Health Medical Glossary

Alcoholism Alcoholism is a disease with four main features: craving, loss of control, physical dependence, and tolerance of greater amounts of alcohol over time.

Anabolic Steroids Man-made substances related to male sex hormones. Medical uses of anabolic steroids include some hormone problems in men, late puberty and muscle loss from some diseases. Bodybuilders and athletes often use anabolic steroids to build muscles and improve athletic performance.

Anemia A condition in which your blood does not carry enough oxygen to the rest of your body. The most common cause of anemia is not having enough iron. Your body needs iron to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that gives the red color to blood. It carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

Angina Chest pain or discomfort you get when your heart muscle does not get enough blood. It may feel like pressure or a squeezing pain in your chest. It may feel like indigestion. You may also feel pain in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back.

Angioplasty A procedure in which a doctor threads a thin tube through a blood vessel in the arm or groin up to the involved site in the artery. The tube has a tiny balloon on the end. When the tube is in place, the doctor inflates the balloon to push the plaque outward against the wall of the artery. This widens the artery and restores blood flow.

Anthrax A highly infectious disease caused by a microbe that lives in soil. Many people know about it from the 2001 bioterror attacks.

Antidepressants Medicines that treat depression by improving your mood, sleep, appetite and concentration. They are normally slow-acting, and may take several weeks to become effective.

Antioxidants Substances that may protect your cells against the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules produced when your body breaks down food, or by environmental exposures like tobacco smoke and radiation. Free radicals can damage cells, and may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases.

Arthritis A joint inflammation that can occur throughout the body, causing pain and stiffness.

Asbestosis A disease associated with inhalation of asbestos fibers. The disease makes breathing progressively more difficult and can be fatal.

Asthma A chronic respiratory disease that affects your airways. Your airways are tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the inside walls of your airways become sore and swollen. That makes them very sensitive, and they may react strongly to things that you are allergic to or find irritating. When your airways react, they get narrower and your lungs get less air. This can cause wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and trouble breathing, especially early in the morning or at night.

Autism The most common condition in a group of developmental disorders known as the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests.

Bipolar disorder A serious mental illness in which one experiences dramatic mood swings. These swings may go from overly energetic "highs" to “lows” characterized by extreme sadness and hopelessless, and then back again. There are often normal moods in between. The up feeling is called mania. The down feeling is depression. Another term for this condition is manic-depressive disorder

Bronchitis An inflammation of the main air passages (bronchi) to your lungs. It causes a cough, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Coughing often brings up yellow or greenish mucus. There are two main types of bronchitis: acute and chronic.

Bulimia Nervosa An eating disorder characterized by recurrent and frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food (e.g., binge-eating), and feeling a lack of control over the eating. This binge-eating is followed by a type of behavior that compensates for the binge, such as purging (e.g., vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diuretics), fasting and/or excessive exercise.

Bursitis Also called tendonitis, bursitis is an inflammation of one of the bursa sacs. A bursa is a filmy-colored sac that protects and cushions your joints. The inflammation may result from arthritis in the joint or injury or infection of a bursa. Bursitis produces pain and tenderness and may limit the movement of nearby joints.

Carcinogen Any substance that can cause or aggravate cancer.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome A painful progressive condition caused by compression of a key nerve in the wrist. It occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. Symptoms usually start gradually, with pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm.

Chickenpox An infectious disease caused by the varicella virus. Most cases occur in children under age 15 but older children and adults can get it. It spreads very easily from one child to another.

Chlamydia A common sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria, and treated with antibiotics.

Cholesterol A waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if you have too much in your blood, it can stick to the walls of your arteries. This is called plaque. Plaque can narrow your arteries or even block them.

Depression A serious medical illness that involves chemical imbalances in the brain marked by extreme sadness, loss of interest in activities, changes in weight, difficulty sleeping, loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness, and sometimes thoughts of suicide. More than 20 million people in the United States have experienced depression. Depression can be successfully treated.

