Dictionary of health

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

The Dictionary of Health is a comprehensive resource designed to provide information on terms and concepts related to the field of healthcare, medicine, wellness, and disease management. It serves as a guide for healthcare professionals, students, and the general public to understand the various facets of health and medical care.

A[edit | edit source]

B[edit | edit source]

  • biopsy - A medical test involving the removal of cells or tissues for examination to determine the presence or extent of a disease.
  • Body Mass Index (BMI) - A measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women.

C[edit | edit source]

D[edit | edit source]

  • diagnosis - The identification of the nature and cause of an illness or other problem through the examination of symptoms and signs.
  • diet and nutrition - The study of food and nourishment, focusing on dietary habits and nutritional intake for health maintenance.

E[edit | edit source]

  • endocrine system - A system of glands that produce and secrete hormones regulating growth, metabolism, and tissue function.

F[edit | edit source]

  • family medicine - A medical specialty devoted to comprehensive healthcare for people of all ages; the specialist is named a family physician or family doctor.

G[edit | edit source]

  • genetics - The study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in living organisms, often informing subjects like genetic disorders.

H[edit | edit source]

  • hematology - The branch of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases related to blood.

I[edit | edit source]

  • immunization - The process by which an individual's immune system becomes fortified against an agent (known as the immunogen).
  • infectious diseases - Diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi; diseases can be spread, directly or indirectly, from one person to another.

J[edit | edit source]

  • jaundice - Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, arising from excess bilirubin and typically caused by obstruction of the bile duct, liver disease, or excessive breakdown of red blood cells.

K[edit | edit source]

  • kinesiology - The scientific study of human or non-human body movement, addressing physiological, biomechanical, and psychological mechanisms.

L[edit | edit source]

  • lifestyle diseases - Diseases linked with the way people live their life. This is commonly caused by alcohol, drug, and smoking abuse as well as lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating.

M[edit | edit source]

  • metabolism - The set of life-sustaining chemical transformations within the cells of living organisms, which allows organisms to grow, reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments.

N[edit | edit source]

  • neurology - A branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Neurology deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of conditions and disease involving the central and peripheral nervous systems.

O[edit | edit source]

  • oncology - The study and treatment of tumors. An oncologist is a doctor who treats cancer and provides medical care for a person diagnosed with cancer.

P[edit | edit source]

  • pathology - The study of the causes and effects of diseases, especially the branch of medicine that deals with the laboratory examination of samples of body tissue for diagnostic or forensic purposes.
  • pharmacology - The branch of medicine concerned with the uses, effects, and modes of action of drugs.

Q[edit | edit source]

  • quality of life - The general well-being of individuals and societies, outlining negative and positive features of life.

R[edit | edit source]

  • reproductive health - A state of physical, mental, and social well-being in relation to the reproductive system.

S[edit | edit source]

  • stem cells - Undifferentiated biological cells that can differentiate into specialized cells and can divide to produce more stem cells.
  • surgery - A branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or injury.

T[edit | edit source]

  • toxicology - A branch of biology, chemistry, and medicine concerned with the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms.

U[edit | edit source]

  • urgent care - The delivery of ambulatory care in a facility dedicated to the delivery of medical care outside of a hospital emergency department, on an unscheduled, walk-in basis.

V[edit | edit source]

  • vaccination - The administration of a vaccine to help the immune system develop protection from a disease.
  • virology - The study of viruses – submicroscopic, parasitic particles of genetic material contained in a protein coat – and virus-like agents.

W[edit | edit source]

  • wellness - The act of practicing healthy habits on a daily basis to attain better physical and mental health outcomes.

X[edit | edit source]

  • x-ray - A form of electromagnetic radiation, used in medical imaging to evaluate the body for diagnosis and treatment.

Y[edit | edit source]

  • yoga - A group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India, aimed at controlling (yoking) and stilling the mind.

Z[edit | edit source]

  • zoonosis - Any disease or infection that is naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans.

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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD