Compression, from the Latin compressĭo, is the action and effect of compressing. This verb refers to narrowing, squeezing, pressing or reducing to a lower volume. For example: “The suitcases entered the trunk under compression so we will have to travel carefully”, “The doctor recommended that I use wider pants since the compression of the stomach is not good”, “The compression of the file has not yet has ended ”.
According to DigoPaul, compression can be a physical or mechanical process that consists of subjecting a body to the action of two opposing forces to decrease its volume. The result of these stresses is known as compression stress.
A cushion filled with foam rubber can be compressed if we exert force with both hands to make it smaller. Due to the characteristics, once we stop using force, the cushion will regain its usual shape and size. However, if when it is compressed we introduce it in a small space that prevents it from growing again or we tie it, we will have managed to reduce its volume.
Within the field of medicine, we should highlight the existence of the term spinal compression. It is a serious health problem for what would be the neurological system and that results in consequences such as loss of sensitivity in the body, paralysis of the body or a complete lack of control of the sphincters.
Pain is the main symptom of this ailment that is urgently needed to be diagnosed, as it is the way it can be stopped or eliminated. It should also be emphasized that people who suffer from it should undergo a treatment that, based on their advanced state, may consist of surgery, medications such as corticosteroids or even oncological and radiotherapy treatment.
A cancer is the one that usually gives shape to the aforementioned spinal compression, which was discovered in 1925 and currently affects 2% of the population that suffers from it. Specifically, the most common is that it appears in adults between 40 and 60 years old and who face prostate or breast cancer.
Also, within this sector, we should highlight the existence of what is known as nerve compression. As its name suggests, it is about the compression of a nerve root and is basically identified because it results in blunt pain.
The extremities, such as the hands, are those that, on a regular basis, can be most affected by this type of health problem.
In the field of computing, data compression consists of reducing the weight of a digital file by reducing the volume of data that can be processed. This means that the file in question, after compression, will take up less space.
Compression is performed based on three types of information: basic (which must be transmitted so that the signal can be reconstructed), redundant (repetitive information) or irrelevant (its elimination does not affect the content). The compression typology, therefore, can be without real loss, subjectively lossless or subjectively lossy.