Diabetes A disease in which your blood glucose, or sugar, levels are too high. Glucose comes from the foods you eat. Insulin is a hormone that helps the glucose get into your cells to give them energy. With Type 1 diabetes your body does not make insulin. With Type 2 diabetes, the more common type, your body does not make or use insulin well. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in your blood.

Epilepsy A brain disorder that causes people to have recurring seizures. The seizures happen when clusters of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain send out the wrong signals. People may have strange sensations and emotions or behave strangely. They may have violent muscle spasms or lose consciousness.

GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) Your esophagus is the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) happens when a muscle at the end of your esophagus does not close properly. This allows stomach contents to leak back, or reflux, into the esophagus and irritate it.

Gingivitis An inflammation of the gums surrounding the teeth.

Glaucoma An eye disease that damages the optic nerve. It is a leading cause of blindness in the United States. It usually happens when the fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises, damaging the optic nerve. Often there are no symptoms at first, but a comprehensive eye exam can detect it.

Gonorrhea A curable sexually transmitted disease most common in young adults. The bacteria that cause gonorrhea can infect the genital tract, mouth or anus.

Heartburn As painful burning feeling in your chest or throat arising when stomach acid backs up into your esophagus. If you have heartburn more than twice a week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Hepatitis A swelling of the liver that damages liver function. Viruses cause most cases of hepatitis. The type of hepatitis is named for the virus that causes it; for example, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C. Drug or alcohol use can also lead to hepatitis. In other cases, the body mistakenly attacks its own tissues. You can help prevent some viral forms by getting a vaccine. Sometimes hepatitis goes away by itself. If it does not, it can be treated with drugs. Sometimes hepatitis lasts a lifetime.

Hernia A condition that occurs when the inside layers of the abdominal wall weaken and then bulge or tear. The inner lining of the abdomen pushes through the weakened area to form a balloon-like sac. This, in turn, can cause a loop of intestine or abdominal tissue to slip into the sac, causing pain and other potentially serious health problems.

Herpes An infection that is caused by a herpes simplex virus (HSV). Oral herpes causes cold sores around the mouth or face. Genital herpes affects the genitals, buttocks or anal area. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) A blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher. Both numbers are important. Nearly 1 in 3 American adults has high blood pressure. Once high blood pressure develops, it usually lasts a lifetime. The good news is that it can be treated and controlled.

HPV (Human papillomaviruses) Common viruses that can cause warts. There are more than 100 types of HPV. Most are harmless, but about 30 types put you at risk for cancer.

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) A hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland which promotes growth of bone and muscle in humans. Bodybuilders and athletics sometimes use HGH for performance enhancement.

Hypothermia A condition that occurs when more heat escapes from your body than your body can produce. Signs and symptoms of hypothermia may include gradual loss of mental and physical abilities. Severe hypothermia can lead to death.

Lactose Intolerance A condition in which you cannot digest foods with lactose in them. Lactose is the sugar found in milk and foods made with milk. After eating foods with lactose in them, you may feel sick to your stomach and experience diarrhea and gas.

Leukemia A cancer of the white blood cells. It is the most common type of childhood cancer. Leukemia causes the bone marrow to produce abnormal white blood cells which crowd out the healthy blood cells. Treatment often cures childhood leukemia.

Lyme Disease A bacterial infection that features a skin rash, swollen joints and flu-like symptoms. You get the disease from the bite of an infected tick. Sometimes it is hard to know if you have Lyme disease because you may not have noticed a tick bite. Also, many of its symptoms are like those of other diseases. Symptoms may include a skin rash, fever, headache, muscle pain, stiff neck, and swelling of joints. Antibiotics are used to treat early-stage Lyme Disease.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) A body scan procedure that uses a large magnet and radio waves to look at organs and structures inside your body. Health care professionals use MRI scans to diagnose a variety of conditions, from torn ligaments to tumors. MRIs are very useful for examining the brain and spinal cord.

Measles An infectious disease caused by a virus. It spreads easily from person to person. The main symptom of measles is an itchy skin rash. The rash often starts on the head and moves down the body. Other symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis.

Medicaid A government health insurance that helps many low-income people in the United States to pay their medical bills. Although the Federal government establishes general guidelines for the program, each state has its own rules. Your state might require you to pay a small part of the cost for some medical services.

