Hay Fever Glossary of Terms

1. 10 Common Allergy Triggers Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Quiz on Allergies
3. Nasal Allergy Relief Slideshow Pictures

Aerosol: A fine spray or mist. Medications in aerosol form can be administered via a nebul...

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

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 ...

Allergy shots: See Allergy desensitization.

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

Antigen: A substance that the immune system perceives as being foreign or dangerous. The b...

Antihistamines: Drugs that combat the histamine released during an allergic reaction by bl...

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

Bacterial: Of or pertaining to bacteria, as in a bacterial lung infection.

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is...

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

Complication: In medicine, an unanticipated problem that arises following, and is a result...

Conditioning: 1) Exercise and practice to build the body up for either improved normal pe...

Congestion: An abnormal or excessive accumulation of a body fluid. The term is used broadl...

Decongestant: A drug that shrinks the swollen membranes in the nose, making it easier for ...

Discharge: 1.The flow of fluid from part of the body, such as from the nose or vag...

Drip: Short for intravenous drip, a device for administering a fluid drop-by-drop into a v...

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

Earache: Pain in the ear. This can occur because of conditions within the ear itself, the ...

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

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

Family history: The family structure and relationships within the family, including inform...

Family practice: The medical specialty which provides continuing and comprehensive health ...

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

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

Flare: 1. an exacerbation of a chronic disease. Sometimes referred to as a flare-up, a fla...

Food and Drug Administration: An agency within the US Public Health Service that provides ...

Fungus: A single-celled or multicellular organism. Fungi can be true pathogens (such as hi...

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

High blood pressure: A repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg. Chro...

Histamine: A substance that plays a major role in many allergic reactions, dilating blood ...

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...

Immunology: The study of all aspects of the immune system, including its structure and fun...

Immunotherapy: Treatment to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune (defense) syst...

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...

Itching: An uncomfortable sensation in the skin that feels as if something is crawling on ...

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

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

Lymph: The almost colorless fluid that travels through the lymphatic system, carrying cell...

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

Microscope: An optical instrument that augments the power of the eye to see small objects....

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

Mouth: 1. The upper opening of the digestive tract, beginning with the lips and con...

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

Nares: The nostrils.

Nasal: Having to do with the nose.

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

Otitis: Inflammation of the ear. Depending upon which part of the ear is inflammed, there ...

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

Pediatrics: The field of medicine that is concerned with the health of infants, children, ...

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

Pollen: Small, light, dry protein particles from trees, grasses, flowers, and weeds that m...

Pollinosis: 1. Hay fever in response to pollen. 2. Hay fever in response to ...

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

Pregnant: The state of carrying a developing fetus within the body.

Prescription: A physician's order for the preparation and administration of a drug or dev...

Radiology: The medical specialty concerned with radiation for the diagnosis and treatment ...

Ragweed: Any of several weedy composite herbs that produce a pollen to which many people a...

Rebound: The reversal of response upon withdrawal of a stimulus.

Rebound effect: The production of increased negative symptoms when the effect of a drug ha...

Referral: The recommendation of a medical or paramedical professional. If you get a refer...

Rhinitis: Irritation of the nose.

Runny nose: The production of extra mucus by the nose. Rhinorrhea is the medical term for ...

Sensation: In medicine and physiology, sensation refers to the registration of an incoming...

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

Sinus: 1. An air-filled cavity in a dense portion of a skull bone. The sinuses decr...

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

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

Soft palate: The muscular part of the roof of the mouth. The soft palate is directly behin...

Sore: 1. (adjective) A popular term for painful, such as a sore throat. 2. (...

Sore throat: Pain in the throat. Sore throat may be caused by many different causes, inclu...

Stuffy nose: : The presence of increased secretions and mucus in the nasal passages, most ...

Substance: 1. Material with particular features.
2. The material that...

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

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

Throat: The throat is the anterior (front) portion of the neck beginning at the back of th...

Tongue: A strong muscle that is anchored to the floor of the mouth. The tongue is covered ...

Vasomotor: Relating to the nerves and muscles that cause blood vessels to constrict or dil...

Vasomotor rhinitis: Inflammation of the nose (rhinitis) due to abnormal nerve control of t...

Wheal: A raised, itchy (pruritic) area of skin that is sometimes an overt sign of allergy....