Glossary of Terms

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Glossary

Glossary of all health and social care key terms explained.

Advocacy -

Advocacy is taking action to help people say what they want, secure their rights, represent their interests and obtain services they need

From the Action for Advocacy website: http://www.actionforadvocacy.org.uk/

AIDS -

AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection, when your body can no longer fight life-threatening infections.

From the NHS Choice's Website: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv/pages/introduction.aspx

Alzheimers -

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting around 465,000 people in the UK. The term 'dementia' describes a set of symptoms which can include loss of memory, mood changes, and problems with communication and reasoning.

From the Alzheimers Society website: http://alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=100

Anxiety -

Anxiety can mean constant and unrealistic worry about any aspect of daily life. It may cause restlessness, sleeping problems and possibly physical symptoms; for example, an increased heart beat, stomach upset, muscle tension or feeling shaky.

From the Mind website: http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/mental_illness

Asperger syndrome

Asperger syndrome is a form of autism, which is a lifelong disability that affects how a person makes sense of the world, processes information and relates to other people.

From The National Autistic Society Website: http://www.autism.org.uk/about-autism/autism-and-asperger-syndrome-an-introduction/what-is-asperger-syndrome.aspx

Asthma -

Asthma is a condition that affects the airways – the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs.

From the Asthma Uk Website: http://www.asthma.org.uk/all_about_asthma/asthma_basics/

Autism -

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.

From The National Autistic Society Website: http://www.autism.org.uk/about-autism/autism-and-asperger-syndrome-an-introduction/what-is-asperger-syndrome.aspx

Bipolar disorder -

If you have bipolar disorder you will experience swings in mood. During ‘manic’ episodes, you are likely to display overactive excited behaviour. At other times, you may go through long periods of being very depressed.

From the Mind website: http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/mental_illness

Cerebral Palsy -

Cerebral palsy is a general term used by doctors to refer to a set of neurological conditions that affect a child's movement and co-ordination. Neurological conditions affect the brain and nervous system.

From the NHS Choices website: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Cerebral-palsy/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Care Quality Commission (CQC) -

Care Quality Commission (CQC) are the independent regulator of all health and social care services in England..

From the Care Quality Commission Website: http://www.cqc.org.uk

Crohn's disease -

Crohn’s disease is a long-term condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system.

From the NHS Choices website: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/crohns-disease/pages/introduction.aspx

Depression -

Depression lowers your mood, and can make you feel hopeless, worthless, unmotivated and exhausted. It can affect sleep, appetite, libido and self-esteem. It can also interfere with daily activities and, sometimes, your physical health.

From the Mind website: http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/mental_illness

Down's syndrome -

Down's syndrome is a genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra chromosome in the body's cells. Down's syndrome is not a disease, and it is not a hereditary condition. It occurs by chance at conception.

From the Down's Syndrome Association website: http://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/faqs/general-faqs.html

End of Life Care -

End of life care is support for people who are approaching death. It helps them to live as well as possible until they die, and to die with dignity. It also includes support for their family or carers.

From the NHS Choices Website: http://www.nhs.uk/Planners/end-of-life-care/Pages/what-it-involves-and-when-it-starts.aspx

Epilepsy -

Epilepsy is currently defined as a tendency to have recurrent seizures (sometimes called fits). A seizure is caused by a sudden burst of excess electrical activity in the brain, causing a temporary disruption in the normal message passing between brain cells.

From the Epilepsy Action Website: http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/what-is-epilepsy

HIV -

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. The virus weakens your ability to fight infections and disease, such as cancer.

From the NHS Choice's Website: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv/pages/introduction.aspx

Huntington's Disease -

Huntington's disease, which is often called HD, is an hereditary disorder of the central nervous system.

From the Huntington's Disease Website: http://hda.org.uk

Marie Curie Nurses -

Marie Curie nursing care is provided by Registered Nurses or Senior Healthcare Assistants. Both grades of staff offer physical and emotional care for patients and support for families.

From the Marie Curie Website: http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/en-gb/patients-carers/palliative-care-terms/

Marie Curie Registered Nurses -

Marie Curie registered nurses are qualified nurses who are registered to practice with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC),they assess, plan, deliver and evaluate all nursing care.

From the Marie Curie Website: http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/en-gb/patients-carers/palliative-care-terms/

Marie Curie Senior Healthcare Assistants (SHCAs): -

Senior Healthcare Assistants give care as identified in the District Nurse’s care plan, assist with personal needs such as washing, dressing and mobility.

