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Glossary

Showing 1021-1030 out of 1184 Terms

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  • Seizure

    An abnormal state in which you become unconscious and your body moves in an uncontrolled and violent way.

  • Seizures

    An abnormal state in which you become unconscious and your body moves in an uncontrolled and violent way.

  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

    (seh-LEK-tiv SAYR-uh-TOH-nin ree-UP-tayk in-HIH-bih-ter)

    A type of drug that is used to treat depression and some other conditions. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors stop or delay the body from reabsorbing a substance called serotonin, which leaves more of it available for the body to use. Raising serotonin levels can help regulate mood, appetite, digestion, sleep, and many other bodily functions. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors include drugs such as citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline. Also called SSRI.

  • Sentinel lymph node biopsy

    SEN-tih-nul limf node BY-op-see

    Removal and examination of the sentinel node(s) (the first lymph node(s) to which cancer cells are likely to spread from a primary tumor). To identify the sentinel lymph node(s), the surgeon injects a radioactive substance, blue dye, or both near the tumor. The surgeon then uses a probe to find the sentinel lymph node(s) containing the radioactive substance or looks for the lymph node(s) stained with dye. The surgeon then removes the sentinel node(s) to check for the presence of cancer cells.

  • Sepsis

    (SEP-sis)

    The presence of bacteria or their toxins in the blood or tissues.

  • Septicemia/sepsis

    (SEP-tih-SEE-mee-uh)/(SEP-sis)

    A very serious bacterial or fungal blood infection which has usually spread from another site of infection such as skin, bowel, or urinary tract. It is usually associated with high fever, shaking chills, and heavy sweating. It is more likely to occur in patients with very low white blood cells.

  • Shingles

    A common condition that occurs when the virus that causes chickenpox is reactivated in the body. After having chickenpox, the virus stays inactive in the body, usually in the nerves along the spinal cord or at the base of the skull. The virus can become active again many years later and cause shingles. Shingles is marked by a painful rash that usually appears as small clusters of blisters. The blisters often form a band across the skin on one side of the body, especially on the chest, back, waist, or face. The pain in the affected area can last for many weeks or months after the rash disappears.

  • Shock

    A serious condition caused by inadequate amounts of blood circulating in your blood stream. Signs of shock include a drop in blood pressure, rapid weak pulse, pale moist clammy skin, being very thirsty and a state of anxiety.

  • Shot

    An injection of a drug, immunizing substance, nutrient, or medicament.

  • Shunt

    In medicine, a passage that is made to allow blood or other fluid to move from one part of the body to another. For example, a surgeon may implant a tube to drain cerebrospinal fluid from the brain to the abdomen. A surgeon may also change normal blood flow by making a passage that leads from one blood vessel to another.