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Words to Watch Fact Sheet

Many people, even highly literate people, have trouble understanding words used in health care. In some instances, a word may be totally unfamiliar. In other cases, a word may be familiar, but the person may not understand it in a health care context.

For example, upon hearing "keep your glucose in a normal range," people know what normal means about a person, and they may have a range in their kitchen, but they may miss the intended concept in terms of health care. Even people who understand the concept may need more information than the phrase provides. They need to be told what glucose measurements are considered normal.

Words with a Latin or Greek prefix present special problems. The health science field is full of such words. Here is a small sampling: pre-op, post-op, prenatal, premature, unsweetened, decontaminate, antibacterial. For example, the risk factor for poor readers with diabetes is that they may recognize one part of the word, such as the "sweetened" in unsweetened, and then skip the "un." This kind of guessing can lead to the opposite behavior.

Four kinds of words cause much of the misunderstanding:

  • Medical words
  • Concept words
  • Category words
  • Value judgment words

Often these kinds of words can be made understandable by explaining them with common words, by an example, or by a visual.

See charts below for specific examples of words to watch and suggestions for clear health communication.


A
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Abdomen Stomach area, stomach, belly
Abscess A pocket of infection
Active role Taking part in; take part in; be a part of; join
Activity Motion, movement, action, act
Actually Really, in fact, truly, it is true that, it is a fact that
Adequate Enough, the amount you need, as much as you need
Adjust Change
Adjustment A change
Adolescents Teenagers, teens
Adverse Bad , negative
Advisable Wise, makes sense, a good idea, a good plan
Advocacy Support, give support, try to change, aid
Affect (have an effect on) Change, upset, move, disturb, modify
Agitation Anger, upset, being nervous and worried, very tense
Ailment Sickness; illness; problem with your health
Allergen Something that causes an allergy, something you are allergic to
Alleviate Lessen, lighten, ease, quiet
Anemia Too few red blood cells in your blood, (lay term used a lot is "thin blood")
Aneurysm A bulge in a blood vessel that may burst
Angina Chest pain
Animal product Made from animals (such as butter, eggs, meat)
Anorexic Extremely underweight; starving oneself
Anti-inflammatory Lowers swelling, pain and fever
Anxiety Very worried, very nervous
Arrhythmia Irregular heart beat; a heart beat that is not regular
Arteries Muscular tubes that carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body
Arthritis Joint pain
As recommended As you were told by your provider/doctor/nurse/dietician; As suggested by your ….
Associated That comes with; that goes along with; that is a part of; works with
At its source Where it starts
Atrophy Weak, become weak, waste away
Audiologist Hearing doctor
Aural Hearing , related to the ear
B
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Behavior How a person is acting, actions
Benefit Do good for, help
Benign Will not cause harm; harmless; is not cancer
Blood Pressure Pressure of blood on the walls of blood vessels
Bloodstream Blood
Bone Marrow Tissue inside the bone that makes red blood cells
Borderline On the edge of; on the line between
Briefly In short; for a short time
Bronchial Having to do with the lungs; in the lungs; the tubes that take air to the lungs
Bruxism Grinding or clenching the teeth
Bulimic Extreme overeating (binging) followed by throwing up that is forced; eating too much food and then making yourself throw up
C
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Cardiac Heart
Cardiac arrest Heart attack
Cardiovascular Heart and blood vessels
Cataracts The lens of the eye clouds over and it becomes hard to see
Categories Groups
Cautiously With care; slowly
Certain Some, for sure
Cervix Opening to the uterus/womb
Challenges Problems
Chemotherapy Cancer treatment that uses strong drugs
Cholesterol A waxy fat-like substance found in the body and in some foods
Chronic Does not end; constant; is a life-long condition
Cirrhosis Liver disease, scars on the liver from alcohol abuse, bad nutrition or hepatitis (infection)
Clinical studies Studies, tests
Clotting Hardening into a scab; blood thickens and makes a scab to prevent further bleeding
Cognitive Learning; thinking
Collaborate Work together; work as partners; work with others
