Allergies Glossary: A
Description
This article is from the Health Articles series.
Allergies Glossary: A
Acinus The berrylike ending of a tiny airway in the lung, where the alveoli (air sacs) are located.
Acute Severe or with sudden onset and a short time span.
Acute Respiratory Failure Sudden, severe inability to perform gas exchange.
Additives Substances often added to foods to prevent spoiling, improve appearance, enhance the flavor or enhance the nutritional value.
Adverse Reaction Any harmful or unintended effect of a medication, diagnostic test, or therapeutic intervention.
Airways Passageways that carry air into and out of the lungs.
Airway Obstruction Narrowing, clogging, or blocking of the air passages.
Allergen A foreign substance that triggers an allergic response in the body, but only in susceptible individuals- those who are 'allergic'. The substance may or may not be an 'antigen'.
Allergen Load The cumulative effects of genetics and allergen exposures that lead to an allergic response.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis A severe skin inflammation after exposure of a body area to a substance to which the patient is allergic.
Allergic Reaction Allergic reactions result from the interaction between an allergen and our immune system. During this interaction, our immune system first becomes sensitized to the allergen. This helps your body develop an immune memory to more rapidly respond to the allergen in the future. Subsequent exposures to the allergen result in allergic reactions. Common allergens are pollen, animal dander, house dust, feathers and varied foods.
Allergic Rhinitis Inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes, with a nasal discharge due to an allergic reaction to dust, animal dander or pollen.
Allergist An allergist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases and problems involving the immune system. Training includes medical school followed by postgraduate training in pediatrics or internal medicine and two additional years in allergy and immunology. The allergist/immunologist will take a detailed history, perform a specialized physical examination of the respiratory system for a patient suspected of having asthma, perform tests to identify the cause of the problem, and prescribe medication for allergies and asthma in order to develop a treatment plan to reduce allergic symptoms. (See Immunologist).
Allergy A condition in which the body's immune system overreacts or reacts inappropriately to a foreign substance and is not able to tolerate certain foods, animals, plants, or other substances.
Alveoli Tiny sac-like air spaces in the lung where carbon dioxide and oxygen are exchanged.
Amniotic Fluid Fluid that surrounds and cushions the fetus in its mother's womb.
Anaphylactic Shock A severe and sometimes fatal allergic response to foreign substance (allergen), such as a drug, vaccine, certain food, insect venom, or chemical. It can occur within seconds or minutes after contact with the allergen. Symptoms can include hives, swelling (especially of the lips and face), difficulty breathing (either because of swelling in the throat or an asthmatic reaction), vomiting, diarrhea, cramping and a fall in blood pressure. Although any food can trigger anaphylactic shock, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, milk, eggs, and fish are the most common culprits.
Anti-inflammatory Referring to a drug or treatment that reduces heat, redness, swelling, and pain (inflammation) in the body area.
Antibiotic A drug that kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria.
Antibodies Specific proteins produced by the body's immune system that bind with foreign proteins (antigens).
Antigens Substances that activate the immune system and react with antibodies produced by the immune response. Also called allergen.
Antihistamine A substance that reduces the effect of histamine, a chemical released in body fluids during an allergic reaction. Antihistamines reduce itching, sneezing and runny nose.
Antioxidant A chemical or other agent that prevents or reduces the process in which the oxygen content of a substance is increased (oxidation). Antioxidants may be added to foods containing fats or oils to prevent spoiling.
Aorta Largest artery in the body; delivers oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body.
Arterioles Smallest arteries in the body.
Artery Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. All arteries carry oxygen-rich blood except the pulmonary artery and its branches through which oxygen-poor blood is pumped from the heart to the lungs.
Asthma Respiratory condition marked by recurrent attacks of wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and labored breathing caused by narrowing of the airways.
Asthma Attack An asthma attack may be triggered by a cold (or some other kind of respiratory infection) or by breathing in something that bothers the lungs (such as cigarette smoke, dust or feathers). When this happens, three changes take place in the lungs: Cells lining your airways make more mucus than normal, it is very thick and sticky and tends to clog up the tubes. The airways tend to swell and the muscles in your airways tighten. These changes cause the passages to narrow, which makes it hard to breathe. Asthma attacks may start suddenly or they may take a long time, even days, to develop. Attacks can be severe, moderate or mild.
Asthma Symptoms Asthma symptoms are often characterized by frequent coughing during or following exercise, shortness of breath, wheezing while breathing and tightness in the chest.
Atopic Dermatitis Also known as eczema, this is another allergic skin reaction. It usually appears as a red, scaly, itchy rash on the face, elbows and knees. This is most frequently seen in young infants, but can develop later in life in those with asthma or hay fever.
Atrium One of the two upper chambers of the heart. The right atrium receives blood depleted of oxygen from the veins; the left atrium receives blood with freshly oxygenated from the lungs.
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