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May 20, 2013


Hyponatremia (Low Sodium) Glossary of Terms

The following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Hyponatremia (Low Sodium) article.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Lethargy: Abnormal drowsiness, stupor.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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