Personalised care and support planning glossary of terms

Drugs

  • Metformin: a drug used for type 2 diabetes.
  • Statin: a drug used to lower cholesterol in the blood.
  • Ramipril: a drug often used for high blood pressure and heart failure.
  • Gliclazide: a drug used for type 2 diabetes which can lower the blood glucose (sugar) too much if food intake is inadequate.
  • Inhalers: small handheld devices used by the person to inhale a drug, often used for chest conditions.
  • Warfarin: a drug to thin the blood, the correct dose is monitored by regular blood tests (see INR).

Heath checks

  • Pulse oximetry: a small clip attached to the person's finger to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood.
  • Peak flow: a test of narrowing of the airways (the person breathes out as fast as they can into a small tube).
  • Spirometry: a test of how well the person can breathe and can help in the diagnosis of different lung conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The person takes a very deep breath and blows out as fast as possible into a small device called a spirometer.
  • Blood pressure: blood pressure measures the pressure in the arteries as your heart pumps.
  • Cholesterol: a type of fat in the blood. Raised levels may be associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
  • INR - International Normalised Ratio: this is used to measure the dose of Warfarin and checks if the blood is thinned to the correct level.
  • Depression screening: a brief questionnaire.
  • MRC scale (Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale): a short questionnaire that assesses the degree of a person's breathlessness.
  • MUST score (The 'Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool): a brief questionnaire which helps to identify adults who at risk of malnutrition.
  • The FRAT (Falls Risk Assessment Tool) score: assessed a person's risk of falling.
  • Frailty index.
  • Blood tests used in screening for Jim's health issues:
    • LFTs: liver function tests
    • Us and Es: kidney function tests
    • FBC: full blood count
    • TFT: thyroid function tests
    • Glucose : sugar levels
  • ECG (an electrocardiogram): provides a tracing of the electric impulses within the heart.

Medical Conditions

  • COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
  • Heart Failure: a long term condition in which fluid collects in the body due to reduced pump action by the heart.
  • CKD (chronic kidney disease stage 3): a long term condition of the kidneys which will often remain stable with the help of drugs which lower blood pressure.
  • Atrial Fibrillation: an irregular heart rhythm.
  • Osteoarthritis: a painful condition of the joints.