Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

caffeine
A stimulant compound found naturally
in coffee, tea, cocoa (chocolate), and kola nuts
(cola) and added to soft drinks, foods, and medi-
cines. Caffeine can cause anxiety, insomnia, nerv-
ousness, and hypertension. Caffeine is a diuretic
and increases urination. It can decrease a person’s
ability to lose weight because it stimulates insulin
secretion, which reduces blood sugar, which
increases hunger. Caffeine can help to relieve
headaches, so a number of over-the-counter and
Cc
04_189283 ch03.qxp 4/18/08 10:14 PM Page 63
http://www.rashidislamiccenter.com
http://www.allofislam.com/

---

prescription pain relievers include it as an ingredi-
ent, usually with aspirin or another analgesic.
Caffey disease
An inflammatory bone disorder
seen only in newborn and very young babies, char-
acterized by swelling of soft tissues, irritability, fever,
and paleness. Also known as infantile cortical
hyperostosis.
calamine
An astringent made from zinc carbon-
ate or zinc oxide, customarily used in lotion form to
treat skin problems or insect bites that cause itching
or discomfort.
calcaneal spur
A bony spur, also known as a
heel spur, that projects from the back or underside
of the heel bone (the calcaneus) and that may make
walking painful. Calcaneal spurs are associated with
inflammation of the Achilles tendon (Achilles ten-
dinitis), and cause tenderness and pain at the back
of the heel, which is made worse by pushing off the
ball of the foot. Spurs under the sole (the plantar
area) are associated with inflammation of the plan-
tar fascia, which is the bowstring-like tissue that
stretches from the heel underneath the sole. These
spurs can cause localized tenderness and pain that
is made worse by stepping down on the heel.
Calcaneal spurs and plantar fasciitis can occur
alone, or they can be related to underlying diseases
that cause arthritis, such as reactive arthritis and
ankylosing spondylitis. Treatment is designed to
decrease the inflammation and avoid reinjury. Heel
lifts reduce stress on the Achilles tendon and relieve
painful spurs at the back of the heel. Donut-shaped
shoe inserts take pressure off plantar spurs.
Infrequently, surgery is done on chronically
inflamed spurs.