Definitions
Technical or medical language can be baffling. Here are some definitions of common lung-related terms that you might come across.
Airways
The tubes that carry air in and out of our lungs (bronchi and bronchioles).
Allergy/allergic
An abnormal and acquired increased reaction to a common substance (the allergen). Common allergens are pollen, house dust mite, cat fur, dog hair, peanuts and seafood. Allergic conditions include eczema, hay fever, asthma and some occupational lung diseases such as farmer’s lung.
An abnormal and acquired increased reaction to a common substance (the allergen). Common allergens are pollen, house dust mite, cat fur, dog hair, peanuts and seafood. Allergic conditions include eczema, hay fever, asthma and some occupational lung diseases such as farmer’s lung.
Alpha-1-Antitrypsin deficiency
An inherited condition in which the enzyme a1Antitrypsin is lacking. The result, particularly in smokers, is early onset and fast-progressing emphysema, and also liver damage.
An inherited condition in which the enzyme a1Antitrypsin is lacking. The result, particularly in smokers, is early onset and fast-progressing emphysema, and also liver damage.
Asthma
Inflammation of the bronchial tubes which become irritable and likely to narrow intermittently. This makes it harder to get air in and out of the lungs. Attacks are often triggered by allergies. Asthma is not the same as COPD and is managed differently.
Inflammation of the bronchial tubes which become irritable and likely to narrow intermittently. This makes it harder to get air in and out of the lungs. Attacks are often triggered by allergies. Asthma is not the same as COPD and is managed differently.
Bronchi/bronchioles
The large and small tubes that carry air in and out of our lungs – the airways.
The large and small tubes that carry air in and out of our lungs – the airways.
Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is a chest infection. Chronic bronchitis is a permanent cough producing phlegm and is one of the conditions that is called COPD.
Acute bronchitis is a chest infection. Chronic bronchitis is a permanent cough producing phlegm and is one of the conditions that is called COPD.
Bronchoscopy
A test when a telescope in a flexible narrow tube is passed through your nose into your lungs; done with sedation
Cancer
A growth (tumour) that damages healthy tissue and spreads away from where it started; the same as malignant
Chemotherapy
A course of treatment with powerful drugs, aimed at attacking cancer cells
Chest physician
A hospital doctor who specialises in lung .disease, including cancer; the person who .does a bronchoscopy
Chronic
Long-term (chronic does not mean ‘very bad’).
CO2 / Carbon dioxide
A waste gas that we breathe out.
A waste gas that we breathe out.
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
CT scan
A sophisticated X-ray test which gives much more detail than a chest X-ray, it is used for staging cancer
Emphysema
A lung disease where the walls of the small air sacs and small airways are damaged, losing their elasticity and making it difficult to breathe in and out. It is one of the conditions included in the term COPD.
A lung disease where the walls of the small air sacs and small airways are damaged, losing their elasticity and making it difficult to breathe in and out. It is one of the conditions included in the term COPD.
Exacerbation
When your symptoms get temporarily worse in COPD – a lung attack.
When your symptoms get temporarily worse in COPD – a lung attack.
GP
General practitioner – family doctor.
General practitioner – family doctor.
HCP
Health care professional – a person who provides professional health services to members of the public. This includes nurses, doctors, pharmacists physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians and so on.
Health care professional – a person who provides professional health services to members of the public. This includes nurses, doctors, pharmacists physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians and so on.
HOOF
Home Oxygen Order Form. Your health care professional fills this out to send to your oxygen provider
Home Oxygen Order Form. Your health care professional fills this out to send to your oxygen provider
Influenza (flu)
Influenza is a viral infection. A yearly vaccination can protect against it.
Influenza is a viral infection. A yearly vaccination can protect against it.
Inhaler
A device which gives you a dose of medication to breathe in. If you have an inhaler, you should check with your GP or nurse that you are using it properly. Ideally they are used with a spacer so that more of the aerosol gets deep into the lungs.
Malignant
Another word for cancer
Another word for cancer
MDI
Metered dose inhaler.
Metered dose inhaler.
Nebuliser
A machine that delivers medication as a mist – it is not suitable for everybody.
A machine that delivers medication as a mist – it is not suitable for everybody.
NICE
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
Obstructive
As in COPD – to do with being narrowed.
Oncologist A cancer specialist who uses chemotherapy or radiotherapy
As in COPD – to do with being narrowed.
Oncologist A cancer specialist who uses chemotherapy or radiotherapy
OT
Occupational therapist. Oxygen saturation (SpO2)
How much oxygen you have in your blood.
Occupational therapist. Oxygen saturation (SpO2)
How much oxygen you have in your blood.
Paliative care
Ways of making symptoms less troublesome, and so make quality of life better; may involve care from lung cancer or hospice nurses
PALS
Patient Advice and Liaison Services.
Patient Advice and Liaison Services.
Pneumococcal
Type of bacteria
Type of bacteria
Preventer
A medication that is designed to prevent airways inflammation.
A medication that is designed to prevent airways inflammation.
Pulmonary
To do with the lungs.
To do with the lungs.
Pulmonary rehabilitation
A course of exercise and education which helps some people with lung conditions to become more active.
A course of exercise and education which helps some people with lung conditions to become more active.
Radiotherapy
A high dose of X-rays from a machine .which kills cancer cells; it is usually done with the person lying down, and is painless
Reliever
A medication to help relieve symptoms.
A medication to help relieve symptoms.
Respiratory
To do with breathing/your chest.
To do with breathing/your chest.
Smoking cessation
Smoking cessation services are staffed by people who will help you to stop smoking
Smoking cessation services are staffed by people who will help you to stop smoking
Spacer
A chamber used with your inhaler to increase the amount of medication reaching the smaller airways
A chamber used with your inhaler to increase the amount of medication reaching the smaller airways
Spirometer
A machine into which you blow to measure your lung function (FEV1, FVC and SVC).
Staging
In cancer, information about where the tumour is, how big it is, and whether it has spread outside the lung
Steroids
Medication which reduces inflammation. Steroids for your lungs are not the same as the steroids that some body-builders use. They can be taken from an inhaler or as tablets.
Medication which reduces inflammation. Steroids for your lungs are not the same as the steroids that some body-builders use. They can be taken from an inhaler or as tablets.
Vaccination
An injection to protect you against a disease.
An injection to protect you against a disease.
Wheeze
A squeaking or whistling sound when you breathe out.
A squeaking or whistling sound when you breathe out.
No comments:
Post a Comment