Hyponatremia (Low Sodium) Glossary of Terms

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Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen, the belly, that part of the body that contains all of ...

Abdominal cavity: The cavity within the abdomen, the space between the abdominal wall and...

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

Adrenal gland: A small gland located on top of the kidney. The adrenal glands produce horm...

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

Aldosterone: A hormone produced by the outer portion (cortex) of the adrenal gland. Aldost...

Ascites: An abnormal accumulation of fluid within the abdomen. There are many causes of as...

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

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

Brain stem: The stem-like part of the base of the brain that is connected to the spinal co...

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

Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, ...

Cell: The basic structural and functional unit of any living thing. Each cell is a small c...

Cerebral: Of or pertaining to the cerebrum or the brain.

Cerebral edema: Accumulation of excessive fluid in the substance of the brain. The brain i...

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

Cirrhosis: Liver disease characterized by irreversible scarring. Alcohol and viral hepatit...

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

Dehydration: Excessive loss of body water. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that ca...

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

Diarrhea: A common condition that involves unusually frequent and liquid bowel movements. ...

Diuretic: Something that promotes the formation of urine by the kidney. All diuretics caus...

Ecstasy: 1. A state of rapture and trancelike elation.
2. A street nam...

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

Electrolyte: A substance that dissociates into ions in solution and acquires the capacity ...

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

Headache: A pain in the head with the pain being above the eyes or the ears, behind the he...

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

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

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

Hyper-: Prefix meaning high, beyond, excessive, or above normal, as in hyperglycemia (high...

Hypervolemic: Pertaining to hypervolemia, an abnormal increase in blood volume. For exampl...

Hypo-: Prefix meaning low, under, beneath, down, or below normal, as in hypoglycemia (low ...

Hyponatremia: Low sodium in the blood. Hyponatremia can be caused by many conditions and w...

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

Hypovolemic: Referring to hypovolemia, an abnormal decrease in blood volume. As, for exam...

Inappropriate ADH secretion: A condition that results in the inability to produce dilute u...

Intervention: The act of intervening, interfering or interceding with the intent of modify...

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

Lethargy: Abnormal drowsiness, stupor.

Liver: The largest solid organ in the body, situated in the upper part of the abdomen on t...

Lung cancer: Cancer of the major organ of respiration - the lung. Lung cancer kills more m...

MDMA: Abbreviation for 3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine. See: Ecstasy.

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

Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T...

Nausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in...

Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas. Of the many causes of pancreatitis, the most c...

Perspiration: 1) The secretion of fluid by the sweat (sudoriferous) glands. These small, ...

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...

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

Polydipsia: Constant, excessive drinking as a result of thirst. Polydipsia occurs in untre...

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

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

Saline: Relating to salt. As an adjective, "saline" means "salty, containing salt." As a n...

Seizure: Uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain, which may produce a physical conv...

Skull: The skull is a collection of bones which encase the brain and give form to the hea...

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...

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

Urine: Liquid waste produced by the kidneys. Urine is a clear, transparent fluid that norm...

Vasopressin: A relatively small (peptide) molecule that is released by the pituitary gla...

Water intoxication: A lowered blood concentration of sodium (see hyponatremia). The term "...