Plain

Talk
About
Arthritis
and
Key
Words

toid
ma
eu ic
i
Arthrit s iat
Rh

o r
Autoimmune
Ps
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal
Clinical Research Center

Health and Literacy Studies

Harvard School of Public Health

National Center for the Study of

Adult Learning and Literacy

This booklet was made possible

by an educational grant from:

Rheuminations, Inc.
Plain Talk About Arthritis
and
Key Words

Rima E. Rudd, ScD

Emily K. Zobel, ScM
Victoria Gall, PT, MEd
Simha Ravven, AB
Lawren H. Daltroy, DrPH (1948–2003)
This booklet was written so that we can begin to use the
same words when we talk about arthritis. Please share it
with friends.

CONTRIBUTORS:
Lynn Rasmussen, EdM, MSc
Jennie B. Epstein, BA

REVIEWERS:
Nancy Shadick, MD, MPH
Eliazabeth Benito-Garcia, MD, MPH
Victoria Purcell-Gates, EdD

DESIGNER:
Suzi Wojdyslawski

LAYOUT and PRINTING:

Puritan Press, Inc.
 Table of Contents

Plain Talk About Arthritis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Common Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Take Care and Take Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Arthritis Words from A to Z . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Key Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Common Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Places to Go for Care or Testing . . . . . . . . .43
Words to Ask About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Place to Call For More Information . . . . . . .46

iii
 Plain Talk About Arthritis

Plain Talk About Arthritis gives the everyday

meaning of some medical words that are used
when talking about arthritis. Many of the words
and phrases used by medical people are special
to their work and may feel like another lan-
guage to us. We hope this booklet will help
you when you read or talk to people about
arthritis.

What will you find in this booklet?

First we talk about arthritis.
Next, we list words from A to Z. These words
are often found in patient booklets and hand-
outs. We give the meaning of each word and
try to use plain English. We also give a sen-
tence for each word.
Finally, at the end of this booklet, we leave
space for new words, phrases and places you
can call for more information.

1
 Common Questions

If you have arthritis, you probably have many

questions.

How will I look and feel?

You will look and feel well most of the time.
The people you live with and work with may
have trouble understanding that you have a
disease. Many people do not understand that
some diseases are quiet for awhile and then
can flare up for awhile.

How long will this last?

Arthritis is a chronic disease. A chronic
disease is with you always. It cannot be cured.
BUT . . . chronic diseases can be managed.
Arthritis is not a simple disease. You can not
take a pill and make it go away. Arthritis can
be a bit different for every person who has it.

Can anything be done?

The good news is that you can get help to treat
and to manage your arthritis. There are many
types of treatments. Medicine is just one of
them. Your doctor may have to try a few
medicines before finding the one which works
for you.

2
 Take Care and Take Action

Experts talk about four basic care and action

steps.
• Get the facts.
You need to know about arthritis in
order to take care of yourself.
• Have a medical check-up on a regular
basis.
This type of disease changes over time
and with life events. You can take better
care when you note and act on changes.
• Get support to help you with the
emotional side of illness.
Illness can be hard on our minds and on
our emotions. Managing a disease is
hard work and we need to be sure
that we have the support we need.
• Move more and eat better.
You will feel better if you are active and
eat healthy foods. This helps you build
the strength and energy your body
needs to deal with arthritis.

3
Get the facts about arthritis and about
arthritis care
The word “arthritis” comes from the Greek
words: “arth” and “itis.” “Arth” means joint and
“itis” means inflammation. There are many
kinds of arthritis with many causes. Arthritis can
be caused by inflammation, injury, or infection.
Inflammation can cause swelling, pain and stiff-
ness. Sometimes an inflamed joint can feel hot
or look red.

Some kinds of arthritis are:

Rheumatoid arthritis is also known as RA. RA
causes inflammation in many joints. The most
common symptoms of RA are pain, stiffness
and swelling of the joints. These symptoms can
come and go. When the symptoms come back
it is called a flare.
Psoriatic arthritis is arthritis with psoriasis.
Psoriasis causes scaly dry patches to form on
the skin. Arthritis causes pain and swelling in
many joints. These symptoms come and go.
When the symptoms come back it is called a
flare.
Juvenile arthritis is any kind of arthritis that
begins before age 18. There are many forms of
childhood arthritis. One form is called Juvenile
Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA). The childhood
forms are a little different from the adult forms.

