The US military is famous for its many cryptic and catchy acronyms. JEEP (General Purpose vehicles), ANG (Air National Guard), DITY (Do IT Yourself), STEAL (Strategic Transfer of Equipment to Alternate Locations), FUBAR (*Fouled Up Beyond All Repair), WARNORD (WARNing ORDer; which curiously seems almost less urgent, compelling or imminent than the actual phrase). No doubt you have a personal favorite. Part of their origins could be to create an efficiency and expediency of communication. But I’d be willing to wager that it’s partly to be cool and mysterious as well. “If you were in the club, you would understand.”
Similarly, the world of healthcare has its own lexicon of terminology that could puzzle even the most proficient provider or profound patient. On top of that, it almost feels like they got together and decided to give fancy schmancy words or terms (ie: long, difficult) for the most basic conditions, instructions, or bodily functions.
- Contusion : is simply a bruise
- Dyspepsia : is another word for indigestion
- Edema : is swelling caused by fluid accumulation
- Flatulence : is better than saying the real word
- And our topic de jour : Titration
Drug titration is a way for clinicians to personalize medication doses, dispensing the drug in slowly increasing amounts, so that patients can obtain the intended benefits of the treatment for their disease while minimizing side effects. In the end, what sounds complicated or potentially painful is actually neither, and designed purely for patient protection - to avoid an immediate adverse reaction to the drug being administered. It all comes down to always ensuring patient safety with the ability to stop any therapy before the treatment becomes worse than the disease. But why can’t they just say that? Perhaps they could say something like monitored progressive medication administration tolerability verification instead. Ok, I guess titration is better - for now.
