| A |
Adrenaline |
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Hormone released by the adrenal glands that stimulated the heart and dilates the arteries. It is also referred to as epinephrine. |
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Aldosterone |
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A hormone released by the adrenal glands that acts on the kidney to retain salt and excrete potassium. |
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Alpha-adrenergic blocker |
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A drug that dilates arteries by blocking the constrictor effects of norepinephrine, and hence lowers blood pressure. |
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Alpha receptors |
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Regions on the walls of the muscle cells of arteries and veins to which the norepinephrine can attach itself and cause the muscle to contract. |
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Aneroid |
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A type of sphygmomanometer that has a dial to register the pressure rather than a mercury column. |
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Aneurysm |
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A weak spot in the wall of an artery that balloons out and may eventually burst. |
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Angina pectoris |
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The Latin word for pain in the chest, which results from a shortage of oxygen in the heart muscle, usually because of a blockage in the arteries to the heart or more rarely because of spasm. |
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Angiogram |
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See Arteriogram |
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Angiotensin blocking agents |
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A new class of drugs that act by blocking the actions of angiotensin. Also known as AT 1 antagonists. |
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Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor |
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Drug that lowers blood pressure by blocking the formation of angiotensin, a substance that constricts arteries. |
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Ankle-arm index |
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The ration of blood pressure in the ankle to the pressure in the arm, which is normally 1. A ratio below 0.9 is an indicator of atherosclerotic disease. |
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Antioxidants |
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Substances that inhibit the actions of unstable forms of oxygen (free radicals), which can accelerate the development of atherosclerosis and cancer, |
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Aorta |
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The main artery of the body, into which blood is pumped from the heart. It arches over the heart and runs down through the chest into the abdomen, where it divides into two main branches going to the legs. |
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Arrhythmia |
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A disturbance of the normal and regular heart rhythm. There are several different types of arrhythmia; some are dangerous, most are not. |
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Arteries |
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The blood vessels which branch off the aorta, and carry oxygenated blood at high pressure to the tissues of the body. |
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Arteriogram or angiogram |
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An X-ray of the arteries, taken after injecting dye (contrast medium) into the artery through a plastic cannula (tube). |
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Arterioles |
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The arteries divide into smaller and smaller branches, called arterioles, which have muscles in their walls and can actively contract and relax. |
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Arteriosclerosis or atherosclerosis |
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The process whereby cholesterol and other substances are deposited in the walls of the arteries, to form plaques that can eventually block the flow of blood. |
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Atherectomy |
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A process whereby atheromatous plaque is reamed out of a coronary artery by a catheter. |
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Autonomic nervous system |
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The "involuntary nervous system", which regulates bodily functions such as circulation and digestion. Its main subdivisions are the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. |
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| B |
Beta blockers |
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Drugs that block some of the effects of epinephrine and norepinephrine on the circulation, and thus slow the heart rate and lower the blood pressure. |
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Beta receptors |
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Regions on the heart and blood vessels to which norepinephrine and epinephrine can attach and cause physiological changes. |
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Blood pressure |
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The pressure existing in the arteries. |
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Blood volume |
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The total amount of blood in the circulation. |
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Bruit |
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A whooshing sound audible through a stethoscope of blood flowing through an artery, usually because a narrowing in the artery has caused a turbulent flow. |
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| C |
Calcium-channel blocker |
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A drug that blocks the entry of calcium into the muscle cells of the arterioles (small blood vessels), and hence stops them contracting. |
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Capillaries |
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The smallest blood vessels, which form a fine network permeating the tissues. |
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Cardiac output |
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The amount of blood pumped by the heart in one minute. |
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Cardiovascular |
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Refers to the heart (cardio) and blood vessels (vascular). |
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Catecholamines |
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The hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (nonadrenaline), which are released by the sympathetic nervous system and tend to raise the blood pressure. |
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Cholesterol |
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A fatty substance circulating in the blood and present in the tissues that is synthesized in the body and also comes from the diet. In excess amounts it may be deposited in arterial walls as athreosclerotic plaques. It circulates in two forms, HDL and LDL cholesterol. |
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Claudication |
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Pain in the leg muscles that starts during walking and is relieved by rest. It is caused by atherosclerotic narrowing of the arteries supplying the legs. |
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Coarctation of the aorta |
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A constriction of the aorta that is a rare cause of hypertension in children. |
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Collateral circulation |
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When a major artery becomes blocked, smaller (collateral) arteries may open up that bypass the block and keep the tissue beyond the block supplied with blood. |
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Congestive heart failure |
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A condition resulting from weakness of the heart muscle, which loses its pumping ability. Fluid backs up in the lungs, and may also accumulate in the legs. |
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Coronary arteries |
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The arteries supplying the heart muscle with blood -- hence, coronary artery disease and coronary heart disease. Coronary refers to the heart. |
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CT (CAT) scan |
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A computerized X-ray examination. |
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| D |
Diastole |
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The interval between heartbeats, when the heart is relaxed. |
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Diastolic blood pressure |
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The blood trough occurring while the heart is relaxed between beats. It is thus the lower of the two numbers used to describe blood pressure. |
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Diuretics |
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Drugs that can act on the kidneys to make them excrete more salt and water. They also tend to lower blood pressure. |
