Key Terms Explained – Simple Definitions You Can Understand !

A

Acid Reflux

When stomach acid flows back into the food pipe, causing heartburn and discomfort.

Acute disease or illness

A disease or condition that appears suddenly and lasts for a short period (days to weeks). Example: Common cold, fracture.

Activated Charcoal Tablets

Supplements made from processed charcoal that absorb gas and toxins in the gut, sometimes used to relieve bloating or indigestion.

Adenomyosis

A condition where the lining of the uterus grows into the muscular wall of the uterus, leading to heavy periods and painful cramps.

Adolescents

Young people aged 10–19 years (as per WHO), transitioning from childhood to adulthood.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

An eye disease that damages the macula (central retina), leading to loss of sharp vision, usually in older adults.

Agonist

A drug or substance that binds to a receptor and triggers the same action as the natural substance.

Antagonist

A drug or substance that blocks or reduces the action of a receptor or another substance in the body.

Anticoagulants (Blood Thinners)

Medicines that reduce the blood’s ability to clot, helping prevent dangerous clots and lowering the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other complications.

Alpha-galactosidase

A digestive enzyme that helps break down complex carbs in beans/vegetables, reducing gas.

Alzheimer’s Disease

A progressive neurological disorder that leads to memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes.

Anaphylaxis

A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction caused by foods, medicines, or insect stings.

Antacids

Medicines that neutralize stomach acid to relieve heartburn and indigestion.

Antioxidant

Substances (like vitamin C or E) that protect cells from damage by free radicals.

Antioxidant Paradox

A phenomenon where, despite the known benefits of antioxidants in neutralizing free radicals, clinical studies often fail to show consistent protection against diseases when antioxidant supplements are used.

Antiseptic

A substance applied to skin or mucous membranes to prevent infections.

Antispasmodics

Medicines that relax muscles and helps to reduce spasms or cramps, especially in the stomach, intestines, or uterus (like dicylcomine,drotaverine).

Appetite

Natural desire to eat food, influenced by physical hunger along with psychological, social, and environmental factors.

Asthma

A condition where lung airways swell and narrow, making breathing difficult.

Anemia

A condition where the body lacks enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to tissues.

B

Birth defects

Health problems or physical changes present at birth that affect a baby’s development or appearance.

Body mass index (BMI)

A simple tool that uses a person’s weight and height to determine if they are underweight, of healthy weight, overweight, or obese. Formula: BMI = Weight (kg) / [Height (m)]2.

C

Carbonated Drinks

Beverages with dissolved carbon dioxide (e.g., soda, soft drinks), which can cause bloating.

Carcinogenic / Carcinogen

A substance that can cause cancer (e.g., tobacco smoke, asbestos).

Cardiometabolic diseases

A group of linked conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

The national public health agency of the United States.

CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organization)

India’s regulatory authority for drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices, under the Ministry of Health.

Chemotherapy

A type of cancer treatment that uses powerful drugs to kill or stop the growth of cancer cells.

Chinese Restaurant Syndrome

Headache, flushing, or sweating sometimes linked to foods with MSG.

Chronic disease or illness

A condition that develops slowly and lasts a long time (often lifelong). Example: Diabetes, cancer.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

A long-term condition where kidneys gradually lose ability to filter waste and excess fluids from the blood.

Cirrhosis

Severe liver damage where healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue.

Crepe bandages

Soft elastic wraps used in first aid to provide compression and support.

D

Dehydration

Excessive loss of body water/fluids, often due to vomiting, diarrhoea, or heat.

Dysbiosis (Gut Imbalance)

An imbalance between “good” and “bad” bacteria in the gut, linked to digestive or other health issues.

Dementia

Conditions marked by decline in memory, thinking, and reasoning; Alzheimer’s is the most common cause.

Denervation

Loss or removal of nerve supply to a muscle or organ, causing weakness or loss of function.

Depression

A psychiatric condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in daily activities, often accompanied by physical and cognitive symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and impaired concentration.

Diabetes

A metabolic disease characterized by high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period.

Dialysis

A medical procedure that removes waste products, excess fluids, and toxins from the blood when the kidneys are unable to perform these functions effectively.

