Eating Well Glossary

Alveoli

"Grape-like" sacs at the end of the airways in the lungs. Oxygen and carbon dioxide move between the lungs and blood through the alveoli.

Asthma

A chronic lung disease in which the airways of the lungs are swollen, blocked with extra mucus and the muscles around the airways are tight.

Cardiopulmonary

Referring to the heart and lungs.

Chronic bronchitis

A chronic lung disease in which the airways of the lungs are swollen and blocked with extra mucus.

Carbon dioxide

A gas that is sent from the blood to the lungs to be exhaled.

Diaphragm

A large muscle under the lungs. The diaphragm moves up and down during breathing.

Duration

How long to do an activity.

Elasticity

The ability of the alveoli to stretch and get smaller with breathing.

Emphysema

A chronic lung disease in which the alveoli are damaged and trap air.

Endurance

Exercise to increase your ability to sustain an actIvIty.

Esophagus

The tube that connects the mouth and stomach.

Fatigue

Feeling weak or tired.

Flexibility

Exercise to stretch muscles, increasing bloodflow to the muscle.

Frequency

How often to do an activity.

Intensity

How hard and how many of each type of activity to do. Intensity can be measured using Rating Perceived Exertion Scale.

Mucus

A thick fluid found in the airways.

Nutritional intake

The amount of food you eat, usually measured in calories.

Osteoporosis

Loss of calcium in the bones.

Oxygen

A colorless, odorless and tasteless gas needed for life. Afrer air is inhaled, oxygen is sent to the blood and to the cells for energy.

Rating Perceived Exertion Scale

A measure of the intensity of an activity. Intensity will vary on a scale of 1 (very easy) to 10 (maximal).

Registered dietitian

A specialist in nutrition and food selection.

Rehabilitation

To restore health and quality of life through education, exercise and diet.

Respiratory system

Referring to the mouth and nose, trachea, lungs and diaphragm.

Side effects

An unwanted effect of a medicine.

Steroids

A strong, but effective medication used to treat asthma and other conditions.

Strength

Exercise using weights or other equipment to apply resistance to different movements.

Symptom

A sign of disease noticed by the patient.

Trachea

The tube that connects nose and mouth to the lungs.