4
Osteoarthritis is also known as OA, degenera-
tive arthritis or degenerative joint disease. OA
causes cartilage to breakdown. It is the most
common kind of arthritis. It can be caused by
aging, injury, being overweight, overusing a
joint or from a poorly formed joint that you
were born with. The most common symptoms
of OA are stiffness and pain. These symptoms
most often are in the hips, knees, back, neck
and finger joints.

Who is affected by arthritis?

Anyone can get arthritis, even children. It
affects all races and all ethnic groups.
Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in
women than men. About 2.1 million Americans
have RA. It usually begins in the young or mid-
dle adult years.
Psoriatic arthritis affects men and women. It
usually begins between the age of 30 and 55.
About 10% of people who have psoriasis will
get psoriatic arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is more common in women
than men. About 20.7 million Americans older
than 45 will have this form of arthritis.
Juvenile arthritis affects about 300,000
American children and teenagers.

5
A doctor is the best source of information. You
may want to talk with a doctor who is an
arthritis expert. A rheumatologist is a doctor
who treats people with arthritis.
Ask if your hospital has a patient education
library. These libraries often have staff that can
help you get the facts you need about lupus.
Your neighborhood librarian could also help
you find good web sites.

Have a regular medical check-up

Talk with your doctor
When you manage a chronic disease like arthri-
tis, you will want to be sure to see your doctor
on a regular basis—even when you are feeling
well.
Your doctor and others on your medical team
can help you learn about arthritis and how to
take care of yourself.
People with a chronic disease learn to pay
attention to changes in their bodies. You will
want to talk with your doctor about any
changes and symptoms.

6
Make a plan together
You and your doctor can work together to find
the best way to treat all of your symptoms.
Your treatment will depend on your symptoms.
Over time, you may see special doctors. For
example,
• You might see someone who is
trained in the care and treatment of
people’s eyes. This person is called an
ophthalmologist.
• You might see someone who is
trained in the care and treatment of
people’s skin. This person is called a
dermatologist.

Get support to help with the emotional

side of illness
A chronic disease like arthritis can be stressful
and hard on your spirit and on your emotions.
You might think that your friends, family and
co-workers do not understand how you feel.
You may feel unhappy because you can’t do as
much as you did before you had arthritis.
Sadness and anger are common emotions.

7
People with arthritis suggest some helpful hints:
• Stay involved in social activities. Keep
up to date with your friends. Let them
know that you want to be involved even
though you may not be able to do
everything.
• Be good to yourself. Take care of your
spiritual side. Many people use prayer,
relaxation exercises, or meditation.
• Decide what is most important. Spend
your time on those important activities
and with those people who mean the
most to you.
More hints . . .
• Consider joining a support group or see-
ing a counselor. Counseling is help from
a professional who will listen to you and
help you develop a plan of action.
• Be sure to ask for help when you need
it.
• Share how you are feeling with your
family and friends. You can help them
understand that the disease sometimes
flares up and causes problems.

8
Move more and eat better
In general, you will need to be as strong and
healthy as you can. Moving more and making
good food choices will help you.
Move more
• An exercise program helps people with
arthritis. Exercise will give you more
energy for doing the things you need
and want to do. Exercise will help you
build strong muscles and keep flexible.
This will make your daily tasks easier.
• A physical therapist can help you plan
an exercise program. You can learn to
change your exercise program depend-
ing on how you feel each day.
• Everyone needs to exercise. Exercise can
help to improve and maintain your
health.

9
Eat Better
• You might need to take special care
about what you eat. This is very impor-
tant if you have osteoporisis, or take a
lot of steroid medicine.
• There is no magic diet that will cure
arthritis. A nutritionist can help you
decide on a meal plan that fits your
needs and is good for you.
• Staying at a healthy weight will help
your joints.