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| E |
Echocardiogram |
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An ultrasound scan of the heart, which can show the movements of the heart valves and the thickness of the muscle. |
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Edema |
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Accumulation of fluid, typically in the legs and ankles, which may result from heart failure or as a side effect of some calcium-channel blockers. |
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Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) |
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A tracing of the electrical action of the heart made by attaching recording electrodes to the chest and limbs. |
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Endothelium |
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The thin and delicate layer of cells lining the inner walls of blood vessels. Endothelial cells are also chemical factories that produce a variety of substances that can make the vessels both constrict and dilate. |
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Epinephrine |
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A hormone released by the adrenal glands that stimulates the heart and dilates the arteries. It is also known as adrenaline. |
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| F |
Free radicals |
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Unstable chemicals formed in the body, often as products of oxygen metabolism (oxidation). They can cause all sorts of damage to the cells of the body, leading to both vascular disease and cancer. They are mopped up by antioxidants. |
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| G |
No Results |
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| H |
Hormone |
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A chemical messenger; a substance that is formed in one part of the body and circulates in the blood to produce its effect in another part. |
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Hyperaldosteronism |
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A condition resulting from an excessive secretion of aldosterone, from either a tumor or other causes. |
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Hyperkalemia |
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Too much potassium in the blood. |
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Hypertension |
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High blood pressure. |
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Hypokalemia |
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Too little potassium in the blood. |
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Hypotension |
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Low blood pressure. |
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| I |
No Results |
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| J |
No Results |
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| K |
No Results |
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| L |
Labile hypertension |
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A term sometimes used to describe very variable blood pressure. |
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Lipid |
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A blanket term used to describe the different types of cholesterol (LDL, HDL, and VLDL) and fat (triglycerides) in the blood. |
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| M |
mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) |
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The unit of measurement of blood pressure; the height to which the pressure will push a column of mercury. |
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| N |
No Results |
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| O |
No Results |
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| P |
Palpitation |
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A sensation of pounding in the chest resulting from an awareness of the pumping of the heart. |
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Peripheral resistance |
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The resistance offered by the blood vessels to the flow of blood. When the vessels are constricted, the resistance is increased, and when they are dilated, it is reduced. |
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Pheochromoyctoma |
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A tumor of the adrenal gland that secrets hormones (catecholamines) that raise the blood pressure. |
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Placebo |
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A Latin word meaning "I will please." Used to describe treatment that has no specific physiological or chemical effect, but that may produce both subjective and objective benefits. |
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Platelet |
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The smallest of the circulating blood cells. The chief function of platelets is to form plugs on damaged areas of the lining of the blood vessels and to initiate blood clots. |
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Postural hypotension |
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A decrease in blood pressure that occurs on standing. |
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Potassium |
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A mineral found in the cells of the body and occurring in several foods. |
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Preeclampsia |
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A combination of high blood pressure, ankle swelling, and protein in the urine that may occur during the last three months of pregnancy. Also known as toxemia of pregnancy. |
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Prostaglandins |
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A family of chemicals made in the body that have a variety of actions relating to blood pressure regulation and blood clotting. Aspirin and related drugs block their synthesis. |
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| Q |
No Results |
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| R |
Renin |
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A hormone secreted by the kidney that raises blood pressure by leading to the formation of angiotensin. |
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| S |
Salt |
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A chemical composed of a combination of sodium and chloride. |
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Sodium |
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The mineral that is one of the two constituents of common salt. |
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Sphygmomanometer |
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The device used to measure blood pressure. |
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Stroke |
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A sudden loss of function of of part of the brain as a result of the interruption of its blood supply by a blocked artery (cerebral thrombosis) or by a burst artery (cerebral hemorrhage). |
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Sympathetic nervous system |
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One branch of the autonomic nervous system that regulates the heart and blood vessels by releasing catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine), which stimulate the heart and raise the blood pressure. |
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Systolic blood pressure |
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The peak blood pressure, which occurs when the heart pumps blood into the arteries. It is thus the higher of the two numbers used to describe blood pressure. |
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| T |
Transient ischemic attack (TIA) |
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A transient stroke where the symptoms last for less than 24 hours, usually caused by a piece of atherosclerotic plaque breaking off and plugging a small artery in the brain. It subsequently dissolves, and blood flow is restored. |
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| U |
Uremia |
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The accumulation of waste products in the blood that occurs when the kidneys start to fail. |
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| V |
Vascular |
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Refers to blood vessels. |
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Vasoconstrictor |
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A drug or hormone that causes constriction of the blood vessels. |
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Vasodialator |
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A drug or hormone that causes dilation of the blood vessels. |
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Vitamin |
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Chemicals produced by plants or animals that are required in our diets in very small amounts to maintain normal health development. |
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| W |
No Results |
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| X |
No Results |
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| Y |
No Results |
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| Z |
No Results |
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