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Wellness Shop - Health glossary Category: Health and Medicine > Wellness Date & country: 17/11/2007, UK Words: 250

Fluvoxamine
Medication used in the treatment of OCD and anxiety disorders.

Ganja
Cannabis (slang).

General anxiety disorder (GAD)
Persistent and unrealistic worry becoming the response to most situations. Characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry about everyday things. The frequency, intensity, and duration of the worry are disproportionate to the actual source of worry, and such worry often interferes with daily functioning.

Glaucoma
Name of a group of eye conditions in which the optic nerve is damaged to a point that it becomes detached. The condition is often the result of increased pressure in the eyeball. If untreated, glaucoma leads to blindness.

Grass
Cannabis (slang).

Hallucinations
Disturbed perceptions often seen in people with schizophrenia. They can occur in any sensory form (i.e. sound, sight, taste, touch) Hearing voices is often the most commonly experienced hallucination in people with schizophrenia.

Hallucinogens
Drugs that induce hallucinations.

Haloperidol
Typical or conventional antipsychotic, used in the treatment of schizophrenia and other mental disorders. Tranquilizer (trade name Haldol) used to treat some psychotic disorders and Tourette's syndrome.

Hash-hashish
Cannabis (slang).

Heart failure
A degenerative condition that develops when the heart muscle weakens and the ventricle (or one of the heart chambers) no longer contracts normally. As a result, the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the body.

Hemp plant
Plant that produces cannabis or cannabis sativa.

Hepatitis
Hepatitis is characterised by fatigue, malaise, joint aches, and abdominal pain, vomiting 2-3 times per day for the first 5 days, loss of appetite, dark urine, fever, enlarged liver and jaundice. Some chronic forms of hepatitis show very few of these signs and only present when the longstanding inflammation has led to the replacement of liver cells by connective tissue; the result is cirrhosis. Certain liver function tests can also indicate hepatitis. Viruses designated A to G.

Hepatitis B
Viral disease affecting the liver, that may be acute or chronic, and can be life-threatening. In developed countries, 95% of sufferers make full recoveries. Symptoms include: fever, malaise, fatigue, jaundice, abdominal tenderness, and elevated liver enzymes. In its chronic form, Hepatitis B may result in liver cirrhosis and/or cancer. Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) can be transmitted by sexual contact, shared needles, or contaminated blood products.

Hepatitis C
This virus causes hepatitis (inflammation of the liver). It is carried and passed to others through blood or sexual contact. Also, infants born to infected mothers may become infected with the virus. It may lead to a chronic form of hepatitis, culminating in cirrhosis. It can remain asymptomatic for 10-20 years. No vaccine is available for hepatitis C. Patients with hepatitis C are prone to severe hepatitis if they contract either hepatitis A or B, so all hepatitis C patients should be immunized against hepatitis A and hepatitis B if they are not already immune. However, hepatitis C itself is a very lethal virus and can cause cirrhosis of the liver. The virus, if detected early on can be treated by a combination of interferon and the antiviral drug ribavirin.

Herb
Cannabis (slang).

Heroin
Highly addictive drug that is derived from morphine, and is obtained from the opium poppy.

Higher brain activity
Activity in the higher-orders brain areas or the areas in the brain that process complex, abstract information.

Higher brain centre
Area of the brain dedicated to higher functions, such as thought.

Higher purity heroin
This form of heroin enables users to snort or smoke the drug as opposed to injecting it.

Histamine
A physiologically active depressor amine found in plant and animal tissue, derived from histidine (found in fruits such as bananas and grapes, meat and poultry, and milk and milk products. It is also found in root vegetables and all green vegetables, though in lesser quantities).by decarboxylation (the process of removing a carboxyl group from a chemical compound, usually replacing it with hydrogen) and released from cells in the immune system as part of an allergic reaction. It is a powerful stimulant of gastric secretion, constrictor of bronchial smooth muscle, and vasodilator.

HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a medical condition wherein the blood pressure is chronically elevated. While it is formally called arterial hypertension, the word 'hypertension' without a qualifier usually refers to arterial hypertension. Persistent hypertension is one of the risk factors for strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and arterial aneurysm, and is a leading cause of chronic renal failure.

Hyperventilation
Abnormal rapid and shallow breathing to the extent that the blood carbon dioxide level is lowered, which may lead to tingling in fingers and dizziness.

Hypoglycaemia
Abnormally low blood sugar levels. Symptoms in adults (which may indicate diabetes) include jitteriness, rapid breathing, and lethargy.

Hypomania
Mild form of mania or state of elated mood seen in people with bipolar disorder.