10
 Arthritis Words from A to Z

This section of the booklet is called a glossary. A

glossary is made up of words and their meanings. This
glossary lists words people use when they talk about
arthritis. Many of these words are used in books about
lupus.
The words are in A to Z order. We show how to say the
word. Next we give the meaning of the word. Finally,
we use each word in a sentence.

How to Say the Word

You will see parenthesis that look like this ( ) after each
word. Here between the ( ) we sound out the word.
You will note that some letters are in capital letters. This
part of the word is said with a strong beat.
For example, the full name for RA is Rheumatoid
Arthritis. We show how to say these words. The first
word rheumatoid, is written as ROO ma toyd. This
helps you say the word out loud.

The Word in a Sentence

We use made-up names in the sentences. You may
notice that Mary and Carla both have rheumatoid arthri-
tis and see Dr. Guzman for their care. Joe also has
rheumatoid arthritis and his doctor is Dr. Healy. Robert
has psoriatic arthritis and sees Dr. Jones. Each example
sentence begins with a ©.

11
 Key Words

Arthritis Words from A to Z

A
Acute (a KYOOT)
Rapid or sudden start of symptoms. It is
sometimes painful and serious.
© The winter flu is an acute illness
because it starts suddenly.
Aerobic exercise (a RO bik EK sur size)
Exercise that helps the heart stay healthy
and work better.
© Robert walks fast every day for aerobic
exercise.
Aggravate (AG ra vate)
Make worse.
© Mary aggravates her arthritis when she
knits for too long.
Alternative (all TUR na tiv)
Another choice or a different way.
© Carla walks on a treadmill indoors as an
alternative to running outside in bad
weather.
Annual (AN yoo ul)
Every year.
© Sonia always plans her annual breast
exam the day after her birthday so she
doesn’t forget.
Antibody (AN tee bod ee)
Proteins in the blood that fight different
infections.
© The flu vaccine causes your body to
make its own antibodies that will fight
the flu.

15
Antibiotics (an tee by AH tiks)
Drugs that kill or slow the growth of
germs.
© Tony took antibiotics to treat his ear
infection.
Anti-inflammatory (an tee – in FLAM a tor ee)
Something that reduces swelling, heat and
pain. It is usually a medicine.
© Carla takes anti-inflammatory drugs
for her arthritis.
Arthritis (ar THRY tis)
A problem with the joints that causes
swelling, pain, heat and a sense of
stiffness.
© Mary finds it hard to pick things up
when her arthritis is bad because of
the pain and swelling in her hands.
Autoimmune disease (au to im MUNE di ZEEZ)
A disease of the immune system that
makes your immune system attack your
own body.
© Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune
disease.
© Joe’s joints are swollen because of his
autoimmune disease.

B
Bacteria (bac TEER ee a)
Germs.
© Bacteria got into the wound on Gene’s
hand and caused an infection.

16
Benign (be NINE)
Not a danger.
© Tony was happy to learn that his tumor
was benign. He was happy that it was
not a danger to his life.
Bursitis (bur SY tis)
Inflammation of a bursa. A bursa is like a
tiny pillow filled with fluid between the
tendon and the bone. It is not arthritis
because it is outside the joint.
© Carla’s shoulder bursitis is very painful.
She cannot lift her arm to comb her hair
easily.

C
Cardiovascular (kar dee oh VAS kyoo lar)
Having to do with the heart and blood
vessels.
© Sonia has a healthy cardiovascular
system because she exercises everyday.
Cartilage (KAR tuh lij)
The smooth covering on the end of bones.
© Gene’s arthritis damaged the cartilage in
his fingers over the years.
Chronic (KRAH nik)
Does not go away. Long term.
© Arthritis is almost always a chronic
disease. Joe will have it for the rest of
his life.

