Chapter 15

If you are thinking of trying a complementary and alternative treatment for a medical condition, you should first discuss it with your conventional health care provider for all of the following reasons EXCEPT: A) the treatment might interact dangerously with a conventional treatment you are receiving. B) there may be a conventional treatment that has been shown to be beneficial for your condition. C) you may need a conventional treatment immediately. D) conventional treatments are the only effective treatments.

conventional treatments are the only effective treatments.

Because herbal remedies and botanicals are derived from plants and other naturally occurring materials, they can be assured to be very safe.

false

For a cold, the best medication is an all-in-one product that will treat many symptoms simultaneously.

false

Hypnosis can be performed only by a licensed medical doctor.

false

In the United States the two types of physicians fully trained and licensed to perform surgery and prescribe medication are osteopaths and homeopaths.

false

The FDA guarantees the safety and effectiveness of all medications on the market, both over-the-counter and prescription.

false

The goal of complementary and alternative medicine is rid the body of disease-causing pathogens.

false

An advantage of fee-for-service insurance plans over managed-care plans is: A) it is less expensive B) it allows consumers more choice in health care providers. C) it is provided by the government. D) it is easier to get into a plan.

it allows consumers more choice in health care providers.

Primary care physicians routinely do all of the following EXCEPT: A) Provide psychiatric care. B) Provide pediatric care. C) Provide preventative health services, such as immunizations and cancer screening tests. D) Provide gynecological and obstetrical care.

provide psychiatric care.

All of the following symptoms or conditions require emergency medical care EXCEPT: A) loss of consciousness. B) recurrent stomach pain. C) severe shortness of breath. D) steadily worsening reaction to an insect bite.

recurrent stomach pain

Homeopathy is based on the principles that: A) a substance that causes a disease can cure the disease in small amounts and the smaller the amount, the greater the effectiveness. B) illnesses are caused by disturbances in the flow of qi and such disturbances can be corrected through the insertion of needles into points in the skin. C) the body is surrounded by energy fields and such fields can be influenced by touch and movement. D) mind and body are integrally connected and changing one can change the other.

a substance that causes a disease can cure the disease in small amounts and the smaller amount, the greater the effectiveness.

therapeutic touch

A CAM practice based on the premise that healers can identify and correct energy imbalances by passing their hands over the patient's body.

Reiki

A CAM practice intended to correct disturbances in the flow of life energy and enhance the body's healing powers through the use of thirteen hand positions on the patient.

pharmacopoeia

A collection of drugs and medicinal preparations.

qigong

A component of traditional Chinese medicine that combines movement, meditation, and regulation of breathing to enhance the flow of qi, improve blood circulation, and enhance immune function.

generic drug

A drug that is not registered or protected by a trademark; a drug that does not have a brand name.

Medicare

A federal health insurance program for people 65 or older and for younger people with certain disabilities.

Medicaid

A federally subsidized state-run plan of health care for people of low income.

managed-care plan

A health care program that integrates the financing and delivery of services by using designated providers, utilization review, and financial incentives for following the plan's policies; HMO, PPO, and POS are examples of managed-care plans.

point-of-service (POS) plan

A managed-care plan that covers treatment by an HMO physician but permits patients to seek treatment elsewhere with a higher copayment.

doctor of osteopathy

A medical practitioner who has graduated from an osteopathic medical school; osteopathy incorporates the theories and practices of scientific medicine but focuses on musculoskeletal problems and manipulative therapy.

endoscopy

A medical procedure in which a viewing instrument is inserted into a body cavity or opening. Specific procedures are named for the area viewed: inside joints (arthroscopy), inside airways (bronchoscopy), inside the abdominal cavity (laparoscopy), and inside the lower portion of the large intestine, or sigmoid colon (sigmoidoscopy)

over-the-counter (OTC) medication

A medication or product that can be purchased by the consumer without a prescription.

outpatient

A person receiving medical attention without being admitted to the hospital.

dentist

A practitioner who holds a doctor of medical dentistry or doctor of dental surgery degree and who specializes in the prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries of the teeth, mouth, and jaws.

optometrist

A practitioner who holds a doctor of optometry degree and is trained to examine the eyes, detect eye diseases, and prescribe corrective lenses.

podiatrist

A practitioner who holds a doctor of podiatric medicine degree and specializes in the medical and surgical care of the feet.

health maintenance organization (HMO)

