart tests
skin rash
swelling
swelling of your body tissues (usually your ankles or lungs) due to sodium and water build up
make, result
works well, good, strong
how well something works
an electronic (computer) health record of your health history. It gives your healthcare team, including your family doctor, nurses, emergency department staff and specialists real-time access to your medical information.
to learn more go to https://www.ehealthontario.on.ca/en/ehrs-explained
is a measurement that tells how well your heart is working. This number shows how much blood your heart is pumping out each time it beats
is the percentage of blood pumped out of the ventricle (lower chamber of the heart) each time it contracts
heart test
a quick test used record and document the hearts electrical activity (see heart tests)
a test that measures brain waves (or the electrical activity of your brain)
a computer record of your health and the care you have received
lift, raise, raise higher
throw out, get rid of, do away with
gaunt, thin, wasted, starving
blood clot
when a blood vessel is blocked by something, such as a blood clot (embolus)
therapeutic embolization is a nonsurgical, minimally invasive procedure performed by interventional radiologist. It involves the selective blockage of blood vessels by purposely introducing something to block the vessel.
anything that travels through the blood vessels until it reaches a vessel that is too small to let it pass. When this happens, the blood flow is stopped. An embolus is often a small piece of a blood clot that breaks off.
unborn baby (up to 12 weeks)
rolling carts that contains supplies and medications needed to treat a child during a crisis.
a lung disease
a disease in which the lungs become stretched or enlarged (bigger) and breathing gets harder
swollen brain
a disease that damages the brain
physical, emotional and spiritual care given at the end of your life. Also called comfort care.
when your kidneys have stopped working, you can't survive without dialysis or a transplant
stage 5 in chronic kidney disease when treatment such as dialysis or transplantation is necessary. "End stage" refers to the end of kidney function. Also called end-stage renal failure or end-stage kidney failure.
hormone system
a doctor who has special training in looking after people with problems in their endocrine glands
the study of your endocrine system
a condition where the tissue that usually grows inside your uterus grows outside of your uterus
the lining inside of your uterus
a test that allows a doctor to look inside of your body using a small camera
flexible plastic tube placed into your airway, through your nose or mouth to help you breathe.
add to, improve
make sure
when special, liquid food is given to you through a tube in your nose or mouth, or a tube that goes directly into your stomach or small intestine
all the things around you
cells that help protect you from germs
when you have a high number of eosinophils, it tells you that you could have an infection
needle filled with medication for allergic reactions
This medication is used in emergencies to treat very serious allergic reactions to insect stings/bites, foods or drugs.
there are two types:
- temporary epicardial wires (sutures) sewn to the surface of the heart after cardiac surgery that allows for temporary pacemaking of the heart if needed
- permanent epicardial wires (sutures) which are inserted into the heart when a pacemaker or defibrillator is inserted
disease that most people get, widespread sickness
study of disease
skin
painkilling medication is given to you through a very small tube in your back. This might be done when you are in labour or after surgery (for example after bowel surgery)
anesthesia administered to a labouring mother or to someone after surgery. It is given into the epidural space at the base of the spine to numb the lower body. It reduces pain significantly by making the mother unable to feel contractions during labour and delivery.
the space around your spinal cord
a flap of skin at the back of your throat
a brain disorder that causes you to have seizures
a short time when symptoms are worse
skin
balance
red rash on your face
blood test
the rate at which red blood cells sediment in one hour, a test that looks for inflammation in your body
a hormone made by your kidneys
a hormone that stimulates your bone marrow to produce red blood cells. The hormone is naturally produced by your kidneys, and is also available as injectable medication
make worse, grow, increase
inflammation or swelling of your esophagus
swallowing tube
the part of your body that carries food or liquid from your throat to the stomach
blood test to check how well your kidneys are working
blood test that uses a mathematical calculation to approximately measure your amount of kidney function
female hormone
someone who studies what is right and wrong
a group people who identify with each other based on things like common ancestry, language, society, culture or nation
the cause of
plain to see, visible
make worse
when your symptoms get worse
when a doctor or nurse checks you over
test, look at
this program helps make it easier for patients to get medications not funded on the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) Formulary, or when no other medication will do. (A drug formulary is a list of prescription medications)
under special circumstances, some drugs require a doctor or nurse practitioner to apply for coverage of a drug that is not on the formulary.
too much
cut out, cut off, remove
a set of mental skills that help you get things done
examples of executive functions include your ability to:
• Initiate, plan and organize
• Set goals
• Problem solve
• Regulate your emotions
• Monitor your behavior
when the airways in your lungs get narrow while you exercise. It makes it harder to breathe
effort, work
cough, spit out
knowledge, skill, training
how much air that you can still breathe out after a normal breath
come in contact with
removing breast milk from the breasts using a pump to store for a later feeding
speaking, saying words or sentences
machine that monitors the progress of your fetus during pregnancy or when you are in labour. It records the fetal heartbeat and the mother's contractions.
take something out, remove (for example a tooth)
arms, hands, legs and feet
to remove the endotracheal tube (airway tube)