From the Marie Curie Website: http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/en-gb/patients-carers/palliative-care-terms/

Meningitis -

Meningitis is a inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, can be caused by infection with a bacterium or virus.

From the Meningitis Trust website: http://www.meningitis-trust.org/?gclid=CKGbk4mYoK4CFYgifAodMHMG4A

Motor Neurone Disease

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the upper and lower motor neurones..

From the Motor Neurone Disease Association Website: http://www.mndassociation.org/life_with_mnd/what_is_mnd/index.html

Multiple sclerosis -

Multiple sclerosis is a condition of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).

From the NHS Choices Website: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Multiple-sclerosis/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Muscular Dystrophy -

Muscular dystrophy and related muscle diseases cause muscles to waste and weaken.

From the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign Website: http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/

Obsessive-compulsive disorder -

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has two main parts: obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwelcome thoughts, ideas or urges that repeatedly appear in your mind. Compulsions are repetitive activities that you feel you have to do. This could be something like repeatedly washing your hands a set number of times.

From the Mind website: http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/mental_illness

Palliative care -

If you have been told you may not get better you may have already heard of the term palliative care. This type of care focuses on helping you to maintain the best possible quality of life. Palliative care includes a variety of treatments to help you with any physical problems as well as your social and psychological needs.

From the Marie Curie Cancer Care Website: http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/en-gb/patients-carers/palliative-care-terms/

Panic attacks -

These are sudden, unexpected bouts of intense terror. If you experience an attack you may find it hard to breathe, and feel your heart beating hard. You may have a choking sensation, chest pain, begin to tremble or feel faint.

From the Mind website: http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/mental_illness

Parkinsons disease -

Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition. People with Parkinson's don't have enough of a chemical called dopamine because some nerve cells in their brain have died. Without dopamine people can find that their movements become slower so it takes longer to do things.

From the Parkinson's UK website: http://www.parkinsons.org.uk

Physiotherapy -

Physiotherapy can help people to move around and stay as active and independent as possible. Physiotherapists design programmes for people which may involve strengthening muscles to help them walk or exercise.

From the Marie Curie Website: http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/en-gb/patients-carers/palliative-care-terms/

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) -

Prader-Willi syndrome is a complex medical condition that affects both males and females. The syndrome typically causes low muscle tone with motor development delays, short stature if not treated with growth hormone, and incomplete sexual development.

From the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association website: http://pwsa.co.uk/

Reflexology -

Reflexology involves a method of treatment using massage to the reflex areas of the feet and sometimes the hands.

From the Marie Curie Website: http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/en-gb/patients-carers/palliative-care-terms/

Respite Care -

Respite care is any sort of help and support that enables a person to take a break from the responsibility of caring for somebody else.

From the NHS Choices Website: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Respite-care/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Schizophrenia -

Schizophrenia is a controversial diagnosis. Symptoms may include confused or jumbled thoughts, hearing voices and seeing and believing things that other people don’t share.

From the Mind website: http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/mental_illness

Social Workers -

Social workers can help people with practical or emotional problems that may be causing them concern. This may involve helping to arrange support services, advising on welfare benefits, or helping people with emotional impact of an illness.

From the Marie Curie Website: http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/en-gb/patients-carers/palliative-care-terms/

Spina bifida -

Spina bifida literally means ‘split spine’ A fault in the development of the spinal cord and surrounding bones (vertebrae) leaves a gap or split in the spine. The spinal cord has not formed properly.

From the Shine Charity Website: http://www.shinecharity.org.uk

Stroke -

Your brain needs a constant supply of blood to work properly. A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of your brain is cut off and your brain cells are damaged or die.

From the Heart Foundation Website: http://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/conditions/stroke.aspx

Ulcerative colitis -

Ulcerative colitis is a long-term (chronic) condition affecting the colon. Symptoms of ulcerative colitis include bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain, a frequent need to go to the toilet, weight loss.

From the NHS Choices Website: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ulcerative-colitis/pages/introduction.aspx

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Glossary of Terms in the UK

Glossary

Glossary of all health and social care key terms explained.

Advocacy -

Advocacy is taking action to help people say what they want, secure their rights, represent their interests and obtain services they need

AIDS -

AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection, when your body can no longer fight life-threatening infections.

Alzheimers -

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting around 465,000 people in the UK. The term 'dementia' describes a set of symptoms which can include loss of memory, mood changes, and problems with communication and reasoning.

Anxiety -

Anxiety can mean constant and unrealistic worry about any aspect of daily life. It may cause restlessness, sleeping problems and possibly physical symptoms; for example, an increased heart beat, stomach upset, muscle tension or feeling shaky.

