Chiropractic Terminology | H
Health: Health is the level of functional and or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person in the mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain. The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health in its broader sense in 1946 as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Healthy Weight: This is a weight that is right for your body type and height and is based on your body mass index (BMI) and the size of your hip circumference. A healthy weight is the weight your body naturally settles into when you consistently eat a nutritious diet and are physically active.
Heat Therapy (a.k.a. Thermotherapy): This therapy is also known as thermotherapy where the clinician applies heat to the body for pain relief and health. This rehabilitative form of therapy is often used in patients who have chronic or long-lasting pain. Heat therapy can be applied in many ways such as a hot cloth, hot water, ultrasound, heating pad, hydrocollator packs, whirlpool baths, cordless FIR heat therapy wrap and many others. While ice therapy is used to reduce swelling, heat therapy increases the extensibility of collagen tissues, decreases joint stiffness, reduces pain, relieves muscle spasms, reduces inflammation, edema while increasing blood flow.
Herniated Disc: Herniations occur when the outer band of the disc breaks or cracks and the gel-like substance from the inside of the disc leaks out, placing pressure on the spinal canal or nerve roots. In addition, the nucleus releases a chemical that can cause irritation to the surrounding nerves causing inflammation and pain. Most disc herniations occur as a result of sudden stress, such as from an accident. Sometimes they occur gradually, over weeks or even months.
High Blood Pressure (a.k.a. Hypertension or HBP): This is a serious condition that can lead to coronary heart disease (also called coronary artery disease), heart failure, stroke and other health problems. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood. If this pressure rises and stays high over time, it can damage the body in many ways.
High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL): HDL is also sometimes called good cholesterol. Lipoproteins are made of fat and protein. They carry cholesterol, triglycerides, and other fats, called lipids, in the blood from other parts of your body to your liver. The main function of HDL is to help soak up excess cholesterol from the walls of blood vessels and carry it to the liver, where it breaks down and is removed from the body in the bile. Studies of both men and women have shown that the higher the HDL level, the lower the risk of coronary artery disease.
Hinge Joint: A joint in which a nearly cylindrical head fits into a corresponding socket, but the movement is restricted to a direction perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder. Examples are the elbow, knee, ankle and finger joints. Attachments or bony processes prevent a backward dislocation.
Hip Circumference: A measurement of the hips, including the widest portion of the buttocks, used in conjunction with the waist circumference, body weight and percent body fat to calculate the body composition score. Measuring your waist can help you find out how much fat you have stored around your belly.
HMO (a.k.a. Health Maintenance Organization): This is a kind of health insurance. An HMO offers many kinds of health care services to its members. In return, members and their employers pay a fixed cost each month for these services. HMOs are sometimes called health plans or managed care organizations. HMOs also require members to get approval before the HMO will pay for some services and treatments. This usually means that members have to get a referral from their primary care doctor or an approval from their HMO. If members get services without a referral and approval they may have to pay for the service themselves.
Homeostasis: This is a state of balance in the body. The balance is maintained through a series of negative feedback mechanisms. Homeostasis is essentially the body's ability to maintain normal function and stability.
Hypermobility: This is a condition that features joints that easily move beyond the normal expected range. Because the joints are capable of excessive motion they are susceptible to injury.
Hypertension (a.k.a. High Blood Pressure): This is a serious condition that can lead to coronary heart disease (also called coronary artery disease), heart failure, stroke and other health problems. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood. If this pressure rises and stays high over time, it can damage the body in many ways.
Hypertonicity: Excessive muscle tone, tension or activity. This means the muscle tone is abnormally rigid, hampering proper movement. This condition is the opposite of hypotonicity.
Hypomobility: Decreased ability to move a joint of the body.
Hypothalamus: The main function of the hypothalamus is homeostasis or maintaining the body's status quo. Factors such as blood pressure, body temperature, fluid and electrolyte balance, along with body weight, are held to a precise value called the set-point. Although this set-point can migrate over time, from day to day, it is remarkably fixed.
Hypotonicity: This is a condition associated with decreased tension in muscle tone. A lack of muscle tone inhibits proper movement as the muscle is not developed or is too soft to support the body. This condition is the opposite of hypertonicity.
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