Allergy and Hay Fever Medications Glossary of Terms

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

Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient.

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.

Anaphylaxis: Allergic reaction. In severe cases, this can include potentially deadly anap...

Anticholinergic: Opposing the actions of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Anticholinerg...

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

Artery: A vessel that carries blood high in oxygen content away from the heart to the far...

Aspartame: A man-made sweetener with almost no calories used in place of sugar.

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

Atopic: A predisposition toward developing certain allergic hypersensitivity reactions. At...

Atopic dermatitis: A skin disease characterized by areas of severe itching, redness, scali...

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

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

Blurred vision: Lack of sharpness of vision with, as a result, the inability to see fine d...

Breastfeeding: Feeding a child human breast milk. According to the American Academy of Ped...

Capsule: Capsule has many meanings in medicine including the following:

1. In medici...

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

Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t...

Cocaine: A substance derived from the leaves of the coca plant that is a bitter, addictive...

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

Conjunctivitis: Inflammation of the membrane covering the surface of the eyeball. It can b...

Coronary artery disease: Impedance or blockage of one or more arteries that supply blood t...

Corticosteroid: Any of the steroid hormones made by the outer portion (cortex) of the adre...

Dander: Tiny scales shed from human or animal skin or hair. Dander floats in the air, sett...

Danders: See: Dander.

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

Dermatitis: Inflammation of the skin, either due to direct contact with an irritating sub...

Dry mouth: The condition of not having enough saliva to keep the mouth wet. This is due to...

Dysfunction: Difficult function or abnormal function.

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 ...

Ephedra: A medicinal herb, known scientifically as Ephedra sinica and Ephedra equisetina, ...

Eustachian tube: The tube that runs from the middle ear to the pharynx. The function of th...

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

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...

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

Glaucoma: A common eye condition in which the fluid pressure inside the eyes rises becaus...

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. ...

Herbal: 1. An adjective, referring to herbs, as in an herbal tea.
2. A...

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 ...

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...

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...

Internal medicine: The medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and medical treatment ...

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

Lens: The transparent structure inside the eye that focuses light rays onto the retina.

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

MAOI: Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor.

Mast cell: A granulocyte found in connective tissue whose normal function is unknown but t...

Middle ear: A part of the ear that consists of the eardrum (tympanic membrane) and, beyond...

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

Monoamine oxidase inhibitor: One of a potent class of medications used to treat depression...

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

Nasal: Having to do with the nose.

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...

NIEHS: Stands for National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, one of the National...

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

Nosebleed: Bleeding from the blood vessels of the nose. The nose is rich in blood vessels ...

Nostril: The external opening of the nose. The nostrils are also called the nares.

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

Otitis media: Inflammation of the middle ear characterized by the accumulation of infected...

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

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...

Phenylalanine: An essential amino acid. (The human body cannot make it so it is essentia...

Phenylketonuria: The inherited inability to metabolize (process) the essential amino acid ...

PKU: Short for phenylketonuria. See: Phenylketonuria.

Placebo: A "sugar pill" or any dummy medication or treatment.

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

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

Proteins: Large molecules composed of one or more chains of amino acids in a specific orde...

Public health: The approach to medicine that is concerned with the health of the community...

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

Receptor: 1. In cell biology, a structure on the surface of a cell (or inside a cel...

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

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 ...

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

Sleep: The body's rest cycle.

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

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...

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

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...

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

Tubes: The "tubes" are medically known as the Fallopian tubes. There are two Fallopian tub...

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

Vessel: A tube in the body that carries fluids. Examples of vessels are blood vessels and ...

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