17
Clinical (KLI ni kal)
Work or studies in a medical setting that
involve patients.
© Carla is in a clinical research study of a
new medicine for rheumatoid arthritis.
Comprehensive (kom pree HEN siv)
Complete. Covers everything important.
© Mary has a comprehensive medical
exam once a year.
Conditioning (kon DI shun ing)
Physical training to improve how long you
can exercise and how strong you are.
© Mary learned conditioning exercises
from her physical therapist.
Contagious disease (kon TAY jus di ZEEZ)
An illness that can spread from person to
person.
© Arthritis is not a contagious disease,
but colds are.
Control (kon TROLE)
To manage, to have power.
© Robert controls his psoriatic arthritis
by taking medicines and following his
treatment plan.
Cure (kyoor)
To completely get rid of or stop a disease.
© Mary took antibiotics to cure her
infection.
© Today there is no cure for arthritis.

18
Cushingoid (KUSH ing oyd)
Signs and symptoms of high doses of corti-
costeroids. Some signs are weight gain
around the face, as well as the upper back
and very thin skin.
© Dr. Santos told Linda that her face
looked a bit larger because her medicine
caused cushingoid symptoms.
Cutaneous (kyoo TAY nee us)
Having to do with the skin.
© Dr. Jones can see the psoriasis on
Robert’s elbows. It is a cutaneous
disease and can be seen on the skin.

D
Deformity (dee FOR mi tee)
A change from the normal shape.
© Gene had to buy larger gloves because
his arthritis caused some deformity of
his hands.
Degenerative disease (dee JEN ur a tiv di ZEEZ)
A disease that causes damage over time.
© The arthritis in Tony’s knees has gotten
worse over the years because of a
degenerative disease called
osteoarthritis.
Dermatologist (dur ma TAL oh jist)
A doctor and specialist who treats skin
problems.
© Robert goes to a dermatologist for his
psoriasis.

19
Deteriorate (dee TEE ree oh rate)
Get worse.
© Janet now wears glasses because her
eyesight has deteriorated.
Diagnose (dy ag NOHS)
To figure out what is causing health
problems.
© Dr. Guzman was able to diagnose
Mary’s rheumatoid arthritis after seeing
more symptoms over time.
Diagnosis (dy ag NO sis)
A condition, disease or a medical answer.
© Dr. Healy gave Joe a diagnosis of
rheumatoid arthritis after a check-up,
some tests and hearing Joe’s story.
Dose (dohs)
An amount of medicine.
© Gene takes one 10mg dose of an anti-
inflammatory medicine every morning. If
his arthritis is acting up, he may need a
larger dose.

E
Effective (ee FEK tiv)
Works well.
© Janet wears a hat with a big brim. This
is an effective way to keep the sun off
her face.

20
Environment (en VY ro ment)
All the things in a place where we live.
This includes the inside, such as our
homes and workplaces. This also includes
the outside, such as air, water and weather.
© The environment can cause an illness.
It can also make symptoms better or
worse.
Episode (EP i sode)
A specific event with a beginning and an
end.
© Janet had a short episode of chest pain.
Erosions (ee RO zhuns)
Small pits or holes in the cartilage or the
bone.
© Dr. Healy looked at the x-ray and saw
erosions in Joe’s hip.
Exert (eg ZERT)
To push or work hard.
© Carla exerts herself when she walks up
an extra flight of stairs.

F
Fast (fast)
To go without any food or drink.
© Janet was told to fast for 12 hours
before her blood test.
Fatigue (fa TEEG)
A tired or weak feeling of the whole body.
© Joe felt a sense of fatigue; so he rested
when he got home.

21
Flare (flare)
A period of time when symptoms of a dis-
ease are worse.
© Mary had a flare of her arthritis for two
months.
Flexibility (FLEK suh bil a tee)
Able to move with ease. Muscles and joints
that stretch easily.
© Dr. Healy said that exercise would
increase Joe’s flexibility.

G
Glaucoma (glaw KO ma)
An eye disease where there is increased
pressure from the inside of the eye. Too
much pressure over time can lead to
blindness.
© Sonia goes to the eye doctor every two
years to check for glaucoma.
Glaucoma can be a side effect of high
doses of steroids.

