Strokesaurus
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
CADASIL |
Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Sub-cortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy is an inherited disorder caused by mutations in a gene called Notch 3. CADASIL causes thickening of blood vessel walls blocks the flow of blood to the brain. It is the most common genetic cause of stroke and vascular dementia in adults. CADASIL is characterized by migraine headaches and multiple strokes.
CADASIL is a type of disease.
It can cause strokes. It runs in families. It happens before you are born. It causes blood vessels to thicken. This blocks the flow of blood to the brain. CADASIL causes bad headaches and many strokes. CADSIL stands for Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Sub-cortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy. |
Capacity |
Capacity refers to a level of cognitive ability required before a person can lawfully do various things. If a person has capacity, they are able to make decisions for themselves. If they do not, an alternative decision maker may be needed.
Capacity is a legal term.
It means that you can understand what is happening. When you have capacity, you can make decisions for yourself. If you don’t have capacity, someone else might have to make decisions for you. |
Cardiologist |
A doctor who specialises in treating disorders of the heart, including heart disease.
A cardiologist is a type of doctor.
They look after your heart. |
Cardiovascular system |
Composed of the heart and blood vessels, the cardiovascular system is responsible for circulating blood throughout the body to supply it with oxygen and nutrients.
The cardiovascular system is the heart and blood vessels.
Your heart pumps blood through your body. This gives oxygen and nutrients to your body |
Carotid artery |
Artery located on either side of the neck that supplies the brain with blood.
The carotid artery is on either side of your neck.
It carries blood to your brain. |
Carotid doppler |
Also known as a carotid duplex. An ultrasound test that looks at the arteries in the neck that supply the brain. This is to see how well the blood flows through these arteries.
A carotid doppler is a type of medical test.
It is also called a carotid duplex. Doctors use an ultrasound to look at the arteries in the neck. They can see how well the blood flows to your brain. |
Carotid duplex |
Also known as a carotid doppler. An ultrasound test that looks at the arteries in the neck that supply the brain. This is to see how well the blood flows through these arteries.
A carotid duplex is a type of medical test.
It is also called a carotid doppler. Doctors use an ultrasound to look at the arteries in the neck. They can see how well the blood flows to your brain. |
Carotid endarterectomy |
An operation to unblock narrowed carotid arteries in your neck.
A carotid endarterectomy is a type of surgery.
It unblocks the carotid arteries in your neck. |
Catheter |
Small tube for withdrawing or introducing fluids.
A catheter is a small tube for taking out or putting in fluids.
|
CCT |
Clinical controlled trial
Clinical controlled trial
|
CEA |
Carotid endarterectomy
Carotid endarterectomy
|
CEMRA |
Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography
Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography
|
Central nervous system |
Part of the nervous system including the brain, spinal cord and cranial nerves.
The central nervous system includes your brain, spinal cord and the nerves in your brain.
|
Central pain |
Pain caused by damage to an area in the thalamus. The pain is a mixture of sensations, including heat and cold, burning, tingling, numbness, and sharp stabbing and underlying aching pain.
Central pain is caused by damage to an area in the brain.
This area is called the thalamus. When it is damaged, it can cause pain. This pain is a mix of feelings. It can be hot and cold, burning, tingling, numb, sharp stabbing and aching pain. |
Cephalalgia |
Headache. Cephalalgia is another word for headache.
|
Cerebellum |
The part of the brain that controls the complex, voluntary movement of the muscles and helps maintain posture and balance.
The cerebellum is a part of your brain.
You use it to control your movement. It helps you stand, sit and balance. |
Cerebral angiogram |
A contrast (dye) is injected into the blood vessels of the brain. This outlines them for the x-ray machine to take pictures.
A cerebral angiogram is a type of medical test.
Doctors inject you with a special dye. Then they take an X-ray picture. They can see the dye on the X-ray. |
Cerebral haemorrhage |
A bleed in the brain following a ruptured blood vessel.
Cerebral haemorrhage is when a blood vessel breaks in your brain.
This causes bleeding in your brain. |
Cerebral infarct |
An area of brain tissue that has not received its blood supply and as a result it has been damaged. An infarct can be tiny or affect a larger part of the brain.
Cerebral infarct is when an area of your brain is damaged.
This damage happens when a part of your brain does not get blood. Some cerebral infarcts are very small. Others affect larger parts of your brain. |
Cerebral or cerebro |
The brain.
Cerebral or cerebro are medical words for brain.
|
Cerebral trauma |
Damage to the brain.
Cerebral trauma is damage to the brain.
|
Cerebrovascular disease |
A reduction in the supply of blood to the brain either by narrowing of the arteries through the buildup of plaque on the inside walls of the arteries (stenosis) or through blockage of an artery due to a blood clot.
Cerebrovascular disease is when not enough blood gets to your brain.
This can be caused by narrowing of your arteries. It can also be caused when a blood clot blocks an artery. |
Cholesterol |
A fatty substance present in blood. If cholesterol levels becomes too high the fatty substance can build up along artery walls.
Cholesterol is a kind of fat in your blood.
Sometimes you have too much cholesterol. If this happens, the fats can stick to your artery walls. Your arteries can get blocked. |
Chronic |
Continuing for a long time or constantly recurring.
A chronic illness is one you have had for a long time.