Colon Large intestine
Combination Mixture; blend; together with
Communicate Talk with, write to, reveal, to spread a disease to others
Concerned Worried about, has to do with
Condition How you feel; health problem
Confidential, confidentiality Private, keep private, secret
Congenital heart disease Heart disease since birth; heart disease passed down through the family (genetic)
Congestion Stuffy nose, coughing a lot, bringing up mucous
Congestive heart failure Heart is not pumping like it should
Considerable Quite a bit of; a lot of
Considered Thought to be, seen to be
Constipation Hard bowels
Constricted Get narrow, narrow
Contains Has
Continue Keep on, go on, take again, stay
Contraception Birth control
Contribute Play a part, adds to, is a part of
Coordinate Make all parts of your care work together; talk with other doctors, nurses, or other health care providers; work as a team
Cornea The outside layer of the eye that lets light in so you can see; the tough outside layer of the eye
Critical Important, must do, cannot skip
Currently At this time, now
D
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Decreased appetite Does not want to eat, loss of appetite, can't eat
Defined Means, is the same as
Definitely For sure
Dementia Disorder of the brain causing loss of memory, slowed and confused thinking; can't think straight
Dermatology Medicine that deals with skin and skin diseases
Desirable Wanted, needed, best, looked for, worth having or doing
Detached Separated ,stand apart, separates from, comes away from (i.e. detached retina)
Determine Decide, agree on, settle on, find out
Develop Get, have
Diabetes A disease of the pancreas; the body cannot use food correctly
Diagnose Find the cause of your illness, find the name of your illness
Diagnosis Cause of your illness, the name of your illness
Dialysis Treatment that gets rid of toxins (or poisons) when your kidneys can't do it on their own
Diarrhea Loose stools, many loose bowel movements
Diastolic The bottom number; the pressure in your blood vessels between heart beats
Diet What you eat; your meals; eating less to lose weight
Dietary cholesterol Cholesterol that is found in the food you eat
Difficult Very hard
Dilate To make bigger, to enlarge, to open up
Dilute To water down, make thinner
Directed Told by your doctor, nurse, or other health care provider
Disability Has trouble doing something, cannot do [something]
Discomfort Aches, pains, soreness, worry, not comfortable, don't feel good
Discretion Good judgment, keep private
Disorder Sickness, illness, disease
Donor Person who gives his/her organ(s) to someone else who needs them
Dosage Dose, how much medicine you should take, amount
Drowsiness Very sleepy
Drug interactions How one drug acts with another
Dysfunction Problem, not working as it should
E
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Edema When body fluids build up too much, often with swelling
Elderly Older people; seniors
Emetic Medicine to make you throw up
Enables Lets, allows
Encouraged Gave support, made [me] want to
Endocrinology The study of glands and hormones
Engage Put into place, hold, keep, attract
Enlarge Become larger, grow
Ensure Make sure, make certain
Epidemic A disease that spreads quickly to a lot of people
Epidermis Outer layer of the skin
Erect Stands straight, stiff
Esophagus The tube that carries food from your throat to your stomach
Estimated Likely, around, nearly, about, close to
Excessive Too much
Exhibit Show, display
Experience Have (have signs of), feels
External/environmental triggers Outside things (stress, infection, allergy, medicine, etc.) that cause a condition to start up
F
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Factor thing, item
Fatigue Very tired
FDA approved Approved by the government (FDA) ; Food and Drug Administration
Fine-tune Change; make small changes
Frequently Often
Function Action, acts like, the job of
G
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Gastrointestinal Related to the stomach and intestines, digestive system
Gauge Measure; get a better idea of; test, check, mark
Genetic Condition passed down through the family
Gerontologist Doctor for older people
Gingivitis Gum disease
Glaucoma Disease caused by high pressure inside the eye
Glucocorticoid Hormones produced by the body that reduce swelling
Gynecology Medicine dealing with health care for women
H
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Halitosis Bad breath
Hazardous Not safe; dangerous
HDL "Good" cholesterol
health care professional Provider, doctor or nurse
Hemoglobin Part of the red blood cells that carries oxygen to the rest of the body