A prepaid health insurance plan in which patients receive health care from designated providers.

preferred provider organization (PPO)

A prepaid health insurance plan in which providers agree to deliver services for discounted fees; patients can go to any provider, but using nonparticipating providers results in higher costs to the patient.

atibiotic

A substance derived from a mold or bacterium that inhibits the growth of other microorganisms.

chiropractic

A system of manual healing most frequently used to treat musculoskeletal problems; the primary treatment is manipulation of the spine and other joints. Practitioners hold a doctor of chiropractic degree and are licensed.

conventional medicine

A system of medicine based on the application of the scientific method; diseases are thought to be caused by identifiable physical factors and characterized by a representative set of symptoms; also called biomedicine or standard Western medicine.

false negative

A test result that fails to correctly detect a disease or condition.

false positive

A test result that incorrectly detects a disease or condition in a healthy person.

moneopathy

An alternative medical system of Western origin in which illnesses are treated by giving very small doses of drugs that in larger doses in a healthy person would produce symptoms like those of the illness.

medical doctor

An independent practitioner who holds a doctor of medicine degree from an accredited medical school.

bioelectromagnetic-based therapies

CAM therapies based on the use of electromagnetic fields to promote healing and manage pain.

biological-based therapies

CAM therapies that include natural and biologically based practices, interventions, and products; examples include herbal remedies and dietary supplements.

f you have a cough that lasts longer than 2 weeks, you should: A) go to a hospital emergency room. B) call your primary physician to see if you should schedule an appointment. C) monitor your condition for another 1-2 weeks before contacting your physician. D) ask your pharmacist to recommend an over-the-counter or prescription medication.

call your primary physician to see if you should schedule an appointment.

The manipulation of joints in the spinal column is an important therapeutic procedure in: A) homeopathy. B) chiropractic. C) acupuncture. D) qigong.

chiropratic

energy therapies

Forms of CAM treatment that use energy fields originating either within the body or from outside sources to promote healing.

allied health care providers

Health care professionals who typically provide services under the supervision or control of independent practitioners.

acupuncture

Insertion of long, thin needles into the skin at points along meridians, pathways through which qi is believed to flow; needles correct imbalances in qi; a practice common in traditional Chinese medicine.

pharmaceuticals

Medical drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter.

traditional medicine

Medical systems that have developed in many non-Western. cultures; also referred to as complementary and alternative medicine

mortality rate

The number of deaths occurring in a population of a given size in a given time period.

morbidity rate

The number of illnesses or injuries occurring in a population of a given size in a given time period

holism

The principle that all aspects of a person are interrelated and form an integrated system.

hypnosis

The process by which a practitioner induces a state of deep relaxation in which an individual is more suggestible.

traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

The traditional medical system of China, which views illness as the result of a disturbance in the flow of qi, the life force; therapies include acupuncture, herbal medicine, and massage.

complementary or alternative medicine (CAM)

Therapies or practices that are not part of conventional or mainstream health care and medical practice as taught in most U.S. medical schools and available at most U.S. health care facilities; examples of CAM practices include acupuncture, herbal remedies, and homeopathy.

Conventional Western medicine might identify all of the following as factors contributing to or causing illness or disease EXCEPT: A) a streptococcal infection. B) a genetic tendency to obesity. C) a spiritual imbalance. D) a diet high in saturated fats and cholesterol.

a spiritual imbalance.

The most successful patient-physician relationship appears to be one in which: A) the patient relies exclusively on the physician's medical knowledge and expertise. B) the physician protects his or her valuable time by discouraging or dismissing questions. C) the patient participates actively in decisions and the physician acts as a consultant. D) the physician protects the patient from confusing or distressing information and makes the important decisions about the patient's care.

the patient participates actively in decisions and the physician acts as a consultant.

Acupuncture has been found to be effective in relieving pain after surgery and nausea after chemotherapy.

true

Generic drugs have the same active ingredient as brand-name drugs and are less expensive.

true

In a health maintenance organization, you choose a primary care physician who manages your health care and refers you to specialists if you need them.

true

In conventional Western medicine, each person with a particular set of symptoms is treated in a basically similar way.

true

The best choice in self-treatment is often: A) contacting your physician to see what medications you should be taking. B) using prescription medications from the last time you had something similar. C) waiting for your body to heal itself. D) using a medical self-test kit to determine how serious your condition is

waiting for your body to heal itself.