Medical Glossary

Wheezing A whistling noise in the chest which occurs during breathing when the airways are compressed. Womb The common term for uterus, a muscular organ inside which the baby grows during pregnancy. Watermelon Stomach (WAH-tur-MEH-lun STUH-muk) Parallel red sores in the stomach that look like the stripes on a watermelon. Frequently seen with cirrhosis. Wilson's Disease (WIL-sunz duh-zeez) An inherited disorder. Too much copper builds up in the liver and is slowly released into other parts of the body. The overload can cause severe liver and brain damage if not treated with medication. Xerostomia (ZEE-roh-STOH-mee-uh) Dry mouth. The condition can be caused by a number of things, including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, kidney failure, infection with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), drugs used to treat depression, and radiation treatment for mouth or throat cancer. Yeast Infection An infection of the skin or tissue linings caused by fungi. A vaginal yeast infection can be treated by over-the-counter medication. It does not pose any danger to a pregnant woman or her fetus. Zenker's Diverticulum (ZEN-kurz dy-vur-TIK- yoo-lum) Pouches in the esophagus from increased pressure in and around the esophagus. Yeast Infection An infection of the skin or tissue linings caused by fungi. A vaginal yeast infection can be treated by over-the-counter medication. It does not pose any danger to a pregnant woman or her fetus. Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome (ZAH-lun-jur EL-uh-sun sin-drohm) A group of symptoms that occur when a tumor called a gastrinoma forms in the pancreas. The tumor, which may cause cancer, releases large amounts of the hormone gastrin. The gastrin causes too much acid in the duodenum, resulting in ulcers, bleeding, and perforation.

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