Dictionary of Terms
A 
Arrhythmia any deviation from the normal rhythm of the heart. Arrhythmias include ectopic beats, ectopic tachycardias, fibrillation, and heart block.
Asthenopia (eye strain) a sense of fatigue brought on by use of the eyes for prolonged close work or in persons who have uncorrected error of refraction. Symptoms are usually aching or burning of the eyes, accompanied by headache.
Audiogram the graphic record of a test of hearing carried out on and audiometer.
Audiometry - the testing and measurement of hearing acuity for variations in sound intensity and pitch and for tonal purity.
Auriscope an apparatus for examining the eardrum and the external meatus.
Auscultation the process of listening, usually with a stethoscope, to sounds produced by movement of gas or liquid within the body as an aid to diagnosis.
B
Blood pressure the pressure of blood against the walls of the main arteries. Pressure is highest during systole, when the ventricles are contracting and lowest during diastole,when the ventricles are relaxing and refilling.Blood pressure is measured - in millimetres of mercury - by means of a sphygmomanometer at the brachial artery of the arm. A young adult would be expected to have a systolic pressure of around 120 mm and a diastolic pressure of 80 mm.These are recorded as 120/80.
Body Mass Index (BMI) - an anthropometric measure of body mass, defined as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared; a method of determining caloric nutritional status.
C
Cardiology the science concerned with the study of the structure, function, and diseases of the heart.
Cholesterol a fatlike material (a sterole) present in the blood and most tissues, especially in nervous tissue. Elevated blood concentration of cholesterol is often associated with atheroma, of which cholesterol is a major component. Cholesterol is also a constituent of gall stones.
Chronic describing a disease of long duration involving very slow changes. Such disease is often of gradual onset.
Cochlea the spiral organ of the labyrinth of the ear, which is concerned with the reception and analysis of sound.
D
Dermatology the medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of skin disorders.
E
Electrocardiogram (ECG) a recording of the electrical activity of the heart on a moving paper strip. The ECG tracing is recorded by means of an electrocardiograph. It aids in the diagnosis of heart disease, which may produce characteristic changes in the ECG.
Emphysema air in the tissues.
Endemic occurring frequently in a particular region or population: applied to diseases that are generally or constantly found among people in a particular area.
H
Hand Arm Vibration (HAV) - Hand-arm vibration is caused by the use of vibrating hand-held tools, such as pneumatic jack hammers, drills, gas powered chain saws, and electrical tools such as grinders. The nature of these tools involves vibration (a rapid back and forth type of motion) which is transmitted from the tool to the hands and arms of the person holding the tool.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) a statutory body responsible for the health and safety of workers (including factory, office, and agricultural workers).
I
Industrial disease an occupational disease associated with a particular industry or group of industries.
Ishihara Test - a test for colour-vision deficiency employing a series of plates on which numbers or letters are printed in dots of primary colours surrounded by dots of other colours; the figures are discernible by individuals with normal colour vision.
L
Lung Capacity - this is the total amount of air that the subject can breathe out after completely filling their lungs.
O
Occupational disease any one of various specific diseases to which workers in certain occupations are particularly prone.
Ophthalmology the branch of medicine that is devoted to the study and treatment of eye diseases.
P
Pneumoconiosis a group of lung diseases caused by inhaling dust. In practice industrial exposure to coal dust, silica, and asbestos produces most of the cases of pneumoconiosis.
R
Repetitive strain injury (RSI) pain with associated loss of function in a limb resulting from its repeated movement or sustained static loading. Tenosynovitis and tendovaginitis of the wrist associated with typing or operating a word processor is the injury most frequently encountered.
Residual volume the volume of air that remains in the lungs after the individual has breathed out as much as he can. This volume is increased in emphysema.
S
Silicosis - a lung disease - a form of pneumoconiosis - produced by inhaling silica dust particles. It affects workers in hard-rock mining and tunnelling, quarrying, stone dressing, and boiler scaling. Silica stimulates fibrosis of lung tissue, which produces progressive breathlessness and considerably increased susceptibility to tuberculosis.
Snellen chart the commonest chart used for testing sharpness of distant vision. It consists of rows of capital letters, called test types, the letters of each row becoming smaller down the chart.
Sphygmomanometer an instrument for measuring blood pressure in the arteries. It consists of an inflatable cuff connected via a rubber tube to a column of mercury with a graduated scale.
Spirometer an instrument for measuring the volume of air inhaled and exhaled.It is used in tests of ventilation.
Stress any factor that threatens the health of the body or has an adverse effect on its functioning, such as injury, disease, or worry. Constant stress brings about changes in the balance of hormones in the body.
T
Tinnitus any noise (buzzing, ringing, etc.)in the ear. The many causes include wax in the ear,damage to the eardrum, and diseases of the inner ear.
U
Urinalysis the analysis of urine, using physical, chemical and microscopical tests, to determine the proportions of its normal constituents and to detect alcohol, drugs, sugar, or other abnormal constituents.
V
Vibration Syndrome - a group of symptoms related to the use of vibrating tools and includes -some or all of the following: muscle weakness, muscle fatigue, pain in the arms and shoulders, and vibration-induced white finger. Many researchers believe that other symptoms--headaches, irritability, depression, forgetfulness, and sleeping problems--should also be included in descriptions of Vibration Syndrome.
Vibration-Induced White Finger- also known as "Dead Finger" or "Dead Hand" is the result of impaired circulation (poor blood supply in the fingers, caused by the prolonged use of vibrating tools. VWF may appear after only several months on the job, or may not appear until twenty to forty years on the job. The harmful health effects of vibrating tools are related to the length of time that a worker has been using vibrating tools and to the frequency of the vibration (how fast the tool goes back and forth). The longer a person uses a vibrating tool, and the faster the tool vibrates, the greater the risk of health effects. The length of the initial symptom-free period of vibration exposure (i.e., from first exposure to the first appearance of a white finger) is known as the latent interval. It is related to the intensity of the vibration - the shorter the latent period, the more severe the resulting VWF if vibration exposure continues. Temporary tingling or numbness during or soon after use of a vibrating hand tool is not considered to be VWF, however tingling and numbness in the fingers lasting more than an hour after finishing work may indicate early stages of VWF.Visual acuity sharpness of vision. The commonest way of assessing visual acuity is the Snellen chart.
Visual field the area in front of the eye in any part of which and object can be seen without moving the eye.
Vital capacity the maximum volume of air that a person can exhale after maximum inhalation.
