Quite often I am baffled by encountering medical terminology used as abbreviation. Some I understand but others I can't. The best option , in my opinion is to discourage use of the above except very common ones like BP, HA etc. I have mentioned before but no action was taken.
Non use of abbreviation is better for... - British Heart Fou...
Non use of abbreviation is better for all
Written by
nilmonisikdar40
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37 Replies
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Dear nilmonisikdar40
Its an annoying and continuing problem on all forums not just this one. Its sad because I feel that I cannot answer their questions without first looking up what the abbreviations mean.
Take care
My view is if I don’t know the abbreviation then I probably can’t help! If it was something I am familiar with then I will generally know the abbreviation.
I understand your frustration but I don't mind doing a quick Google search, it also improves my medical knowledge . I think some people forget that there are so many different kinds of heart problems that not everyone has the same one so abbreviations that are common with 1 problem may not be something we are all aware with.
MilkfairyHeart Star
I try to write out in full the terms I use, followed by the abbreviation. I am happy to be reminded if I forget.
I will also ask a forum member to explain any abbreviation they have used that I don't understand.
Pee
Perhaps the use of abbreviations should also be extended to include professionals, I received a copy of my follow up letter from the rom my heart specialist nurse saying I was NYHA III, as you do i googled it and was shocked to discover I have severe heart failure,This has knocked me back so much. As I was just coming to terms with having a heart attack!
I think it’s a good idea to write it in full at the beginning of the post, then abbreviate afterwards. Having worked in libraries, I got used to constant acronyms over the years - but have always felt that NASA should stand for Not Another Stupid Acronym.There are some pinned posts on the right with abbreviations, and I know that people can search, but even if just the original post wrote it in full at first then it would ease things.
Let's try not to make this personal.
It is a valid post and has been raised before, it really doesn't matter what the previous occupation of the poster was.
I am sure there are people on here who know more about their condition than their GP.
I spoke to my GP (who is semi retired and only works 1 day a week) about changing my blood thinners as I am getting breathless episodes. He admitted that I would be better off talking to my Cardio nurse as he had no knowledge of my particular thinner! My point is a GP is not a cardiologist that is why they refer us to one.
Is that 'Grand Parent'?
😅😅 I am not sure that is a job you can retire from.
Thankfully it's not possible to retire from that position 😆😆
Does it bother me, not at all. In these days of a shortage of GP's we should be glad they don't decide to retire altogether leaving us even shorter!
I know the GP personally, we are on first name terms. He did what the consultation was specifically for and that was to increase my Beta blockers.
I spoke to the cardio nurse on Monday and talked about the thinners and she said to keep with them until October when I am scheduled to go back on Clopidogrel. She also said she wasn't surprised that the GP didn't know about these thinners as they are specifically prescribed by the hospital following stents being fitted along with 75 mg of aspirin
I don't believe (as you obviously do) that a GP will know everything about everything, I actually think a pharmacist will know more about drugs than a GP that is their expertise.
I dislike this World of blaming everyone else for our problems and usually can work things out for myself.
Oh and I don't think the author mentioned the abbreviations being unusual, I think the issue was not everyone would understand them which surely you would agree is a valid point?
As per other replies, I usually write terms in full first then use the abbreviation from that point. It’s purely my personal opinion, but even the idea of trying to discourage abbreviations is a fool’s errand; it would be akin to trying to ban slang or poor English. Also, who would determine what constitutes very common? Surely that would vary depending on the condition being talked about and the person in question? I know HA is heart attack here, but it’s not the first thought that comes into my head when I see it, and, like me, I’d imagine half of the members here haven’t had a heart attack or potentially even have coronary heart disease. The other obvious issue then is how you would even police it. I wouldn’t envy the (volunteer!) moderators having to reply to every post or comment that used abbreviations to remind people not to.
I can’t follow text speak to save my life, but there are people on Healthunlocked that genuinely write their whole post in it - if I can’t make sense of a post for any reason, I simply move on. Abbreviations are no different, although there aren’t that many I come across in the posts I choose to read that I don’t know, in part because if I’m looking at a post, it’s usually because it’s on a topic relevant to my own diagnoses or experience, and therefore familiar to me. If I want to, and I usually do just to further my own knowledge and understanding, I look the exceptions up on google. That’s my choice. The only time I agree abbreviations can be a major issue is if someone replies using loads without explaining them to someone new or who doesn’t otherwise know them, but the post itself will often give you some indication as to how au fait the person is.
At the end of the day, if people follow basic, literary convention i.e. put the abbreviation after writing the term in full, with or without parenthesis, it shouldn’t be a problem. If people choose not to do that, then they’ll lose out on helpful replies from people who may know what they’re talking about but not know (or like) abbreviations. It’s to their detriment rather than yours.
Okay then!