It also means illnesses that keep coming back. |
CI |
Confidence interval
Confidence interval
|
CILT |
Constraint induced language therapy
Constraint induced language therapy
|
CIMT |
Constraint induced movement therapy
Constraint induced movement therapy
|
Clinical trial |
A research program conducted with patients to evaluate a new medical treatment, drug or device.
A clinical trial is used to test new treatments.
Doctors can then decide if the treatment will work. |
Clot-busting |
The process of administering the drug rt-PA intravenously to break up a blood clot.
Clot busting means breaking up a blood clot.
This is done with a medicine called rt-PA. The doctors will give you rt-PA through a needle. |
Coagulation |
Coagulation or clotting is the process by which blood changes from a liquid to a gel.
Coagulation is when the blood forms a clot.
The blood changes to a jelly. This is to protect your body when you get a cut. The blood forms a clot to stop you bleeding. This is normally a healthy thing but the same process can sometimes cause a stroke. |
Cochrane |
Cochrane is a worldwide, not-for-profit organisation that produces systematic reviews of medical research. Systematic reviews summarise all the research that has been done on a given topic, so that health professionals, patients and policy-makers can make evidence-based decisions. Cochrane are partnering with the Stroke Foundation on the Living Stroke Guidelines project. Cochrane is a worldwide, not-for-profit organisation that produces systematic reviews of medical research. Systematic reviews summarise all the research that has been done on a given topic, so that health professionals, patients and policy-makers can make evidence-based decisions. Cochrane are partnering with the Stroke Foundation on the Living Stroke Guidelines project. |
Cochrane review |
A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis (where possible).
A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis (where possible).
|
Cognition |
Thinking ability, including memory, thinking, language and judgment.
Cognition means how you think.
It includes:
|
Cognitive behavioural therapy |
Short term, solution-focused approach to counselling that helps individuals to identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviours and learn or relearn healthier skills and habits.
Cognitive behavioural therapy is a type of counselling.
It is usually done with a psychologist. The psychologist will teach you to recognise your unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. They will teach you how to change them. |
Cognitive impairment |
Difficulty with thinking, memory, thinking, language and judgment.
Cognitive impairment is when you have trouble with your thoughts.
It includes problems with:
|
Complete blood count |
Information about the kinds and numbers of cells in the blood, especially red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
A complete blood count is a medical test.
It finds out the kinds and numbers of cells in your blood. This includes:
|
Computerized axial tomography |
Also known as a CT scan. X-ray imaging technique that uses a computer to produce cross-sectional images. It can be used to identify the blood vessels in the brain affected by stroke.
Computerized axial tomography is a medical test.
It is also call a CT scan. Doctors can use the scan to see inside your brain. They can find out which parts of your brain the stroke has damaged. |
Conflict of Interest (COI) form |
A conflict of interest form is signed by all working group members (including all members of the consumer panel). It highlights whether there is any risk of the person’s professional judgement (eg. their assessment of research) being influenced by a secondary interest they may have, such as financial gain or career advancement. A conflict of interest form is signed by all working group members (including all members of the consumer panel). It highlights whether there is any risk of the person’s professional judgement (eg. their assessment of research) being influenced by a secondary interest they may have, such as financial gain or career advancement. |
Continence |
Automatic control of bladder and bowel function.
Continence means being able to control when you go to the toilet.
It is an automatic function that you don’t have to think about. |
Contracture |
Shortening of a muscle, resulting in the joint becoming fixed in one position.
Contracture is when a muscle gets shorter.
It can lock your joint in one position. |
Contraindications |
Medical reasons that prevents a person from using a certain drug or treatment.
A contraindication is a medical reason why you can’t take a certain medicine.
|
Controlled trial |
Research that involves at least two groups: one that receives the intervention being evaluated and the other that receives either a placebo or another intervention.
A controlled trial is a type of research.
It is a way to find out if a new medicine works. It uses two groups of people. One group of people is given the medicine. The other group is not given the medicine. The doctors look at both groups to see if the medicine works. |
Convulsions |
Seizures, epileptic fit.
A convulsion is when you lose control of your muscles.
Your body shakes. Other words for convulsion are seizure or epileptic fit. |
Coumadin |
See Warfarin.
See Warfarin.
|
Covidence |
Covidence is computer software that Cochrane uses to help identify research for systematic reviews. It reduces the workload by allowing the person using it to quickly scan-read and screen scientific papers for relevance, make a summary of their main findings, and assess how well the research was done and whether there is a risk of bias. Covidence is used to screen all stroke-related research articles so that only the most accurate ones go into the Living Stroke Guidelines. See also Cochrane Covidence is computer software that Cochrane uses to help identify research for systematic reviews. It reduces the workload by allowing the person using it to quickly scan-read and screen scientific papers for relevance, make a summary of their main findings, and assess how well the research was done and whether there is a risk of bias. Covidence is used to screen all stroke-related research articles so that only the most accurate ones go into the Living Stroke Guidelines. See also Cochrane |
CPAP |
Continuous positive airway pressure
Continuous positive airway pressure
|
CPSP |
Central post-stroke pain
Central post-stroke pain
|
CT |
Computed tomography
Computed tomography
|
CT scan |
See computerized axial tomography.
See computerized axial tomography.
|
CTA |
Computed tomography angiography
Computed tomography angiography
|
CVD |
Cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease
|
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