Hepatitis Enlarged liver because of illness or virus
Heterosexual Men attracted to women; women attracted to men OR men who have sex with women; women who have sex with men
Homosexual Gay or lesbian
Human Immunodeficiency Virus HIV
Hyperarousal Very tense, easy to startle, can't sleep, very tired, very anxious
Hypertension High blood pressure
Hyperthyroid Speeded up thyroid; too active
Hypothyroid Slow thyroid; not active enough
I
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Identify Find out
Imbalance Out of balance
Immediate At once, right away
Immune System Part of the body that fights off infections; the body's defense system
Immunization Shots to prevent diseases
Impaired Loss; not working
Impotence Erection problems, can't have erection
Increase gradually Add to slowly (Example (exercise): add 5 minutes a week)
Indicated Used for
Inflammation Pain, swelling, heat and redness in a part of the body
Informed Told
Informed decision Make the best choice for you, know what you are choosing, have the best information about what you choose
Infrequent Not often, rare
Inhibitor Drug that stops something that is bad for you
Initial At first, first
Insomnia Problem falling and/or staying asleep
Insulin Hormone that controls blood sugar in the body
Intake What you eat or drink; what goes into your body
Intended for Meant for, just for, only for
Interaction How things work together (Drug interaction: Some drugs change the way other drugs work; some drugs do not work well together)
Interfere Get in the way of, block, hold up
Intermittent Off and on
Internist Doctor
Intimate Close, private, personal
Intraocular Inside the eye
C
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Jaundice Yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes
Juvenile Children, kids, teens
K
L
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Lactose A sugar found in milk
Landmark Very important (adj.); Important event; turning point (noun)
LDL "Bad" cholesterol
Lesion Wound; sore; infected patch of skin
Libido Sex drive, interest in sex
Lubrication To make slippery
M
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Malignant Life-threatening, spreading
Mammogram Breast X-ray
Mastectomy Breast removal
Medical condition Disease, illness, medical problem, condition
Melanoma A mole or dark spot on the skin that is cancer
Membrane A thin layer of tissue covering (over a part of the body)
Mg Milligram; very small amount used to measure drugs
Migraine A very bad, severe headache
Moderate Average, medium, normal
Monitor Keep track of, check
Motivated Made (me) want to; move to action
N
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Nasal congestion Stuffy nose
Natural disaster An event of nature ; disasters such as floods, forest fires and earthquakes
Nausea Sick feeling in the stomach
Necessary, necessarily Needed, should have, need to have
Neglect Lack of care, don't care for, don't take care of
Neurologist Doctor who treats the nerves and brain
Nocturia Going to the bathroom a lot at night
Noncancerous Not cancer
Noncontagious Can't "catch" it from another person
Non-prescription Over the counter, you can buy off the shelf, you can buy without a prescription
Normal range Where it should be; common amount
Noticed Saw
Nutrient Something in food that is good for you
O
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Obese Extremely overweight, weighs too much
Obstetrician Pregnancy /birth doctor
Occur Happen
Oncology Medicine dealing with tumors/cancer
Opened a dialogue Could talk with
Ophthalmologist A doctor that treats eye disease
Optic Eye
Option Choice
Optometrist A doctor that prescribes glasses
Oral By mouth
Original container The bottle or box it came in
Orthodontics Braces
Orthopedist Bone doctor
Osteoporosis Disease that makes bones easy to break; causes bones to become weak
Otolaryngologist Ear, nose and throat doctor
Overreach Go too far, strain
P
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Papules Bumps on the skin
Pathology Studying a disease
Perform Do
Periodontal disease Gum disease
Permanent Lasting, last forever
Persistent Constant, lasting
Pharmacies Drug stores
Physical reaction What happens in your body, your body will react
Placebo A sugar pill used to test other drugs
Plasma Part of the blood used for sick patients
Platelets Part of the blood that makes it clot and forms scabs
Polyp A growth
Possible May, likely, can be done
Postnatal After the baby is born
Potent Strong, strength
Poultry Chicken, turkey, duck
Premenstrual Before your period
Prenatal Before the baby is born
Prescription Medicine ordered by the doctor
Prevalence Number of times something happens
Prevalent Common; happens often
