In the Midst of Life

written with the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing: http://www.resus.org.uk/pages/dnarrstd.htm
    For anyone living with, or caring for someone with, a long-term illness, or terminal illness
Financial support if caring for someone with a terminal illness, available at Direct.gov : http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/
CaringAndSupportServices/DG_10035718
If I should Die: a very informative website covering lots of different subjects, such as funeral plans, benefits and how to comfort those who are grieving: http://www.ifishoulddie.co.uk/terminal-life-threatening-illness-c40.html
A website for family carers which offers help and advice for anyone caring for someone with a long-term or terminal illness: http://www.carers.org/

GLOSSARY
     
    by Madeline Bass, RGN, BSC (Hons)
     
    Abdominalexploration: a surgical investigation through an incision, or through key-hole surgery using cameras.
    Abdominal sounds: the normal sounds produced by movement of the bowel and gut.
    Acetylcholine: a neuro-transmitter. This is a substance which the body produces at the end of each nerve cell which then stimulates the next nerve cell to continue the message.
    Acidosis: increased acid levels in the blood which is caused by partial or complete renal failure.
    Acute intestinal obstruction: This is when the gut suddenly blocks either internally, such as from a tumour or the gut twisting, or externally such as from a tumour pressing on to the gut.
    Adrenaline: a substance produced by the body in times of threat or stress. One of its actions is to speed up the heart rate. If the heart stops unexpectedly, adrenaline is one of the drugs used to try and stimulate it to begin working again.
    Advance Directive: now called Advance Decision: These are now legally recognised documents, with specific wording, which refuses treatment in specific circumstances, witnessed. They have to be written whilst the person still has mental capacity and can only come into effect when the person loses that capacity. They must be signed and witnessed to become legal. If overruled by a healthcare professional they could face charges of neglect or assault.
    Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (AMS): a form of Motor Neurone Disease (MND): MND affects the nerves which control functions of the body, and is always fatal.
    Analgesic: a medication or drug which reduces the feeling of pain.
    Aneurysm: a blood-filled swelling of the wall of an artery.
    Angina pectoris: lack of oxygen to the heart muscles, which causes pain in the chest and breathlessness.
    Anodyne: an analgesic which works by lessening the sensitivity of the nerves or brain.
    Anorexia: not to be confused with anorexia nervosa, this refers to lack of appetite.
    Anti-coagulants: a wide-ranging group of drugs to dissolve and prevent blood clots forming inside the blood vessels.
    Anti-emetics: drugs which suppress nausea and vomiting.
    Aperients: oral drugs used to stimulate the bowels.
    Arteries: blood vessels which carry oxygenated blood.
    Arterioles: the smallest arteries in the body.
    Ascites: build-up of fluid in the abdominal cavity.
    Asphyxia: suffocation, dying through lack of oxygen.
    Aspirating needle: a needle used to remove fluid from a part of the body.
    Aspiration: being wrongly taken into the lungs, e.g. food entering the lungs. Aspiration will lead to pneumonia if not prevented and treated.
    Atheroma of the arterial circulation: swelling of the walls of the arteries, caused by debris such as fats, cholesterol, calcium and connective tissue.
    Atrial response: action of the atria, the two smaller chambers of the heart. The right atrium pushes blood into the right ventricle, where blood is then pushed to the lungs to collect oxygen. From there it returns to the left atrium which pumps it into the left ventricle. From there it is pushed via the aorta around the body.
    Auscultations: examination by listening.
    Bedsores: also called pressures sores: these occur when the body does not move around enough, e.g. due to accident, illness, disability or injury. This causes the person to be less mobile. If pressure is applied to an area of the body for too long the circulation is compromised and the skin starts to break down, causing a sore.
    Bladder irrigation: certain conditions can cause a blockage ofthe urethra, e.g. in prostatectomy, bleeding is prevented from blocking the urethra by passing a large catheter, which has two drainage lines, into the bladder: one allows sterile