Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

337

Medicine

Branches of medicine

Medicine is a huge subject, and nobody can hope

to know it all. Thus doctors, nurses, and other

medical workers often become expert in a single

area of medicine, a process that can take years

and years of study.

Orthopedics is the

care of the spine,

bones, joints, and

muscles.

Psychiatry is the

study of mental

health problems.

HolisTic Medicine

The word holistic means

“of the whole”. The principle

of holistic medicine is to treat

the whole person—body and mind—

rather than just the affected part. Holistic

therapies (treatments) include acupuncture

(stimulating the nerves by inserting needles

into the skin) and aromatherapy (treatment

using oils containing fragrant plant extracts).

RecoveRy

Recovery from an illness or an

operation may take only a few

hours or as long as several weeks.

Much depends on the severity of

the illness and the impact the

treatment has on the body.

diagnosis

a doctor’s first step with a sick patient is to diagnose

the illness. This can be done in various ways—by asking

the patient about his or her symptoms (physical

feelings), by making a physical examination of the sick

person, and by carrying out medical tests if necessary.

Medical

TecHnology

Modern medicine makes

use of a wide range of

technology. latest

developments include body

scanners that use a strong

magnetic field or ultrasound

(very high-frequency sound

waves) to produce an image

of the interior of the human

body. such equipment has

revolutionized medicine.

suRgeRy

Medical treatments may include drugs

or surgery. surgery is the branch of

medicine that involves operating,

or cutting into the body, to treat

the cause of an illness. Today

surgery is so advanced that

surgeons can sometimes repair

or replace organs such as the

kidneys and the heart.

Neurology

is concerned

with disorders

of the brain

and nerves.

Ophthalmology

is the treatment

of disorders of

the eyes.

Cutting into the body

to cure illness is

called surgery.

Dermatology is

concerned with the skin

and skin diseases.

Pediatrics is the

medical care of

children.

Catmint is a cold cure

that was first used by

prehistoric people.

Rue is prescribed for some

digestive disorders.

Mint is used

for settling an

upset stomach.

Find out more

disease

drugs

Health and fitness

Human body

Medicine, history of

Muscles and movement

Technology

Two HundRed and fifTy yeaRs ago, people lived on

average for just 40 years. Today, in some industrialized parts of

the world, the average lifespan has increased to more than

80 years. Better food and hygiene have helped, but one of

the main reasons for this change is the advances made in

medicine. Medicine is the branch of science concerned

with the prevention, diagnosis (identification), and

treatment of disease and damage to the human body.

Medical scientists are constantly searching for new ways

of treating diseases. Treatments include drugs, radiation

therapy, and surgery. Preventive measures, such as

vaccinations against infections, are becoming an

increasingly important part of modern medicine.

Doctors use MRI scanners to

check patients for tumors or

damage to the brain.

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