Asperger syndrome

Asperger syndrome is a form of autism, which is a lifelong disability that affects how a person makes sense of the world, processes information and relates to other people.

Asthma -

Asthma is a condition that affects the airways – the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs.

Autism -

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.

Bipolar disorder -

If you have bipolar disorder you will experience swings in mood. During ‘manic’ episodes, you are likely to display overactive excited behaviour. At other times, you may go through long periods of being very depressed.

Cerebral Palsy -

Cerebral palsy is a general term used by doctors to refer to a set of neurological conditions that affect a child's movement and co-ordination. Neurological conditions affect the brain and nervous system.

Care Quality Commission (CQC) -

Care Quality Commission (CQC) are the independent regulator of all health and social care services in England..

Crohn's disease -

Crohn’s disease is a long-term condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system.

Depression -

Depression lowers your mood, and can make you feel hopeless, worthless, unmotivated and exhausted. It can affect sleep, appetite, libido and self-esteem. It can also interfere with daily activities and, sometimes, your physical health.

Down's syndrome -

Down's syndrome is a genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra chromosome in the body's cells. Down's syndrome is not a disease, and it is not a hereditary condition. It occurs by chance at conception.

End of Life Care -

End of life care is support for people who are approaching death. It helps them to live as well as possible until they die, and to die with dignity. It also includes support for their family or carers.

Epilepsy -

Epilepsy is currently defined as a tendency to have recurrent seizures (sometimes called fits). A seizure is caused by a sudden burst of excess electrical activity in the brain, causing a temporary disruption in the normal message passing between brain cells.

HIV -

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. The virus weakens your ability to fight infections and disease, such as cancer.

Huntington's Disease -

Huntington's disease, which is often called HD, is an hereditary disorder of the central nervous system.

Marie Curie Nurses -

Marie Curie nursing care is provided by Registered Nurses or Senior Healthcare Assistants. Both grades of staff offer physical and emotional care for patients and support for families.

Marie Curie Registered Nurses -

Marie Curie registered nurses are qualified nurses who are registered to practice with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC),they assess, plan, deliver and evaluate all nursing care.

Marie Curie Senior Healthcare Assistants (SHCAs): -

Senior Healthcare Assistants give care as identified in the District Nurse’s care plan, assist with personal needs such as washing, dressing and mobility.

Meningitis -

Meningitis is a inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, can be caused by infection with a bacterium or virus.

Motor Neurone Disease

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the upper and lower motor neurones..

Multiple sclerosis -

Multiple sclerosis is a condition of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).

Muscular Dystrophy -

Muscular dystrophy and related muscle diseases cause muscles to waste and weaken.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder -

Palliative care -

Panic attacks -

These are sudden, unexpected bouts of intense terror. If you experience an attack you may find it hard to breathe, and feel your heart beating hard. You may have a choking sensation, chest pain, begin to tremble or feel faint.

Parkinsons disease -

Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition. People with Parkinson's don't have enough of a chemical called dopamine because some nerve cells in their brain have died. Without dopamine people can find that their movements become slower so it takes longer to do things.

Physiotherapy -

Physiotherapy can help people to move around and stay as active and independent as possible. Physiotherapists design programmes for people which may involve strengthening muscles to help them walk or exercise.

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) -

Prader-Willi syndrome is a complex medical condition that affects both males and females. The syndrome typically causes low muscle tone with motor development delays, short stature if not treated with growth hormone, and incomplete sexual development.

Reflexology -

Reflexology involves a method of treatment using massage to the reflex areas of the feet and sometimes the hands.

Respite Care -

Respite care is any sort of help and support that enables a person to take a break from the responsibility of caring for somebody else.

Schizophrenia -

Schizophrenia is a controversial diagnosis. Symptoms may include confused or jumbled thoughts, hearing voices and seeing and believing things that other people don’t share.

Social Workers -

Social workers can help people with practical or emotional problems that may be causing them concern. This may involve helping to arrange support services, advising on welfare benefits, or helping people with emotional impact of an illness.

Spina bifida -

Spina bifida literally means ‘split spine’ A fault in the development of the spinal cord and surrounding bones (vertebrae) leaves a gap or split in the spine. The spinal cord has not formed properly.

Stroke -

Your brain needs a constant supply of blood to work properly. A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of your brain is cut off and your brain cells are damaged or die.

Ulcerative colitis -

Ulcerative colitis is a long-term (chronic) condition affecting the colon. Symptoms of ulcerative colitis include bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain, a frequent need to go to the toilet, weight loss.

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Glossary of Terms