Sinus Infection Glossary of Terms

1. Sinusitis (Sinus Infection) Slideshow Pictures
2. Nasal Allergy Relief Products Slideshow Pictures
3. 10 Common Allergy Triggers Slideshow Pictures

Acetaminophen: A nonaspirin pain reliever or analgesic. Acetaminophen may be given alone t...

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

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...

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

Allergy shots: See Allergy desensitization.

Anatomy: The study of human or animal form, by observation or examination of the living be...

Anesthesia: Loss of feeling or awareness, as when an anesthetic is administered before sur...

Antibiotic: A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms. ...

Antibiotic resistance: The ability of bacteria and other microorganisms to resist the effe...

Antifungal: A medication that limits or prevents the growth of yeasts and other fungal org...

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

Antiviral: An agent that kills a virus or that suppresses its ability to replicate and, he...

Anxiety: A feeling of apprehension and fear, characterized by physical symptoms such as pa...

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

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

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

Blindness: Loss of useful sight. Blindness can be temporary or permanent. Damage to any p...

Blood clot: A mass of coagulated blood. A blood clot can block a major blood vessel, causi...

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...

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

Bridge: A set of one or more false teeth supported by a metal framework, used to replace ...

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

Cardiac: Having to do with the heart.

Cavities: Holes or structural damage in the two outer layers of a tooth called the enamel...

Cheek: The side of the face, which forms the side wall of the mouth. The cheekbone is part...

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

Cilia: The fine hairlike projections from certain cells such as those in the respiratory t...

Circulation: In medicine, the movement of fluid through the body in a regular or circuitou...

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

Common cold: A contagious viral upper respiratory tract infection. The common cold can be ...

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...

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

CT scan: Computerized tomography scan. Pictures of structures within the body created by a...

Cure: 1. To heal, to make well, to restore to good health. 2. A time withou...

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

Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell...

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

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

Drain: A device for removing fluid from a cavity or wound. A drain is typically a tube or ...

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...

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

Endoscope: A lighted optical instrument that is used to get a deep look inside the body. A...

ENT: 1. Abbreviation for ears, nose and throat. A field of medicine also called ot...

ENT physician: A medical specialist who is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of ...

Ethmoid: 1. As an adjective: spongy or sievelike. From the Greek ethmos, sieve + ei...

Eyelid: The lid or cover of the eye, a movable fold of skin and muscle that can be closed ...

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

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

Frontal: In anatomy, pertaining to the forehead. As, for example, the frontal bone, fronta...

Fungi: Plural of fungus.

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

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

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 ...

Hives: A raised, itchy area of skin that may be a sign of an allergic reaction. It can be ...

Hygiene: The science of preventive medicine and the preservation of health. Also commonly ...

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...

Indicate: In medicine, to make a treatment or procedure advisable because of a particular ...

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 ...

Influenza: The flu is caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract which are divide...

Insomnia: The perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep due to a number ...

Leukemia: Cancer of the blood cells. Strictly speaking, leukemia should refer only to canc...

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

Maxilla: The major bone of the upper jaw.

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

Meningitis: Inflammation of the meninges, the three membranes that envelop the brain and t...

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

Mucosa: Having to do with a mucous membrane. For example, the oral mucosa.

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.

Nasal: Having to do with the nose.

Nasal decongestant: A drug that shrinks the swollen membranes in the nose, making it easie...

Nasal passage: A channel for airflow through the nose. The walls of the nasal passages are...

Nasal polyps: Benign growths that originate in the mucous membranes lining the nasal passa...

Nasal septum: The dividing wall that runs down the middle of the nose, separating the two ...

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...

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

Onset: In medicine, the first appearance of the signs or symptoms of an illness as, for ex...

Osteomyelitis: Inflammation of the bone due to infection, for example, by the bacteria sal...

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...

Penicillin: The most famous of all antibiotics, named for the fungal mold Penicillium n...

Pharmacist: A professional who fills prescriptions and, in the case of a compounding pharm...

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

Polymox: See: Amoxicillin.

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

Primary care: A patient's main source for regular medical care, ideally providing continui...

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

Prostate: A gland within the male reproductive system that is located just below the blad...

Pupil: The opening of the iris. The pupil may appear to open (dilate) and close (constrict...

Rash: Breaking out (eruption) of the skin. A rash can be caused by an underlying medical c...

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

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

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

Remedy: Something that consistently helps treat or cure a disease.

Remission: Disappearance of the signs and symptoms of cancer or other disease. A remission...

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

Respiratory: Having to do with respiration.

Rhinitis: Irritation of the nose.

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

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

Scan: As a noun, the data or image obtained from the examination of organs or regions of...

Secondhand smoke: Smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette or that is exhaled ...

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

Septum: A dividing wall or enclosure. For example, the septum of the nose is the thin cart...

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

Sinus headache: A headache caused by pressure within the sinus cavities of the head, usual...

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

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

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...

Sphenoid: 1. Shaped like a wedge. 2. Relating to the sphenoid bone (which is...

Staphylococcus: A group of bacteria that cause a multitude of diseases. Under a microscope...

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...

Streptococcus: A group of bacteria that causes a multitude of diseases. Under a microscope...

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

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

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

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

Temple: The area just behind and to the side of the forehead and the eye, above the side o...

Therapeutic: Relating to therapeutics, the branch of medicine that is concerned specifical...

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...

Tonsils: Small masses of lymphoid tissue at the back and on both sides of the throat.

Tooth: One of the structures within the mouth that allow for biting and chewing. Teeth hav...

Toothache: Pain in the tooth or gum. The most common cause of a toothache is a cavity or a...

Trauma: A physical or emotional injury.

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

Trimox: See: Amoxicillin.

Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue. Tumors are a classic sign of inflammation, and can be ...

Tylenol: See: Acetaminophen.

Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves. Ultra-sound waves can be bounced off tissues by us...

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

Urinary: Having to do with the function or anatomy of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or ur...

Vaccination: Injection of a killed microbe in order to stimulate the immune system against...

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

Viral infection: Infection caused by the presence of a virus in the body. Depending on...

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

Zinc: A mineral that is essential to the body and is a constituent of many enzymes that pe...