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Disease:
sickness (more common); illness (less common)
CDC Original Sentences:
Screening for cervical, colorectal, and breast cancers also helps find these diseases at an early stage when treatment works best.
Plain Language Sentences:
Checking your body for cancer, even if you don't have symptoms, helps find sicknesses early when treatment often works best.
Entry Last Modified 4 November 2016
Disease registry or registry:
a collection of information or list about a group of people with a specific sickness; system for recording or tracking specific sicknesses
CDC Original Sentences:
The national registry of recognized diabetes prevention programs lists contact information for type 2 diabetes prevention programs in communities across the United States.
It is the only population-based registry in the U.S. that collects information to help scientists learn more about who gets ALS and its causes.
Plain Language Sentences:
The list includes contact information for CDC-approved type 2 diabetes prevention programs in communities across the United States.
This information collection about people with ALS is the only one with information from all over the United States. The facts collected could help scientists learn more about who gets ALS and what causes it.
Entry Last Modified 4 November 2016
Immunization:
Process of protecting (a person or animal) from a disease, usually by an action like giving a vaccine. (See Vaccine)
CDC Original Sentences:
Keeping up-to-date immunization records for your family, especially your children, is important.
Plain Language Sentences:
Keeping up-to-date shot and vaccine records for your family, especially your children, is important because you will need those records to register them for school, child care, athletic teams, and summer camps or to travel.
Entry Notes: Consumer research shows many people know "vaccine" but prefer "shots." Not all vaccines are given as shots.
Entry Last Modified 29 September 2017
Ischemic heart disease:
Coronary artery disease (narrowing of the heart's blood vessels)
CDC Original Sentences:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), principally ischemic heart disease and stroke, remains the leading cause of U.S. deaths for men and women and all races and ethnicities in spite of major progress in its prevention and treatment.
Plain Language Sentences:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially coronary artery disease (narrowing of the heart’s blood vessels), is the leading cause of death for US adults.
Entry Last Modified 3 January 2025
Vaccine:
shot, protection against a disease
CDC Original Sentences:
Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination.
Plain Language Sentences:
Your body needs about two weeks to build protection against the flu after you get a shot or spray in your nose to prevent the flu.
Entry Last Modified 7 November 2016
If you do audience testing of these words or other public health or medical words, please send your results to the health literacy staff in CDC’s Office of Communications at clearcommunication@cdc.gov.
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