Bma Illustrated Medical Dictionary

mental confusion, feelings of worthless-
ness, threats of suicide or harm to the
baby, and sometimes delusions. Hospital
admission, ideally with the baby, and
antidepressant drugs are often needed.
postpartum depressionSee postnatal
depression.
postpartum haemorrhageExcessive
blood loss after childbirth. It is more
common after a long labour or after a
multiple birth. The haemorrhage is usu-
ally due to excessive bleeding from the
site where the placentawas attached to
the uterus.
post-traumatic stress disorderA
form of anxiety that develops after a
stressful or frightening event. Common
causes include natural disasters, vio-
lence, rape, torture, serious physical
injury, and military combat. Symptoms,
which may develop many months after
the event, include recurring memories
or dreams of the event, a sense of pers-
onal isolation, and disturbed sleep and
concentration. There may be a deadening
of feelings, or irritability and feelings of
guilt, sometimes building up to depres-
sion. Most people recover, in time, with
emotional support and counselling.
postural drainageA technique that
enables sputum (phlegm) or other se-
cretions to drain from a person’s lungs
in order to clear them. The person lies
in a way that allows the secretions to
drain by gravity into the trachea, from

where they are coughed up. Tapping the

person’s chest with cupped hands can

help to loosen sticky secretions.

postural hypotensionSee hypotension.

postureThe relative position of different

parts of the body at rest or during

movement. Good posture consists of

balancing the body weight around the

body’s centre of gravity in the lower spine

and pelvis. Maintaining good posture

helps prevent neck pain and back pain.

post-viral fatigue syndromeSee my-

algic encephalomyelitis.

potassiumA mineralneeded to help

maintain normal heart rhythm, regulate

the body’s water balance, conduct nerve

impulses, and contract muscles. Dietary

sources of potassium include lean meat,

whole grains, green leafy vegetables,

beans, and various fruits, such as apri-

cots, dates, and peaches.

A low level of potassium in the blood

is known as hypokalaemia. It is usually

a result of loss of fluids through diar-

rhoea and/or vomiting, and causes

fatigue, drowsiness, dizziness, and mus-

cle weakness. In more severe cases,

there may be abnormal heart rhythms

and muscle paralysis.

Excess potassium in the blood is

known ashyperkalaemia and is much

less common than hypokalaemia. It may

be due to excessive intake of potassium

supplements, severe kidneyfailure, Addi-

son’s disease, or prolonged treatment with

potassium-sparing

diuretics. The effects

of high potassium

levels in the blood

can include numb-

ness and tingling,

disturbances of the

heart rhythm, and

muscle paralysis. In

severe cases, there

may be heart failure.

potassium channel

activatorsA class

of drugs that are

used in the pre-

vention and long-

term treatment of

angina. Nicorandil is

a potassium channel

activator that acts

POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION POTASSIUM CHANNEL ACTIVATORS

P

POSTURAL DRAINAGE

Parent

Physiotherapist

Chest tapped
to loosen
secretions

POSTURAL DRAINAGE WITH CHEST PHYSIOTHERAPY

Head low

to allow

secretions

to drain