|
Actinic keratosis or keratoses:
A precancerous condition of the skin characterized by thick, scaly patches. It is usually
associated with solar
damage and may turn to basal cell carcinoma.
Aids or AIDS or HIV: A
disease, caused by a virus transmitted within body fluids. This serious viral infection
results severe loss of cellular immunity which, in turn, makes the
sufferer vulnerable to further infections and malignancy.
Aldosterone: A hormone secreted
by the adrenal cortex. It promotes the retention of sodium in the kidneys and contributes
to the regulation of water and salt balance.
Allergy or allergic reaction: An
excessive or inappropriate reaction of the body's immune system, when
certain substances are eaten, inhaled or come in contact to the skin. Not all the people
present allergies and a substance can be allergenic to a part of a population.
Alpha lipoic acid:
Antioxidant factor which improves cellular
metabolism and helps in proper growth and fast healing.
Aneurysm: A localized thinning
of the wall of an artery. This may be dangerous, since the vessel can burst, under
certain circumstances, such as very high blood pressure state and lead to internal
bleeding, with severe complications, including stroke.
Angioedema: Swelling similar
to urticaria but the swelling occurs deep underneath the skin and
typically occurs around the eyes and lips and occasionally in hands or feet.
Androgens: Male sex
hormones, such as testosterone.
Aphakia: The absence of
the eye's natural crystalline lens, typically due to a cataract operation.
Arrhythmias: Irregular
heartbeat.
Arthritis: A disease causing
painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints.
Aspartame: An artificial
sweetener derived from aspartic acid and phenylalanine with numerous side-effects, such
as blindness, marked hearing impairment, severe depression, palpitations, nausea, diarrhea, increased blood glucose, hypoglycemia and menstrual
changes.
Atherosclerosis or
arteriosclerosis: The gradual narrowing and hardening of the body's large
and medium arteries.
ATP: An abbreviation standing for
Adenosine Triphosphate which is a compound that brakes to adenosine diphosphate and
provides energy for physiological processes such as muscular contraction and cell
functions.
Atrophy: The waste of body tissue
or an organ, especially as a result of the degeneration of cells, due to pathological
reasons or evolution.
Autoimmune: Relating to or
denoting disease caused by antibodies or lymphocytes produced against substances
naturally present in the body.
Basal cell carcinoma: This is
the most common type of skin cancer and it occurs mainly in males who spend much of time
outdoors. Primarily produces lesions on the head and neck. Although this cancer
metastasizes very rarely, it can saturate adjacent bone.
Bipolar: Psychiatric illness
characterized by either manic and depressive episodes or manic ones only.
Blepharitis: The inflammation of
one or both eyelids.
Bronchitis: A condition of
respiratory system characterized by inflammation of the mucous membrane in the bronchial
tubes, typically accompanied with spasm of bronchial muscle and coughing.
Caesarean section: A surgical
operation for delivering a baby by cutting through the wall of the mother's
abdomen.
Candidiasis: Infection
with Candida, especially as causing oral or vaginal thrush.
Carcinogenic:
Having the potential to cause cancer.
Cardiomyopathy: Chronic
disease of the heart muscle.
Cardiovascular disease: A group of
medical conditions, such as atherosclerosis, high blood pressure,
angina, coronary heart disease and stroke.
Carpal tunnel syndrome: A
painful condition of the hand and fingers caused by compression of a major nerve where it
passes over the carpal bones.
Catalysts: A substance that
increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent
chemical change.
Capillaries: The
fine branching blood vessels that form a network between the arterioles and
venules.
Caustic: Able to burn or
corrode organic tissue by chemical action.
Celiac: Relating to the
abdomen.
Cellulite: Persistent
subcutaneous fat, causing dimpling of the skin.
Cellulitis: A common
bacterial skin infection.
Ceramide: An important
biochemical substance of the cellular lipids.
Ceramide promotes the good health of epidermal cells which in turn contributes to
maintenance of water balance within the skin.
Chalazion: The
obstruction and inflammation of the meibomian gland in an eyelid.
Cholestasis: A
pathological condition which involves the prevention of bile flow from the liver to the
small intestine.
Cirrhosis: A serious and
irreversible damage of liver due to inflammation caused by alcoholism and hepatitis B or
C. The organ gets scarred, fibrous and unable to function properly. The condition can
lead to liver failure and potentially may be fatal.
Coenzyme: A non-protein
organic compound that is necessary for the functioning of an enzyme.
Colitis: Inflammation of the
colon internal lining.
Coma: A state of prolonged deep
unconsciousness, caused especially by severe injury or illness.