Diuretic

Medicines that increase urine production, used to remove excess water and salt (e.g., for high blood pressure).

Double-blind

A type of clinical study in which neither the participants nor the researchers know who is receiving the treatment and who is receiving the placebo. This helps reduce bias and ensures more reliable results.

E

Endocrine Disruptor

Chemicals that interfere with hormones, affecting growth, metabolism, or reproduction.

Endometriosis

Tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, often causing pain and sometimes infertility.

Edema

Swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the body’s tissues, often in feet or legs.

Estrogen

A hormone that helps control female growth, periods, and reproduction.

F

Fatigue

Feeling extremely tired and low in energy.

Fatty liver

Excess fat buildup in the liver (more than 5–10% of its weight).

Fibrosis

Formation of scar tissue in organs due to repeated injury or inflammation.

Flushing

Sudden redness/warmth of skin (usually face/neck), caused by emotions, food, or medicine.

FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)

India’s body for food safety and labelling regulations.

G

GIP (Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide)

An incretin hormone released from the gut after eating. GIP stimulates insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner and plays a role in fat metabolism. It works together with GLP-1 to regulate blood sugar and energy balance.

GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide-1)

A naturally occurring hormone (an incretin) made in the gut that helps regulate blood sugar by stimulating insulin release, reducing glucagon, slowing stomach emptying, and increasing satiety. GLP-1 receptor agonists are widely used as diabetes and weight-management medicines.

Gluten

A protein in wheat, barley, and rye that gives dough elasticity.

Gluten sensitivity / Intolerance

Difficulty digesting gluten, causing bloating and discomfort.

Glycemic response

A change in blood sugar level after you eat or drink something that contains carbohydrates.

Groin

The area where the lower abdomen meets the inner thigh. Clinically important for lymph nodes, hernias, and as an access site for some procedures (e.g., vascular access).

Gut microbiome / Microbiota

The community of trillions of bacteria and microbes in the digestive tract.

H

Hypoglycaemia

A condition where blood sugar (glucose) levels fall below normal, often causing symptoms such as sweating, shakiness, hunger, confusion, or fainting. It is most commonly linked to diabetes treatment with insulin or other glucose-lowering medicines.

I

IAP (Indian Academy of Pediatrics)

The Indian Academy of Pediatrics is the national body of pediatricians in India. It provides health guidelines, growth charts, and standards for the care and well-being of children and adolescents.

Infants

Children from birth up to 1 year of age.

Inflammation

The immune system’s response to injury or infection, causing redness, pain, or swelling.

Incretins

Gut hormones (GLP-1, GIP) that regulate blood sugar after meals.

Insulin

A hormone produced by the pancreas that moves sugar (glucose) from blood into cells for energy storage.

Insulin resistance

When body cells don’t respond well to insulin, raising blood sugar levels.

Insulin sensitivity

Refers to how easily your body’s cells can use insulin to absorb sugar from the blood.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

A digestive disorder with stomach pain, bloating, diarrhoea, or constipation.

L

Lactase

An enzyme that breaks down lactose (milk sugar) into simpler sugars.

Lactose intolerance

Inability to digest lactose due to a lack of lactase enzyme.

Local anaesthesia

A technique that numbs a small, specific area of the body so procedures can be done without pain while the patient remains awake. Commonly used for minor surgeries, dental work, wound suturing, or injections.

Lozenges

Small tablets (cough drops) that soothe throat irritation.

M

Malnutrition

Poor nutrition from too few or too many nutrients.

Metabolic dysfunction

Problems in how the body processes glucose/fats, linked to diabetes and obesity.

Migraine

Severe headache often with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light/sound.

Modified-release tablets

Medicines designed to release slowly for longer-lasting effects.

N

Nasal congestion

Stuffy or blocked nose, often due to colds, flu, or allergies.

Nausea

A queasy feeling in the stomach, often with an urge to vomit.

NAION (Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy)

Sudden, painless vision loss due to poor blood supply to the optic nerve.

Neonates

Babies in their first 28 days of life.

Neovascular Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

A severe form of AMD where abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina, causing vision loss.

