DECODING DOCTORS

Check Out These 10 Medical Terms Explained!

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Have you ever had a doctor explain that you "suffer from otitis" to simply mean you have an ear inflammation? The terminology used by doctors can be very confusing to patients, as medical words are full of roots, prefixes, and suffixes that come from Greek or Latin. If you want to understand your doctor better during your next visit, or just show off your lexicon to your friends, read on! Today, we are reviewing and explaining what these 10 aspects of medical terminology mean.

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"Hypo-" is a prefix that comes from Greek, meaning "under" or "below."

In medicine, this term is used to refer to low levels or deficient functioning.

For example, you may see this prefix in "Hypoglycemia" (low blood sugar) or "Hypotension" (low blood pressure). To refer to an organ or gland that is below its normal function, we have the word "Hypothyroidism" as an example, which indicates an underactive thyroid gland.

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"Hyper-" is the opposite of the previous prefix. Hyper- also comes from Greek, meaning "excessive" or "above normal."

This prefix is used when levels, functioning, or certain conditions are elevated or above values considered normal. For example, "Hyperthermia" refers to elevated body temperature. "Hypertension" is blood pressure that exceeds the values indicated as healthy. Finally, "Hyperthyroidism" is the overactivity of the thyroid gland, which leads to the overproduction of thyroid hormones.

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"-itis" is one of the best-known suffixes in medicine. Greek is again the language of origin here, this time meaning "inflammation."

Doctors often add this suffix to the scientific name of a body part to indicate it is swollen. As already mentioned, "Otitis" is the inflammation of the ear, as frequent as it is painful. "Appendicitis" indicates inflammation of the appendix, often resulting in surgery to remove it. Another example is "Bronchitis," which refers to inflammation of the bronchial tubes.

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"Gastro-" is a prefix that, rather than referring to a condition, injury, or disease, indicates a specific body part where all those things can occur.

Gastro- comes from Greek and means "stomach" or "tummy." Therefore, this term refers to conditions, procedures, or tests that affect or are performed on the stomach or gastrointestinal tract.

For example -using one of the suffixes already mentioned above- we have the term "Gastritis," the inflammation of the stomach, which causes so much pain. "Gastroenterology," on the other hand, is the general study of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract.

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"-osis" is a suffix that comes to indicate that something is not working as it should or was affected in some way.

Coming from Greek, "-osis" can mean "condition," "disease," or "abnormal."

For example, we can cite "Fibrosis," the formation of excess fibrous connective tissue, which can occur in some scars. On the other hand, "Thrombosis" is a well-known term indicating the presence of a blood clot (thrombus) within a blood vessel.

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Like "Gastro-," "Osteo-" indicates a specific part or area of the human body.

This prefix comes from the Greek osteon meaning "bone." Thus, any medical term that includes this prefix indicates a condition, disease, procedure, or treatment that affects or is applied to the bones.

For example, "Osteoporosis" combines this prefix with the familiar "-osis" suffix, indicating a condition characterized by porous and fragile bones. On the other hand, "Osteotomy" refers to a surgical procedure on a bone.

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The Greek skopein, meaning "to look" or "to examine," gives rise to the medical suffix "-scopy."

Following its word of origin, the suffix "-scopy" doesn't refer to a disease or body part but to an examination or viewing of some organ or function.

To give some examples, we can mention the well-known "Endoscopy," a procedure through which an internal part of the body is examined using a flexible tube with a lamp and camera attached. "Bronchoscopy," on the other hand, indicates the examination of bronchi.

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Originating from the Greek haima, any medical word that includes the prefix "Hemat-" refers to something related to blood.

"Hematology," for example, is the science that studies the blood, its functions, its elements, and the conditions or diseases that can affect it. "Hematoma" is a bit of blood that collects in a certain spot because it has escaped from blood vessels, commonly known as a bruise. "Hematopoiesis," on its part, refers to the process by which new blood cells are formed.

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We have to admit we've left a few spoilers, as the suffix "-ology" was mentioned before. But let's take a better look at it.

Coming from the Greek logos ("study" or "reason"), "-ology" applies to different medical fields dedicated to studying specific parts or functions of our body.

One of the best known, "Cardiology," is the study and care of the heart and related conditions. Another example is the word "Dermatology," the area of medicine that studies and treats the skin.

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The suffix "-ectomy" indicates a surgical procedure. Coming from the Greek ektomē, meaning "a cutting out" or "excision," practices ending with this suffix are performed to remove a specific body part.

While that sounds a bit strong, these types of surgeries are actually very common, and many of them are performed quickly. "Appendectomy," for example, involves the surgical removal of an infected appendix. There are other examples, such as "Mastectomy," which is the surgical removal of breast tissue.

Stay hydrated: 10 reasons why drinking more water will improve your quality of life

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Drinking enough water every day is crucial, and as time goes by, it becomes even more important. Adults over the age of 60, for example, are at increased risk of dehydration due to natural drops in thirst levels and changes in body composition. While everyone's hydration requirements differ depending on their health factors, the WHO recommends consuming about 50-68 ounces (6 to 9 cups) of water daily.

But, do you know what happens to your body when you experience a lack of water? Let’s go over the top 10 benefits of staying hydrated at all times.