H
Hormones (HOR mones)
Natural chemicals made by your body.
Scientists can also make them. These
chemicals are important for many body
functions.
© Cortisone is a hormone made by your
body. Prednisone is the pill form of this
hormone.

22
I
Immune System (im MUNE sis tum)
The part of your body that fights against
germs and foreign substances.
© Joe’s immune system went right to
work to fight germs when he got a
deep cut.
Infection (in FEK shun)
An illness that is caused by germs.
© Gene taught his son how to take care of
a cut so he will not get an infection.
Inherit (in HER it)
To get a trait or a feature from your
ancestors.
© Tony inherited his good eyesight from
his father.
Inflammation (in fla MAY shun)
Swelling, redness, heat and pain. This hap-
pens when parts of your body are hurt or
react to illness. The body sends extra
blood cells to the place that is hurt.
© Steroid medicines reduce inflammation.
Infusion (in FYOO zhun)
A way to give fluids or medicine directly
into a vein.
© Carla goes to the hospital every 8 weeks
for her infusion of arthritis medicine.
Inhibit (in HI bit)
To stop or hold back something.
© Janet takes a medicine to inhibit her
immune system.

23
Injection (in JEK shun)
To give medicine by needle under the
skin, into a muscle or into a joint.
© Robert gives himself his arthritis medi-
cine by injection two times a week.
Intravenous (in tra VEE nus)
Putting fluids or medicine into a vein by
using a needle.
© Sonia receives an intravenous medicine
from the visiting nurse.
Itis (eye tyss)
These letters are found at the end of a
word. It means swelling or inflamed in the
Greek language. Arth is a Greek word
meaning joint. When you add itis, this
word now reads arthritis.
Here are other examples:
© Nephritis means inflammation of the
kidney.
© Myocarditis means inflammation of the
heart muscle.

J
Joint (joynt)
The place where two bones come
together. This is where we can bend and
move.
© Mary has trouble buttoning her blouse
when her finger joints are stiff.

24
K
We don’t have any “K” words, but you may.
Write your “K” words here:
_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

L
Ligament (LIG a ment)
A strong band that holds a joint together.
© Tony tore two knee ligaments when he
played football.
Localized (LO ka lized)
In a small area or only in one place.
© Janet’s rash was localized to her face.
She did not have it anywhere else.
Long-term (long – term)
For a long time, more than just weeks or
months.
© Sonia’s mother needed long-term care
after she broke her hip.

M
Manage (MAN ej)
To control or direct.
© Robert’s health care team taught him
to manage his psoriatic arthritis with
medicine, exercise and good planning.

25
Medication (med I KAY shun)
A medicine or drug to treat an injury,
illness or disease. Some medications
must be prescribed by a doctor. Others
can be bought in a drug store without a
prescription.
© Mary gets her arthritis medications at
her local drug store.
Mild Something that is gentle and not harsh or
severe.
© Robert had a mild flare and was still
able to work.
Mobility (mo BIL a tee)
Able to move around.
© Surgery improved Carla’s mobility. She
is now able to walk to the store.
Moderate (MA dur it)
Between mild and serious; between weak
and strong.
© Mary takes time to rest when she has
moderate symptoms.
Monitor (MA ni tur)
To watch and check something carefully
for changes.
© Dr. Guzman sees Carla every two
months to monitor her arthritis.

26
N
Narcotic (nar KA dik)
A strong medicine that takes away pain. It
can make you sleepy and your body can
grow to need it.
© You should not drive when you take a
narcotic because you may fall asleep at
the wheel.
Neurologic (nur a LA jik)
Having to do with the nervous system. The
nervous system includes nerves, the spinal
cord and the brain.
© One sign of a neurological problem
may be a constant feeling of pins and
needles.
Nutrition (noo TRI shun)
Food. Healthy eating to help your body
grow and repair itself.
© A healthy diet provides nutrition for
your body.

O
Occasionally (oh KAY zhun a lee)
Sometimes, not often.
© Mary occasionally forgets to take her
medicine but she remembers most of the
time.

