constipation
A condition in which stool becomes hard, dry, and difficult to pass, and bowel movements don’t happen very often. Other symptoms may include painful bowel movements, and feeling bloated, uncomfortable, and sluggish.
constitutional acupuncture
A type of acupuncture based on a form of Oriental medicine in which treatment is based on a person’s constitution. According to this type of medicine, the constitution is the specific way a person’s organs affect health and how he or she looks, thinks, behaves, and responds to treatment. Also called Korean acupuncture.
constitutional DNA
The DNA in germ cells (egg and sperm cells that join to form an embryo). Constitutional DNA is the source of DNA for all other cells in the body. Also called germline DNA.
contiguous lymphoma
Lymphoma in which the lymph nodes containing cancer are next to each other.
continent reservoir
A pouch formed from a piece of small intestine to hold urine after the bladder has been removed.
contingency management
In medicine, a treatment plan that gives immediate rewards for desired changes in behavior. It is based on the principle that if a good behavior is rewarded, it is more likely to be repeated. This is often used in the treatment of drug and alcohol abuse, and is being studied as a smoking cessation method.
continuous hyperthermic peritoneal perfusion
A procedure that bathes the abdominal cavity in fluid that contains anticancer drugs. This fluid is warmer than body temperature. This procedure appears to kill cancer cells without harming normal cells. Also called CHPP.
continuous infusion
The administration of a fluid into a blood vessel, usually over a prolonged period of time.
continuum of care
In medicine, describes the delivery of health care over a period of time. In patients with a disease, this covers all phases of illness from diagnosis to the end of life.
