Snowball
Snowball
Snowball (/ˈsnōˌbôl/) is a term used in the medical field to describe a phenomenon where a minor health issue escalates into a major one due to a chain reaction of complications. The term is derived from the metaphor of a small snowball rolling down a hill, gaining size and speed as it goes along.
Etymology
The term "snowball" originates from the physical phenomenon of a small ball of snow rolling down a hill and gathering more snow, thus becoming larger and faster. In a medical context, it is used metaphorically to describe a situation where a minor health issue escalates into a major one due to a chain reaction of complications.
Related Terms
- Complication: An unforeseen health issue that arises as a direct result of a disease, injury, or treatment.
- Cascade effect: A chain reaction that occurs when a small change causes a similar change nearby, which then will cause another similar change, and so on in linear sequence.
- Domino effect: A chain reaction that occurs when a small change causes a similar change nearby, which then causes another similar change, and so on in a domino effect.
- Vicious circle: A complex of events that reinforces itself through a feedback loop.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Snowball
- Wikipedia's article - Snowball
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