27
Occupational Therapist (ah kyoo PAY shun ul
THEHR a pist)
A professional who helps people who
are ill or injured learn better ways to
do everyday activities such as bathing,
dressing, cooking, eating, or driving.
Also known as an OT.
© The occupational therapist taught
Carla how to set up her kitchen and
office space to lessen the stress on her
hands.
Orthopedic Surgeon (or tho PEE dik sur jun)
A doctor who operates on bones and
joints.
© Robert’s orthopedic surgeon has done
many operations to replace damaged
joints.
Osteonecrosis (ah stee oh ne KRO sis)
Death of a bone or part of a bone from
not getting enough blood. It can be caused
by many diseases and from steroid use.
© Joe had a lot of pain in his hip.
Dr. Healy told him that he had
osteonecrosis because he had
taken steroids for many years.
Osteoporosis (ah stee oh por OH sis)
Thin and weak bones which break easily.
© Osteoporosis is common in older
women and in people who need to take
steroids.

28
P
Permanent (PUR ma nent)
Never goes away.
© Mary’s arthritis caused permanent joint
damage. Surgery can improve her
motion but it cannot make the damage
go away.
Persistent (pur SIS tent)
Lasts for a long time.
© Janet had a persistent cough for two
months and went to the doctor to find
out why.
Pharmacist (FAR ma sist)
A trained person who prepares medicine.
This person makes sure you get the right
kind and amount of medicine that your
doctor ordered.
© The pharmacist filled Joe’s prescription
for prednisone.
Physical Therapist (fi si kal THEHR a pist)
A trained professional who helps patients
learn ways to decrease their pain. Also
known as a PT. A PT helps patients
increase and maintain their motion and
strength.
© The physical therapist taught Carla
how to change her exercise program
when her arthritis was in flare.
Platelet (PLATE let)
Cells in the blood that help stop bleeding.
© Tony’s platelets are low. He gets a lot
of nose bleeds.

29
Psoriasis (so RYE ah sis)
A dry scaly skin rash.
© Often, psoriasis is on the elbows, knees
and skin on the top of the head.
Psoriatic Arthritis (sore ee AAH tick ar THRY tis)
A disease which causes psoriasis on the
skin and inflammation in many joints. See
page 4 for more information.
Psychiatrist (sy KY a trist)
A doctor who treats people for emotional
problems or mental illness.
© The psychiatrist helped Mary under-
stand that it made sense for her to be
upset. Mary’s visits to the psychiatrist
helped her to cope with her arthritis and
to feel better.
Prescription (pre SKRIP shun)
Written directions from your doctor to the
pharmacist about your medicine. Also
known as Rx or a “script.”
© Joe can only get prednisone with a
prescription from his doctor.
Prevent (pre VENT)
To keep from happening.
© Good health habits can help prevent
heart disease or even cancer.
Progression (pro GRESH un)
To move forward for better or for worse.
© New medicines can slow down the
progression of arthritis.

30
Q
We don’t have any “Q” words, but you may.
Write your “Q” words here:

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

R
Radiologist (ray dee AL oh jist)
A doctor who looks at and studies
x-rays and other images to diagnose
health problems.
© The radiologist looked at the x-ray of
Carla’s hip and told her that she had
osteoporosis.
Raynaud’s Syndrome (ray NODES SIN drome)
A medical problem that causes the blood
vessels in the fingers and toes to narrow
and let less blood through when they are
cold. The fingers and toes become pale
and feel uncomfortable.
© Sonia always wears gloves when she
goes out in the cold because she has
Raynaud’s Syndrome.
Reaction (ree AK shun)
A response. An action that happens
because of another event.
© Joe had a rash and Dr. Healy said it was
a reaction to his new medicine.

31
Regular (REG yoo lar)
Usual, normal.
© Mary walks three times a week on a
regular schedule.
Relief (ree LEEF)
Feeling better.
© A warm shower gives Gene relief from
his morning stiffness.
Remission (ree MI shun)
A period of time when a disease is not
active.
© Robert’s arthritis has been in remission
for six months.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (ROO ma toyd ar THRY tis)
A disease which causes inflammation
in many joints. See Page 4 for more
information.
© Sonia had pain in her joints and her
family doctor sent her to a specialist.
She learned that she had rheumatoid
arthritis.
Rheumatologist (roo ma TAL oh jist)
A doctor who specializes in diagnosing
and treating problems of the immune sys-
tem, joints and bones.
© Sonia’s family doctor was not sure of the
cause of her joint pain, so he sent her to
a rheumatologist.

