Glossary of Terms
Acne: Skin condition, marked by raised pinkish red blemishes that may or may not contain puss caused by an over-production of sebum (oil) that clogs the pores and harbors bacteria.
Acute Medical Condition: Rapidly occurring condition that only lasts a brief time as opposed to a chronic medical condition that persists.
Adverse drug effects: A harmful and undesirable result occurring because of a medication or other intervention such as surgery.
Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR): The body’s dangerous or disagreeable response as a result of the use of certain medications.
Arthritis: Chronic medical condition characterized by inflamed joints connective tissue that causes pain, soreness and stiff joints.
Aura: The symptoms that occur before and warn of a migraine.
Biopsy: Laboratory test that removes a sampling of questionable tissue to examine for the presence of cancer.
Blood pressure– Force at which blood is pumped throughout the body.
Chronic Medical Condition: A condition that is long-term or recurrent.
Circulatory Illness: Medical condition that affects the regulation of blood through the circulatory system.
Circulatory System: System of organs composed of the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems that pass nutrients, blood, hormones, and gases throughout the body.
Congestive Heart Failure: Medical condition characterized by shortness of breath, weakness and edema in which the heart fails to pump enough blood throughout the tissues, causing blockage in the tissue.
Contraindication: Any factor that makes a certain line of treatment inappropriate or detrimental. For example, a person allergic to penicillin should not be treated with antibiotics derived from Penicillium.
Cryotherapy: Freezing of abnormal tissues (usually cancerous) for removal.
Dehydration: A condition that occurs when the body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs to operate properly, can be caused by not drinking enough or losing too much fluid.
Dermatology: Medical division encompassing the study, diagnosis and treatment of skin and hair conditions.
Dementia: A chronic medical condition characterized by loss in cognitive ability, memory problems, and personality changes caused by brain disorders or injury that can occur at any stage during adulthood, but is more common among geriatric patients.
Diagnostic Testing: Routine medical testing based on a patient’s symptoms used to verify if a disease is present.
Echocardiogram: Two-dimensional, ultrasonic imaging used to aid in the diagnosis of heart diseases.
Edema: Fluid buildup within cells and tissues that produces swelling.
Energy-Based Healing: Hands-on therapy that stimulates the body’s own ability to heal itself to resolve health and beauty concerns.
Excision: The surgical removal of an object or affected area. Radiofrequency surgery is commonly used to excise, or cut out, moles, warts, and skin tags.
Fecal Incontinence: Treatable medical condition in which a patient is unable to control their bowels
Gynecology: Division of medicine that is focused on women’s health, especially diseases affecting the female reproductive system.
Holistic: Genre of medicine based on ancient eastern healing methods that harnesses the power of natural remedies to ease medical conditions.
Hormones: A chemical released by one part of the body to send signals to other parts of the body. The reproductive and endocrine systems of the body rely heavily on the message of hormones to function.
HPV (papillomavirus): Virus spread through physical contact that can cause the developments of warts and may increase the risk of developing cervical cancer amongst women.
Hyperpigmentation: Areas of concentrated color on the skin caused by sun exposure, age, heredity, or medication. Unwanted areas of hyperpigmention can be removed through Photofacial IPL treatment, chemical peel, and the regular use of lightening skin care products.
Hypopigmentation: Areas of the skin with an absence of pigment that may develop as a result of sun damage, chemical exposure, or heredity.
Immunization: Process of exposing the body to altered strains of a disease to help build resistance
Incontinence: Loss of ability to control the bladder (urinary incontinence) and bowels (fecal incontinence).
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL): Treatment that uses concentrated beams of various wavelengths of light in skin treatments to remove unwanted hair, reduce the appearance of spider veins or other blemishes, and stimulate the production of collagen and new skin cells.
Lidocaine: Local anesthetic used as part of some facial injectable treatments to minimize pain during the procedure.
Menopause: When a women ages, ovarian function slows, eventually resulting in the termination of menstruation.
Migraine: A neurological condition characterized by severe headaches and often nausea.
Musculoskeletal system: The organs in the body that provide it with the ability to move including bones, muscles, joints, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.
Post-Menopausal Syndrome: Women often experience post-menopausal syndrome after their menstrual cycle ceases due to a change in hormone levels. Symptoms may include urinary incontinence, weight gain, low sex drive, heart disease, and osteoporosis.
Occupational Medicine: Branch of medicine that promotes health and safety in the workplace.
Orthopedic medicine: Branch of medicine that is dedicated to the evaluation and treatment of the musculoskeletal system.
Orthopedist- A medical provider who specializes in the health and healing of the skeletal system.
Osteoarthritis: disease that occurs in the joints due to the deterioration of cartilage and/or bone.
Osteoporosis: Medical condition caused by hormonal changes, a lack of calcium, or vitamin D deficiency that is characterized by a weakened bone structure and an increased risk of bone fracture.
OTC pain reliever- Pain medication available over-the-counter, that is, purchasable without a prescription.
Pap smear: Routine feminine screening that tests secretions and cells of the cervix and uterus to distinguish if abnormal cells or disease are present.
Preventive Medicine: A branch of medicine that focuses its efforts on preventing a disease instead of treating the symptoms once disease is present.
Prostate screening: Medical test consisting of a blood test or rectal exam used to determine if a patient has prostate cancer.
Radiology: The use of x-ray, computed tomography (CT), or like imaging technology to determine and treat an illness within the body.
Reflexology: A type of massage therapy, in which pressure is applied to one area of the body (usually hands, feet or ears) in order to benefit a different part of the body to encourage healing and health.
Respiratory Illness: Disease or illness that affects the supply of oxygen to the body (respiratory system).
Respiratory System: The organs in the body that facilitate breathing or the movement of oxygen into the body and carbon dioxide out of the body including the nose, mouth, airway, lungs and respiratory muscles.
Sports Physical: Screening used to determine whether or not a patient is physically capable of competing in a sport or exercise regimen.
Urinary Incontinence: Treatable medical condition in which a patient is unable to control their bladder
