Health, Wellness, Fitness, Diet and Alternative Medicine Glossary of Terms
We've collected hundreds of Health, Wellness, Diet and Alternative Medicine terms and definitions to create this Glossary. Simply click one of the letters below to view the glossary of terms
Health Terms beginning with "F"
Fallopian tubes
Two tubes attached to the top of the uterus leading to the ovaries. Each tube is four to five inches long with its wide end near the ovary. When an egg is released from one of the ovaries, it travels through the fallopian tube toward the uterus. If sperm are present, the egg is most likely to be fertilized in the fallopian tube. Infection can cause tube tissue to scar and close up.
False negative
A Pap smear or colposcopy result that mistakenly reports no abnormal cells identified.
False positive
A Pap smear or colposcopy result that mistakenly reports the presence of abnormal cells.
Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
People who have inherited the FAP syndrome usually develop up to thousands of colon polyps at a young age, as early as their teens; the polyps are benign but some become cancerous over time, and many FAP patients develop colon cancer before they are 40.
Family coverage
An insurance policy that covers more than one person, such as a spouse or children of the primary insured.
Family therapy
The efforts aimed at helping a patient's family understand and cope with the patient's disorder and help in the patient's recovery.
Fasting blood glucose test
A method for finding out how much glucose (sugar) is in the blood. The test can show if a person has diabetes. A blood sample is taken in a lab or health care professional's office. The test is usually done in the morning before the person has eaten. The normal, nondiabetic range for blood glucose is from 70 to 110 mg/dl, depending on the type of blood being tested. If the level is over 140 mg/dl, it usually means the person has diabetes (except for newborns and some pregnant women).
Fat
One of the nutrients that supplies calories to the body. The body needs only small amounts of fat. Foods contain different types of fat, which have different effects on blood cholesterol levels. These include saturated fat, unsaturated fat, monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat.
Fatigue
A state of overwhelming, sustained exhaustion and decreased capacity for physical and mental work that is not relieved by rest.
Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS)
A self-administered test designed to measure the severity of the fatigue symptoms. A score of 36 or more suggests that an individual is suffering from fatigue; in that case, further evaluation is needed.
FDA
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Febrile seizures
Seizures in infants and children that are associated with a high fever.
Fecal occult blood test (FOBT)
This test, which can be done at home, screens for invisible amounts of blood by testing small samples of stool for three consecutive days.
Female hypogonadism
Incomplete functioning of the ovaries, resulting in such symptoms as vaginal dryness, low sex drive and breast atrophy.
Female orgasmic disorder
Persistent absence or recurrent delay in orgasm after stimulation and arousal.
Fertility
The capacity to impregnate, conceive and/or bear children.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Daily heavy alcohol consumption during pregnancy has been known to cause severe defects in the brain and body development of the fetus, called fetal alcohol syndrome. Even moderate drinking is known to be associated with delayed growth of the fetus and can cause spontaneous abortions or reduce the birth weight of your baby.
Fetal electronic monitoring
These tests enable health care professionals to monitor the baby's heart rate and check its well-being before delivery. It usually occurs during the last 10–12 weeks of pregnancy. There are two types of fetal monitoring. For both tests, a device is strapped to your abdomen, and the results are recorded. One is called the non-stress test, which is performed without requiring you to take any medication. A stress test is often recommended if the non-stress test is abnormal. For this test, you will be given the hormone oxytocin (which is normally secreted by mothers when labor begins) to stimulate uterine contractions. The contractions are a challenge to the baby, and if the heart rate slows down rather than speeds up after a contraction, the baby may be in jeopardy. The stress test is considered more accurate than the non-stress test.
Fetal monitoring
These tests enable health care professionals to monitor the baby's heart rate and check its well-being before delivery. It usually occurs during the last 10–12 weeks of pregnancy. There are two types of fetal monitoring. For both tests, a device is strapped to your abdomen and the results are recorded. One is called the non-stress test, which is performed without requiring you to take any medication. A stress test is often recommended if the non-stress test is abnormal. For this test, you will be given the hormone oxytocin (which is normally secreted by mothers when normal labor begins) to stimulate uterine contractions. The contractions are a challenge to the baby, and if the heart rate slows down rather than speeds up after a contraction, the baby may be in jeopardy. The stress test is considered more accurate than the non-stress test.
Fetus
The stage of human development lasting from the end of the third month of pregnancy until birth.
Fiber
The parts of food that are not digested.
Fibrates
One type of cholesterol-lowering drug. It includes gemfibrozil and fenofibrate. The fibric acids lower triglycerides and raise HDLs.
Fibroid
Fibroids are balls of muscular tissue that grow inside the uterus, on the surface of the uterus or in the muscular wall of the uterus. They are rarely cancerous. Half of the women who have fibroids never experience symptoms and require no treatment. But even small fibroids can cause heavy and/or longer menstrual bleeding. Fibroids may contribute to infertility in some women, possibly because they interfere with an embryo's ability to attach itself to the uterus.
Fibroid vaporization
This procedure vaporizes and destroys fibroids with electrical energy from a small electrode inserted through a hysterescope into the uterus through the vagina and cervix. It is performed under either local or general anesthesia. Fertility is not affected by this procedure, but fibroids may grow back eventually. Bleeding, infection and damage to other structures are risks associated with this procedure.
Fibromyalgia
Symptoms include pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons. A person suffering from fibromyalgia will experience widespread pain lasting a minimum of three months and occurring in at least 11 of 18 specified tender points clustering around the neck, shoulders, chest, hips, knees and elbows. Other symptoms commonly experienced by persons with fibromyalgia include sleep disturbance, cognitive difficulties, irritable bowel, fatigue and headache.
Fibromyalgia syndrome
A chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points. "Tender points" refers to tenderness that occurs in precise areas clustering around the neck, shoulders, chest, hips, knees and elbows.
Filtering microsurgery
Conventional eye surgery using an incision to create a new opening for aqueous humor to leave the eye, thereby reducing pressure in the eye.
Finasteride
Oral medication (Propecia, Proscar) that inhibits an enzyme necessary for the conversion of testosterone into the active compound dihydrotestosterone. The drug is prescribed for enlarged prostate and male-pattern balding. Because of its anti-androgenic activity, researchers are interested in finasteride's potential to treat polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) symptoms such as hirsutism. However, this drug should not be used by women of childbearing age.
Fine needle aspiration biopsy
A cancer test in which a very small sample of tissue fragments is taken from a tumor via a fine needle.
First-degree relative
A mother, father, sister, brother, daughter or son. When used in assessing risk of developing cancer, the health care professional is interested in case history of first-degree relatives. For example, if a first-degree relative develops ovarian cancer, you should be tested for the disease also.
Fitness
Your muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, body composition and the level at which your cardiovascular system is able to use oxygen to work.
Five-year survival rate
The percentage of people alive five years after being diagnosed with skin cancer.
Flagyl
Brand name of the generic pharmaceutical metronidazole, the most common antibiotic for treating bacterial vaginosis (BV).
Flexibility
The range of motion in the joint areas.
Flexible sigmoidoscopy
An endoscope—a thin, flexible tube with a light on the end—is used to examine the inner lining of the rectum and the last two feet of the colon, where many cancers and polyps develop. The test usually is performed in a physician's office and does not require anesthesia.
Fluconazole
An antifungal medication available by prescription as a one-dose oral medication to treat vaginal yeast infections.
FluMist
A flu vaccination administered via a nasal spray. The medication is available from your health care professional and is recommended for people ages five to 49. It should not be taken by pregnant women.
Fluorescein
A dye used to stain the eye to evaluate tear film and dry spots.
Fluorescein angiography
A diagnostic procedure using a special camera and an injected dye to map blood flow in the eye that can show abnormal fluids and changes in the retina.
Fluoride
A compound found in the enamel of teeth that makes them more resistant to dental decay. Fluoride can be found in public water supplies, toothpaste, and can be topically applied to the teeth by a dentist.
Fluoxetine
Antidepressant better known under its brand name of Prozac. Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, and serves to increase blood levels of the neurochemical serotonin. Fluoxetine alone or in combination with amitriptyline (see separate entry) may be prescribed for fibromyalgia.
Flutamide
Oral anti-androgenic medication (Eulexin) used to inhibit the effects of testosterone. Flutamide is usually prescribed for prostate cancer.
Folate (folic acid)
A B vitamin that plays a key role in the creation of nucleic acid (RNA and DNA).
Folic acid
A vitamin of the B group needed for cell growth and reproduction.
Follicle
Cell structure within the ovary that contain an egg.
Follicle-stimulating hormone
Hormone produced in the pituitary gland that stimulates the maturation of egg-developing and egg-releasing follicles in the ovaries. Works in conjunction with luteinizing hormone, which restores the tissue to hormone-producing glandular tissue after the egg's release.
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) test
A simple blood test measuring follicle stimulating hormone to help diagnose menopause.
Follicular phase
The stage during which the unfertilized egg begins to develop and ready itself for fertilization. Eggs in inactive form are called follicles.
Form
A series of continuous, specific Tai Chi movements.
Formation
The process in which new, strong bone replaces old bone. This process continues throughout life but varies significantly as you age.
Formulary
A list of prescription medications that a health care plan will cover under its prescription drug plan.
Fragile X syndrome
An X-linked disorder that is the most common genetically inherited form of mental retardation currently known. Boys who inherit a Fragile X gene mutation usually develop the disorder, while girls who inherit the mutation are more likely to be carriers. (The mutation is unstable and tends to increase in size over succeeding generations, so that girls may eventually be affected as well, though the mental retardation is not as severe as in boys.) If you have a family history of mental retardation, testing can determine whether Fragile X is responsible and whether you are a carrier.
Frontal lobe epilepsy
A type of epilepsy that originates in the frontal lobe of the brain. It usually involves a cluster of short seizures with a sudden onset and termination.
Frontal sinuses
The sinuses that are over your eyes. Pain in your forehead and/or headache might indicate a problem with your frontal sinuses.
Fulguration
Use of electrical energy to burn tissue such as tumors.
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS)
A common sinus surgery that removes blockages to improve drainage from the ethmoid and maxillary sinuses.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
A research type of imaging that measures changes in brain metabolism produced by specific activities.
Fundoplication
the most common surgery used to treat GERD. This surgery reinforces the lower esophageal sphincter by wrapping the top of the stomach around the lower esophageal sphincter. One advantage is that a hiatal hernia can be corrected at the same time.