Comedogenic:
Tending to cause blackheads by blocking the pores of the skin.
Congestive heart failure: A
condition characterized by loss of pumping power of the heart.
Conjunctivitis:
Inflammation of the conjunctiva which is the mucous membrane that covers the front of the
eye and lines the inside of the eyelids.
Convulsion: A sudden, violent,
irregular movement of the body caused by involuntary contraction of muscles.
Contact dermatitis:
Inflammation of the skin due to an allergic reaction triggered by any irritating
substance, when the latest comes in contact to the skin.
Corpus cavernosum: Either
of two masses of erectile tissue forming the bulk of the penis and the clitoris.
Cortisone: A steroid hormone
formed from hydrocortisone in the liver or made synthetically, used
as an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy agent.
Crohn’s disease:
A chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines, especially the colon and ileum,
associated with ulcers and fistulae. Crohn’s disease, along with ulcerative colitis, consist the so-called inflammatory bowel
syndrome.
Cryotherapy: A
range of therapeutical methods that involves the use of cold.
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma or mycosis
fungoides: A cancerous condition affecting the lymph system. The first
signs of the disease appear on the skin.
Cystic fibrosis: A
hereditary disorder which affects the exocrine glands and results in the production of
abnormally thick mucus, leading to the blockage of the pancreatic ducts, intestines and
bronchi.
Dementia: A chronic,
persistent mental disorder characterized by memory failures, personality changes and
impaired reasoning.
Dermatitis: Inflammation of the
skin as a result of irritation or allergic reaction to an external
agent.
Detergent: A cleansing agent which
binds with impurities and dirt to render them more soluble and removable.
Dialysis: The blood purification
by mechanical means, in cases of kidney failure.
Digitalis: A drug prepared from
foxglove leaves, containing substances that stimulate the heart muscle.
Diphtheria: A serious bacterial
disease causing inflammation of the mucous membranes and formation of a false membrane in
the throat which hinders breathing and swallowing.
DNA: The full name is
deoxyribonucleic acid. This is a substance present in nearly all living organisms as the
carrier of genetic information, and consisting of a very long double-stranded helical
chain of sugars joined by phosphate bonds and cross-linked by pairs of organic
bases.
Dysesthesia: A distortion of a
sense, especially that of touch, which can cause a spontaneous, unpleasant or painful
response to a normal stimulus.
Dysmorphia. Deformity
or abnormality in the shape or size of a specified part or the whole body.
Dysphagia: Difficulty in
swallowing.
Dystrophy: A disorder in which
an organ or tissue wastes away.
Eclampsia: A dangerous condition,
in which one or more convulsions occur in a pregnant woman suffering
from high blood pressure, often followed by coma and posing a threat to the mother's and
baby's health.
Eczema: A medical,
dermatological condition in which patches of skin become rough and inflamed with blisters
that cause itching and bleeding. Learn more...
Edema: A condition
characterized by an excess of watery fluid collecting in the cavities or soft tissues of
the body.
Emphysema or pulmonary
emphysema: A condition in which the air sacs of the lungs are damaged and
enlarged, leading to breathlessness.
Enteritis: Inflammation of the
intestine, especially the small intestine, usually accompanied by diarrhea.
Endometriosis: A gynecologic
painful condition characterized by the appearance of the internal mucous layer outside of
the womb.
Endoscope: An
illuminated, flexible instrument which can be inserted into the body through an incision
or a natural opening and help a doctor to see internal anatomical elements.
Epilepsy: A neurological disorder
marked by sudden recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness or
convulsions.
Epinephrine or adrenaline: A
hormone produced in adrenal glands with numerous effects. For instance, it results in
increase of heart beat and blood pressure, dilation of airways in the lungs, release of
glucose in the blood stream and helps the
body to cope with stress.
Epispadias: A rare congenital
abnormality in males in which the urethra is on the upper surface of the penis.
Epithelium: The thin tissue
forming the outer layer of the body's surface and lining the alimentary canal and other
hollow structures, including vagina and womb.
Erythroderma: Any skin
condition characterized by generalized redness.
Estrogens: A group of steroid hormones which promote the development
and maintenance of female characteristics of the body.
Fasciculation: A brief
spontaneous contraction of a small number of muscle fibers.
Fibromyalgia: A chronic,
widespread, painful condition which affects the muscles and ligaments but not the
joints.
Flatulence: The accumulation of
gas in the alimentary track.
Flavonoid: A colorless
crystalline organic compound which is the basis of a number of white or yellow plant
pigments and with antioxidant properties.
Gangrene: Localized death and
decomposition of body tissue, resulting from either obstructed circulation or bacterial
infection.
