Join us weekly for Word Wednesday! Word Wednesday (WW) is a weekly educational blog that provides accessible definitions for complex public health and medical terms. WW thoughtfully identify single words, acronyms, and phrases that can sometimes be misunderstood or misused. The goal of WW will be to assist in providing a better understanding of words and phrases regularly used in our community-based work. Words, after all, are a powerful tool and with Word Wednesday we hope to share in the beauty that is words!
The process of closely monitoring those who are exposed to an infected person. It includes identifying contacts of the infected person, listing and informing those contacts of the infected person, and following up to check up on contacts’ infection and symptoms.
Refers to people who carry the active COVID-19 virus, but do not develop symptoms
Referral – A direction from a more general professional, like a primary care physician, to a specialist for further action
Statewide Mitigation activities across the state to reduce the severity of the COVID-19 impact. Visitor restrictions and stay-at-home orders are some examples in PA A detailed list of activities and what it means for you is available here: https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/#StatewideMitigation
COVID-19: an infectious disease in the coronavirus family. It is called “new” or “novel” because it is recently discovered.COVID-19
Social Distancing Keeping a distance of 3 feet between yourself and other people, especially anyone coughing or sneezing. The World Health Organization advises social distancing as a prevention tactic for COVID-19 (coronavirus) in addition to frequent hand washing and coughing or sneezing into one’s elbow Come back Friday for more detailed information about social distancing
Acute Symptoms happening suddenly and severely, usually for a shorter amount of time.
Cirrhosis Later stages of liver scarring that can decrease liver functioning. Caused by diseases and conditions such as hepatitis or alcoholism.
Leading Health Indicator A health objective of the Healthy People 2020 plan that is considered high priority, and in need of focused solutions to address.
Social Determinants of Health Factors of an individual’s social and environmental interactions that have an impact on health risks and outcomes.
Metabolic syndrome Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors which, when present, greatly increase an individual’s risk of developing coronary heart disease or type-2 diabetes. They are: insulin resistance (or high blood glucose levels), hypertension, abnormal blood lipids, and obesity. As with pre-cancer, the presence of these risk factors DO NOT mean you will…
Perinatal The period of time immediately before and after birth. Can describe from 5 months before birth to 4 weeks after.
Health disparity A heavier burden of illness experienced by one group, when compared to another Most often, racial and ethnic group health disparities are reported. However, there are also health disparities between income groups, gender groups, sexuality groups, and other populations of people. To learn about health disparities here in Philadelphia, join us for our…
Cortisol The body’s primary stress hormone Cortisol levels in the blood affect the regulation of many parts of the body, like blood pressure, sleep cycles, and blood-sugar levels. Continuous stress, and therefore chronically higher levels of cortisol, can lead to headaches, weight gain, sleep disturbances, depression and anxiety, and heart disease.
Thoracic Between the neck and the abdomen. The thoracic cavity is where the heart and lungs are in humans and other mammals
Pre-Cancer Cells are present that have grown abnormally It is important to note that pre-cancer DOES NOT mean you will develop cancer. It means a higher risk of cancer developing at some point. It is a sign that closer monitoring is needed to catch any cancer development early, or even to prevent it from developing…
A grain where the germ, endosperm, and bran layer are all present, or “whole”
Involving free oxygen. Also commonly called “cardio” when referring to exercise due to the increase of oxygen use through the cardiovascular system to meet energy demands
Unplanned cell death or tissue death. Can be caused by injury, disease, infection, toxins, inflammation, or obstructed blood flow
A mild Traumatic Brain injury that can affect brain function. Usually caused by a blow to, or violent shaking of the head.
Co-morbidity: two or more chronic conditions occurring at the same time to a single person.
Major life activity: caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working, and participating in community activities. Impairment in one or more is the ADA definition for disability.
Antibody: A protein produced by the immune system to recognize a foreign threat, attach to it, and begin the necessary process for neutralizing or killing it
Relative Contraindication When two medicines or treatments may cause negative outcomes if used together. Caution must be used when two medicines are relatively contraindicated.
