Decoding the experts

You’ve heard your doctor use these words. Here’s what they really mean

Medical jargon can be somewhat confusing to the untrained ear. How can something negative or unremarkable be reassuring? If you’ve ever felt like you needed a translator during a medical appointment, you’re not alone. Curious about what your physician is really saying? Let’s break it down.

During a routine visit, your doctor might talk about keeping your arteries healthy. And later, when you get your blood draw, the technician mentions your veins. It’s easy to wonder how these two are related.

Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body. They handle higher pressure and have thicker walls. They are in charge of delivering blood to every other organ.

Veins, instead, return blood to the heart after oxygen has been delivered. They work under lower pressure than the arteries. Conditions affecting them vary greatly, and knowing the difference allows any patient to understand what is really going on behind that lab result.

Heart testing can involve several procedures, and the names don’t always make it clear what each one does. An electrocardiogram, or EKG, records the electrical activity of the heart. It helps detect irregular rhythms and signs of past damage. For instance, if someone feels palpitations, an EKG might be the first test ordered.

An echocardiogram uses ultrasound to create images of the heart’s structure and movement. It’s helpful to see blood flow through the heart and heart valves. Both tests look at the heart, but they focus on different aspects.

When it comes to thyroid conditions, a small prefix makes a big difference. Hypothyroidism means the thyroid is underactive and produces too little hormone, leading to symptoms like fatigue or feeling cold more often.

Hyperthyroidism, on the other hand, means it is overactive and produces too much hormone, causing the opposite effect and speeding up your system. This can lead to weight loss or rapid heartbeats. Because the symptoms and treatments differ, it’s important to know which condition is being described, even though the terms sound similar.

Prescription labels often include both of these terms, and their writing is very similar, but that doesn’t mean they are interchangeable.

A "dose" is the specific amount taken at one time, like a pill or 10 milligrams. "Dosage" is the overall plan. It includes how much to take, how often, and for how long. Following both correctly helps ensure the treatment works as intended.

Imagine opening your lab results and seeing the word "negative." In everyday language, that sounds like bad news, but in medicine, it often means the opposite.

In medical testing, "negative" usually means no sign of the condition was found. For example, a negative strep test means you don’t have a strep infection. A "positive," however, means something was detected, and it confirms the presence of the condition. It’s a simple switch in meaning, but it can feel confusing at first.

When reading test results, many people look for the word "normal." If they don’t see it, they may feel uneasy. But "normal" is not the only word that can describe healthy scenarios.

In medicine, "normal" means everything appears exactly as expected. No unusual findings, nothing to worry about. "Unremarkable," another word you might find in test results, is not necessarily a bad word. In general, it means whatever findings there may be, there’s nothing that requires follow-up. Despite how it sounds, "unremarkable" can be just as reassuring as "normal."

You pick up a prescription labeled "for aural use." It looks familiar, but something feels off. Is it the same as oral? This mix-up happens because, in English, the words sound identical, but they refer to different parts of the body.

"Aural" relates to the ears and is used for treatments like ear drops. On the other side, "oral" refers to the mouth, including medication you swallow or let dissolve.

A medication labeled for aural use is designed specifically for the ear canal and should not be taken by mouth. When instructions aren’t clear, it’s always worth double-checking before using the medication.

Medical reports often include terms that sound technical and unfamiliar. Take "physiologic," it sounds pretty similar to "pathologic," so should one worry? Let’s see the difference.

"Physiologic" refers to normal body functions. It describes processes that occur as part of a healthy system. "Pathologic" is the opposite; it refers to changes caused by disease or abnormal conditions. Doctors use these terms to separate what is expected from what may require treatment. But even if both sound equally serious at first, your physician is the only one who can actually tell you if your hunch is right or not.

The word "chronic" often carries a heavy tone, even though its meaning is more straightforward than it seems. Funny enough, the opposite, "acute," seems light, but it generally isn’t.

"Chronic" refers to a condition that lasts for a long period, usually one year or longer. It doesn’t refer to severity, but duration. "Acute," instead, refers to a condition that develops suddenly and requires immediate attention. These terms describe timing, not seriousness, which is an important distinction when discussing a diagnosis.

Similar to the thyroid, blood pressure discussions often include terms that sound nearly identical, which can make them easy to confuse.

"Hypertension" means high blood pressure, and it’s linked to long-term health concerns if not managed. "Hypotension" means low blood pressure, which may cause symptoms like dizziness, but it’s often less worrying. Understanding the difference helps make sense of your readings and what your doctor is monitoring over time.

The truth about your brain

You won’t believe what happens in your brain while you sleep

Image: Milad Fakurian

Your brain is one of the most powerful and mysterious organs in your body. It controls everything from your thoughts to your emotions and even processes information at lightning speed. But how much do you really know about it? Some long-believed myths about the brain have been debunked, while other surprising facts reveal just how incredible this organ truly is. Get ready to be amazed by these fascinating brain facts!

