pancreas: The gland that produces insulin and digestive enzymes.
pedometer: A tool that counts the number of steps a person takes so he can measure the distance he walks or runs.
photocoagulation: A surgical procedure that uses high energy light to coagulate tissue (turning the tissue into a coherent mass).
plasma: The fluid found in blood, milk, and lymph.
podiatrist: A doctor who specializes in diseases of the food.
polyunsaturated fat: A type of fat that doesn’t raise cholesterol and is known to reduce the possibility of heart disease.
postmenopausal: Often synonymous with the term menopause, meaning the years following a 12-month period of menstruation cessation.
pre-eclampsia: An elevation in blood pressure during pregnancy; also called toxemia. Sometimes accompanied by excessive bodily swelling.
pulmonary: Related to the lungs.
Qi gong: Pronounced "chee gung," this ancient Chinese practice involves breathing, meditation and specific exercises for whole-body health and healing.
retinopathy: Referring to damage to the eye resulting from changes in blood flow due to such diseases as hypertension and diabetes. Retinopathy can also be caused by drugs and may result in impaired sight or blindness.
reflexotherapy: An alternative and ancient treatment involving both acupressure and acupuncture.
saturated fat: A type of fat found in animal meats and byproducts that has been proven to put people at risk for heart disease.
sedentary: The lack of exercise or a lifestyle that includes a majority of time sitting or resting.
self-esteem: The positive or negative way a person regards himself. Self-esteem is related to feels or the absence of pride and self-worth.
sodium: A chemical occurring in the body as well as an outside source that may be used to increase the taste of some foods.
sodium chloride: Generally known as table salt but also assists in a body's electrolyte balance.
sorbitol: An artificial sweetener.
stimulant: Any over-the-counter, prescription or illegal substance that works on the nervous system to reduce fatigue and temporarily raise alertness. Includes caffeine, nicotine and cocaine.
stomach stapling: A common way of referring to the surgical procedure used to treat morbid obesity. In this procedure, surgeons reduce the size of a person’s stomach (to limit the amount of food he can ingest) by using surgical staples to create a smaller pouch.
stroke: The abrupt disruption of blood flow to the brain, occurring in a blockage by clotting (ischemic stroke), a bursting of a vessel (hemorrhagic stroke) or in the case of a mini-stroke, which is a temporary condition known as TIA (transient ischemic attack).
sucrose: Sugar.
syndrome x: Also called metabolic syndrome, syndrome x conditions include hypertension, high insulin levels, abnormal cholesterol levels, and excess fat around the waste. These conditions increase the risk of diabetes, strokes, and heart conditions.
systolic: This is the noted pressure when a heart's left ventricle contracts (systole).
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