THE DOCTOR'S DICTIONARY

Have You Heard These 10 Medical Terms For Common Conditions?

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Medicine is a dynamic field, constantly advancing and evolving. With its continuous progress and complexities, deciphering its mysteries can often feel like a challenge, especially when it comes to interpreting doctors' lexicon.

Terms like "dorsalgia" or "pyrexia" may sound unfamiliar and intimidating, but chances are you've already experienced some of them, as they're closer to everyday experiences than you might think.

Let's open the dictionary to discover these 10 medical terms for the most common conditions. Join us!

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While this word sounds like the majestic name of an ancient deity, it actually refers to something much more simple and mundane: a tummy ache.

"Dyspepsia," a medical term for common indigestion, ranks among the most common conditions. It includes the well-known stomach pain, along with sensations of bloating and fullness.

The term has Greek origins, where Dys- can be translated as "bad" or "difficult," and Peptos means "digested."

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Welcome to the world of headaches. Some mild, others truly unbearable. Depending on their cause and intensity, headaches can become really annoying, disrupting even the simplest tasks. Do you remember your last one? You probably do, as they tend to be a regular condition, with primary, acute headaches being the most typical.

"Cephalalgia" is the medical term that refers to this common pain. Also with Greek roots, the word is a fusion of kephalḗ****, "head," and álgos, "pain."

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While this little word may seem funny, its actual meaning isn't quite as charming. Have you ever had a coughing fit at the movies? People can get irritated, right? Well, we should not forget that coughing can be very annoying and even exhausting for the person experiencing it.

If you want to sound more sophisticated the next time you discuss coughs, you can opt for the medical term "tussis," which denotes this discomfort.

Coughing can occur voluntarily or involuntarily and serves as a natural reflex to clear the throat and airways.

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Now that we know the suffix -****algia means "pain," let's find out what's behind the rest of this word.

Dorsum is a Latin term meaning "back." Thus, "Dorsalgia" refers to the notorious and often persistent back pain. Typically, it only denotes the type of back pains originating in nerves, muscles, and joints.

Taking care of your posture throughout the day, also during sleep, and incorporating daily exercise is crucial to prevent or help reduce dorsalgia.

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You've probably heard the word "conjunctivitis" before, as it is a bit more widespread than the previous terms (and, of course, it's the official name for a very, very common condition.)

As you might know, in the medical world, the suffix -itis refers to an inflammation. On the other hand, "conjunctiva" is the name for your eye's outer layer. So, conjunctivitis basically refers to a common pink eye, that familiar discomfort marked by redness, inflammation, and an annoying itchiness.

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Whether you're a kid or a grown-up, we all have those days when we're hit with a case of "pyrexia". Sure, it may have given us a few days off from school, but let's be real, dealing with this discomfort can be a true challenge.

Also known as fever, pyrexia is when your body temperature rises above the normal range (100°F or higher for adults). And as if that wasn't enough, it brings some other symptoms like headaches and sensitivity to light.

Fever often acts as our body's defense against infections. But, of course, there are a lot of other non-infectious reasons that can awaken the fever monster.

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Did you know that 1 in 3 adults worldwide are diagnosed with this condition? It's called "hypertension" in the medical world, but we all know it better as high blood pressure, a condition where the pressure within your blood vessels climbs to unhealthy levels.

Although it is quite frequent among the population, its commonality doesn't reduce its seriousness. Furthermore, since hypertension often manifests without evident symptoms, many people are unaware they have it. So, always remember to get your medical checkups!

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While it could be a spell pronounced by Harry Potter and his friends, "viral rhinitis" is something much less mystical; it's actually just the fancy term for a common cold.

"Rhinitis" refers to the inflammation and irritation of the mucous membrane inside your nose, while "viral" indicates that it is caused by a virus.

Unfortunately, we've all been there: weak, congested, and sneezing. While it's true that some colds are worse than others, nobody enjoys dealing with one. Bless you!

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In today's fast-paced world, stress and anxiety can directly affect your teeth, as "bruxism" is becoming increasingly common among people of all ages worldwide. If you don't know its formal name, you may recognize it by its other identity: teeth grinding.

This is a condition in which you gnash, grind, or clench your teeth, often involuntarily, and can happen both during the day and night, although nocturnal bruxism is more common. This involuntary practice generates other complications, such as headaches and jaw pain or sleep interruptions. If you find yourself nodding along, it might be time to visit the much-feared dentist!