Image: Natasha Connell

You’ve probably heard this one before, but it’s completely false! While it’s true that not all parts of the brain fire at the same time, imaging studies show that most regions are active throughout the day, even when we sleep.

Your brain is constantly working, controlling bodily functions and emotions, and processing information. So next time someone says you’re only using 10% of your brain, you can confidently tell them that’s just a myth!

Image: Aarón Blanco Tejedor

Here’s a weird fact: While your brain processes pain signals from the rest of your body, it has no pain receptors of its own. This is why surgeons can perform brain surgery on conscious patients without causing them pain.

However, the membranes and tissues surrounding the brain do have pain receptors, which is why headaches and brain injuries can be so excruciating.

Image: Usman Yousaf

How come we have headaches if the brain has no pain receptors? Well, that’s because headaches are triggered by chemical activity in the brain, changes in nerves and blood vessels, and even fluctuating serotonin levels.

In some cases, hormones like estrogen can also play a role, which explains why migraines are more common in women.

Image: Go to Johannes Plenio's profile Johannes Plenio

Dreams are proof that your brain never rests! (Warning: this fact can make you feel exhausted.) While you sleep, your limbic system, that is, the part of the brain that deals with emotions, becomes especially active, which is why dreams often feel so intense.

On average, humans experience four to seven dreams per night, even if we don’t always remember them. And what about that scary nightmare about falling? Well, you can thank your amygdala, the brain’s fear center, for that one.

Image: Brett Jordan

Have you ever walked into a room and instantly forgotten what you were after? That’s because short-term memory only lasts about 20-30 seconds! That’s not enough!

Your brain holds a limited amount of information in its active state before deciding whether to store it or discard it. Ironically, we can’t really choose what makes the cut, but we do hope these facts stay with you!

Image: BUDDHI Kumar SHRESTHA

That sharp, icy pain when you eat something too cold? It’s your brain’s way of telling you to slow down! Officially called sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia, a brain freeze happens when cold food or drinks rapidly chill the blood vessels in your throat, causing them to constrict and then rapidly expand. This sends pain signals to your brain, warning you of the sudden temperature shift. It’s annoying, but it’s actually your body trying to protect itself!

Image: Josh Riemer

You didn’t need us to tell you, but let’s look at the details: The average person has between 12,000 and 60,000 thoughts per day. What’s even more interesting? 95% of those thoughts are the same ones you had yesterday. Is that not surprising enough? Hear this out: 80% of them tend to be negative. That’s because our brains are wired for survival, constantly analyzing risks and potential dangers.

Image: Terry Vlisidis

Even though it only makes up about 2% of your body weight, your brain employs a major quantity of energy! It consumes 20% of your oxygen and blood supply, making it one of the most demanding organs in your body.

If your brain goes without oxygen for just five minutes, brain cells start dying, leading to irreversible damage. This is why deep breathing and cardiovascular exercise are great for brain health!

Image: Alexander Andrews

Do you know that feeling when you hit the back of your head and see stars? That’s because your occipital lobe, which controls vision, is located at the back of your brain. If you get hit there, your brain momentarily misfires, causing flashes of light.

Interestingly, your brain processes vision on the opposite side; while your right brain controls your left eye, your left brain controls your right eye. It’s one of the many ways the brain operates in a complex way.

Image: Rodion Kutsaiev

Believe it or not, your brain generates between 12 and 25 watts of electricity when you’re awake. If you can’t really grasp how powerful that is, check this out: It’s enough to power a small light bulb! Your brain’s electrical activity is what allows neurons to send signals at speeds of up to 260 miles per hour.

Image: Robina Weermeijer

Your brain may be the fattiest organ in your body, consisting of at least 60% fat! This is why consuming healthy fats, like omega-3s and omega-6s present in fish, for example, is essential for brain health.

Healthy fats stabilize brain cell walls, reduce inflammation, and support cognitive function. So go ahead and enjoy that avocado toast, it’s food for your brain!

Image: Robina Weermeijer

It’s not just your memory that fades over time; the brain itself physically shrinks as one gets older. It continues developing until your late 40s, but after that, it slowly decreases in size.

Now, size doesn’t equal intelligence, so a smaller brain doesn’t necessarily mean a less capable one. Staying mentally active, exercising, and eating brain-boosting foods can help keep it in top shape!

Image: Lisa Yount

We often think of cholesterol as bad, but your brain actually depends on it! In fact, 25% of your body’s cholesterol is stored in your brain, where it helps with learning and memory. However, unlike other organs, the brain can’t absorb cholesterol from the blood, it has to produce its own. So, while too much cholesterol in the body can be harmful, the right amount is vital for brain function. At least you can use that as an excuse to get that burger!