Category: A

A hormone (chemical messenger) that is produced by the atria (upper chambers) of the heart to regulate blood pressure and fluid balance by its action on the kidneys. The name “atrial” comes from the hormone’s origin in the cells of the atria and “natriuretic” refers to its role in excreting sodium in the urine. The…

Form of bodywork that relieves muscle pain and fatigue by improving faulty patterns of body movement. Developed by dancer Jane Aston in the 1970s, Aston-patterning changes habitual patterns of body usage to improve energy, stability, mobility, and balance. Massage is generally used to release tension and make it possible to learn new patterns of movement.…

Equipment designed to help people who are hearing-impaired. The devices may be used with hearing aids or as an alternative to hearing aids. They generally fall into three main categories: amplifying, alerting, and decoding devices.  

Residential facilities for older people who no longer can manage all of their daily needs. Residents live in their own apartments and typically have meals in a common dining area. Fees usually include meals, housekeeping, and an agreed-upon amount of personal assistance with daily activities such as bathing, grooming, dressing, or bathroom use. Nursing care…

This form of therapy uses creativity and images to allow insight into a person’s experience of life and health and provides an avenue for emotional expression. It is most often used with children, including those with posttraumatic stress disorder and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, as well as with adults recovering from serious illness. Art therapists are professionally…

A rare, benign tumor of the ovary that usually produces the male hormone testosterone and causes masculinization (male characteristics, such as facial hair). These tumors generally do not appear in girls before puberty. An ovarian tumor that secretes male sex hormone, causing secondary male sex characteristics (virilization) in the female. Arrhenoblastoma is a rare ovarian…

Also known as AAAs, a network of local offices of the Federal Administration on Aging that provides assistance to older people across the country. Agencies are funded by the Older Americans Act, which allocates federal money to states. States in turn distribute money to local AAAs to operate programs for people age 60 and older.…

A gray or white, bow-or arch-shaped ring that commonly appears at the edge of the clear outer covering (cornea) of the eye in people older than 50 years. Arcus senilis (which means “old man’s arch” in Latin) results from deposits of cholesterol and in people younger than 40 years can be a sign of high…

An operation to repair an abnormal condition (gastroesophageal reflux) in which stomach acids back up into the esophagus, damaging its lining and causing pain. The procedure involves tightening of the lower esophageal sphincter (valve) so that stomach juices cannot How up into the esophagus, causing a person to have chronic heartburn. Gastroesophageal reflux disease may be…

Substances occurring naturally in the blood said to defend against cancer cells. Anti-neoplastons are small proteins, peptides, and amino acid derivatives found naturally in human blood and thought to work against cancer cells by “reprogramming” them and turning them back into normal cells. People with cancer have very low levels of anti-neoplastons in their blood…