Primarily Above all, mainly, mostly, first of all
Prioritize Put in the right order; put first things first; put things in order of importance
Procedure Something done to treat your problem; operation, a treatment
Progressive Gets worse (or better)
Prolonged Lasts a long time, too long
Promote Help, support
Proper Correct, right
Prosthesis Replacement for a body part, such as a man-made arm
Proven history A good record, has proved that
Provide Give, send
Psychiatrist Mental health doctor
Psychologist/therapist Person trained to help with mental health problems
Psychology Mental health
Pulmonary Having to do with the lungs
Pustules Pimples; pimples with pus
Q
R
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Reaction Result, end result, response, ended up, acted against
Rebate Get money back
Recapture Bring back
Recommend Suggest
Recreational drug A drug that is not legal
Red meat Meat that is dark red in color before cooking; Beef, lamb
Reduce Lower, bring down
Re-experiencing Happens to you again and again, over and over
Reflux To flow back; when acid backs up out of the stomach
Refrain Stop; stay away from, don't
Regularly, regular e.g. Every month, every week, every day, the same time each day, week etc.
Regurgitate/vomit Throw up
Rehabilitation To get better; to become healthy again, get your strength back
Related to Has to do with, has something to do with, goes along with, goes with
Reliable, reliably Can count on, can depend on
Relieve Lessen, help, ease
Repeatedly, repeated Often, over and over
Repetitive Happens over and over, again and again
Replace Take the place of
Request, requested Ask for, asked for
Resources Names of [organizations] that can help you, more facts that can help you; information that can help you, where to go for help, who to call for help/to find out.
Respiratory Breathing
Respond Take action, act, do
Restlessness, Restless Not able to rest or relax, can't sit still
Rheumatic Stiff, sore muscles or joints
Rheumatology Muscle and joint health
Rheumatologist Arthritis and joint doctor
Risk factor Will increase your chance of getting [ ]
RN Nurse; Registered Nurse
Routinely Often (Example: every week; every other day), at the same time each day, week, month etc.
Ruddy Redness
S
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Safety profile Safety record
Saturated fat Unhealthy fat from meat or dairy products; animal fat (such as lard or chicken fat)
Scoliosis Curved spine
Scored tablet Tablet with a line that makes it easy to cut in half
Screening Test, check for
Seasonal During certain seasons of the year, certain times of the year, name specific seasons
Seizure A sudden attack of spasm in the brain
Sensitivity to light Be sensitive to light, eyes can't stand the light, light hurts the eyes
Severe Terrible, serious, dangerous, very bad
Sexual activity Having sex
Sexually Transmitted Disease Disease passed from person-to-person by sex (or by sexual contact), STD
Side effect Something you feel that was caused by a medicine you take
Significant Very good, a lot of
Significantly Enough to make a difference; Makes a big difference
Similar Same as, like
Situation In your place, in your state
Social contact Staying in touch with family and friends
Speech pathologist Speech therapist
Stroke Brain stops working suddenly
Suffocation Air is cut off, cannot breathe
Support Help
Symptoms Signs, warning signs, what you are feeling (specify)
Syncope Blackout; loss of consciousness; fainting
Syndrome Disease, a pattern of things that can happen
Systolic The top number; the pressure in your blood vessels when the heart beats
T
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Tailored Made just for you
Temporary For a short time, short term (Example: for less than a week)
Tooth decay Cavities
Toxin Poison, pollution
Transmit To spread
Trauma Being hurt by someone or something else, badly hurt
Treatable Can be treated
Tremor Shaking
Triad Group of 3
Tumor A group of cells that grow out of control
U
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Unable Cannot
Uncontrollable Can't be controlled
Unexpected Did not expect
Unexplained Can't explain
Unique Special
Unsaturated fat Healthier fat, fat that is not from animals (such as from nuts and vegetable oils)
Unusual You have not seen before, rare
Usually Often, most often, almost always
Uterus Womb
UVA/UVB rays Rays of the sun that can harm the skin
V
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Vertigo Dizziness
Visible Can be seen
W
Problem Word: Alternative Word/Explanation:
Wellness Good health; feeling good
Whole grains Oats, wheat, brown rice
X
Y
Z


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