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Medical glossary

227 words and abbreviations, explained without jargon. Every one of them also appears inside our articles — hover or tap the dotted underline and the definition comes to you, so you never have to leave what you were reading.

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Carbohydrate countingCarb countingEstimating the grams of carbohydrate in a meal so that insulin doses — or portion sizes — can be matched to it.
CataractClouded lens, Motia bindA cataract is a clouding of the eye's natural lens, which blurs vision gradually as though a clear window had frosted over. It is the commonest cause of avoidable blindness in Pakistan and is corrected by a short operation that replaces the lens.
Catastrophising

Catastrophizing, Catastrophic thinking, Expecting the worst

Jumping to the worst possible outcome and treating it as likely, or treating an uncomfortable situation as unbearable. A common thinking habit in anxiety.

CBT for insomniaCBT-I, Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomniaA short, structured therapy that retrains sleep habits and unhelpful thoughts about sleep. It is the recommended first treatment for long-term insomnia, ahead of sleeping pills.

CholesterolBlood lipids, Serum cholesterolCholesterol is a waxy fat the body needs to build cell walls, hormones and vitamin D. Problems come not from its presence but from the balance between the particles that deposit it in artery walls and those that carry it away.

ChronicLong-term, Long-standing, Purana marzChronic means long-lasting — a condition that has persisted for months or years and is managed over time rather than cured in a course. It is the opposite of acute, and it says nothing at all about how severe something is.

Clinical psychologistPsychologist, TherapistA psychologist trained to assess and treat mental health problems with talking therapy and psychological testing. They are not medical doctors and do not prescribe medicine.

CodependencyCo-dependency, Codependent, Co-dependentA popular term for a pattern of putting another person's needs, moods and problems so far ahead of your own that you lose yourself. It is not a formal diagnosis.

Cognitive behavioural therapyCBT, Cognitive behavioral therapy, Cognitive therapyA structured, time-limited talking therapy that helps you notice and change the thoughts and behaviours that keep a problem going. It is a first-line treatment for depression and most anxiety problems.

Cognitive biasCognitive biases, Thinking bias, HeuristicA predictable error in thinking that comes from the mental shortcuts the brain uses to make quick judgements. Everyone has them; they are not a sign of illness.

Cognitive dissonanceThe uncomfortable tension of holding two conflicting beliefs, or of acting against your own values, and the mental adjustments people make to ease it.

Cognitive distortionCognitive distortions, Thinking errors, Unhelpful thinking stylesA habitual, inaccurate way of reading events — such as all-or-nothing thinking or mind reading — that makes things seem worse than they are. Spotting them is central to CBT.

Complete blood countCBC, Full blood count, FBCA complete blood count measures the three families of cell in blood: red cells that carry oxygen, white cells that fight infection, and platelets that clot. It is the commonest blood test ordered anywhere and the usual first step in tiredness, fever, bruising or bleeding.

Complex PTSDC-PTSD, CPTSD, Complex post-traumatic stress disorderA form of PTSD that follows long-lasting or repeated trauma that was hard to escape, such as childhood abuse or ongoing domestic violence. It adds lasting problems with emotions, self-worth and relationships.

CompulsionCompulsions, Compulsive behaviour, RitualsA repeated action or mental ritual a person feels driven to do to ease the anxiety of an obsession, such as washing, checking or repeating prayers. The relief is brief, so the urge returns.

Confirmation biasMyside biasThe tendency to notice, seek out and believe information that supports what you already think, and to overlook or dismiss what contradicts it.

Continuous glucose monitorCGM, Flash glucose monitor, LibreA small sensor worn on the arm or abdomen that measures glucose continuously and sends readings to a phone, without fingerpricks.

CorticosteroidSteroid, Cortisone, GlucocorticoidCorticosteroids are medicines related to cortisol, the body's own stress hormone, and they are the most powerful suppressors of inflammation in general use. They are not the muscle-building steroids of the gym, which are a different class of drug entirely.

CortisolStress hormone, HydrocortisoneA steroid hormone made by the adrenal glands that helps the body respond to stress and regulates blood sugar, metabolism and inflammation. Levels peak in the morning and fall at night.

CounsellingCounseling, CounsellorA talking therapy in which a trained counsellor listens without judgement and helps you work through a difficulty and find your own solutions. It suits life problems more than severe mental illness.

CreatinineSerum creatinine, S. CrCreatinine is a waste product from normal muscle activity that the kidneys filter out of the blood. Because healthy kidneys clear it steadily, the level in blood is the standard everyday measure of how well they are working.

CT scanComputed tomography, CAT scanA CT scan uses X-rays taken from many angles and reassembled by computer into cross-sectional images of the body. It is fast and detailed, which makes it the scan of choice in emergencies, and it delivers a meaningfully higher radiation dose than a plain X-ray.

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Health, explained plainly. Written for Pakistan and checked by the clinic’s doctors before it is published.

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Aslam Clinic & Al-Shifa Laser Eye Center, Mohalla Masjid Siddique, Circular Road, Jalalpur Jattan

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