Category: P

A signed, dated, and witnessed legal document that sets up a surrogate for making decisions. A written agreement under which one person (the “principal”) authorizes another (the “agent”) to act on her behalf. The agent need not be a lawyer. An ordinary power of attorney automatically terminates if the principal becomes incompetent. The theory behind…

Position of the limbs or carriage of the body as a whole. Posture is usually taken to refer to the manner in which a person carries his or her body, particularly when standing. Posture refers to the arrangement of various body parts while a person is at rest or in motion. Optimal posture entails distributing…

A period during which a person is closely monitored for possible complications following surgery. Immediately following an operation, the person is wheeled from the operating room to the postanesthesia care unit; also called the recovery room. The person is given oxygen, and cardiac and pulse monitors are used so that the nursing staff may observe…

Birth control methods used after sex has taken place. Historically, ineffective folk remedies, such as cola soft drink or vinegar-water douches, have been used for postcoital contraception. However, certain types of birth control pills and intrauterine devices can be used with some success to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. Action taken to prevent conception after…

An antibiotic. Polymyxin B sulfate (Betadine, Cortisporin, Neosporin, Polytrim, Terramycin solution) is an antibacterial drug used in many forms to treat eye and skin infections. Polymyxin B sulfate is available both with and without prescription.  

Heavy perspiration; also called hyperhidrosis. Polyhidrosis is a condition in which intense sweating on the palms, soles of the feet, and underarms occurs whenever the person is under stress. As many as 1 percent of people experience polyhidrosis, which is not a harmful condition but one that can be embarrassing. In some cases, polyhidrosis is…

A system developed in the 1920s based on a view of health as a reflection of the condition of people’s so called energy fields. Polarity therapy assumes that health is achieved when energy systems are fully functional and energy can flow smoothly within the body. When energy is unbalanced or blocked because of stress, pain,…

Consumption of or contact with poisonous plants. Many plants, both cultivated and wild, are poisonous and should not be eaten, including many berries, mushrooms, flowers, flower bulbs, and leaves of otherwise edible plants, such as the leaves of tomatoes and rhubarb.  

A condition in which the placenta becomes detached from the wall of the uterus during pregnancy. This very rare condition is considered a life-threatening emergency, because it can cut off the blood circulation of the fetus. The chief symptom is sudden abdominal pain, caused when the placenta detaches from the uterus. Some women also experience…

An abnormal prickling feeling in the skin. A pins and needles sensation may occur when a person’s hand or foot “falls asleep.” However, persistent pins and needles or tingling is a sign of damage or irritation to nerves or of poor circulation in the affected area. Possible causes of pins and needles include nerve injury,…