Question

Your friend Jessica calls to tell you she went to see Dr. Reilly and he recommended she have a colonoscopy. Jessica tells you a family friend had a colonoscopy in the past and had diverticulum removed. She is concerned because she doesn’t believe she needs surgery when she hasn’t even been diagnosed with anything yet. Step 2: Create a New Thread for Your Initial Post by Wednesday at 11:59pm EST Respond to the following prompts in your initial post: Explain how you would respond to what Jessica has told you. Describe how your knowledge of medical terminology helped you determine what to say to Jessica. Describe a circumstance that knowledge of medical terminology could potentially be an advantage in your personal life.

Answer 1

A colonoscopy is a diagnostic tool often used for preventive health measures, and understanding medical terminology can help alleviate concerns about such procedures. This knowledge not only allows clear communication with healthcare professionals but also assists in making informed personal health decisions.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding medical terminology can help clarify situations like the one your friend Jessica is experiencing. A colonoscopy is a diagnostic procedure, not surgery, and is recommended as a preventive measure or to diagnose certain symptoms. It is regularly suggested for individuals over the age of 50, or for those with certain risk factors, to look for polyps that could become cancerous and to identify any potential issues early on. Diverticula, which your family friend had, refers to small bulging pouches that can form in the digestive system, commonly in the colon. These can become inflamed or infected, which is known as diverticulitis. Removal of diverticula or polyps during a colonoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure, not a traditional surgery, and is often done preventatively or to treat existing conditions.

Your knowledge of medical terminology allows you to help Jessica understand that undergoing a colonoscopy is a standard procedure and not to immediately assume it will lead to surgery. It also allows you to reassure her that Dr. Reilly's recommendation is a proactive step in healthcare, not necessarily an indication of a current problem.

In your personal life, medical terminology is beneficial as it empowers you to make informed decisions about your health and communicate effectively with healthcare professionals. For example, knowing terms related to diagnostics, treatments, and procedures can help you understand medical advice, ask informed questions, and even potentially identify symptoms early on.

Answer 2

Colon is the large intestine which absorbs water and minerals from the ingested food and removes the undigested food through rectum. Diverculum is a small tissue sac formed inside the colon. The condition of having Divercula is called as Diverticulosis.

Diverticulosis causes abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea and sometimes bleeding in most people. Some people do not even get any symptoms of having it. The presence of divercula is observed through colonoscopy. If Jessica doesn't have any of the symptoms, then she should not worry about it.

If the doctor prescribes her to get colonoscopy done then she can be positive and hope for the best. Having a medical knowledge can help one in any of the circumstances be it common cold, fever, a disease or if the person has met with an accident.