Table 229.1Influence of Traditional or Folk Terminology and Beliefs on the Understanding of Physical Problems: American Black Terms for Some Medical Conditions

Folk termMay describeFolk view
Low bloodAnemia
Low blood pressure
Lack of energy		Not enough blood to allow the body to function; lack of iron/nourishment causing improper bodily function
Bad bloodPrior hematogenous infection
Prior diagnosis of syphilis
A prior blood test abnormality		A diseased condition of the blood from various types of contamination. Too many sexual partners
Falling outSeizures, faints, passing out
Religious spells, or faints		A sudden collapse, eyes open but not seeing and with intact hearing. Antecedent weakness, or "swinging," or "swimming in the head." May be caused by high blood

From: Chapter 229, Dealing with Patients from Other Cultures

Cover of Clinical Methods
Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition.
Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, editors.
Boston: Butterworths; 1990.
Copyright © 1990, Butterworth Publishers, a division of Reed Publishing.

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