Medical and surgical treatment and care required immediately for patients and usually provided in hospitals.

a disease which causes scarring of the lung tissue and is due to inhalation of asbestos fibres.

Obstructive airway disease brought about by the inhalation of raw cotton dust.

Disease affecting the heart or blood vessels. Cardiovascular diseases include arteriosclerosis, coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, arrhythmia, heart failure, hypertension, orthostatic hypotension, shock, endocarditis, diseases of the aorta and its branches, disorders of the peripheral vascular system, and congenital heart disease.

HPSS trusts which provide services in the community, for example through health centres, clinics or people’s homes. These services include health visiting, school medical and nursing services, chiropody, community nursing, dentistry, child health and family planning.

Disease of the heart that occurs when the walls of the coronary arteries become narrowed by a gradual build-up of fatty material. Examples of CHD include heart attack and angina.

A disease affecting the intestines that is caused by an organism called Cryptosporidium. The parasite is transmitted by drinking or swallowing contaminated food or water. Symptoms include diarrhoea, cramps and fever, and dehydration can result.

Mortality rate. The annual number of deaths (from a disease or in general) divided by the number of people in the population and usually expressed per 1,000 people or per 100,000 people.

Not just temporary or situational sadness, but a persistent and pervasive feeling of sadness or hopelessness that is often associated with weight loss (or gain), sleep disturbances, constipation, disturbances of sexual function, and feelings of guilt or self-blame.

The wide range of personal, social, economic and environmental factors which determine the health status of people or communities. They include health behaviours and lifestyles, income, education, employment, working conditions, access to health services, housing and living conditions and the wider general environment.

Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety.

A disease in which sugar and starch are not properly used by the body due to inadequate insulin production.

A disease in which sugar and starch are not properly used by the body due to decreased sensitivity to insulin.

Eastern Health and Social Services Board – one of four health and social services boards in Northern Ireland. Many people of all ages require a diverse range of health and social care services. Knowing what they need, planning and securing services for them and funding those services are today the responsibility of the Eastern Board. This role is sometimes referred to as the "purchasing" or "commissioning" of care services on behalf of the people served by the Board.

The applied science of equipment design intended to maximize productivity by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort.

Inflammation of the stomach and intestine, causing vomiting and diarrhoea.

High blood pressure (the exact level depends on age).

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Disease of the heart, caused by narrowed heart arteries which restrict the blood and oxygen available to heart muscle.

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Local Health and Social Care Group. The Eastern Board has six LHSCGs within its area who bring local sensitivity to the commissioning of services.

The average number of years a person of a given age would be expected to live if they experienced all of the age-specific current mortality rates throughout their lifespan.

Morbidity rates are the number of cases of an illness, injury or condition within a given time, usually one year.

See death rates.

A serious intestinal illness in babies that can cause tissue damage to the intestines.

A census of population is normally taken every ten years and is carried out by the Census Office for Northern Ireland (CONI). The census is undertaken by law and in accordance with an EC directive. It is taken as it provides the essential statistical information about the population and households for all parts of the country used by the Government, business and other professional research/consultancy organisations.

Description of an individual with a Body Mass Index of equal to or greater than 30.

Description of an individual with a Body Mass Index of between 25 and 30.

A disease in which the bones become extremely porous, are subject to fracture, and heal slowly.

The breathing in of air that contains other people's smoke (known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS).

Mental or emotional as opposed to physical in nature.

Involving both the social and psychological aspects of a person's life.

Disease affecting the organs responsible for carrying oxygen from the air to the bloodstream and for expelling carbon dioxide. Examples include asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and emphysema.

The organs that are involved in breathing. These include the nose, throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs. Also known as the respiratory tract.

A mental illness in which the person suffers from distorted thinking, hallucinations, and a reduced ability to feel normal emotions.

A habitual lack of physical activity.

Social capital represents the amount of ‘unity’ or areas in common in communities, which encourages a willingness to participate. Its key constituents include social relationships, social support, group membership, shared norms, trust, and community involvement. The stronger these networks and bonds, the more likely it is that members of a community will co-operate for mutual benefit. In this way social capital provides a more supportive environment for health and making health improvements.

Description of a person’s position in society which uses criteria such as income, level of education achieved, occupation, value of property owned etc.

This term is used to describe people or areas which suffer from a combination of linked problems such as poor health, unemployment, inadequate skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime rates, lack of educational opportunities, family breakdown etc. Social exclusion prevents people from accessing services, participating in social activities, obtaining the support and standards of living enjoyed by the majority, and being able to become integrated into the local community.

The positive association between decreasing social class and amount of illness –ie the lower the social class the higher the amount of illness. A reverse social gradient refers to a negative association between decreasing social class and amount of illness, ie the lower the social class, the less amount of illness.

The use of a mood-changing substance, such as alcohol or a drug, in such a way that it is either socially unacceptable or impairs the ability to function socially, medically or in the workplace.

The controlled prescribing of opiate medication to illicit opiate users, usually heroin users, as part of an overall care plan.

Infections involving all or part of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra.