Glossary S

Secondary contributing factors

Layman's explanation

Other factors causing the illness or situation

Used in a sentence

Other factors causing infertility include over-exercising, eating disorders, injury or tumours.

Sensation

Layman's explanation

Feel anything - pain/pricks/tingling

Used in a sentence

We need to check whether you can feel any pain or pricks on your sole.

Sepsis

Layman's explanation

Blood poisoning, a serious infection

Used in a sentence

John has blood poisoning, a serious infection and needs to be warded immediately.

Shuffling gait

Layman's explanation

Walking without lifting feet completely off the ground, causing feet to drag

Used in a sentence

Mr Tan walks without lifting his feet off the ground and drags his feet, it may cause him to fall and injure himself.

Sit out of bed

Layman's explanation

Getting patients to sit instead of prolonged bed rest, to avoid complications such as decreased muscle mass and pressure sores

Used in a sentence

It is recommended to allow Mr Tan to sit out of bed instead of prolonged bed rest to prevent complications like pressure sores.

Skin graft

Layman's explanation

A surgery to remove a piece of healthy skin and attach it to a damaged part on your body

Used in a sentence

The doctor will perform a surgery to remove a piece of healthy skin from your thigh and attach it to your burn wound.

Soft Diet

Layman's explanation

Only eat food that is soft and easy to swallow

Used in a sentence

After your operation, you should only eat food that is soft and easy to swallow, such as porridge and soups.

Spasticity

Layman's explanation

Abnormal contraction (stiffness) of muscles during movement

Used in a sentence

Therapists can teach patients techniques to overcome the abnormal contraction of muscles during movement.

Speech Therapist (ST)

Layman's explanation

A therapist who assesses and manages swallowing and communication disorders

Used in a sentence

The Speech Therapist is a trained professional who will be helping you with your communication and swallowing disorders.

Stoma

Layman's explanation

An opening surgically created in the abdomen that allows bodily waste, such as stool or urine, to exit the body

Used in a sentence

As you undergo resection of your colon, an opening, called stoma, will be created at your abdomen to help drain your stool into a bag.

Subcutaneous injection

Layman's explanation

Inject the medicine just underneath the skin

Used in a sentence

We will inject the medicine just underneath your skin, instead of directly into your vein as the medicine needs to be slowly absorbed by your body.

Sublingual medication

Layman's explanation

Medicine that is placed under the tongue so it can enter the bloodstream faster

Used in a sentence

As your father is unable to swallow, we will give him this medicine to be placed under his tongue so it can enter his bloodstream faster.

Systolic blood pressure (SBP)

Layman's explanation

Upper number of the blood pressure reading

Used in a sentence

What is the upper number of your blood pressure reading?