Melanoma The most serious type of skin cancer. Often the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, color or feel of a mole. Most melanomas have a black or black-blue area. Melanoma may also appear as a new mole.

Migraine A very painful type of headache. People who get migraines often describe the pain as pulsing or throbbing in one area of the head. During migraines, people are very sensitive to light and sound. They may also become nauseated and vomit. Migraine is three times more common in women than in men

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) A nervous system disease that affects your brain and spinal cord. It damages the myelin sheath, the material that surrounds and protects your nerve cells. This damage slows down or blocks messages between your brain and your body, leading to the symptoms of MS. They can include visual disturbances, muscle weakness, difficulty with coordination and balance, and other symptoms.

Mumps An illness caused by the mumps virus. Mumps causes fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Swelling of the salivary glands follows these symptoms. Swelling of the glands near the jaw line below the ears may give you "chipmunk cheeks."

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) A type of anxiety disorder characterized by you repeated, upsetting thoughts called obsessions. You do the same thing over and over again to try to make the thoughts go away. Those repeated actions are called compulsions.

Osteoporosis A medical condition that makes your bones weak and more likely to break. Anyone can develop osteoporosis, but it is common in older women. As many as half of all women and a quarter of men older than 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.

Panic Disorder An anxiety disorder causing panic attacks, which are sudden feelings of terror for no reason. You may also feel physical symptoms, such as fast heartbeat, chest pain, breathing difficulty, and dizziness. Panic attacks can happen anytime, anywhere and without warning.

Peptic Ulcer A sore in the lining of your stomach or your duodenum, the first part of your small intestine. A burning stomach pain is the most common symptom.

Phobia A type of anxiety disorder. It is a strong, irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger. There are many specific phobias. Acrophobia is a fear of heights. Agoraphobia is a fear of public places, and claustrophobia is a fear of closed-in places. If you become anxious and extremely self-conscious in everyday social situations, you could have a social phobia. Other common phobias involve tunnels, highway driving, water, flying, animals and blood.

Pneumonia An inflammation of the lung, usually caused by an infection. Three common causes are bacteria, viruses and fungi. You can also get pneumonia by accidentally inhaling a liquid or chemical. People most at risk are older than 65 or younger than 2 years of age, or already have health problems.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) A type of anxiety problem. It can develop after your safety or life is threatened, or after you experience or see a traumatic event. Some examples of traumatic events are a natural disaster, rape, severe car crash or fighting in a war. Usually, the event makes you feel very afraid or helpless. People with PTSD have trouble coping with and getting over traumatic events and often feel the effects for months afterward.

Postpartum Depression A severe form of depression that can develop within the first six months after giving birth. For women with postpartum depression, feelings such as sadness, anxiety and restlessness can be so strong that they interfere with daily tasks.

Rabies A deadly animal disease caused by a virus. It can happen in wild animals, including raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes, or in dogs, cats or farm animals. People get it from the bite of an infected animal. In people, symptoms of rabies include fever, headache and fatigue, then confusion, hallucinations and paralysis. Once the symptoms begin, the disease is usually fatal. A series of shots can prevent rabies in people exposed to the virus. You need to get them right away. If an animal bites you, wash the wound well; then get medical care.

Rosacea A long-term disease that affects your skin and sometimes your eyes. It causes redness and pimples. Rosacea is most common in women and people with fair skin. It usually starts between age 30 and 60.

Rubella (German measles) An illness with flu-like symptoms followed by a rash. Common symptoms include low grade fever, headache, runny nose, red eyes, and muscle or joint pain.

Salmonella Infection Salmonella is the name of a group of bacteria. In the United States, it is the most common cause of foodborne illness. Salmonella occurs in raw poultry, eggs, beef, and sometimes on unwashed fruit and vegetables. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and headache. Symptoms usually last 4 - 7 days.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) A form of depression triggered by the changing seasons, especially when summer shifts to fall and then to winter. The shorter days and longer nights may trigger feelings of depression, lethargy, fatigue, and other problems. A treatment using a light box therapy, to simulate natural light, can help prevent SAD.

