Okay, so I have high blood pressure and am well aware that I should call it that or hypertension but I seriously had a doctor tell me once that I had blood pressure. I was like... "um... you mean high blood pressure?" Him "Yes, blood pressure, so you need to followup with your regular physician." Me: "Uh, okay... whatever!"
I have a country bumpkin red neckish great aunt... who doesn't like to wear her teeth often... is obsessed with Glamour Shots... and says "Peachy Caramel Buckaroo" and "Derr-Derr" when someone like myself would say, "Holy crap" or "WTH?"
Soooo... one day she called me in a panic... cuz she just came from the doctor and he told her she got "the sugar". (pronounced sher-ger).
I am a nurse and didn't know what the H she was talking about...
I hear that all the time! My favorites are I have a little pressure and a little sugar. I always thought it was a southern/country thing to say. The other thing I hear is sugar diabetes.
I'm still just a med student, but I find it's much easier to talk to patients in very simple (almost MR) terms. Of course, and I hate to say it, my school is in a very blue-collar, non-educated, working class town. Words like "the sugar", "just blood pressure", "water pills", and "throw a fit" (generalized tonic-clonic seizure) are thrown around like nobody's business. I actually had to explain the meaning of "baby-daddy" to a friend from a small town. On one hand I feel bad encouraging it because I'm contributing to the dumbing-down of society; on the other hand, I'd rather people remember their disorders in simple words than not at all. Plus it's always good for a laugh. :)
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20 comments:
Oh no! I've got breathing.... and a pulse :(
What a relief! I was thinking h e might be solid striaght through, like a potato!
>:p
Cogitator, you're doomed.
OMG!! I totally have blood pressure too! What are the odds?
Fortunately, there's a cure.
I'm seldom rendered speechless, yet, your blog does it to me every time I read it.
Good job, Dr. G.
Okay, so I have high blood pressure and am well aware that I should call it that or hypertension but I seriously had a doctor tell me once that I had blood pressure. I was like... "um... you mean high blood pressure?" Him "Yes, blood pressure, so you need to followup with your regular physician." Me: "Uh, okay... whatever!"
Pattie RN again...and I have not but TWO deltoids. Please call National Geographic and Science Mag NOW!! Don't foget the photographers...
I don't imagine that many cadavers walk into your office. "Reanimator" not withstanding.
My favorites are when my patients have "thyroid" or " sinuses"
I have a country bumpkin red neckish great aunt... who doesn't like to wear her teeth often... is obsessed with Glamour Shots... and says "Peachy Caramel Buckaroo" and "Derr-Derr" when someone like myself would say, "Holy crap" or "WTH?"
Soooo... one day she called me in a panic... cuz she just came from the doctor and he told her she got "the sugar". (pronounced sher-ger).
I am a nurse and didn't know what the H she was talking about...
...but after investigation it was diabetes.
Wow. I should have blogged about that. he he.
It beats the alternative ;)
I had a bad day today, but reading this cheered me up. Thanks 4 sharing.
Did this guy recently have a hospice eval? Only context where I've ever heard blood pressure discussed as a binary sign.
When someone tells you something like this, you know the H and P are going to be long and painful.
It is bad when people have such a poor understanding of their own medical issues ....
I hear that all the time! My favorites are I have a little pressure and a little sugar. I always thought it was a southern/country thing to say. The other thing I hear is sugar diabetes.
Maybe by "blood pressure" he means that a bunch of crimson-clad thugs are trying to get him to join their gang.
As in, Cool Mo J and FoSnappy are gonna bus' a cap in my ass if I don't join up with da Bloodz.
Some folks have sugar diabetes (diabetes mellitus) while others have water diabetes (diabetes insipidus).
RSDS
I'm still just a med student, but I find it's much easier to talk to patients in very simple (almost MR) terms. Of course, and I hate to say it, my school is in a very blue-collar, non-educated, working class town. Words like "the sugar", "just blood pressure", "water pills", and "throw a fit" (generalized tonic-clonic seizure) are thrown around like nobody's business. I actually had to explain the meaning of "baby-daddy" to a friend from a small town.
On one hand I feel bad encouraging it because I'm contributing to the dumbing-down of society; on the other hand, I'd rather people remember their disorders in simple words than not at all. Plus it's always good for a laugh. :)
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