Category: A

  • Advocacy

    Active support for something, especially in order to help people who would have difficulty in gaining attention without your help. Attempting to persuade others of the lightness of a cause, or of a point of view on an issue. Such educational efforts—for example, health education—are increasingly undertaken by hospitals and other nonprofit organizations, but if…

  • Adverse reaction

    A situation where someone experiences harmful effects from the application of a drug. Drug effect contrary to what is therapeutically intended. In pharmacology and therapeutics, an undesired side effect or toxicity caused by a treatment. Adverse reactions may occur as a result of drug therapies, physical therapy, radiation, or surgery. The onset of the unwanted…

  • Adverse occurrence

    A harmful event which occurs during treatment.  

  • Adventitious bursa

    Bursa which develops as a result of continued pressure or rubbing. A bursa not usually present but developing in response to friction or pressure.  

  • Advanced trauma life support

    The management of a trauma patient during the critical first hour after injury. Treatment measures needed to manage a critically injured patient.  

  • Adult respiratory distress syndrome

    A description of various lung infections which reduce the lungs’ efficiency. Condition characterized by increased capillary permeability in the lung circulation resulting in noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. Adult (or acute) respiratory distress syndrome is an inflammatory disease of the lung characterized by the sudden onset of pulmonary edema and respiratory failure. The disorder is also known…

  • Adult-onset diabetes

    Form of diabetes mellitus that develops slowly in older people as the body becomes less able to use insulin effectively.  

  • Adult coeliac disease

    Condition in adults where the villi in the intestine become smaller and so reduce the surface which can absorb nutrients.  

  • Adrenocorticotrophic hormone

    A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland, which makes the cortex of the adrenal glands produce corticosteroids.  

  • Adrenoceptor

    A cell or neurone which is stimulated by adrenaline..