Dandruff
This is when the surface of your head starts flaking,
which leave you with white bits in your hair. It’s not catching but it
doesn’t look nice. You can get rid of dandruff with a shampoo.
Day surgery
If you come in for a test or an operation and go home
the same day, you’ve had day surgery. More and more tests and operations
are done like this as you’re more likely to get better quickly when
you’re at home with your family.
Deafness
This is when a person cannot hear – either completely or
partly. Hearing aids can help some people with deafness, or cochlear
implants are used for some people. Deaf people often communicate using a
sign language called BSL (British Sign Language).
Death
When the body stops working completely – the person has
died. This means that the heart has stopped, the person is not breathing
anymore and the brain has switched off.
Dehydration
Did you know that your body is almost all made up of
water? If you don't have enough water in your body, you can feel very
unwell. When you sweat, you lose water and it's easy to get dehydrated
when it's hot, so you need to drink plenty of water.
Dentist
A person who is trained to look after your teeth and
gums and fix any problems if they occur. There are also dentists who
specialise in fitting braces to straighten teeth.
Dermatology
The study of the skin and skin diseases.
Diabetic
The name given to somebody with diabetes. Having this condition means that the amount of glucose in the blood is too high.
Diagnosis
This is the label that a doctor gives your symptoms, so that he or she can work out how to treat you.
Dialysis
This is a way of removing waste products from the blood
when your kidneys aren’t working properly. There are two types:
haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
Diaphragm
This is a sheet of muscle which separates your chest
from your abdomen. It helps you breathe and also stops your intestines
moving up and blocking your chest. When you have hiccups, it's really
your diaphragm squeezing tight!
Diarrhoea
When you’ve got diarrhoea, you’ll have very runny poo
and will need to go to the toilet a lot. Remember to drink lots of
fluids – this will stop you feeling worse.
Dietetics
The study of how what we eat can affect our health.
Dietitians are the people who check what we eat and suggest ways of
improving our diet so we can feel healthier. They also make up special
diets for people with diseases that affect their eating.
Digestive system
This consists of your oesophagus, stomach, duodenum,
small bowel, large bowel, and rectum. Its job is to break down the food
you eat so the goodness can be absorbed and get rid of the waste stuff.
Diuretic
A diuretic is a medicine that helps you to wee.
Donor
A person who gives something like blood or organs to another person.
Dose
The amount of medicine you are supposed to take at a
certain time. You should always follow the dose instructions your doctor
or pharmacist gives you – taking too much or too little medicine can be
dangerous!
Duodenum
This is the first part of your small bowel.
Dyslexia
People who have trouble reading because the words jump
about on the page have something called dyslexia. They may also write
certain letters backwards or spell words wrong all the time. Teachers
are getting much better at spotting children with dyslexia now, so they
can make learning easier for you.
Dysphagia
The medical word for when you have trouble swallowing.