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When we forget to drink the recommended amount of water per day, we are likely to suffer from dehydration. This occurs when the body loses more water than it takes in. It is often accompanied by variations in the balance of electrolytes in the body, especially alterations in the concentrations of sodium and potassium.

Your blood is largely composed of H2O. When you don't drink enough water, it becomes concentrated, which can cause an imbalance of these vital minerals,which are key to the proper functioning of your heart. The regulation of blood pressure and heart rate is of great importance, especially because the circulatory system constantly supplies oxygen and nutrients to the rest of the organs in the body.

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Whether you are a competitive athlete or you work at an office, achieving the right fluid balance has a decisive influence on your well-being and daily performance. Dehydration can slow circulation and also affect the oxygen flow to the brain. Water is used by the body to eliminate toxins and waste products it does not need. Lack of fluids can make your heart work harder to pump oxygen throughout your body. All that expended energy can make you feel tired, sluggish, and less focused.

In addition, when approaching a state of dehydration, the body will decrease muscle performance, which causes that feeling of tiredness. Drinking water is essential for our body to function properly all day and throughout all our activities.

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Our body produces heat and our metabolism, when working correctly, is responsible for maintaining a stable temperature. When you're dehydrated, research shows your body stores more heat. This in turn reduces your ability to tolerate high temperatures. When the temperature is too high and environmental conditions don’t help to reduce body heat, it is the evaporation of sweat that regulates the temperature. Only the sweat that evaporates has a cooling effect on our bodies. Drinking plenty of water will help you produce sweat when you're overheated, which will cool your body when needed.

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Your body needs water to digest food properly. If you don't drink enough water throughout the day, you may experience irregular bowel movements, gas, bloating, heartburn, and other discomforts that can affect your quality of life. In fact, drinking water during or after a meal helps the body break down and process food so that you can absorb nutrients.

Remember that increasing your fluid intake can help get things moving in the right direction. Water also softens the stool, which helps prevent constipation. Choose water instead of drinks with a lot of sugar whenever possible. Natural mineral water is especially beneficial; look for products enriched with sodium and magnesium.

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Kidney stones are a common disease, affecting nearly one in 11 people, and if you've ever experienced it, you know how painful they can be. In essence, these stones are clusters of mineral crystals that form in the urinary tract. Proper water intake is an effective and inexpensive measure to increase urine volume, which is believed to help prevent stone formation.

The peak of people with kidney stones occurs more often during the summer season when a lot of water is lost with perspiration. Drinking adequate amounts of water every day can help dilute the concentration of these minerals and reduce the likelihood of stones. Water also helps flush harmful bacteria from the bladder, while preventing urinary tract infections.

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Maintaining healthy skin not only has cosmetic benefits but is also key to better health overall. Water is essential for our skin to look smooth and glowing. The hydrolipidic film is responsible for the velvety appearance of our skin. It covers the outer part of the epidermis, is composed of sweat and oil, and is important for maintaining skin hydration and defending it against external agents. When we are dehydrated this mantle is affected and cannot protect us properly. When the skin is dehydrated it also cracks and looks dull and tight, whereas a hydrated skin is much more elastic and luminous.

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Almost all diets have one thing in common: they agree on the importance of drinking water to lose weight. As we’ve seen, water transports nutrients and oxygen to different parts of the body, but also fills us with energy to perform different activities throughout the day. It can also help boost our metabolism.

Experts say that drinking a glass of water before a meal can help with weight control. The stomach has nerves that detect stretching and send signals to the brain that it is time to stop eating. Because it provides a feeling of satiety, water can help you feel full between meals.

Also, sometimes we head to the kitchen for a snack when we're actually thirsty instead of hungry. If this is the case, drinking water can prevent us from consuming unnecessary calories and help us manage our weight better.

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Even mild dehydration —fluid loss of as little as 2%— can affect your mood, concentration, and memory. This is especially important for older adults who are at greater risk of dehydration and impaired cognitive function. In fact, studies show that dehydration causes a 15% drop in the ability to concentrate and a 10% decrease in short-term memory.

Therefore, in situations where intense mental effort is required, it is recommended to drink water frequently. Don’t wait until you are thirsty, as being thirsty is a symptom that you are already starting to become dehydrated. It is a good idea to take a bottle of mineral water with you when you go out so that you can hydrate at any time and place.

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Even mild fluid loss can cause the brain to shrink and separate from the skull, leading to headaches and migraines in some people. One of the risks of lack of water is that it produces vasodilation, that is, the blood vessels dilate and make headaches worse. The brain is highly sensitive to electrolyte alterations and to the lack of water, therefore, when the person is dehydrated, arteries and nerves will be too.

Staying consistently well-hydrated can help control this discomfort. If a person suffers regularly from this kind of pain, the recommendation is to stay well hydrated to prevent triggering a vascular or tension headache. In addition, drinking water might reduce the intake of medications.

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The cartilage in our joints contains about 80% water. Therefore, drinking water is the easiest way to maintain joints and tendons in perfect condition. Staying hydrated helps keep your joints well lubricated, reducing friction and preventing less aches and pains. On the contrary, long-term dehydration can reduce the shock absorption capacity of joints, leading to different bone-related pathologies.

Proper hydration will facilitate greater mobility and a better predisposition to exercise, giving more life and youth to your tissues.