Sleep Apnea A common sleep disorder in which your breathing stops or gets very shallow. Each pause in breathing typically lasts 10 to 20 seconds or more. These pauses can occur 20 to 30 times or more an hour. The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea. That means you are unable to get enough air through your mouth and nose into your lungs. When that happens, the amount of oxygen in your blood may drop. Normal breaths resume with a snort or choking sound. People with sleep apnea often snore loudly. However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.

Staphylococcal Infections (Staph) Staphylococcus is a type of bacteria. There are over 30 types, but Staphylococcus aureus causes most staph infections, including skin infections, pneumonia, food poisoning, toxic shock syndrome, and blood poisoning.

STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) Infections caused by having sex with someone who has the infection. The causes of STDs are bacteria, parasites and viruses. There are more than 20 types of STDs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes simplex, HIV/AIDS, HPV, and Syphilis.

Steroids A class of drugs that is used to reduce inflammation caused by such diseases as arthritis and asthma.They are similar to hormones secreted by the adrenal glands that fight stress associated with illnesses and injuries.

Strep (Streptococcal Infection) There are two types of Strep: Group A and Group B. Antibiotics are used to treat both. Group A strep causes strep throat, a sore, red throat, sometimes with white spots on the tonsils.

Stroke A medical emergency that occurs when blood flow to your brain stops. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die. There are two kinds of stroke. The more common kind, called ischemic stroke, is caused by a blood clot that blocks or plugs a blood vessel in the brain. The other kind, called hemorrhagic stroke, is caused by a blood vessel that breaks and bleeds into the brain. "Mini-strokes" or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), occur when the blood supply to the brain is briefly interrupted.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) The sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than one year old. Some people call SIDS "crib death" because many babies who die of SIDS are found in their cribs. SIDS is the leading cause of death in children between one month and one year old.

Syphilis A sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria. It infects the genital area, lips, mouth, or anus of both men and women. You usually get syphilis from sexual contact with someone who has it. It can also pass from mother to baby during pregnancy.

Tendinitis Inflammation of a tendon causing pain and tenderness near a joint. It usually occurs in the shoulders, elbows, knees, hips, heels or wrists. Depending on where it happens, it may have a special name, such as tennis elbow.

Tick Bites If you spend time outdoors or have pets that go outdoors, you need to beware of ticks. Ticks are small bloodsucking bugs. Many species transmit diseases to animals and people. The most common disease you can get from a tick bite is Lyme disease.

Tinnitus A ringing, roaring, clicking or hissing sound in your ears that is experienced often or all the time. Millions of people in the U.S. have tinnitus. People with severe tinnitus may have trouble hearing, working or even sleeping. A common cause of tinnitus is exposure to loud noises, such as loud rock music.

Tourette Syndrome A condition marked by unusual movements or sounds over which one sometimes has little or no control, such as repeated blinking of eyes, shrugging of shoulders, or jerking the head. These kinds of movements and sounds are called tics, and for people with the disorder, they can be extremely distressing.

Triglycerides A type of fat in the bloodstream and fat tissue. Too much of this type of fat can contribute to the hardening and narrowing of your arteries. This puts you at risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Diseases such as diabetes, obesity, kidney failure or alcoholism can cause high triglycerides. Often, high triglycerides occur along with high levels of cholesterol, another type of fat. Triglycerides are measured along with cholesterol as part of a blood test. Normal triglyceride levels are below 150.

Tuberculosis (TB) A bacterial infection caused by a germ called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but they can also damage other parts of the body. TB spreads through the air when a person with TB of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes or talks. If you have been exposed, you should go to your doctor for tests. You are more likely to get TB if you have a weak immune system.

Ulcerative Colitis A disease that causes ulcers in the lining of the rectum and colon. It is one of a group of diseases called inflammatory bowel disease. Ulcers form where inflammation has killed the cells that usually line the colon.

Yeast Infections Candida is the scientific name for yeast. It is a fungus that lives almost everywhere, including in your body. Usually, your immune system keeps yeast under control. If you are sick or taking antibiotics, it can multiply and cause an infection.