Glossary
A
Enzymes which are present inside liver cells. Damage to the liver can cause ALT and AST to leak into the blood. As a result, high levels of these enzymes in the blood can be an important indicator of liver damage
Allergy
Reactions to IgE mediated allergy occur almost immediately, usually within 2
hours of exposure to the offending substance. For example inhalent allergy symtoms
will affect the respiratory system, contact with animal danders and house dust
mite may cause skin reactions.
Arthritis
Definition: Arthritis is a term used to describe a number of painful conditions
of the joints and bones. Two of the main types of arthritis are osteoarthritis
and rheumatoid arthritis.
Asthma affects the airways of the lungs (the bronchi) which causes the airways to become inflamed and swollen. The bronchi are small tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the bronchi are more sensitive than normal and certain substances, or triggers, can irritate them. Common triggers include house dust mites, animal fur, pollen, tobacco smoke, cold air, and chest infections.
Anaphylaxis
(also known as anaphylactic shock) is a severe, potentially fatal allergic reaction.
Anaphylaxis is your body's immune system reacting badly to the presence of a foreign
object (e.g. food or a substance) it wrongly perceives as a threat. Your whole
body is affected, usually within minutes of contact with an allergen.
B
Definition: Bloating is any abnormal general swelling, or increase in diameter of the abdominal area. As a symptom, the patient feels a full and tight abdomen, which may cause abdominal pain.
D
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, neither the patients nor the researchers know who is getting a placebo and who is getting the treatment. Because patients don't know what they're getting, their belief about what will happen doesn't taint the results. Because the researchers don't know either, they can't hint to patients about what they're getting, and they also won't taint results through their own biased expectations about what the results will be.
E
Eczema
Eczema is a skin condition, which can result in dry, red and flaky skin. The
skin may feel hot and very itchy and scratching can lead to the skin becoming
damaged and infected. Eczema is not contagious. Eczema is also known as dermatitis,
a term used to describe inflammation of the skin.
Term ELISA
Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay, or ELISA, is a biochemical technique used
to detect the presence of an antibody or an antigen in a bilological sample.
F
Fatty liver is a condition which is caused by the build up of excess fat in the liver cells. It is normal for your liver to contain some fat. But if fat accounts for more than 5-10% of your liver’s weight, then you have fatty liver and you may develop more serious complications.
Fatigue is an extreme tiredness and lack of energy.
FoodScan
YorkTest’s food intolerance test. FoodScan is the only food intolerance test endorsed by Allergy UK. It is a two stage process; First Step is the preliminary test which informs the tester if there is a strong possibility of Food Intolerance reactions indicated by a positive result. YorkTest advises that if your First Step Test is positive then you need to progress to FoodScan 113 which will give you a comprehensive insight into which foods could be associated with your food intolerance symptoms.
Definition: Yorktest 2nd step food intolerance indicator. Ideal for those wanting to specifically identify the food / foods that are triggering food intolerance symptoms
G
Gut Ecology
Gut Ecology describes the profile of micro - organismsin your gut this includes:
Physiological gut flora, facultative pathogenic bacteria and pathogenic bacteria.
Gut Flora These bacteria, including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, are normally
present in the gut. However, their levels are important. If levels of these naturally
occurring gut bacteria are out of balance, recommendations will be provided to
try and help correct them.
H
Homocysteine
Homocysteine is an amino acid in the blood. Epidemiological studies have shown
that too much homocysteine in the blood (plasma) is related to a higher risk
of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease.
I
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disorder, featuring recurrent abdominal pain and intermittent diarrhoea, often alternating with constipation.
IgE is a type of antibody that is found in blood or other bodily fluids.They are used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects, such as bacteria and viruses.
The Intestinal ecogram is a detailed chart that summarises your Gut Health test results.
An airbourne substance inducing an allergic state or reaction.
M
Definition: A migraine is a severe headache that often has a number of associated symptoms, such as nausea, creased sensitivity, and visual problems.
N
Non-specific symptoms
There are a number of diseases, some of them very serious, which only cause mild or vague symptoms. People may not even really feel sick, but just have a feeling that things are not quite right. In some conditions, the symptoms get worse over time, but for some conditions, the symptoms may stay vague or non-specific for a long period. Any symptom needs checking with your doctor, even if it seems mild or minor.
O
Obesity
Obesity is when a person is carrying too much body fat for their height and sex.
A person is considered obese if they have a Body Mass Index (BMI) - weight in
kilograms divided by their height in metres squared - of 30 or greater. Obesity
can happen when you eat more calories than you burn off over a period of time.
P
Pathogenic Bacteria
These bacteria, including Salmonella, are known to be harmful. If these harmful
bacteria are found in your sample (red zone on your Intestinal Ecogram) it is
important that you see your GP and take your results with you.
R
Definition: The respiratory system consists of the airways, the lungs, and the respiratory muscles that mediate the movement of air into and out of the body.
Rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis is a condition where an allergen (something that causes an
allergic reaction) makes the inside of your nose swell, or become inflamed. This
can cause cold-like symptoms, such as sneezing, itchiness, and a blocked, or runny,
nose. Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common conditions in the UK. Studies
estimate that between 20-30% of people experience this condition at some point
in their life.
S
Sinusitis
Sinusitis is an infection of the small, air-filled cavities inside the cheekbones
and forehead. Acute sinusitis is fairly ommon, with approximately 1-5% of adults
being diagnosed with the condition every year.
Y
Yeasts and moulds
Yeasts (including Candida) and moulds Candida is a yeast that is a natural resident
of the gut. Usually Candida refers to Candida albicans, however there are other
species of Candida that are also tested for. The level of Candida in your gut
is important. Once the Candida reaches a certain level (see Intestinal Ecogram
for details) they cling to the wall of the intestines making them very persistent.
If the levels of yeasts or moulds in your sample are too high recommendations
will be provided that may help correct them.
Testimonials
