Asthma Glossary of Terms

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Acute: Of abrupt onset, in reference to a disease. Acute often also connotes an illness th...

Adrenaline: A stress hormone produced within the adrenal gland that quickens the heart bea...

Airway: The path that air follows to get into and out of the lungs. The mouth and nose are...

Airway obstruction: Partial or complete blockage of the breathing passages to the lungs. C...

Allergen: A substance that can cause an allergic reaction. Common allergens include ragwee...

Allergic reaction: The hypersensitive response of the immune system of an allergic indiv...

Allergic rhinitis: Medical term for hay fever, an allergic reaction that mimics a chronic ...

Allergy: A misguided reaction to foreign substances by the immune system, the body system ...

Antibody: An immunoglobulin, a specialized immune protein, produced because of the introdu...

Anticholinergic: Opposing the actions of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Anticholinerg...

Artery: A vessel that carries blood high in oxygen content away from the heart to the far...

Aspirin: Once the Bayer trademark for acetylsalicylic acid, now the common name for this a...

Asthma: A common lung disorder in which inflammation causes the bronchi to swell and narro...

Asthmatic: 1. Pertaining to asthma as, for example, asthmatic bronchitis.
...

Atopic: A predisposition toward developing certain allergic hypersensitivity reactions. At...

Atopy: The genetic tendency to develop the classic allergic diseases -- atopic dermatitis,...

Beta-agonist: A bronchodilator medicine that opens the airways by relaxing the muscles aro...

Breathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through ...

Bronchi: The plural of bronchus.

Bronchiolitis: Inflammation of the bronchioles, usually due to viral infections.

Bronchitis: Inflammation and swelling of the bronchi. Bronchitis can be acute or chronic.

Caffeine: A stimulant compound found naturally in coffee, tea, cocoa (chocolate), and kola...

Carbon dioxide: A gas which is the byproduct of cellular metabolism and which collects in ...

Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t...

Chest X-ray: A type of X-ray commonly used to detect abnormalities in the lungs. A chest X...

Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

Chronic disease: A disease that persists for a long time. A chronic disease is one lasting...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: COPD. Any disorder that persistently obstructs bron...

COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Any disorder that persistently obstructs bron...

Cough: A rapid expulsion of air from the lungs, typically in order to clear the lung airwa...

Dander: Tiny scales shed from human or animal skin or hair. Dander floats in the air, sett...

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

Dilating: The widening and opening of an opening, such as the cervix or esophagus. For exa...

Dyspnea: Difficult or labored breathing; shortness of breath. Dyspnea is a sign of serious...

Ear: The hearing organ. There are three sections of the ear, according to the anatomy tex...

Eczema: A particular type of inflammatory reaction of the skin in which there are typicall...

Edema: The swelling of soft tissues as a result of excess fluid accumulation. Edema is oft...

Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

Emphysema: 1) A lung condition featuring an abnormal accumulation of air in the lung's ma...

Epidemic: The occurrence of more cases of a disease than would be expected in a community...

Epinephrine: A substance produced by the medulla (inside) of the adrenal gland. The name e...

Exercise-induced asthma: Asthma triggered by vigorous physical activity. It primarily affe...

Fever: Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degr...

Fingernail: A fingernail is produced by living skin cells in the finger. A fingernail cons...

Flu: Short for influenza. The flu is caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract w...

Gastroesophageal: Pertaining to both the stomach and the esophagus, as in the gastroesopha...

Gastroesophageal reflux: The return of stomach contents back up into the esophagus This fr...

Genes: The basic biological units of heredity. Segments of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) nee...

Genetic: Having to do with genes and genetic
information.

GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Hay fever: A seasonal allergy to airborne particles characterized by itchy eyes, runny nos...

Hormone: A chemical substance produced in the body that controls and regulates the activit...

Ibuprofen: A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is commonly used to treat pa...

Immune: Protected against infection, usually by the presence of antibodies.

Immune system: A complex system that is responsible for distinguishing a person from every...

Immunoglobulin: A protein produced by plasma cells and lymphocytes and characteristic of t...

Immunoglobulin E: A class of immunoglobulins that includes the antibodies that are importa...

