Week 8 terms

aspiration

When food, liquid, saliva, or vomit is breathed into the airways instead of being swallowed into the esophagus, which can lead to choking or lung infections.

body mass index

A measure of body fat based on a person’s weight in relation to their height. It’s used to categorize individuals as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.

Bulimia

An eating disorder characterized by cycles of binge eating followed by purging (vomiting, using laxatives, or excessive exercise) to prevent weight gain.

Clear Liquid Diet

A diet consisting of transparent liquids like water, broth, and clear juices that leave no residue in the digestive tract. It's often used before or after medical procedures

Dysphagia

Difficulty or discomfort in swallowing, which can occur due to various medical conditions.

Enteral Nutrition

Feeding that delivers nutrients directly into the digestive system through a tube when someone is unable to eat normally.

Fasting Blood Glucose

A test that measures the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood after not eating for at least 8 hours. It’s often used to diagnose diabetes

Full Liquid Diet

A diet that includes all clear liquids plus liquids that are creamy or have milk, like smoothies, cream soups, and pudding.

Gastrostomy Tube (G-tube

A feeding tube inserted through the abdomen directly into the stomach to provide nutrition.

Glycemic Index

A scale that ranks carbohydrate-containing foods by how much they raise blood glucose levels after eating

Jejunostomy Tube (J-tube)

A feeding tube inserted into the jejunum (part of the small intestine) for long-term enteral nutrition.

Nasogastric Tube (NG tube)

A tube inserted through the nose down into the stomach, used for feeding or removing stomach contents.

Obese

A condition where a person has excessive body fat, usually defined as a BMI of 30 or higher.

Overweight

Having more body weight than is considered healthy for a given height, typically defined as a BMI between 25 and 29.9.

Parenteral Nutrition

The delivery of nutrients directly into the bloodstream through an IV, bypassing the digestive system.

Thickened Liquids

Fluids that have been thickened to help people with swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) safely drink without aspirating.