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| This glossary contains: 19186 medical terms |
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Altitude illness
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Altitude illness"Altitude illness (or altitude sickness) is a disorder caused by being at high altitude. It commonly occurs above 8,000 feet (2,440 meters). The cause of altitude illness is a matter of oxygen physiology. At sea level the concentration of oxygen is about 21% and the barometric pressure averages 760 mmHg. As altitude increases, the concentration remains the same but the number of oxygen molecules per breath is reduced. At 12,000 feet (3,658 meters) the barometric pressure is only 483 mmHg, so there are roughly 40% fewer oxygen molecules per breath. In order to oxygenate the body effectively, your breathing rate (even while at rest) has to increase. This extra ventilation increases the oxygen content in the blood, but not to sea level concentrations. Since the amount of oxygen required for activity is the same, the body must adjust to having less oxygen. In addition, high altitude and lower air pressure cause fluid to leak from the capillaries which can cause fluid build-up in both the lungs and the brain. Continuing to higher altitudes without proper acclimatization can lead to potentially serious, even life-threatening illnesses.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Feet
The plural of foot, both an anatomic structure and a unit of measure. As an anatomic structure, the foot is the end of the leg on which a person normally stands and walks. The foot is a particularly complex structure made up of dozens of bones that work together with muscles and tendons to execute precise movements. The bones of the foot include the 10 metatarsal bones and the 28 phalanges (toe bones).
Oxygen
A chemical element essential for sustaining life.
Physiology
The branch of medicine that deals with the function of the various parts of the living organism.
Breathing
The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through the mouth or nose due to muscle contraction, and then exhaled due to muscle relaxation.
Blood
The life-maintaining fluid which is made up of plasma, red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets; blood circulates through the body's heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries; it carries away waste matter and carbon dioxide, and brings nourishment, electrolytes, hormones, vitamins, antibodies, heat, and oxygen to the tissues.
Capillaries
Tiny blood vessels between arteries and veins that distribute oxygen-rich blood to the body.
Lungs
The main respiratory organs in the chest where blood is oxygenated.
Brain
"That part of the central nervous system that is located within the cranium (skull). The brain functions as the primary receiver, organizer and distributor of information for the body. It has two (right and left) halves called ""hemispheres."" "
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Altitude sickness
A potentially fatal illness caused by being at altitudes high enough to reduce the amount of oxygen available to the body.
Altitude, acclimatization to
Adjustment to changes in altitude. The main cause of altitude sickness is going too high too fast. Given time, the body can adapt to the decrease in oxygen concentration at a specific altitude, process known as acclimatization.
Altitude, high
Altitude sickness occurs at high altitude.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Alternating hemiplegia of childhood
A rare neurological disorder with frequent temporary episodes of paralysis of one side of the body (hemiplegia) usually beginning before the age of 18 months. The eye movements, face, or limbs can be paralysed on either side of the body, but on only one side at a time. The cause is unknown. Abbreviated AHC. Also known as alternating hemiplegia syndrome. One form of AHC has a favorable outlook. It occurs primarily at night, when a child awakens, and is apparently related to migraine. These children have no other mental or neurological impairments. Another form of AHC is more serious and may include mental impairment, balance and gait difficulties, excessive sweating, changes in body temperature, and seizures. Treatment with flunarizine , a calcium channel blocker, may help to reduce the severity and duration of attacks of paralysis.
Alternating hemiplegia syndrome
See: Alternating hemiplegia of childhood.
Alternative medical system
A system of alternative medicine built upon a complete system of theory and practice. Often, such systems have evolved apart from and earlier than the conventional medical approach used in the US or Europe. Alternative medical systems may have evolved in Western or non-Western cultures. Examples of alternative medical systems that have developed in Western cultures include homeopathic medicine and naturopathic medicine. Examples of systems that have developed in non-Western cultures include traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda.
Alternative splicing
A mechanism by which different forms of mature mRNAs (messengers RNAs) are generated from the same gene. Alternative splicing is a regulatory mechanism by which variations in the incorporation of the exons, or coding regions, into mRNA leads to the production of more than one related protein, or isoform.
Altitude illness
Altitude, acclimatization to
Adjustment to changes in altitude. The main cause of altitude sickness is going too high too fast. Given time, the body can adapt to the decrease in oxygen concentration at a specific altitude, process known as acclimatization.