32
S
Schedule (SKEH jyool)
A plan. Planning a time to do something.
© Carla’s nurse, Ms. Green, helped her to
make a schedule so she would know
when to take her pills.
© Carla used her kitchen calendar to
schedule her appointments.
Sensitive (SEN si tiv)
Easily hurt or damaged.
© Janet’s skin is very sensitive to the sun
because of the medicines she takes. She
needs to wear very strong sunscreen.
Severe (suh VEER)
Very serious or very bad.
© Mary stayed out of work because of
severe fatigue.
Side effect (SIDE effect)
A reaction caused by a medicine.
© Sonia told her friends that she gained
weight as a side effect of her steroids.
Sign (sine)
A medical problem that can be seen or
noticed by a doctor.
© Joint tenderness is often a sign of
arthritis.
Sjogren’s Syndrome (SHOW grins SIN drome)
A medical problem that causes the eyes
and mouth to be dry.
© Michael puts medicine drops in his eyes
three times a day because he has
Sjogren’s Syndrome.

33
Soreness (SORE ness)
Hurt, pain or ache.
© Mary has soreness in her wrists from
gardening.
Spasm (SPAZ um)
A sudden tightening of muscles.
© Michael had a muscle spasm in his back
after painting his son’s room.
Stable (STAY bul)
No change.
© Dr. Jones told Robert that his arthritis is
stable since his symptoms have not got-
ten worse and he is feeling well.
Stamina (STA min a)
Endurance. Able to be active over an
entire day without feeling tired or
exhausted.
© Carla does not have enough stamina to
work full-time.
Steroid (STER oyd)
Medicines used to decrease inflammation.
© Corticosteriods are the steroids used to
treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Hydrocortisone and prednisone are
examples of steroids.
© Dr. Guzman increases Mary’s steroid
dose when her arthritis is very active.

34
Stress (stress)
Physical, mental or emotional tension or
strain.
© Mary notices that there is a lot of stress
at work just before the holidays. This
could cause her arthritis to flare up.
Supplement (SUP luh ment)
To complete or add to.
© Gene takes vitamins to supplement
his diet.
Suppress (sa PRES)
To hold back.
© Dr. Guzman gave Carla steroids because
they suppress inflammation.
Surgery (SUR ger ee)
An operation.
© Tony walked better after his knee
surgery.
Susceptible (sus SEP tuh bul)
More open to.
© Robert’s medicine helps his psoriatic
arthritis. But the medicine also makes
him more susceptible to infection.
Swelling (SWEL ing)
An increase in size because of fluid. The
body’s response to injury or illness.
© Robert put ice on his knee to reduce the
swelling.

35
Symptom (SIMP tum)
A feeling or physical sign that may be due
to an illness or disease.
© Tony felt stiff every morning. This was
his first symptom of arthritis.
Systemic (sis TE mik)
In all parts of the body.
© Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic
disease because it involves many joints
and tendons and can cause inflammation
in other parts of the body.

T
Taper (TAPE ur)
To slowly lower or cut down; to make
smaller.
© Janet was sure to taper her dose of
steroids over two weeks. She knew that
it was dangerous to just stop taking her
steroids.
Temporary (TEM pur ar ee)
Does not last. Only for a short period of
time.
© Tony needed to take a nap every
afternoon. He knew this was only
temporary.
Therapy (THEHR a pee)
Action to help a disease, illness, or injury.
© Carla walks every day as therapy for
her arthritis.

36
Treat (treet)
To give care.
© Dr. Smith treats Tony for his arthritis.
Treatment (TREET ment)
The action or medicine used to take care
of a disease or injury.
© Carla’s treatment for her arthritis
includes medicine and therapy.