Gastritis: Inflammation of the
internal lining of the stomach.
Gastroparesis:
Malfunction of the stomach due to damaged nerves that enervate the organ. Gastroparesis
can lead to impaired digestion and vomiting.
Gingivitis: Gum disease, often
due to bacterial infection.
Glucagon: A hormone produced
in pancreas, responsible for the breakdown of the polysaccharide glycogen to glucose. The latest reaction takes place in liver.
Glycogen: A polysaccharide that is
the principal storage form of glucose in body’s cells.
Gout: A painful condition
associated with defective uric acid metabolism. It is characterized
by the development of inflammation of foot joints, especially in the big toe.
Granuloma: A mass of granulated
connective tissue typically produced in response to infection, inflammation, or a foreign
substance.
Hematuria: The presence of blood
in the urine.
Hemiparesis or hemiplegia: The
paralysis of one side of the body.
Hemoglobin: A protein containing
iron and found in red blood cells. Hemoglobin is
responsible for transfer of oxygen from the lungs to organs and tissues.
Hepatitis: A serious acute or
chronic medical condition characterized by inflammation of the liver.
Herpes simplex: A
disease caused by a herpes virus, affecting the nervous system or skin, often resulting
in blisters.
Herpes zoster or shingles: An
acute painful inflammation of nerve endings, with a skin eruption often forming a girdle
around the body, caused by the varicella zoster virus.
Histamine: A compound
which is released by cells in response to injury and in allergic and
inflammatory reactions, causing muscle contraction and capillary dilation, among other
effects.
Homeostasis: The maintenance of a
stable, normal equilibrium, especially through a physiological process.
Humectant: A substance,
especially a skin lotion or a food additive, used to reduce the loss of moisture.
Hydrocortisone or cortisol: An
anti-inflammatory hormone produced by the adrenal cortex.
Hyperemia: An excess of
blood in an organ or other part of the body.
Hyperparathyroidism:
Abnormally high concentration of parathyroid hormone in the blood due to hyperactive one
or more parathyroid gland, resulting in loss of calcium, which in turn leads to osteoporosis and potentially kidney
stones.
Hypertension: Abnormally high
blood pressure.
Hyperthyroidism:
Overactivity of the thyroid gland, resulting in a rapid heartbeat and an increased rate
of metabolism.
Hyperuricosuria:
Excessive concentration of uric acid in the urine.
Hypesthesia: Reduced
sensation.
Hypotension: Low blood
pressure.
Hypothyroidism: Abnormally
low activity of the thyroid gland, resulting in delay of growth and mental
development.
Hysterectomy: A
surgical operation which is performed for the removal all or part of the womb.
Ileus: A painful obstruction of
ileum, a particular part of the small intestine.
Immune system: The body’s
defensive system.
Immunity: The ability of the body
to defend itself against infections.
Interferon: A protein which
inhibits reproduction of viruses.
Irritable bowel syndrome: A
condition involving recurrent abdominal pain and diarrhea or constipation, often
associated with stress or preceded infection.
Ischemia: Inadequate blood supply
to a part of the body, especially the heart muscles.
Ichthyosis: A congenital skin
condition which causes the epidermis to become dry and horny like fish scales.
Jaundice: Yellowing of the skin
due to an excess of bile pigments in the blood stream. Although it can happen in adults
as an aftermath of a liver condition, it is very common in newborn babies.
Keratoderma: Pathological
thickening and hardening of the skin, with great variety of causes.
Keratosis follicularis or Darier's
disease: A rare hereditary disease characterized by crusted, scaly, and
dark red patches affecting the skin and occasionally the buccal mucosa.
Leukemia: A malignant progressive
disease in which the bone marrow and other blood-forming organs produce increased numbers
of immature or abnormal leucocytes, suppressing the production of normal blood
cells.
Leukoplakia: White patches
that develop on mucous membranes. These lesions may potentially be precancerous.
Lichen sclerosis: A skin disease
in which small, round, hard lesions occur close together.
Lupus: An ulcerous skin
condition, especially one due to direct infection with tuberculosis.
Lymphoma: Cancer of the lymph
nodes.
Macular degeneration: An eye
condition in which the central area of the retina gets progressively damaged, leading to
loss of sight. The condition is mainly related to smoking and old age.
Malabsorption: Reduced
absorption of food substances through the gastrointestinal track.
Mastectomy: A surgical
breast removal.
Megaloblast: Large, abnormal red
blood cell typical of certain forms of anemia.
Melanoma or malignant
melanoma: A tumor of melanin-forming cells, especially a malignant tumor
associated with skin cancer. It is the rarest type of skin cancer but is considered the
deadliest.