Interpersonal therapy (IPT)
Programmed active therapy to treat depression. IPT focuses on four general areas: grief, role disputes, role transitions, and interpersonal deficits. It is present-oriented and emphasizes patients` exploring options and increasing their activities and social life.

Interruptions
An interruption occurs when someone doesn`t take medication as prescribed by the doctor or stops taking prescribed medication.

Intravenous
Direct injection of medication into a vein.

Kindling
See Sensitisation.

Lithium
Lithium salts, particularly lithium carbonate is a traditional first-line treatment for bipolar disorder. Even with optimal treatment, many people with bipolar disorder do not achieve full remission and will experience recurring symptoms.

Long-acting injectable (LAI)
Injectable medication that has a long-lasting slow release action.

Lorazepam
See Alprazolam.

LSD
Powerful hallucinogenic. Synthetic drug derived from lysergic acid. Hence its slang name: acid. Causes dramatic changes in perceptions, mood and thoughts. Its effects are unpredictable and the drug is addictive.

Lucy
LSD (slang).

Magic mushroom
Fungi (Psilocybin) with hallucinogenic properties.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Formerly referred to as magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), MRI is a method used to visualize the inside of living organisms as well as to detect the composition of geological structures. It is primarily used to demonstrate pathological or other physiological alterations of living tissues and is a commonly used form of medical imaging. In clinical practice, MRI is used to distinguish pathologic tissue (such as a brain tumor) from normal tissue. One advantage of an MRI scan is that it is harmless to the patient. It uses strong magnetic fields and non-ionizing radiation in the radio frequency range. Compare this to CT scans and traditional X-rays which involve doses of ionizing radiation and may increase the chance of malignancy, especially in a fetus.

Major depression
Type of severe clinical depression.

Mania
Medical condition characterised by severely elevated mood. Excitement of psychotic proportions manifested by mental and physical hyperactivity, disorganization of behaviour, and elevation of mood Mania is most often associated with bipolar disorder, where episodes of mania alternate with episodes of depression. (Not all mania is bipolar disorder, other diseases can cause mania however bipolar disorder is the ‘classic` manic disease).

Manic depression
Also known as bipolar disorder. This is a mood disorder with symptoms of abnormal and extreme moods. Mood swings will vary from severe depression to a state of euphoria or mania.

Marijuana
Cannabis in dried leaves, stalks or seed form.

MDA
Hallucinogenic drug.

MDMA
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Synthetic or semi-synthetic hallucinogenic drug. Commonly known as Ecstasy.

Medication schedule
Also called medication regimen. Prescribes or defines the time and the dosage of medication to be taken to treat an illness or disorder.

Mescaline
Hallucinogenic drug derived from the peyote cactus. The effective human dosage is 200â€`400 milligrams (3.75 mg/kg), with the effects lasting for up to twelve hours. Users typically experience visual hallucinations and radically altered states of consciousness, often experienced as pleasurable and illuminating but occasionally as accompanied by feelings of anxiety or revulsion. It is not physically addictive.

Methadone
Narcotic withdrawal and dependence suppressant, used to treat opioid addiction. (e.g. heroin)

Methamphetamine
Powerful stimulant that activates certain systems in the brain and can result in altered brain structures.

Methylphenidate
Newer type of stimulant medication, used to treat ADHD. A drug chemically related to amphetamine and that acts as a mild stimulant of the central nervous system, used especially in the form of its hydrochloride for the treatment of narcolepsy in adults and hyperkinetic disorders in children.

Mixed state
State of bipolar disorder during which symptoms of depression and mania are experienced at the same time. Symptoms can include: sleeping problems, agitation, significant change in appetite, psychosis and suicidal thoughts or tendencies. Depression goes together with manic activity.

MMR vaccine
Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, also known as triple vaccine. Caused a lot of debate in the UK as researcher claimed that children who were given the triple vaccine were at an increased risk of autism. To date there is no scientific evidence this is the case.

Mood stabilising anticonvulsants
Medications originally developed to treat epilepsy, found popular in bipolar disorder for patients who do not respond to other treatment. Often used as an alternative to lithium. The most well-known anticonvulsants used to treat bipolar disorder are carbamazepine and valproate.

Mood stabilizers
Medication used to treat mood swings or altered moods. Mood stabilizers are used to treat bipolar disorder and in some cases also used in the treatment of autism.

