Nutrition and Health Final: Ch 14

Hyperactivity

- (in children) A syndrome characterized by inattention, impulsiveness, and excess motor activity - Usually diagnosed before age 7, lasts 6 months or more, and usually does not entail mental illness or mental retardation - Properly called ADHD

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

- A cluster of symptoms some women experience prior to and during menstruation - They include, among others, abdominal cramps, back pain, swelling, headache, painful breasts, and mood changes

Plaque

- A mass of microorganisms and their deposits on the surfaces of teeth - A forerunner of dental cavities and gum disease

Antigen

- A substance foreign to the body that elicits the formation of antibodies or an inflammation reaction from the immune system cells - Food antigens are usually large proteins - Inflammation consists of local swelling and irritation and attracts white blood cells to the site

Epiphyseal Plate

- A thick, cartilage-like layer that form new cells that are eventually calcified, lengthening the bone

Food Aversion

- An intense dislike of a food, biological or psychological in nature - Resulting from an illness or other negative experience associated with that food

Antibodies

- Large protein molecules that are produced in response to the presence of antigens to inactivate them

Gatekeeper

- With respect to nutrition, a key person who controls other people's access to foods and thereby affect their nutrition profoundly - Examples are the spouse who buys and cooks the food, the parent who feeds the kids, and the caregiver in a day-care center

Histamine

-A substance that participates in causing inflammation - Produced by cells of the immune system as part of a local immune reaction to an antigen

Arthritis

-A usually painful inflammation of joints caused by many medical conditions, including infections, metabolic disturbances, or injury - Usually results in altered joint structure and loss of function

Acne

-Chronic inflammation of the skin's follicles and oil-producing glands - Leads to an accumulation of oils inside the ducts that surround hairs - Usually associated with the maturation of young adults

Cataracts

-Clouding of the lens of the eye that can lead to blindness - Can be caused by injury, viral infections, toxic substances, genetic disorders, and, possibly, some nutrient deficiencies or imbalances

Learning Disability

A condition resulting in an altered ability to learn basic cognitive skills such as reading, writing, and mathematics

Epinephrine

A hormone of the adrenal gland that counteracts anaphylactic shock by opening the airways and maintaining heartbeat and blood pressure

Anaphylactic Shock

A life-threatening whole-body allergic reaction to an offending substance

Food Intolerance

An adverse reaction to a food or food additive not involving an immune response

Allergy

An immune reaction to a foreign substance, such as a component of food; also called hypersensitivity by researchers

Pressure Ulcers

Damage to the skin and underlying tissues as a result of unrelieved compression and poor circulation to an area; also called bed sores

Dental Cavities

Decay of teeth

Longevity

Long duration of life

Life Expectancy

The average number of years lived by people in a given society

Food Neophobia

The fear of trying new foods, common among toddlers

Senile Dementia

The loss of brain function beyond the normal loss of physical adeptness and memory that occurs with aging

Growth Spurt

The marked rapid gain in physical size usually evident around the onset of adolescence

Life Span

The maximum number of years of life attainable by a member of a species

Adolescence

The period from the beginning of puberty until maturity

Competitive Foods

Unregulated meals, including fast foods, that compete side-by-side with USDA-regulated school lunches