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Wellness
Glossary
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Calorie: A unit of energy in food. Carbohydrates have 4 calories per gram.
Proteins have 4 calories per gram. Fat has 9 calories per gram.
Carbohydrate: A major source of energy in the diet. There are two kinds of
carbohydrates: simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Simple
carbohydrates are sugars, while complex carbohydrates include both starches and
fiber. Carbohydrates have 4 calories per gram. They are found naturally in foods
such as breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, and milk and dairy products. Foods
such as sugar cereals, soft drinks, fruit drinks, fruit punch, lemonade, cakes,
cookies, pies, ice cream, and candy are very rich in sugars.
Cardiovascular system: The system in your body responsible for distributing
blood throughout the body. The cardiovascular system is made up of the
heart, arteries, capillaries and veins.
Catabolism: The metabolic process of breaking down tissues. Typically
refers to the breakdown of muscle, bone, ligaments and tendons.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A progressive and sometimes painful joint disorder
caused by a compression of the median nerve of your hand. The compression causes
swelling, which exerts pressure on the nerves.
Cartilage: A connective tissue that lines the ends of bones and most
joints. It lines the facet joints of the spine.
Cauda equina: A region at the lower end of the spinal column in which
nerve roots branch out in a fashion that resembles a horse's tail.
Cervical Spine: The upper portion of your spine; also called the neck.
Chinese Medicine: The general term to describe the numerous techniques
utilized in China for many thousands of years to heal bodily ailments. These may
include massage, herbs, acupuncture and Qi Gong.
Chiropractic: Comes from the Greek words, "chiro," meaning hand, and
"practic," meaning practice, or treatment. Chiropractic is a
form of health care that focuses primarily on restoring normal position, motion
and function in the body’s structures; especially the spine.
Chiropractor: Also known as a doctor of chiropractic (D.C.), diagnoses and
treats a broad range of physical conditions in patients with muscular, nervous,
and skeletal problems, especially the spine.
Chronic Pain: Pain that has lasted for more than three months generally
having significant psychological and emotional affects and limiting a person's
ability to fully function.
Cholesterol: A fat-like substance that is made by the body and is found
naturally in animal foods such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy products.
Foods high in cholesterol include liver and organ meats, egg yolks, and dairy
fats. Cholesterol is carried in the blood. When cholesterol levels are too
high, some of the cholesterol is deposited on the walls of the blood vessels.
Over time, the deposits can build up causing the blood vessels to narrow and
blood flow to decrease. The cholesterol in food, like saturated fat, tends to
raise blood cholesterol, which increases the risk for heart disease. Total blood
cholesterol levels above 240 mg/dl are considered high. Levels between 200-239
mg/dl are considered borderline high. Levels under 200 mg/dl are considered
desirable.
Cortisol: A hormone that is released from the adrenal glands in response to
stress that facilitates fat storage and has a catabolic affect on muscle and
connective tissue.
Coccyx: The small bone at the lower tip of the spine. Also called the tailbone,
a triangular-shaped bone at the bottom of the lumbar area.
Cognitive Restructuring: A therapy whose emphasis is on learning to
recognize and then change, or restructure thought processes, reframing thoughts
in less stressful terms. Learning to make molehills out of mountains.
Complementary Medicine: The use of various non-drug, non-surgical related
therapies. Using natural means of treatment.
Compressed Nerve: Material from a bulging or Herniated disk pushes against
a nerve in the spinal cord causing severe pain.
Computed Tomography (CT) scan: A sophisticated x-ray using a computer to
produce a detailed cross-sectional three-dimensional picture of the bone and
discs.
Cordotomy: Surgery to cut some of the fibers of the spinal cord; used to
relieve pain.
Cranio-Sacral Therapy: A manual therapy focusing on manipulation of the
bones in the skull and sacrum.
Cyclooxygenase: An enzyme that comes in two forms, I and II. Type I
maintains body functions. Type II is associated with the development of
inflammation. Aspirin inhibits I and II. COX-2 drugs inhibit Type II only.
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