Glossary. Dr Cuisle Forde, Dr Aine Kelly, Dr Mikel Egana and Dr Fiona Wilson

Transcription

1 Glossary Dr Cuisle Forde, Dr Aine Kelly, Dr Mikel Egana and Dr Fiona Wilson

2 Glossary A Accelerometer Accelerometers are small light devices and can be attached almost anywhere on the body, and give you information on the duration, frequency, time and intensity of physical activities. Adult neurogenesis The growth of new neurons in the adult brain. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) A molecule that acts as the energy currency of the cell. Anaerobiosis Muscle hypoxia or lack of oxygen Ankle (o)edema Swollen ankles Arterial hypoxemia Low levels of oxygen in the blood Atherosclerosis A disease in which plaque builds up inside your arteries. Asymptomatic No symptoms of a disease. Page 2 of 7

3 B Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) This is a protein that maintains the health of neurons and can regulate production of new neurons in the brain. Blood flow kinetics The dynamic responses of blood flow at the onset of exercise. Borg dyspnea 10-point scale A scale that rates the difficulty of your breathing. C Cardiac output The volume of blood ejected into the circulation from the heart every minute. At rest, this is about 5 litres per minute. Cerebrovascular disease This is a disease of the blood vessels supplying the brain that can result in a stroke. Coronary heart disease This is a disease of the blood vessels which supply the heart. Coronary thrombosis A blockage in the blood flow to the heart. This is usually caused by a clot and may lead to a heart attack. Cytokines Molecules secreted by immune cells that help to regulate immunity and inflammation. Page 3 of 7

4 D Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) Muscle weakness, restricted range of motion, and tenderness on palpation, occurring 24 to 48 hours after intense or prolonged muscular activity. Detraining Many of the beneficial effects of exercise training from both aerobic and resistance activities diminish within a matter of weeks if physical activity is substantially reduced, and effects disappear within a matter of months if physical activity is not resumed. Dyspnea Shortness of air, difficult or laboured breathing. G Glycemic control Regulation of blood sugar (glucose) levels. H Heartrate The number of times the heart beats per minute. Homeostasis The ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment in the face of change. It is the most important principle in Physiology and describes the body s ability to regulate physiological function to maintain health. Hypertension High blood pressure, a long-term elevation in blood pressure above normal values. Untreated, it can lead to cardiovascular damage. Page 4 of 7

5 I Intermittent claudication An aching, crampy, tired, and sometimes burning pain in the legs that comes and goes. This typically occurs with walking and goes away with rest due to poor circulation of blood in the arteries of the legs. L Lactate threshold Lactate threshold is the exercise intensity at which the blood concentration of lactate and/or lactic acid begins to exponentially increase. M Muscle atrophy A decrease in the mass of the muscle. Muscle hypertrophy An increase in the size of skeletal muscle. This can be induced by weight training. Myocardial infarction The medical term for a heart attack. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute describe a heart attack as when the flow of oxygenrich blood to a section of heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked and the heart can t get oxygen. If blood flow isn t restored quickly, the section of heart muscle begins to die. P Pedometer A pedometer is a tool that counts the number of steps taken by an individual. Page 5 of 7

6 Paroxysmal dyspnea Shortness of breath when lying flat, or at night when asleep. Peripheral arterial disease This is a disease of the blood vessels that supply the limbs. Platelet aggregation The clumping together of platelets in the blood. Platelet aggregation is part of the sequence of events leading to the formation of a thrombus (clot). S Spirometry This is a common test used to assess how well your lungs work by measuring how much air you inhale, how much you exhale and how quickly you exhale. Spirometry can help in the diagnosis of different lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Sphygmomanometer A tool for measuring blood pressure. Stroke volume The volume of blood ejected from the heart (ventricle) each time it beats. Syncope The medical term for fainting Systolic blood pressure The peak blood pressure in the arteries during a single heart beat. Page 6 of 7

7 T Tachycardia A fast heart beat or racing heart. Thrombotic occlusion When a clot or blockage is complete and therefore does not let any flowing blood through the vessel. V Ventilation This is the term used to describe lung function. Ventilatory threshold This is the point during exercise at which ventilation starts to increase at a faster rate than VO 2. Venous pooling When blood collects in the veins of the legs. This happens due to gravity and can be reduced by contracting the calf muscles. VO2 Oxygen uptake or consumption. VO2 max An assessment of the maximum amount of oxygen you can use during physical activity. It is a measure of aerobic capacity or fitness. VO2 kinetics The rate at which your body uses oxygen at the onset of exercise. Page 7 of 7