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Acupuncture
A form of traditional Chinese medicine in which symptoms are relieved by inserting needles into selected points beneath the skin to treat various physical or psychological disorders.

Acute pain
Pain that comes on quickly and intensely, lasting no more than a week.

Analgesia
The reduction of painful symptoms without any loss of consciousness.

Analgesic
A medicine used for pain relief. Non-narcotic analgesics, such as paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen, are used for mild-to-moderate pain and are usually available over the counter. Narcotic analgesics such as morphine may be prescribed for more severe forms of pain.

Anaphylactic shock - a rare and extreme allergic reaction.
It is most commonly triggered by insect stings or drug injections but may also occur with particular foods. The resulting symptoms, such as a dramatic drop in blood pressure or swelling of the tongue and throat, can be fatal unless relieved by injection of adrenaline.

Anticoagulants
Medicines given to treat or prevent abnormal clotting of the blood. Anticoagulant drugs such as heparin or warfarin are used to reduce the risk of heart attacks or strokes.

Antihypertensives
Medicines used to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of associated conditions such as heart attack and stroke.

Anti-inflammatory
Something that interferes with the inflammatory response to tissue damage or allergy triggers. Examples include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids.

Antipyretic
A medicine that can reduce fever or bring down a high body temperature. Some pain-relieving drugs, such as the non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, aspirin and paracetamol, are also antipyretics.

Antispasmodic
A drug that eases muscular spasms in the wall of our intestine and bladder.

Arachidonic acid
The biological precursor (forerunner) of the prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes released from cell membranes in response to tissue damage or injury.

Arthritis
A collective term for the numerous rheumatic diseases that cause pain, stiffness and swelling in our joints. Arthritis literally means joint inflammation. The two most common forms of the disease are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Aromatherapy
Treatments involving essential oils extracted from plants, which are massaged into the body or inhaled.

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)
A popular treatment for pain, fever and conditions involving inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Low doses of aspirin are used to reduce the risk of blood-clotting disorders like stroke and heart attack.

Bronchoconstriction
The narrowing of breathing passages known as the bronchi, which lead from our windpipe (trachea) into our lungs.

Caffeine
A substance found in tea, coffee, chocolate and energy drinks that stimulates our central nervous system. Caffeine is also an added ingredient in some analgesics, where it is used to enhance pain relief.

Chronic disease
A condition that drags on with little apparent change from day to day, but often getting progressively worse.

Chronic pain
Pain lasting for more than 3 months. Unlike acute pain, chronic pain does not serve as a defence mechanism (i.e., alerting our bodies immediately to tissue damage).

Corticosteroids
Drugs modelled on the natural hormones produced by the body's adrenal glands. Corticosteroids have a range of uses, including treatment of inflammatory disorders such as asthma, Crohn's disease, arthritis and eczema; or preventing the rejection of transplanted organs by our immune system.

Cyst
An abnormal cavity in a body organ or tissue, containing fluid or semi-solid material.

Drug interaction
This is when one medicine combines or interferes with the action of another. Interactions may undermine the benefit of one or other medicine and can cause potentially dangerous adverse reactions. Drugs may also interact with foods or alcohol.

Febrile
Relating to fever.

Febrile convulsion
An involuntary muscular spasm or fit that can occur when the body's temperature increases rapidly. Febrile convulsions are common in infants but rarely have serious consequences.

Gastric
Relating to the stomach.

Ibuprofen
A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used for pain relief as well as reducing fever and inflammation.

Immunisation
Immunisations or vaccinations prepare our bodies to fight off disease by stimulating the immune system, our natural defence mechanism. A healthy immune system can recognise invading bacteria or viruses and produce antibodies to destroy or disable them.

Immunity
The body's ability to fight off infection through the medium of our immune system.

Inflammation
Our body's response to invasion by a pathogen (disease-causing organism), irritation by a generally harmless substance (allergic reaction) or a physical blow. Inflammation limits tissue damage and helps protect against further harm. Symptoms include redness, heat, swelling and pain. The inflammatory response is due to chemicals such as prostaglandins, which are released during tissue damage.

Ligament
A thick band or sheet of fibrous tissue that connects bones at the joints.

Lymph glands
More properly known as lymph nodes, these are small masses of tissue forming part of our lymphatic system, which drains lymph (a milky body fluid) back into our bloodstream. Lymph nodes produce antibodies and contain lymphocytes and macrophages, making them crucial to our body's defences against infection.

Membrane
A layer of tissue covering a body surface or dividing one part of the body from another (e.g., the eardrum).

Methotrexate
A drug for the treatment of cancer, including leukaemia. Also used for the treatment of severe psoriasis and severe arthritis.

Mifepristone
An abortifacient drug for terminating a pregnancy

Morphine
An opioid (narcotic) analgesic, used in the treatment of severe pain and only available on prescription.

Mucus
Many of our body cavities (e.g., the respiratory or digestive tracts) have a soft lining called a mucous membrane. It secretes mucus, a slimy fluid that moistens, lubricates and protects these interiors.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
A class of medicines - including ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, ketoprofen and piroxicam - with analgesic (pain-relieving), antipyretic (fever-reducing) and anti-inflammatory properties. The NSAIDs are often used for the treatment of arthritis.

Nerve
A bundle of fibres that uses electrical and chemical signals to transmit sensory and motor information from one part of the body to another.

Opioid
Referring to synthetic narcotics that act in a similar way to opiates but are not derived from opium. Opioids such as morphine are used to control severe pain.

Paediatric
Referring to the treatment of children.

Paracetamol
A widely used medicine that acts as an analgesic (pain reliever) and antipyretic (fever reducer). Known as acetaminophen in the USA.

Polyp
A generally benign growth that develops from a mucous membrane, such as the lining of your nose, intestine or larynx (voice box).

Prostaglandins
A group of chemicals produced in various tissues of the body. Prostaglandins have a number of functions, including lowering blood pressure and protecting our stomach lining. They are released in response to tissue damage, causing pain and inflammation. Pain relievers act by blocking prostaglandin production.

Reflexology
A form of alternative therapy that involves massaging the soles of the feet to treat ailments in other parts of the body.

Reproductive system
The organs used for sexual intercourse and, in women, the conception, development and birth of a baby.

Sensory
Relating to our senses (vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell) and the sensations relayed by them to our brain and nervous system.

Shingles (herpes zoster)
A viral infection of the nerves that results in a painful skin rash.

Sciatic nerve
The largest nerve in the body, running from the pelvis through our buttocks and down each leg.

Spinal cord
A cylinder of nerve tissue that runs down the middle of our spine from the brain. Together the brain and spinal cord form our central nervous system. Other nerves branch off from the spinal cord in pairs, spreading throughout the body. This network is our peripheral nervous system.

Scarlet fever
A bacterial infection that is most common in children. Symptoms include fever, sore throat, headache and a widespread scarlet rash, sometimes accompanied by a 'strawberry tongue' (white with red spots).

Tonsillitis
Inflammation of the tonsils at the back of your throat due to viral or bacterial infection.

Unproductive (cough)
A dry cough that does not bring up any mucus or phlegm (as opposed to a productive cough).