Morphine
Opioid derivative, administered as a pain suppressant and relaxant. Morphine is a powerful opiate analgesic drug and is the principal active agent in opium. Like other opiates, morphine acts directly on the central nervous system (CNS) to relieve pain, and at synapses of the arcuate nucleus, in particular. Side effects include impairment of mental performance, euphoria, drowsiness, lethargy, and blurred vision. It also decreases hunger, inhibits the cough reflex, and produces constipation. Morphine is highly addictive when compared to other substances, and tolerance and physical and psychological dependence develop quickly. Patients on morphine often report insomnia and nightmares.

MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging)
Non-invasive, non-x-ray diagnostic technique based on the magnetic fields of hydrogen atoms in the body. MRI-scans provide computer-generated images of the body`s internal tissues and organs.

Naltrexone
Medication that blocks the effects of drugs such as: opioids and alcohol. Used in the treatment of alcoholism.

Narcolepsy
Rare sleep disorder with severe impact on those affected. Its symptoms can include hallucinations. The main characteristic of narcolepsy is overwhelming excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), even after adequate night time sleep. A person with narcolepsy is likely to become drowsy or to fall asleep, often at inappropriate times and places. Daytime naps may occur with or without warning and may be irresistible. These naps can occur several times a day. They are typically refreshing, but only for up to a couple hours. Drowsiness may persist for prolonged periods of time. In addition, night-time sleep may be fragmented with frequent wakening.

Narcotic analgesics
Substance that reduces perceptions of pain and produces a state of stupor or drowsiness by blocking the transmission of pain signals in the brain.

Nausea
Sick feeling and feeling of needing to throw up, which can precede vomiting. Nausea is not an illness in itself; it is rather a possible symptom of several conditions, many of which are not related to the stomach at all. In fact, more often than not nausea indicates a condition somewhere else in the body rather than in the stomach itself. An example of this is travel sickness, which is due to confusion between perceived movement and actual movement. Our sense of equilibrium lies in the ear and works together with eyesight. When these two don't 'agree' to what extent the body is actually moving the symptom is presented as nausea even though the stomach itself has nothing to do with the situation. One would maybe expect a headache or something to that effect to be more logical since that would better indicate the problem's place of origin.

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia
Also called affective symptoms or mood symptoms.

Neuroleptic
Type of medication or agent used to treat mental disorders and psychosis also called antipsychotics. Classic neuroleptics are the older generation of neuroleptics also typical antipsychotics whereas newer neuroleptics are called atypical antipsychotics.

Neuron
Nerve cell in the brain.

Neurotransmitters
Chemicals released by the nerve cells in the brain from their nerve endings. These chemicals are involved in establishing the communication amongst the neurons or nerve cells and play a significant part in schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder.

Nitrates
Traditionally used stimulant medication to treat conditions such as angina by causing blood vessels to dilate and stimulate blood flow.

Non-compliance
Not adhering to the prescribed medication regime and dosage.

Noradrenaline
A neurotransmitter or chemical released by the nerve cells or neurons in the brain and the adrenal medulla. Noradrenaline plays a significant part in depression. One of two chemicals (the other is adrenaline) released by the adrenal gland that increases the speed and force of heart beats. It dilates the airways to improve breathing and narrows blood vessels in the skin and intestine. An increased flow of blood then reaches the muscles and allows them to cope with the demands of exercise, stress and in some cases fear.

Norepinephrine
Alternative name for Noradrenaline (qv).

Obsession
Persistent thoughts that can`t be controlled such as an irrational motive for performing trivial or repetitive actions against your will. Obsessions play a significant role in OCD.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Also called OCD. Anxiety disorder that can last for the duration of one`s life. Someone with OCD becomes trapped in irrational patterns and behaviours that start dominating life. Examples: excessive hand washing and wiping door handles whenever someone has opened or closed a door.

Oestrogen
Hormone, produced mainly by the ovaries, responsible for female sexual development and female secondary sex characteristics

Olanzapine
Medication used in schizophrenia treatment. A newer type of medication, also classified as an atypical antipsychotic or unconventional neuroleptic. Newer agents tend to have fewer side effects.

Opiate
Drugs whose origin is the opium poppy, including codeine and morphine.

Opioid
Scientific term denoting both natural and synthetic opiates or opium derived drugs. Opioids are strong analgesics.

Opium
Addictive narcotic drug extracted from the seed capsules of the opium poppy.

OROS methylphenidate HCI
Newer type of slow release stimulant medication, used to treat ADHD. Compared to most other medications for ADHD, this medication only has to be taken once a day.

Oxycodone
A semi-synthetic morphine derivative used as a pain reliever or analgesic. A narcotic alkaloid related to codeine, used as an analgesic and a sedative chiefly in the form of its hydrochloride salt.

Papaver somniferum
Latin name for the opium poppy.