Neurological Disorders

A group of conditions that affect the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

Non-productive (Dry) cough

A cough without mucus, often due to allergies or irritation.

NSAIDs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Common pain relievers (like ibuprofen, naproxen) used to reduce pain, inflammation, and fever.

O

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

A sleep disorder where breathing stops repeatedly, causing snoring, fatigue, and poor sleep.

P

Pancreatitis

Inflammation of the pancreas, which helps with digestion and blood sugar control.

Parenteral route

Administering medicines by injection.

Parkinson’s Disease

A degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mainly affects movement, often marked by tremors, stiffness, and slowed movement.

Pediatrician

A pediatrician is a medical doctor who specializes in the care, growth, and treatment of infants, children, and teenagers. They monitor development, prevent illnesses, and manage childhood diseases to support overall health and well-being.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

An infection of the female reproductive organs, usually caused by sexually transmitted bacteria.

Pesticides

Substances used to keep away or kill pests like insects, weeds, or rodents that can damage crops or spread disease.

Phase 2 trial

Medium-sized clinical studies (usually hundreds of patients) that evaluate a drug’s effectiveness and further assess its safety.

Phase 3 trial

Large clinical studies testing the safety and effectiveness of a new drug in thousands of patients.

Phase 3b trial

Clinical studies conducted after Phase 3 trials but before regulatory approval. These trials provide additional data on safety, effectiveness, or specific patient populations, and often support marketing or label expansion.

Phytochemicals

Bioactive compounds found in plants (like flavonoids, carotenoids, and polyphenols) that act as natural antioxidants and provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition.

Placebo

An inactive pill/substance used in clinical trials to compare with real drugs.

Productive (Wet) cough

A cough with mucus, often from infections.

R

Radiotherapy

A cancer treatment that uses high-energy radiation to destroy or damage cancer cells.

Rancidity

The spoilage of oils or fats resulting in unpleasant odor and taste due to oxidation or hydrolysis.

Randomised

A method used in clinical trials where participants are assigned to different groups (such as treatment or placebo) by chance rather than choice. Randomisation helps reduce bias and ensures the groups are comparable.

Renal arteries

The blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the aorta to the kidneys. They play a key role in filtering blood and regulating blood pressure.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

An autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and possible long-term joint damage.

S

Scalds

Burns caused by hot liquids or steam.

Schizophrenia

A chronic psychiatric disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. It is marked by distortions in perception, delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and impaired social functioning.

Seizures

Sudden abnormal brain activity (“fits”), causing shaking, confusion, or loss of consciousness.

Simethicone

A medicine that reduces gas and bloating by breaking up bubbles in the gut.

Splinters

Small, sharp objects (wood/glass) stuck in the skin.

Steatohepatitis

Fat accumulation and inflammation in the liver, damaging cells.

Stroke

A medical emergency when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted or a vessel bursts; causes sudden weakness, speech difficulty, or vision problems.

Stunting

When a child is shorter than normal for their age due to long-term poor nutrition.

Subcutaneous injections

Injections given under the skin, between fat and muscle.

Suppositories

Capsule-like medicines inserted into the rectum, vagina, or urethra.

T

Tampons

Soft, absorbent products inserted into the vagina to absorb menstrual blood.

Tension headaches

Common dull headaches affecting both sides of the head.

Trans Fat

Unhealthy fat in fried/processed foods, raising heart disease risk.

Tweezers

Small metal tools used to remove thorns, glass, or ticks from skin.

Type 2 diabetes

A condition where the body can’t use insulin properly, raising blood sugar.

U

Undernutrition

When the body doesn’t get enough food or nutrients to stay healthy and grow properly.

UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund)

It is an organization that works globally to promote the health, education, and well-being of children, especially in developing countries.

US FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration)

The U.S. regulatory body for food, drugs, devices, cosmetics, and more.

Uterine fibroids

Noncancerous growths made of muscle and fibrous tissue that develop in or on the uterus.

W

World Health Organization (WHO)

The United Nations agency responsible for global public health, setting standards, supporting research, and coordinating international responses to health emergencies.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new treatment, supplement, or health routine. The author and this blog are not responsible for any outcomes based on the information provided here.

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