These are the medical terms you’re pronouncing wrong (and how you’re REALLY supposed to say them)
Have you ever wondered how to pronounce the words on the doctor’s note?
You are not alone.
Millions of us struggle to decipher the medical jargon, let alone say it aloud.
Lucky for all of us today, a GP shared with MailOnline readers exactly how to pronounce seven commonly mispronounced terms.
Tinnitus (TIN-it-us)
This condition is pronounced “TIN-it-us,” as opposed to the softer-sounding ending of tonsilitis.
It is a term used to describe hearing sounds that come from within your body, rather than an outside source.
Tinnitus is often described as hearing ‘ringing in the ears’, but it can also cause buzzing, whooshing or hissing sounds.
While it’s not clear what causes tinnitus, there are many conditions associated with it. These include anxiety and diabetes, as well as Meniere’s disease (a rare inner ear disorder that can affect your balance and hearing and is incurable).
About one in seven Britons has persistent tinnitus, according to Tinnitus UK, while one-tenth in 10 Americans have experienced tinnitus that lasted at least five minutes in the past year, says the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
Diphtheria (dif-THEER-ee-uh)
The highly contagious infection is pronounced “dif-THEER-ee-uh,” with the “ph” taking on an F sound like in the phone.
The serious disease can be fatal, especially for children. But babies and young people have been routinely vaccinated against it since the 1940s.
To avoid being affected by the infection in places around the world where it has been detected in the last five years, such as Indonesia, India and South America, it is advisable to get fully vaccinated before travelling.
The disease, which affects the nose, throat and sometimes the skin, is spread by coughing and sneezing.
Oophorectomy (oh-uh-fuh-WRECK-tuh-mee)
This surgical procedure — the removal of one or both ovaries — is pronounced “oh-uh-fuh-WRECK-tuh-mee,” rather than an “oof” sound.
Ovaries may need to be removed due to endometriosis and cancer, as well as pelvic inflammatory disease.
The procedure, which can take up to four hours, can also be performed as a precaution for women who carry mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, which are known to increase the risk of cancer.
In endometriosis, tissue — similar to that found in the uterine lining — grows in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Pelvic inflammatory disease is caused by a bacterial infection that spreads from the vagina or cervix to the reproductive organs, such as the uterus and ovaries.
Periodontitis (pay-ree-oh-don-TIE-tiss)
The scientific name of gum disease (periodontitis) is pronounced “pay-ree-oh-don-TIE-tiss.”
If left untreated, the serious infection caused by plaque buildup can spread to the bone and lead to permanent tooth loss.
The scientific name of gum disease (periodontitis) is pronounced ‘pay-ree-oh-don-TIE-tiss’
It starts out as gingivitis. A common sign of this is bleeding gums when you brush or floss your teeth.
Other typical symptoms of periodontitis are bad breath, receding gums and changes in the position of the teeth.
About half of the UK and US population has periodontitis of varying severity, experts estimate.
Pica (PIKE-uh)
This eating disorder is pronounced “PIKE-uh” and not “PEE-ka.”
This is when a person compulsively eats things that are not food and have no nutritional value or purpose.
These foods usually contain ash, eggshells, pebbles and soap.
It usually affects young children, pregnant women, and people with certain mental illnesses, such as autism and schizophrenia.
Surprisingly, it is a very common condition, but doctors have not yet been able to track exactly how many people live with it.
This may be because many feel too embarrassed or embarrassed to talk about it and often go through life without treatment.
If left untreated, the condition can lead to more serious problems such as anemia, lead poisoning, and irregular heart rhythms.
Rosacea (calf-ZAY-shuh)
This skin condition, which affects millions, is pronounced ‘roe-ZAY-shuh’. The ‘S’ sounds more like a ‘Z’.
Rosacea mainly affects the face and is more common in women and people with lighter skin.
Rosacea mainly affects the face and is more common in women and people with lighter skin
The first signs are redness on the nose, cheeks and forehead, as well as a burning sensation when using water or skin care products. As it progresses, it can cause dry skin and scabs around the eyelash roots.
There are some treatments, such as oral and topical medications.
Rosacea affects about one in ten people in the UK and US, usually in middle age.
Esophagus (iss-off-uh-JEE-ole)
This term, related to the esophagus, is pronounced “iss-off-uh-JEE-ole,” the “ph” sounding like an F.
The esophagus, also called the esophagus or food pipe, connects your mouth to your stomach.
Diseases affecting the esophagus include.
Symptoms of esophageal cancer include difficulty swallowing, nausea or vomiting, acid reflux, and indigestion.
There are about 9,300 new cases of oesophageal cancer each year in the UK and 21,500 in the US
There are about 9,300 new cases of oesophageal cancer each year in the UK and 21,500 in the US.