Metabolic acidosis: A
pathological condition, characterized by increase of acidity in tissues.
Microdermabrasion: An exfoliation
technique in which the skin gets smoother and looks younger. With this method an
aesthetician can abrade the skin surface very gently by using tiny, powder-like crystals
of aluminum-oxide, diamond dust or other materials, in order to trigger new cell
development and to minimize fine wrinkles.
Multiple sclerosis: A chronic,
typically progressive disease involving damage to the sheaths of nerve cells in the brain
and spinal cord. Symptoms may include numbness, impairment of speech, reduced muscular
coordination, blurred vision and severe fatigue.
Myelin: A whitish phospholipid
substance forming an insulating sheath which covers nerve fibers.
Myeloma: A malignant tumor of the
bone marrow.
Myocardium: The heart
muscle.
Myoskeletal: Referring to both
muscles and bones.
Nanoparticle: A tiny piece of
material which is less than 100 nanometers, or one millionth of a millimeter.
Narcissism: The exaggerating
somebody’s interest for his/her body and appearance, in general.
Necrosis: The death of most or
all of the cells in tissue or an organ due to disease, injury, or failure of the blood
supply.
Neuromuscular junction: The
point, where a nerve touches a muscle fiber, in order to transmit micro-electric signals,
causing contraction or relaxation of the fiber.
Neuron: A specialized cell to
transmit nerve signals.
Neurotransmitter: Specialized
chemical compound that facilitates signal transfer between nerves or from a nerve to a
muscle.
Nevus: A birthmark or a mole
on the skin, especially a birthmark in the form of a raised red patch.
Noradrenaline or norepinephrine: A
hormone produced in adrenal glands. It functions as a neurotransmitter and is also used as a drug to raise blood pressure.
Orthostatic or postural:
Relating to or caused by an upright posture.
Oral mucosa: The internal lining
of the mouth.
Osmolarity: The concentration
of a solution expressed as the total number of solute particles per liter.
Osteitis: Inflammation of a bone
as a consequence of infection.
Osteoarthritis: Degeneration of
joint cartilage and the underlying bone, most common from middle age onward, causing pain
and stiffness.
Osteomyelitis: Inflammation of the
bone marrow and the bone itself due to an infection.
Osteoporosis: A medical
condition in which the bones become brittle from loss of tissue, typically due to
hormonal changes or deficiency of calcium or
vitamin D.
Ozone: An unstable form of
oxygen containing three atoms, usually found in the stratosphere and being responsible
for filtering out much of the sun's UVB radiation.
Palpitations: A noticeably
rapid, irregular, strong or mild heartbeat.
Paresis: Muscular weakness or
partial paralysis due to nerve damage or disease.
Paresthesia: An abnormal sensation
caused by pressure on or damage to a peripheral nerve.
Perimenopause: The phase
preceding menopause. It takes place, as soon as ovarian hormone synthesis starts
declining or fluctuating, causing numerous symptoms.
Periodontal: Related to the gum
and bone surrounding a tooth.
pH: This is a figure which
presents the activity of hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution and it is associated with the
acidity or the alkalinity of this solution. The pH values can be ranging between 0 and
14. If the figure is pH7, the solution is neutral. From that point, the lower the figure,
the higher the acidity is. Accordingly, the higher the value, the more alkaline the
solution is.
Phagocyte: A cell
which engulfs and absorbs bacteria and other small particles.
Photorejuvenation: A method which
uses high energy CO2 and Erbium YAG lasers or intense pulsed light to treat fine wrinkles
and skin
pigmentation. This can be achieved by the improvement of collagen production or by
reduction of the amount of melanin in a particular area of the skin.
Phyto-: Relating to
plants.
Phytoestrogen: A
substance found in certain plants which can produce effects like that of the hormone
oestrogen when ingested.
Phytohormones:
Botanical hormones are compounds manufactured in plants, in order to regulate the plants'
growth and other biochemical reactions and functions.
Pityriasis: A skin
condition characterized by the shedding of fine flaky scales.
Pityriasis rubra
pilaris: A mild itchy chronic skin condition that may be the aftermath of a
hereditary metabolic disorder.
Plantar: Related to
the sole of the foot.
Plasma: The portion
of blood which is free of red or white cells.
Pneumonia: A severe and
potentially fatal lung infection.
Polypeptide: A linear
organic polymer consisted of a large number of amino-acids and forming all or part of a
protein molecule.
Polyphenols: Botanical
compounds consisted of certain groups of biochemical molecules known as phenols.
Polyphenols are very potent antioxidants and
they are abundant in green tea, grapes and cocoa.