Ban the acronym 🙆♂️🤣🤣🤣
I can cope with abbreviations but really worry about the use of “blood thinners” rather than anticoagulants. It perpetuates the misleading description.
Really!!! I only know them as thinners so I am condemned for not knowing they should be referred to as anticoagulants? Me thinks there is more behind the post!
Seems Google needs to be admonished too
As an aside it is the last one I'm on.
'Common blood thinner medications include':
Pradaxa (dabigatran)
Eliquis (apixaban)
Xarelto (rivaroxaban)
Coumadin (warfarin)
Aspirin.
Plavix (clopidogrel)
Effient (prasugrel)
Brilinta (ticagrelor)
Most pharmacists will use the term antiplatelet or anticoagulant. This is the correct medical terminology.
The term ' blood thinner' while widely used isn't actually a correct description of how these medications act in our bodies.
Its important to distinguish between an anticoagulant and antiplatelets as they have different side effects, antidotes and interactions with other medicines and even food.
Eg if you are taking warfarin you have to be careful how much food you eat containing vitamin K.
Pradaxa (dabigatran)
Eliquis (apixaban)
Xarelto (rivaroxaban)
Coumadin (warfarin)
These are all anticoagulants. The top 3 are known as DOAC, direct oral anticoagulants.
nhs.uk/conditions/anticoagu...
Aspirin.
Plavix (clopidogrel)
Effient (prasugrel)
Brilinta (ticagrelor)
These are antiplatelets.
I am not disputing thinner is not the correct term but it the most common term.
Strange isn't it how this has turned from a thread about abbreviations to one about the use of the term 'thinners' which is a common (if not accurate ) term.
Just a reminder I am not going anywhere!! LOL
I thought you posted you were going on holiday. That's going somewhere!
🤫😬
I have no clue what you mean maybe too subtle for me!
I generally consider that if I don’t know what the abbreviation stands for then I probably haven’t got it.
Dear nilmonisikdar40,
this is a 'depate' that has been 'had' before, and not just on this Forum. There was 'Talk' of having a Glossery, that everyone could view, I'm not too sure what 'Happened' to that idea.
Because, to many, abbreviations are so commonly used- even by the Professionals- it becomes almost Second Nature. I, for example, have ANCA Vasculitis and, even I, would have to Look Up what 'ANCA' means.
I might, try to, Reserect the 'Glossery' idea- maybe compiled by Experts, on each of the Forums. If anyone from 'Health Unlocked' reads this maybe we can Attempt 'Something'?
Unfortunately, in the Short Term at least, you- like me- will have to ask/ look up- unfamilliar terms. Sorry about that.....
AndrewT
I completely agree with you. If a post has a load of acronyms in it, I just skip it. I wouldn't be able to help the poster, but I would be able to learn from it if I could understand it.
Like Heather1957 I also have a semi retired GP for whom I am very grateful. He is a lovely, caring, 'old fashioned GP' . He still attends courses to keep up to date but I do not expect him to know everything. I would, however, trust him more than the younger one who put me on a course of tablets but either didn't know or omitted to tell me that I would need regular blood tests. Fast forward to an episode of AFb that put me in hospital for 3 days being fed Pottasium tablets. Low Pottasium was known side effect of said tablets. I only found out when I spoke to my pharmacist and yes I had read the patient leaflet just never thought it could be that serious.
An 85 year old retired GP!! How long ago do you think he retired? How long ago do you think he qualified? What does the G stand for in GP? Does he set himself up as a specialist? (Consultant in NHS terms).
What gives you the right??? 🤬 I think your heart condition has made you a tad angry.
🤣🤣🤣🙆♂️
Hi.I agree, but also these really clever people who use the actual medical names for things, I never know what bit they're talking about.
But agree about abbreviations, I have to guess what they stand for, a lot of times without success.
Denise
I totally agree
Well,I for one would be happy with a GP of the 'old school'! Our 'old' GP now retired, always said he learned a lot about a patient within the first few minutes of a consultation! He took the patient's hand-was it warm or cold, was the skin dry, smooth, cracked, were the nails flecked with white, brittle, misshapen, arthritic, etc etc! I think the best tool on a GP desk now is his BMA New Guide to Medicine & Drugs Ninth Edition-he can hardly Google in your presence!
I look them all up on Google !
Kristin1812Heart Star
GPs do have to update regularly to stay Registered, however part-time they are. None of them know everything. and I rather prefer to have a Dr who admits when he doesn’t know, and one who respects a team members superior knowledge.
MichaelJHHeart Star
I use to work on The TTP Project where TTP was The TTP Project which a friend worked on. TTP standing for The TTP Project - it is a MLP (multi layer project)! 🤣
It is quite simple to highlight the offending word(s) or abbreviation by left clicking mouse and sliding cursor over word/letters, then right click highlighted area and select 'search Google for......'The various results will be displayed in a new tab, it literally only takes a few seconds.
Good luck
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Tired of all of this
