Categories: uncategorized
Date: 09 March 2006 07:24:41
I am about to get my first piece of equipment that I can't pronounce! When Dad arrives home from work I will have a sphygmomanometer!!! (Dad works at a pharmaceutical wholesaler that supplies such things). I am going to take it to work on Saturday and practice on my patients!
Whenever I try to say sphygmomanometer it always ends up with about 8 syllables too many.
In answer to your question Ian, hyperphenylalaninaemia refers to a high concentration of phenylalanine in your blood. Phenylalanine is an amino acid (one of the building blocks of protein) and if the body can't break it down properly you get hyperphenylalaninaemia. The word you would be familiar with if you drink diet soft drinks or chew gum is phenylketonuria - this is a disease where phenylalanine can't be metabolised.