Porphyria: A rare
hereditary disorder of hemoglobin metabolism causing mental
disturbance, extreme sensitivity to light, and excretion of dark pigments in the
urine.
Priapism: A pathological and
painful incident or a sequence of them of persistent erection in males.
Progesterone: A steroid
hormone released by the corpus luteum that stimulates the uterus to prepare for
pregnancy.
Prostaglandins: A group of
compounds with various biological effects, including the promotion of uterine
contractions.
Prostatectomy: A surgical
operation to remove all or part of the prostate gland.
Psoriasis: A skin disease
characterized by red, itchy, scaly patches. Learn more...
Pulmonary: Relating to the
lungs.
Pyelonephritis:
Inflammation of the renal pelvis and one or both kidneys.
Quinine: A bitter crystalline
compound present in cinchona bark, used as a tonic and formerly as a herbal remedy
against malaria.
Reticuloendothelial system: A
body system of fixed and circulating phagocytic cells
involved in the immune system response.
Reye's syndrome: A
life-threatening metabolic disorder in young children, of uncertain cause.
Rheumatism: Any disease marked
by inflammation and pain in the joints, muscles, or fibrous tissue, especially rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis: A
chronic progressive disease causing inflammation in the joints and resulting in painful
deformity and immobility. See also Psoriatic
arthritis...
Rhinitis: Inflammation of the
mucous membrane of the nose, caused by a viral infection or an allergic
reaction.
Rickets: A condition that occurs
in children due to vitamin D deficiency.
It is characterized by bones softening and distortion typically resulting in bow
legs.
RNA: The full name is ribonucleic
acid, a substance in living cells involved in the synthesis of proteins encoded by
genes.
Sarcoidosis: A chronic disease in
which the lymph nodes become enlarged and granulomas appear in the
reticuloendothelial system.
Seborrheic: Excessive
discharge of sebum from the sebaceous glands.
Septicemia: A potentially fatal
condition caused by the spread of bacteria and their toxins into the bloodstream.
Serum: A liquid which
remains after blood coagulation occurs.
Sinusitis: The inflammation of
the sinus. The latest is a cavity within the skull, located in the facial part and
connecting with the nasal cavities.
Sprue: A disease characterized
by ulceration of the mouth and chronic enteritis, suffered by
visitors to tropical destinations.
Squamous cell carcinoma: This is
the second most common skin cancer. It develops from actinic
keratosis and mainly affects individuals with fair colors.
Stent: A device that is added in
the artery or ureter to keep the passage open and facilitate adequate blood or urine flow
respectively. An endoscope is used for such addition.
Sterols: A group of naturally
occurring unsaturated steroid alcohols, typically of waxy consistency.
Stretch marks: Marks on the
skin, especially on the abdomen, caused by distension of the skin due to obesity or pregnancy.
Sudden infant death syndrome:
The unexplained and sudden death of a baby in its sleep.
Testosterone: An anabolic steroid
hormone stimulating development of male secondary sexual characteristics.
Trachoma: A contagious bacterial
infection of the eye, causing inflamed granulation on the inner surface of the
lids.
Trichomoniasis: Infection with
parasitic trichomonads.
Thrombosis: The formation of blood
clot within arteries or veins.
Thrush: Infection of the
mouth, throat or genitals by a yeast-like fungus of the Candida genus, causing whitish
patches.
Tuberculosis: An infectious
bacterial disease characterized by the growth of nodules (tubercles) in the tissues,
especially the lungs.
Ulcerative colitis: A serious
chronic condition characterized by ulceration of the intestinal mucous and irritation of
both colon and rectum. Ulcerative colitis, along with Crohn’s
disease, consist the so-called inflammatory bowel syndrome.
Urea: a colourless crystalline
compound which is the main nitrogenous breakdown product of protein metabolism in mammals and is excreted in
urine.
Uric acid: An almost insoluble
nitrogenous byproduct of protein metabolism.
Urticaria or hives: A rash of
round, red weals on the skin which itch intensely, caused by an
allergic reaction.
Varicose veins: A condition
which involves swollen, twisted and lengthened veins, as a result of poor
circulation.
Vasoconstrictor: An agent that
causes the constriction of blood vessels, which increases blood pressure.
Vasodilator: An agent which can
cause the dilation of vessels and consequently, decrease blood pressure.
Vertigo: A sensation of
whirling and loss of balance, caused by looking down from a great height or by disease
affecting the inner ear or the vestibular nerve.
Virilization: The development, in
females, of male physical characteristics as an aftermath of excessive presence of
androgens in the body.
Weal: A temporarily raised and
reddened area of skin, usually accompanied by itching.
|
