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ASKIt is not a disease; it’s a condition.
So says my fantastic doctor, Dr. Margo Minissian. She said it in just the right way, too. Not downplaying it, instead, focusing on the positive.
After all, when you have a ‘disease’, you sound so, well….sick!
Let’s compare.
1.) Disease: an impairment of the normal state that interrupts or modifies the performance of the vital functions.
2.) Condition: a usually defective state of health.
Both definitions have a certain amount of right to them. After all, who among us would argue that chest pain et al ‘impairs our normal state; or impairs our functioning.” And, clearly, who would argue that our state of health is ‘defective’.
Semantics
It feels more like a matter of he said/she said. Take your pick; Heart Disease or Heart Condition. Now, say it aloud. Which sounds better to you? I’m leaning towards condition. It sounds like something I can fix. Something that might go away in time. Something that won’t kill me.
The Hear and Now
Asking you, dear reader, to say both aloud may seem a bit odd.
But listen to the words as you speak them.
Heart Disease.
Heart Condition.
Decide which is better and incorporate it into your vernacular. Who knows, saying it aloud might make it go away after all.
Rebecca Fortunato
http://rebeccasheart.wordpress.com/
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Add a Comment2 Comments
What a great point Rebecca, thanks for posting! It's like the difference between a person who has cancer being viewed as a "victim" instead of being seen as someone "living" with cancer. When you are the one who's living with your medical condition each and every single day the semantics really do matter!
April 9, 2011 - 12:31pmThis Comment
Hi Rebecca,
April 8, 2011 - 5:35pmYou have so eloquently expressed a concept that your doctor has shared with you and you have shared with the EmpowHer community. Thank you and I think your words will inspire anyone coping with any type of condition.