Hashimoto's Disease Glossary of Terms

1. Hyperthyroidism Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Thyroid Disorder Quiz
3. Thyroid Symptoms and Solutions Slideshow Pictures

Autoantibody: An antibody directed against the patient's own body tissue.

Autoimmune: Pertaining to autoimmunity, a misdirected immune response that occurs when the...

Autoimmune disease: An illness that occurs when the body tissues are attacked by its own i...

Autoimmune process: A process in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys body ...

Autoimmune thyroiditis: See: Hashimoto thyroiditis.

Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms that can exist either as independent (free-living) ...

Brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func...

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

Cardiac: Having to do with the heart.

Cholesterol: The most common type of steroid in the body. Cholesterol has a reputation for...

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

Cleft palate: An opening in the roof of the mouth due to a failure of the palatal shelves ...

Coma: A state of deep, unarousable unconsciousness. A coma may occur as a result of head t...

Conception: 1. The union of the sperm and the ovum. Synonymous with fertilization.
...

Congenital: A condition that is present at birth, whether or not it is inherited.

Constipation: Infrequent and frequently incomplete bowel movements. Constipation is the op...

Contraction: The tightening and shortening of a muscle.

Depression: An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and that affects the way...

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

Dry skin: Abnormally dry skin. Can be caused by a dry climate, winter weather, deficiency...

Enlarged thyroid: see goiter.

Esophagus: The tube that connects the pharynx (throat) with the stomach. The esophagus lie...

Fatigue: A condition characterized by a lessened capacity for work and reduced efficiency ...

Genetic: Having to do with genes and genetic
information.

Gland: A group of cells that secrete a substance for use in the body. For example, the thy...

Goiter: A noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid gland. With a goiter, the levels of thyr...

Hashimoto disease: A progressive disease of the thyroid gland characterized by the presenc...

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

Heart disease: Any disorder that affects the heart. Sometimes the term "heart disease" is ...

Heart failure: Inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it and, specifically...

Heart rate: The number of heartbeats per unit of time, usually per minute. The heart rate ...

Heredity: The genetic transmission of characteristics from parent to child.

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

Hypercholesterolemia: High blood cholesterol. This can be sporadic (occurring with no fami...

Hypothalamus: The area of the brain that secretes substances that influence pituitary and ...

Hypothyroid: Deficiency of thyroid hormone which is normally made by the thyroid gland wh...

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

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

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

Kidney: One of a pair of organs located in the right and left side of the abdomen. The kid...

Lethargy: Abnormal drowsiness, stupor.

Levothyroxine: A synthetic thyroid hormone used as a thyroid hormone replacement drug (bra...

Lymphocytic: Referring to lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. For example, lymphocyti...

Menorrhagia: Excessive uterine bleeding occurring at the expected intervals of the menstru...

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

Metabolic: Relating to metabolism, the whole range of biochemical processes that occur wit...

Metabolism: The whole range of biochemical processes that occur within a living organism. ...

Microscopic: So small it cannot be seen without the aid of microscope. As opposed to macro...

Myxedema coma: A rare and life-threatening complication of hypothyroidism (low levels of t...

Nodule: A small collection of tissue that is palpable (can be felt) at any level of the sk...

Palate: The roof of the mouth. The front portion is bony (hard palate), and the back porti...

Palpitations: Unpleasant sensations of irregular and/or forceful beating of the heart. In ...

Pathologist: A physician who identifies diseases and conditions by studying abnormal cells...

Pituitary: 1. As an adjective, pertaining to the pituitary gland or its hormonal se...

Pituitary gland: The main endocrine gland. It is a small structure in the head. It is ca...

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

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

Psychiatric: Pertaining to or within the purview of psychiatry, the medical specialty conc...

Sedative: A drug that calms a patient, easing agitation and permitting sleep. Sedatives ge...

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

Sweating: The act of secreting fluid from the skin by the sweat (sudoriferous) glands. The...

Systemic: Affecting the entire body. A systemic disease such as diabetes can affect the wh...

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

Thyroid: 1. The thyroid gland. Also, pertaining to the thyroid gland. 2. A p...

Thyroid gland: A gland that makes and stores hormones that help regulate the heart rate, b...

Thyroid hormone: A chemical substance made by the thyroid gland for export into the bloods...

Thyroid hormones: Chemical substances made by the thyroid gland, which is located in the...

Thyroiditis: Inflammation of the thyroid gland which is located in front of the neck:

Thyroxine: A hormone that is made by the thyroid gland and is one of the most important th...

Trachea: A tube-like portion of the respiratory tract that connects the larynx with the br...

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

Triiodothyronine: A hormone that is made by the thyroid gland. Triiodothyronine has three ...

TSH: Thyroid stimulating hormone.

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