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Few things can compete with the pain of this condition called "otitis." Known to all of us as an ear infection, otitis is more common in children than adults, but can strike anyone at any age.

As hinted by its suffix, otitis causes inflammation in the middle ear. This can be a real torture and will certainly keep you awake at night. Fortunately, treatments are usually simple and quick, and this annoying condition often clears up within a few days.

From fact to fiction

Don't do this! 10 popular myths busted by science

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Some claim that humans only use 10% of our brains, others say that eating turkey makes you sleepy, and everyone has heard the supposed remedy for a jellyfish sting. Like these, there are many well-known myths we frequently repeat without giving them much thought. Fortunately, science has taken the time to put these ideas to the test to see if they are true: it turned out that they were not! Join us to discover these 10 popular myths that science has debunked.

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For centuries, both children's tales and cartoons have depicted the idea that cheese and mice are inseparable. However, science has revealed that mice don’t have a particular preference for cheese over other types of food. Although this is a common stereotype, mice are more drawn to foods high in sugar, such as candy or fruit.

Now you know—next time you’re setting a mouse trap, you might want to bait it with a Snickers bar instead of a piece of cheese.

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There is a famous myth going around that claims eating turkey can make you sleepy. However, this is not exactly the case. The myth arises because turkey contains tryptophan, an amino acid that helps the body produce serotonin and melatonin, essential for promoting sleep. However, the amount of tryptophan in turkey is not enough to make you drowsy. So, you can enjoy your turkey dinner without worrying about nodding off at the table!

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For years, it was widely believed that the Great Wall of China was the only human-made structure that could be seen from outer space with the naked eye. However, while we would all like it to be true, this claim is actually a myth.

It's a fact that the Great Wall is indeed very long, but it's also relatively narrow. That means that as we gain altitude, the Great Wall blends in with the surrounding natural landscape.

Image: Felix Mittermeier

A common myth claims that lightning never strikes the same place twice. This may be reassuring to many, but science—and nature itself—have proven otherwise. In fact, lightning can strike the same location multiple times, particularly if it’s a tall structure or an area containing water or metal.

The safest and most recommended thing to do during a lightning storm is to stay indoors.

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Goldfish are said to have a memory span of only a few seconds. This myth probably originated due to the repetitive behaviors observed in these fish. However, science has debunked this notion.

Through various experiments and research, it has been demonstrated that goldfish can remember multiple things for several weeks. For example, they can recognize the faces of their keepers, remember feeding schedules, and even associate certain stimuli with rewards.

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You're chilling, enjoying some chips, when suddenly—oops! One hits the floor. What do you do in that case? Do you follow the so-called "five-second rule"? According to this myth, if you drop food on the floor, it's safe to eat it if you pick it up within 5 seconds.

While we would like it to be right, science discourages this idea. The truth is, as soon as food hits the floor, any bacteria present can transfer to it instantly.

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A classic cartoon scene: the frightened ostrich burying its head in the ground. You've probably seen it, too, right? Although this is a common belief, ostriches never actually bury their heads.

This myth likely stems from the way ostriches care for their nests. These birds make a small hole in the ground and place their nests there to keep them safe. From a distance, when we see the ostrich sticking its head in the ground, it is actually taking care of its chicks!

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This is one of the most widespread myths in the world, originating from bullfighting traditions. The myth claims that the color red makes bulls extremely angry, driving them into a mad rage. However, this isn’t true.

In reality, bulls can’t even perceive red—or many other colors—the same way humans do. Experts believe bulls react to the movement of the bullfighter’s cape, not its color.

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What should you do if you get stung by a jellyfish? Many of us instantly think of the myth that urinating on the sting will relieve the pain. Unfortunately, not only is this a myth, but it can actually make things worse!

If you're unlucky enough to be stung by a jellyfish, the best course of action is to rinse the affected area with vinegar to neutralize the venom. Be sure to avoid touching the sting with your bare hands to prevent further irritation or spreading the venom.

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As kids, many of us grew up hearing that dogs only see in black and white. Luckily for our pets, that's just a myth!

Dogs perceive colors in a way that's different from ours. While the human eye has three types of color receptors, dogs have only two. In other words, while we can see a broad spectrum of colors, dogs see a more limited range, similar to someone with red-green color blindness.