U
Ulcer (UL sur)
An open sore that can be inside or outside
of the body.
© Janet has to take medicine to help her
stomach ulcer heal.

V
Vague (vayg)
Unclear. Not for sure
© Sonia’s symptoms were vague so
Dr. Healy could not make a clear
diagnosis.

37
We don’t have any words for the following
letters, but you may. Write other words here:

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

38
 Abbreviations

FDA The Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA is a government agency that
makes rules about food and drugs to keep
them safe.
IV Intravenous.
IV means into the vein.
mg Milligram.
Mg is a unit of weight. It is used as an
amount of medicine.
RA Rheumatoid Arthritis.
(ROO ma toyd ar THRY tis)
SLE Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
(sis TE mik LOO puss er ri THEM a toe sis)
SPF Skin Protection Factor
SPF is represented as a number. This num-
ber tells you the strength of a sunscreen
product. For example, an SPF of 30 offers
good protection.
UVA and Ultraviolet rays A and ultraviolet rays B.
UVB Both UVA and UVB rays are parts of sun-
light.

39
You may come across other abbreviations for long
words. Write other abbreviations here on this page:
_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

40
 Common Tests

ANA Antinuclear Antibody

An ANA is a test for abnormal antibodies.
EKG Electrocardiogram.
An EKG is an electric recording of the
heart.
ESR Erythrocyte (ir RITH ro cite) Sedimentation
Rate ESR is a blood test.
Hematocrit The percent of blood that is made up of
red blood cells.
X-Ray A picture of the bones and other parts
inside of the body.

41
You may have to take other tests from time to time.
Write other tests here on this page.

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

42
 Places to Go for Care and Testing
Cardiology (kar dee AL oh gee)
The medical department that treats heart
problems.
Dermatology (dur ma TAL oh gee)
The medical department that treats skin
problems.
Nephrology (nef RAL oh gee)
The medical department that treats kidney
problems.
Neurology (nur AL oh gee)
The medical department that treats
problems of the brain and nervous system.
Nutrition (noo TRI shun)
The medical department that focuses on
food and diet.
Occupational Therapy (ah kyoo PAY shun al
THEHR a pee)
Part of the rehabilitation department. This
type of therapy helps patients learn easier
ways to do every day activities. Also
known as OT.
Orthopedics (orth oh PEE diks)
The medical department that treats bone
and joint problems — usually with surgery.

43
Physical Therapy (fi si kal THEHR a pee)
Part of the rehabilitation department. This
type of therapy helps patients learn ways
to decrease their pain and to increase and
keep their motion and strength. Also
known as PT.
Podiatry (po DY a tree)
The medical department that treats
problems of the feet.
Psychiatry (sy KY a tree)
The medical department that treats people
with mental or emotional problems.
Pulmonology (pull muh NAL oh gee)
The medical department that treats lung
problems.
Radiology (ray dee AL oh gee)
The medical department that uses x-rays
and other images to help diagnose medical
problems.
Rheumatology (roo ma TAL oh gee)
The medical department that treats
problems of the immune system, joints
and bones.

44
 Words to Ask About

Word Meaning in Plain English

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

_____________________ _______________________________________________

45
 Places To Call For More Information

YOUR LOCAL NUMBERS

_____________________ ________________________________________________

_____________________ ________________________________________________

_____________________ ________________________________________________

NATIONAL RESOURCES
National Arthritis Foundation
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7669
Atlanta, GA 30357-0669
Telephone Number: 1-800-568-4045 (free call)
Magazine: Arthritis Today
Internet Address: www.arthritis.org
National Psoriasis Foundation
Mailing Address: Suite 300 6600 SW 92nd Avenue
Portland, OR 97223
Telephone Number: 1-800-723-9166 (free call)
Internet Address: www.psoriasis.org
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal
and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) Information
Clearinghouse
Mailing Address: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
1 AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3675
Telephone Number: 1-877-226-4267 (free call)
Internet Address: www.niams.nih.gov

46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
“The shorter and the
plainer the better.”

—Beatrix Potter

This booklet is available

for downloading at
www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy.