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radial tunnel syndrome
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A condition in which the radial nerve is compressed at the elbow, causing pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness in the hand and arm.
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radiation
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Energy in the form of particles or waves, such as x-rays and gamma rays. Radiation is often used to help make a diagnosis, as in x-rays, or as a treatment for
cancer.
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radiation therapy
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Treatment with high-energy rays (from x-rays or other sources) designed to control disease and destroy
cancer cells.
Related health topics:
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm,
Bladder Cancer,
Cardiomyopathy ,
Colorectal Cancer,
Esophageal Cancer,
Ewing's Sarcoma,
Female Infertility,
Head and Neck Cancer,
Kidney Cancer,
Lung Cancer Overview,
Multiple Myeloma,
Neuroblastoma,
Osteoporosis,
Ovarian Cancer,
Pancreatic Cancer,
Prostate Cancer,
Small Cell Lung Cancer,
Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung,
Stomach Cancer,
Uterine Cancer
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radical prostatectomy
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radiculopathy
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Pain caused by irritation of a nerve as it exits the spinal cord.
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radioactive iodine
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A radioactive form of iodine that can be used as a tracer during a radioactive iodine uptake test or a radioactive thyroid scan. Much larger amounts are used in the treatment of
hyperthyroidism.
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radiofrequency
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A non-surgical technique using an electromagnetic current to penetrate deep into the body's tissues, which can be used to treat pain, cancer, and heart rhythm disorders, among other conditions.
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radiograph
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Another name for an x-ray.
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radionuclide imaging or scan
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Another name for
nuclear tests: tests that use tiny amounts of short-lived radioactive substances that can target particular organs or
cell receptors to diagnose disease.
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radionuclides
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Short-lived radioactive chemicals that are used in nuclear imaging tests.
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rales
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Abnormal lung sounds that might be a sign of fluid buildup
congestion in the lungs.
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randomized
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randomized, controlled clinical trial
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A study in which researchers choose a study population at random; one group receives the intervention (such as a nutritional supplement) and another group receives a
placebo.
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range of motion
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The extent of movement?and thus
flexibility?in a
joint, measured in the degrees of a circle.
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rapid eye movement (REM) sleep
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A period of intense brain activity during sleep, often associated with dreams; named for the rapid eye movements that occur during this time. Also called dreaming sleep.
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RAST (radioallergosorbent test)
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Raynaud's syndrome
-
A condition in which the
blood vessels in the fingers and other extremities narrow in response to cold or stress, causing them to turn white or blue.
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reactive arthritis
-
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rebound insomnia
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Insomnia caused by withdrawal from sleep medication; usually it is at least as serious as before the medication was used.
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receptors
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Structures on the outside of a
cell membrane that permit attachment of specific chemicals.
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recessive
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A
gene that will not be expressed in the offspring unless it is inherited from both the mother and father. A recessive gene from one parent that is paired with a
dominant gene from the other parent will be overridden by the dominant gene.
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recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)
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recommended dietary allowance (RDA)
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The average daily amount of a nutrient that will meet the nutritional needs of almost all (97%?98%) healthy people at specific stages of their lives.
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recovery
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A process of overcoming
addiction to alcohol, other psychoactive substance, or addictive behavior. Often this involves a commitment to abstinence, but sometimes it involves reduced use rather than complete abstinence.
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rectocele
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A weakening of the vaginal wall that allows the
rectum to bulge into the vagina.
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rectum
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The last 12 centimeters of the
colon, through which waste is eliminated from the body.
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refraction
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The deflection of light as it passes through one medium to another of different density; also refers an eye test to evaluate the eye's ability to focus.
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regurgitation
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Leakage of blood back into a heart chamber that occurs when a heart valve doesn't close properly
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rehabilitative driving specialist
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A professional trained to evaluate driving skills and, when appropriate, suggest equipment and adaptations to make driving safer for people with certain physical or mental limitations.
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rejection
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A reaction that occurs when a person's immune system recognizes a transplanted organ as a threatening substance and tries to rid the body of it.
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relapse
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The return of symptoms and disease after a person seems to have recovered.
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relaxation response
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The physical effects of meditation and certain other techniques that are opposite to those of the
stress response. Effects include marked drops in oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide expiration, heartbeat, and respiration, as well as stabilization or lowering of blood pressure.
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REM behavior disorder
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A sleep disorder marked by movement during
REM sleep, when muscles are normally paralyzed.
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REM rebound
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An increase in
REM sleep, often with nightmares, that occurs after deprivation of REM sleep or the withdrawal of REM-suppressing medications.
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remission
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A lessening in the severity of a disease and its symptoms. In
cancer, a reduction in the size of a
tumor and its symptoms.
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remodeling
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Altering a body part. Bone is constantly being remodeled in response to exercise or inactivity. Heart tissue is remodeled in response to a heart attack or high blood pressure.
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renal
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Pertaining to the kidneys.
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renal artery stenosis
-
Narrowing of an
artery that supplies blood to the kidney.
Related health topics:
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm,
Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depressive Illness or Manic Depression) ,
Bladder Cancer,
Chemotherapy,
End-Stage Renal Disease,
Esophageal Cancer,
Flu (Influenza),
Glomerulonephritis,
Heart Failure,
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension),
Multiple Myeloma,
Psoriasis,
Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung
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renin
-
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reperfusion
-
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reperfusion therapy
-
Techniques used to restart circulation to part of the heart or brain that has been cut off from blood flow during a heart attack or stroke. Reperfusion may entail clot-dissolving drugs, balloon angioplasty, or surgery.
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repetitions (rep)
-
Number of times an
exercise calls for a muscle to be worked and released (usually eight to 12).
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resection
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The surgical removal of a lesion or part or all of an organ or other body structure.
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resectoscope
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An instrument that permits a surgeon to view the inside of a body cavity in order to remove a part of an organ or structure.
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reservoir
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The habitat in which an infectious agent normally lives, grows, and multiplies. Reservoirs include human, animal, and environmental reservoirs.
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resilience
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The ability to adapt to change and recover quickly from setbacks such as illness, injury, or misfortune.
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resistance
-
The ability of a pathogen to withstand drugs previously effective against them. Usually the result of genetic
mutation.
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resistant hypertension
-
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resorption
-
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respiration
-
The process by which gases enter the body, including external respiration (breathing), and internal respiration, in which oxygen taken in by the lungs is carried by the blood to
tissues and carbon dioxide is removed.
