Glossary terms - S
Sickle cell disease
A group of genetic disorders caused by sickle haemoglobin, which causes periodic vaso-occlusive crisis, acute chest syndrome, and progressive narrowing of the blood vessels, and can also lead to stroke. Occurs most commonly among people with recent ancestry in malaria-stricken areas, such as Africa, the Caribbean, India and the Middle East.
Sleep apnoea
Cessation of breathing during sleep, which may be due to frustrated efforts to breathe against blocked upper airways (so combined with snoring).
Social worker (care manager)
Professionally qualified employee of local Social Services Department who gives advice and practical help with social problems. They also assess the eligibility of a person for community care services.
Sodium/sodium chloride (salt)
Popular food flavouring and preservative. Its over-use can lead to high blood pressure, which adds to the risk of stroke. One teaspoon equals 5g. and daily recommended intake should not exceed 6g. Sodium, not salt, is usually listed on food labels. The amount of salt can be worked out by multiplying the figure listed by 2.5. As a rough guide, if a portion of food contains 1.2g sodium then it contains about 3g salt.
Spasticity
The increased muscle tone often resulting in stiffness, contractures and pain that may develop after a stroke or other type of damage to the brain or spinal cord. This usually requires regular stretching and a range of motion exercises to counterbalance it.
Spatial skills
Ability to judge depth, size, distance and position in space.
Spatio-temporal
Having both spatial extension and temporal duration, ie. involving both space and time and the associated perception.
Speech and Language Therapy
Rehabilitation specialism directed to the treatment of people with speech and language difficulties, which also covers treatment for swallowing problems.
Speech therapist / speech and language therapist (SALT)
A therapist who specialises in the rehabilitation of people with speech and language difficulties, helping them to improve this and/or to find alternative ways of communicating. They are also expert in swallowing problems.
Statins
Drugs used to lower LDL-cholesterol levels, and thereby reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. The following are currently used in the UK: atorvastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin and simvastatin. NICE will review guidelines for their use in 2008.
Stenosis
A narrowing (often applied to an artery).
Sticky blood
See: Hughes Syndrome.
Stress incontinence
Partial loss of bladder control, when there is a sudden extra pressure ('stress') on the bladder, for example when coughing, laughing or running.
Stroke unit
Hospital facility for the effective management of patients with acute stroke by a multi-disciplinary team of specialists.
Subarachnoid haemorrhage
Bleeding between the brain and one of the covering membranes, often due to a leaking aneurysm.
Systolic pressure
Measurement of arterial pressure during the heartbeat, while the blood is being pumped out of the ventricles. In a blood pressure reading, the systolic pressure is the first number recorded, and is typically higher than the second, which measures diastolic pressure.
