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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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SchizophreniaA long-term mental illness that affects how a person thinks, perceives and feels, with periods of psychosis such as hearing voices or holding false beliefs. It is not a split personality.
ScreeningScreening testScreening is testing people who feel well, to find a condition earlier than symptoms would. It is only worth doing when finding the condition early genuinely changes what happens next.
Self-esteemSelf esteem, Self-worth, Low self-esteem

The overall opinion you hold of your own worth. Low self-esteem is common and can change; it is not a diagnosis, though it often travels with depression and anxiety.

Self-harmSelf-injury, Self harm, Deliberate self-harmIntentionally hurting or injuring oneself, often as a way of coping with overwhelming feelings. It is a sign of serious distress that deserves care and understanding, not anger or shame.

SepsisBlood poisoning, SepticaemiaSepsis is the body's response to an infection turning against its own organs, and it is a medical emergency. It can develop from any infection and worsens by the hour without treatment.

Serotonin5-HT, 5-hydroxytryptamine, Happy hormoneA chemical messenger involved in mood, sleep, appetite, digestion and much more. About 90% of the body's serotonin is in the gut. It is not simply a "happy chemical".

SGLT2 inhibitorEmpagliflozin, Dapagliflozin, GliflozinA class of diabetes tablet that makes the kidneys pass excess sugar out in the urine. They also protect the heart and kidneys.

Side effectAdverse effect, Adverse drug reactionA side effect is any effect of a medicine other than the one it was given for. Some are trivial and settle, some are the reason a medicine has to be stopped.

Sleep hygieneSleep habits, Good sleep habitsEveryday habits and bedroom conditions that support good sleep, such as regular times and less caffeine. Useful for everyone, but on its own it does not cure chronic insomnia.

SNRISerotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, SNRIsSerotonin–noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor: a type of antidepressant acting on two chemical messengers. Venlafaxine and duloxetine are the main examples, used for depression, anxiety and some long-term pain.

SpirometryLung function test, Breathing test, PFTSpirometry measures how much air you can breathe out and how fast, by blowing hard into a machine. It is the test that distinguishes asthma from COPD and tracks how well either is controlled.

SSRISelective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, SSRIsSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitor: the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant, used for depression and many anxiety conditions. Examples are sertraline, fluoxetine, escitalopram, citalopram and paroxetine.

StatinHMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, Atorvastatin, RosuvastatinStatins are medicines that lower cholesterol by reducing how much the liver makes. They are taken to lower the long-term risk of heart attack and stroke, not to treat a symptom.

StigmaMental health stigma, Self-stigmaNegative attitudes, stereotypes and discrimination directed at people with a condition. In mental health it is the shame and fear that stop many people from seeking help.

StrokeCerebrovascular accident, CVA, Brain attackA stroke is a sudden loss of blood supply to part of the brain, either from a blocked artery or a bleed. It is an emergency — treatment works only within a few hours of the first symptom.

Suicidal ideationSuicidal thoughts, Suicidal feelings, Thoughts of suicideThoughts about ending one's life, from a passing wish not to wake up to active plans. They are a sign of severe distress, not weakness, and with help they can pass.

SulfonylureaGliclazide, Glimepiride, GlibenclamideA group of diabetes tablets that push the pancreas to release more insulin. Effective and cheap, but they can cause low blood sugar.

SymptomA symptom is something a patient notices and reports — pain, nausea, tiredness. It differs from a sign, which is something a doctor can observe or measure.

SystolicSystolic is the top number in a blood pressure reading — the pressure in the arteries at the moment the heart contracts. It is the higher of the two figures.

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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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