Paracetamol
Pain killer similar to aspirin. Paracetamol or acetaminophen (US), is a common analgesic and antipyretic (qv) drug that is used for the relief of fever, headaches, and other minor aches and pains. Paracetamol is also useful in managing more severe pain, allowing lower dosages of additional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) or opioid analgesics to be used, so minimising overall side-effects. It is a major ingredient in numerous cold and flu medications and many prescription analgesics. It is remarkably safe in recommended doses, but because of its wide availability, deliberate or accidental overdoses are fairly common.

Paranoia
A psychotic disorder characterized by delusions of persecution with or without grandeur, often strenuously defended with apparent logic and reason. An irrational fear, suspicion, or distrust of others. Paranoia is often seen in people who suffer from psychosis and in schizophrenic patients.

Paranoid-type symptoms
Experienced by about one third of schizophrenia patients. Delusions or irrational beliefs of being persecuted, harassed, being cheated, being ridiculed behind one`s back, spied upon or conspired against.

Performance phobia
Form of social phobia which brings on fear of performing in public, performing for your peers or being judged on your performance at work.

Pethidine
Pain-relieving drug, which is related to morphine and used during labour. It is usually given as an injection into the thigh. It can cause drowsiness, dizziness and nausea.

Peyote cactus
Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) is a small spineless cactus whose native region extends from the south-western United States through central Mexico. Peyote contains a large spectrum of phenethylamine alkaloids, the principal of which is mescaline (qv).

Phencyclidine
A piperidine derivative used as a veterinary anaesthetic and sometimes illicitly as a psychedelic drug to induce vivid mental imagery. Also known as angel dust (slang), PCP .

Pimozide
The most commonly used diphenylbutyl piperidine. An antipsychotic drug, C28H29F2N3O, used in the treatment of chronic schizophrenia and in the management of Tourette's syndrome. An older type of medication, also classified as a typical antipsychotic or conventional neuroleptic.

Poppers
Amyl nitrates (slang).

Positive symptoms
Psychological symptoms that result directly from a mental disorder, observed only in people who suffer from a mental illness. Often used in relation to schizophrenia. Positive symptoms of schizophrenia include: hallucinations, delusions, disorganised thinking and agitation.

Positron emission tomography (PET)
A PET scan produces an image of the body, then computes specifications of tumours for precise diagnoses. PET scans are especially useful in taking images of the brain, although they are becoming more widely used to find the spread of cancer of the breast, colon, rectum, ovary, or lung. PET scans may also be used to see how well a tumour is responding to treatment. Alternative methods of scanning include x-ray computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI), ultrasound and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

Post-natal depression
A form of depression ranging from mild to severe experienced by some of women after given birth.

Pot
Cannabis (slang).

Problem disability
A disability that is mainly caused by mental disorder or mental state.

Progesterone
Female hormone secreted by the ovaries that affects many parts of the female body, including menstrual cycles and pregnancy.

Prognosis
The likelihood of survival and recovery from a disease as anticipated from the usual course of that disease and proposed treatments.

Psychosis
Mental state involving hallucinations (disturbances of perception) and/or delusions (false yet strongly held personal beliefs that result from an inability to separate real from unreal experiences).

Psychotherapist
Person who is qualified to treat mental disorders or provide psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy
Therapy used to treat mental disorders. This may include cognitive behaviour therapy or the prescription of medication.

Psychotic episode
Period where a patient experiences a state of psychosis. Onset of psychotic symptoms such as: hallucinations, delusions, agitation, apathy… These episodes are often acute and very disturbing for beloved ones. Medication can bring these episodes under control. They will reoccur if a patients stops taking medication.

Psychotic symptom
Symptoms of psychosis or the mental state involving hallucinations (disturbances of perception) and/or delusions (false yet strongly held personal beliefs that result from an inability to separate real from unreal experiences).

Rapid-cycling bipolar disorder
Form of bipolar disorder in which the sequences of episodes occur more frequently and more than four times a year. A person with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder experiences four or more distinct episodes of mania, depression or mixed state (a state where symptoms of depression and mania occur together).

Regression (autism)
The term regression, used with regards to autism, refers to a regression or turning back in a child`s developmental age. Regression is often the first explicit sign that a child may have autism.

Rehabilitation
A programme of treatment with the purpose of enabling patients to live as much of a normal live as possible or take part in normal activities and exercise. Rehabilitation may include a variety of medication and non-medicinal treatment. Where necessary programmes incorporate social and vocational training to help patients and former patients overcome difficulties in these areas.

Relapse
Resurfacing of symptoms as a result of stopping medication.