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Inflammation: A localized reaction that produces redness, warmth, swelling, and pain as a ...

Inflammatory response: A fundamental type of response by the body to disease and injury, a...

Leukotriene: One of a group of chemicals produced by the body that accompanies inflammatio...

Lips: Aside from the lips of the mouth, there are two pairs of lips at the entrance to the...

Lungs: The lungs are a pair of breathing organs located with the chest which remove carbon...

Medical history: 1. In clinical medicine, the patient's past and present which may ...

Menstrual: Pertaining to menstruation (the menses), as in last menstrual period, menstrua...

Menstrual cycle: The monthly cycle of changes in the ovaries and the lining of the uteru...

Menstruation: The periodic blood that flows as a discharge from the uterus. Also called me...

Metered dose inhaler: See: Metered-dose inhaler.

Mold: One of a large group of fungi that can proliferate on food or in moist areas. Househ...

Mucous: Pertaining to mucus, a thick fluid produced by the lining of some tissues of the b...

Mucus: A thick fluid that is produced by the lining of some organs of the body.

Nebulizer: A device for administering a medication by spraying a fine mist. Also known as ...

Neck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or constric...

Nose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c...

Obesity: The state of being well above one's normal weight.

Obstruction: Blockage of a passageway. See, for example: Airway obstruction; Intestinal o...

Oxygen: The odorless gas that is present in the air and necessary to maintain life. Oxygen...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Pneumonia: Inflammation of one or both lungs, with dense areas of lung inflammation. Pneum...

Pneumothorax: Free air in the chest outside the lung. Pneumothorax can occur spontaneously...

Pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. Thi...

Probe: (1) In surgery, a probe is a slender flexible rod with a blunt end used to e...

Prognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan...

Pulmonary: Having to do with the lungs.

Pulse: The rhythmic dilation of an artery that results from beating of the heart. Pulse is...

Rad: Radiation absorbed dose, a measurement for a dose of ionizing radiation.

Recurrent: Appearing or occurring again. For example, a recurrent fever is a fever that ha...

Reflux: The term used when liquid backs up into the esophagus from the stomach.

Regimen: A plan or a regulated course, such as a diet, exercise, or treatment, that is des...

Resistance: Opposition to something, or the ability to withstand something. For example, s...

Respiratory: Having to do with respiration.

Respiratory therapist: A person who has graduated from an approved respiratory therapist p...

Rhinitis: Irritation of the nose.

Rib: One of the 12 paired arches of bone that form the skeletal structure of the chest wal...

Rib cage: The structure formed by the thoracic vertebrae and ribs, the sternum (breastbone...

Risk factor: Something that increases a person's chances of developing a disease. For exam...

Rule out: Term used in medicine, meaning to eliminate or exclude something from considera...

Sensitivity: 1. In psychology, the quality of being sensitive. As, for example, sen...

Shortness of breath: Difficulty in breathing. Medically referred to as dyspnea. Shortness ...

Sinusitis: Inflammation of the lining membrane in any of the hollow areas (sinuses) of the...

Sleep: The body's rest cycle.

Sodium: The major positive ion (cation) in the fluid surrounding cells in the body. The ch...

Spirometry: A test of the air capacity of the lung. The test utilizes a machine called a s...

Steroid: One of a large group of chemical substances classified by a specific carbon struc...

Stomach: The digestive organ that is located in the upper abdomen, under the ribs. The upp...

Stress: In a medical or biological context stress is a physical, mental, or emotional fact...

Symptom: Any subjective evidence of disease. In contrast, a sign is objective. Blood comin...

Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Tobacco: A South American herb (Nicotiana tabacum) whose leaves contain 2 to 8 percent nic...

Trigger: Something that either sets off a disease in people who are genetically predispose...

Upper respiratory infection: An infection of the upper part of the respiratory system whic...

Ventilator: A machine that mechanically assists a patient in the exchange of oxygen and ca...

Viral: Of or pertaining to a virus. For example, if a person has a viral rash, the rash wa...

Viruses: Small living particles that can infect cells and change how the cells function. I...

Wheezing: A whistling noise in the chest during breathing. Wheezing occurs when the airway...

X-ray: High-energy radiation with waves shorter than those of visible light. X-ray is used...