Altitude, high
Altitude sickness occurs at high altitude.
Altretamine
Brand name: Hexalen. An oral drug used to treat ovarian cancer that has persisted or has recurred following treatment with other anti-cancer drugs. It was approved for this use by the FDA in 1990. Altretamine also has been used for treating lung cancer, although this is an off-label use.
Aluminum poisoning
See: Aluminum.
Aluminum toxicity
See: Aluminum.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Feet
The plural of foot, both an anatomic structure and a unit of measure. As an anatomic structure, the foot is the end of the leg on which a person normally stands and walks. The foot is a particularly complex structure made up of dozens of bones that work together with muscles and tendons to execute precise movements. The bones of the foot include the 10 metatarsal bones and the 28 phalanges (toe bones).
Oxygen
A chemical element essential for sustaining life.
Physiology
The branch of medicine that deals with the function of the various parts of the living organism.
Breathing
The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through the mouth or nose due to muscle contraction, and then exhaled due to muscle relaxation.
Blood
The life-maintaining fluid which is made up of plasma, red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets; blood circulates through the body's heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries; it carries away waste matter and carbon dioxide, and brings nourishment, electrolytes, hormones, vitamins, antibodies, heat, and oxygen to the tissues.
Capillaries
Tiny blood vessels between arteries and veins that distribute oxygen-rich blood to the body.
Lungs
The main respiratory organs in the chest where blood is oxygenated.
Brain
"That part of the central nervous system that is located within the cranium (skull). The brain functions as the primary receiver, organizer and distributor of information for the body. It has two (right and left) halves called ""hemispheres."" "
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Altitude sickness
A potentially fatal illness caused by being at altitudes high enough to reduce the amount of oxygen available to the body.
Altitude, acclimatization to
Adjustment to changes in altitude. The main cause of altitude sickness is going too high too fast. Given time, the body can adapt to the decrease in oxygen concentration at a specific altitude, process known as acclimatization.
Altitude, high
Altitude sickness occurs at high altitude.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Alternating hemiplegia of childhood
A rare neurological disorder with frequent temporary episodes of paralysis of one side of the body (hemiplegia) usually beginning before the age of 18 months. The eye movements, face, or limbs can be paralysed on either side of the body, but on only one side at a time. The cause is unknown. Abbreviated AHC. Also known as alternating hemiplegia syndrome. One form of AHC has a favorable outlook. It occurs primarily at night, when a child awakens, and is apparently related to migraine. These children have no other mental or neurological impairments. Another form of AHC is more serious and may include mental impairment, balance and gait difficulties, excessive sweating, changes in body temperature, and seizures. Treatment with flunarizine , a calcium channel blocker, may help to reduce the severity and duration of attacks of paralysis.
Alternating hemiplegia syndrome
See: Alternating hemiplegia of childhood.
Alternative medical system
A system of alternative medicine built upon a complete system of theory and practice. Often, such systems have evolved apart from and earlier than the conventional medical approach used in the US or Europe. Alternative medical systems may have evolved in Western or non-Western cultures. Examples of alternative medical systems that have developed in Western cultures include homeopathic medicine and naturopathic medicine. Examples of systems that have developed in non-Western cultures include traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda.
Alternative splicing
A mechanism by which different forms of mature mRNAs (messengers RNAs) are generated from the same gene. Alternative splicing is a regulatory mechanism by which variations in the incorporation of the exons, or coding regions, into mRNA leads to the production of more than one related protein, or isoform.
Altitude illness
Altitude, acclimatization to
Adjustment to changes in altitude. The main cause of altitude sickness is going too high too fast. Given time, the body can adapt to the decrease in oxygen concentration at a specific altitude, process known as acclimatization.
Altitude, high
Altitude sickness occurs at high altitude.
Altretamine
Brand name: Hexalen. An oral drug used to treat ovarian cancer that has persisted or has recurred following treatment with other anti-cancer drugs. It was approved for this use by the FDA in 1990. Altretamine also has been used for treating lung cancer, although this is an off-label use.
Aluminum poisoning
See: Aluminum.
Aluminum toxicity
See: Aluminum.
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This dictionary contains 19186 terms.
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