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In-depth Information
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Glossary
- abdomen
- stomach or belly area of the body that lies below the ribcage and above the hips
- absorption
- commonly refers to soaking up of liquids by a porous material like a sponge; also refers to the uptake of substances by the lining of the body's tissues. The lungs absorb oxygen. The intestines absorb nutrients.
- accommodation
- to accommodate an employee with a disability means to remove barriers (physical, policy or attitudinal) so that a person is able to do the essential duties of his or her job, despite the fact that he or she has a disabling medical condition.
- acetaminophen
- ingredient in many over-the-counter pain killers and cold medications; reduces fever and relieves pain and may cause liver damage if too much is taken
- acetylsalicylic acid
- aspirin
- acidifier
- acid (usually in powder form) that is used to convert insoluble drugs like brown heroin or crack into a form that dissolves easily in water; examples include ascorbic acid (vitamin C powder) and citric acid
- active virus
- when the Hep C virus is present and detectable in a person's blood
- acupuncture
- part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the process by which needles are inserted into specific areas of the body to treat a variety of conditions and to relieve pain
- acute
- short-term or beginning phase of infection. Acute hepatitis C infection refers roughly to the first 6 months of infection.
- adherence
- taking the right dose of medicine at the right time, according to a treatment regimen or treatment schedule, with the goal of maintaining enough medicine in the body to make the treatment effective
- AIDS
- acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; a serious condition caused by HIV where the body cannot fight off infections and is vulnerable to many different illnesses
- albumin
- protein manufactured by the liver
- alopecia
- thinning or loss of hair
- ALP
- alkaline phosphatase; a type of liver enzyme
- ALT
- alanine aminotransferase; an enzyme that is normally found in the liver cells and in the blood; an increase in ALT levels may indicate liver inflammation and/or damage
- amino acids
- building blocks of proteins
- ampoule
- sealed plastic bulb that contains fluids, like sterile water used for injections
- analgesic
- drug that relieves pain
- anemia
- shortage of red blood cells, hemoglobin, or total blood volume that leads to reduced supply of oxygen reaching body tissues
- anonymous
- without any name acknowledged; anonymous testing does not require a person to give his or her name in order to get a test
- anti-inflammatory
- being able to reduce the redness and swelling associated with inflammation
- antibody
- protein produced by the immune system as part of a response to fight off infection when viruses, bacteria, or other parasites invade the body Synonyms: antibodies
- antigen
- any unfamiliar or foreign substance in the body that stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies. The hepatitis C virus is an example of an antigen.
- antipyretic
- medicine that reduces fever
- antiviral
- substance or process that destroys a virus or prevents it from reproducing
- antiviral drugs
- drugs that work against a virus
- anxiety
- distress or unease caused by worry or fear
- appeal
- to have a decision reviewed by a different person or group of people
- aromatherapy
- using the scents or smells of essential oils that are taken from plants to treat various health conditions
- arrhythmias
- abnormal heart beats
- artery
- any blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body
- ascites
- buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity; a sign of serious liver damage in people with HCV
- AST
- aspartate aminotransferase; an enzyme that is normally found in liver cells that is released into the blood when liver cells are injured. AST is also found in other organs such as the heart and skeletal muscle.
- asymptomatic
- without symptoms, even though a condition (such as hepatitis C infection) is present
- autoclave
- equipment that uses high-temperature steam to sterilize metal equipment
- autoimmune
- arising from and attacking a person's own body tissues
- autoimmune hepatitis
- form of hepatitis in which cells from a persons own immune system attack the liver
- autologous blood donation
- donation and storage of a patient's own blood a few weeks before elective surgery. This way, if the patient needs a transfusion during surgery they can receive their own blood and not someone else's.
- Ayurvedic medicine
- oldest known medical system, it was developed in India 5000 years ago and is based on balance and equilibrium between the different forces in the world
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