Glossary
Health Meditations
Health Information for Body, Mind and Spirit
Health Information for Body, Mind and Spirit
- A Holistic Approach to Health
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
J
jaundice — a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, caused by too much bilirubin in
the blood. While not a disease, jaundice can signal a liver or gallbladder problem. Newborns
can develop jaundice, which is only temporary and goes away.
K
Kegel exercises — tightening and relaxing the muscles that hold urine in the bladder and hold
the bladder in its proper position. These exercises may improve a woman’s ability to hold her
urine.
kidneys — the two bean-shaped organs that filter waste from the blood. When the kidneys filter
waste from the blood, they create urine. The kidneys are located near the middle of the back.
kidney stone — hard mass developed from crystals that separate from the urine and build up
on the inner surfaces of the kidney. The medical term for kidney stone is nephrolithiasis.
L
lactation — breastfeeding, or the secretion of breast milk.
lactiferous sinuses — enlarged portion of the mammary or milk duct where breast milk pools
during breastfeeding. The sinuses are behind the areola and connect to the nipple.
lactose — a sugar found in milk and milk products like cheese, cream, and butter.
lactose intolerance (primary lactase deficiency) — when a person is born with the inability to
digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and milk products. Lactose can't be digested because
there is not enough of an enzyme, called lactase, in the body. Consuming milk and dairy
products causes diarrhea, bloating, gas, and discomfort. This deficiency can also develop over
time, as the amount of lactase in the body decreases with age.
Lamaze — a philosophy of giving birth developed by Dr. Ferdinand Lamaze. The goal of Lamaze
classes is to increase women's confidence in their ability to give birth. Lamaze classes teach
women simple coping strategies for labor, including focused breathing. But Lamaze also
teaches that breathing techniques are just one of the many things that help women in labor.
Movement, positioning, labor support, massage, relaxation, hydrotherapy and the use of heat
and cold are some others.
laxative — medicines that will make you have a bowel movement.
lead — a metal that can make infants and young children sick.
lesion — an infected or diseased area of skin.
let-down reflex, or milk-ejection reflex — a conditioned reflex ejecting milk from the alveoli
through the ducts to the sinuses of the breast and the nipple.
libido — sexual drive.
local analgesic — a drug that relieves pain. Pain-relieving drugs can be given to a woman
during labor and delivery locally through a needle inserted into a muscle (intra-muscular) or
under the skin (subcutaneous).
luteal phase defect — problems with the uterine lining that can affect a woman’s ability to get
pregnant and have a successful pregnancy.
luteinizing hormone — a hormone that triggers ovulation and stimulates the corpus luteum
(empty follicle) to make progesterone.
Lyme disease — a bacterial illness caused by a bacterium called a "spirochete" that is
transmitted to humans from the bite of a deer tick. It can cause abnormalities in the skin, joints,
heart and nervous system.
lymph — the almost colorless fluid that travels through the lymphatic system and carries cells
that help fight infection and disease. Lymph tissue in the breast helps remove waste.
J
jaundice — a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, caused by too much bilirubin in
the blood. While not a disease, jaundice can signal a liver or gallbladder problem. Newborns
can develop jaundice, which is only temporary and goes away.
K
Kegel exercises — tightening and relaxing the muscles that hold urine in the bladder and hold
the bladder in its proper position. These exercises may improve a woman’s ability to hold her
urine.
kidneys — the two bean-shaped organs that filter waste from the blood. When the kidneys filter
waste from the blood, they create urine. The kidneys are located near the middle of the back.
kidney stone — hard mass developed from crystals that separate from the urine and build up
on the inner surfaces of the kidney. The medical term for kidney stone is nephrolithiasis.
L
lactation — breastfeeding, or the secretion of breast milk.
lactiferous sinuses — enlarged portion of the mammary or milk duct where breast milk pools
during breastfeeding. The sinuses are behind the areola and connect to the nipple.
lactose — a sugar found in milk and milk products like cheese, cream, and butter.
lactose intolerance (primary lactase deficiency) — when a person is born with the inability to
digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and milk products. Lactose can't be digested because
there is not enough of an enzyme, called lactase, in the body. Consuming milk and dairy
products causes diarrhea, bloating, gas, and discomfort. This deficiency can also develop over
time, as the amount of lactase in the body decreases with age.
Lamaze — a philosophy of giving birth developed by Dr. Ferdinand Lamaze. The goal of Lamaze
classes is to increase women's confidence in their ability to give birth. Lamaze classes teach
women simple coping strategies for labor, including focused breathing. But Lamaze also
teaches that breathing techniques are just one of the many things that help women in labor.
Movement, positioning, labor support, massage, relaxation, hydrotherapy and the use of heat
and cold are some others.
laxative — medicines that will make you have a bowel movement.
lead — a metal that can make infants and young children sick.
lesion — an infected or diseased area of skin.
let-down reflex, or milk-ejection reflex — a conditioned reflex ejecting milk from the alveoli
through the ducts to the sinuses of the breast and the nipple.
libido — sexual drive.
local analgesic — a drug that relieves pain. Pain-relieving drugs can be given to a woman
during labor and delivery locally through a needle inserted into a muscle (intra-muscular) or
under the skin (subcutaneous).
luteal phase defect — problems with the uterine lining that can affect a woman’s ability to get
pregnant and have a successful pregnancy.
luteinizing hormone — a hormone that triggers ovulation and stimulates the corpus luteum
(empty follicle) to make progesterone.
Lyme disease — a bacterial illness caused by a bacterium called a "spirochete" that is
transmitted to humans from the bite of a deer tick. It can cause abnormalities in the skin, joints,
heart and nervous system.
lymph — the almost colorless fluid that travels through the lymphatic system and carries cells
that help fight infection and disease. Lymph tissue in the breast helps remove waste.
| Dr Deborah White Email:drdwhite@healthmeditations.com |
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