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H
H2-blockers - medicines that reduce the amount of acid
the stomach produces by blocking histamine2, which signals the stomach
to make acid.
hair cells - sensory cells of the inner ear, which are
topped with hair-like structures (stereocilia), which transform the mechanical
energy of sound waves into nerve impulses.
halitosis - an oral health condition characterized by
consistently odorous breath.
hallux rigidus - loss of range of the movement of the
metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint of the first (great) toe.
hamstrings - muscles located in the posterior compartment
of the thigh.
hay fever - see rhinitis.
headache, primary - includes tension (muscular contraction),
vascular (migraine), and cluster headaches not caused by other underlying
medical conditions.
headache, secondary (Also called traction headaches or
inflammatory headaches.) - includes headaches that result from other medical
conditions.
hearing - series of events in which sound waves in the
air are converted to electrical signals that are sent as nerve impulses
to the brain where they are interpreted.
hearing aid - electronic device that brings amplified
sound to the ear.
hearing disorder - disruption in the normal hearing process;
sound waves are not converted to electrical signals and nerve impulses
are not transmitted to the brain to be interpreted.
heart block - interrupted electrical impulse to heart
muscles.
heart valve prolapse - a condition of the heart valve
in which it is partially open when it should be closed.
heartbeat - one complete contraction of the heart.
heart-lung machine - a machine that performs for the
heart during open heart surgery.
Heberden's nodes - bony swellings around the margins
of joints, associated with degenerative changes of arthritis.
hematopathology - the study of blood, bone marrow and
the organs and tissues that use blood cells to perform their functions.
hemorrhage - the medical term for bleeding.
hemorrhoidectomy - the surgical removal of hemorrhoids.
hepatitis E - virus spread mostly through unclean water.
This type of hepatitis is common in developing countries and has not occurred
in the United States.
hepatologist - physician who specializes in liver diseases.
hepatology - field of medicine concerned with the functions
and disorders of the liver.
high density lipoprotein (HDL) - the "good"
cholesterol that promotes breakdown and removal of cholesterol from the
body.
hip - the region on each side of the pelvis that is made
up of three sections: ilium, ischium, and pubis; the upper part of the
femur (upper leg bone) fits into the hip via a ball-and-socket joint;
the socket is a cup-shaped bone of the pelvis called the acetab
histamine - a chemical present in cells throughout the
body that is released during an allergic reaction.
hives - see urticaria
hormone replacement therapy (HRT) - use of the female
hormones estrogen and progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone) to
replace those the body no longer produces after menopause.
hormone therapy - the use of hormones, medications, or
surgery to suppress (block) or mimic hormones and alter the growth of
hormone-sensitive cancer.
hormones - chemical substances created by the body that
control numerous body functions.
human chorionic gonadotropin - hormone produced by the
placenta during early pregnancy
human papillomaviruses (HPVs) - a group of viruses that
can cause warts. Some HPVs are sexually transmitted and cause wart-like
growths on the genitals. HPV is a major risk factor for cervical cancer.
hyaloid canal - narrow passageway that allows blood to
flow through the eye.
hydrocortisone - a hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex
which affects metabolism.
hydrogen breath test - test for lactose intolerance that
measures breath samples for too much hydrogen.
hydrotherapy - use of water as a medical treatment
hyperextension - active or passive force which takes
the joint into extension, but beyond its normal physiological range.
hyperglycemia - high levels of glucose in the blood.
hyperopia - farsightedness
hyperplasia, endometrial - excessive growth of cells
in the endometrium.
Hypertension (a.k.a. “high blood pressure”
or “pressure”) - abnormally high arterial blood pressure occurring
without apparent or determinable prior organic changes in the tissues
possibly because of hereditary tendency, emotional tensions, faulty nutrition,
or hormonal influence
hypertrophy - an increase in the size of tissue
hypogeusia - diminished sensitivity to taste
hypomobility - a decrease in the normal range of joint
movement.
hyposmia - diminished sensitivity to smell
hypotension - abnormally low blood pressure
hypothalamus - small structure at the base of the brain
that regulates many body functions, including appetite and body temperature.
hypoxia - depletion of oxygen in the cells and tissues
hysteroscope - visual examination of the canal of the
cervix and the interior of the uterus using a viewing instrument (hysteroscope)
inserted through the vagina.
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