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AERD: Short for Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (also known as N-ERD or Samter’s Triad). This condition causes breathing symptoms, such as asthma or nasal issues, to worsen when taking certain painkillers like aspirin or ibuprofen (NSAIDs). People with AERD typically have a combination of three problems: asthma, nasal polyps, and sensitivity to aspirin or similar anti-inflammatory drugs.
Airways: Tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs
Allergen: A substance (like pollen, dust mites, or pet dander) that can cause an allergic reaction in certain people.
Allergic rhinitis (hay fever): An allergic reaction in the nose that can make you sneeze, have a runny or stuffy nose, and itchy/watery eyes. Often triggered by pollen, dust mites, or pets.
Anti-inflammatory: A term for medicines (like corticosteroids) that reduce swelling, redness, or irritation in the body.
Anti-inflammatory reliever (AIR): A reliever inhaler that combines a fast-acting medicine to quickly open the airways with an inhaled steroid to reduce swelling and inflammation in the lungs.
Antibiotics: Medicines used to kill or slow down the growth of bacteria. Sometimes prescribed for patients with uncontrolled severe asthma.
Asthma: A lung condition where the airways become inflamed and narrow, making it hard to breathe. People with asthma often have other diseases as well, such as chronic rhinosinusitis or allergic rhinitis (hay fever).
Atopic Dermatitis (eczema): a skin condition that causes areas of the skin to become dry, itchy, inflamed, and sometimes flaky.
Biologics: Special medicines given by injection that target specific parts of the immune system to reduce inflammation. Used when other options haven’t worked and after a specialist has made a detailed assessment of your condition.
Bronchial thermoplasty: A treatment for some people with severe asthma, done in a specialist centre. It uses gentle heat to reduce extra muscle around the airways, helping them stay open and making breathing easier.
Bronchoconstriction: A medical term that describes the narrowing of the airways in the lungs, which makes it more difficult to breathe.
Bronchodilator: A type of medication that relaxes the muscles around the airways, helping them open up and making it easier to breathe.
Bronchodilator reversibility test (BDR): A lung function test that is performed alongside spirometry (another lung function test, see Spirometry) to determine whether your airways respond to medication - and if so, how much your lung function improves as a result.
Bronchoprovocation test/Bronchial challenge tests: Bronchoprovocation testing is a diagnostic procedure that assesses the sensitivity or reactivity of the airways to specific substances, such as methacholine.
Chest symptoms: Issues such as coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, or tightness in the chest—often linked with lung conditions like asthma or COPD.
Chronic: Means that something lasts a long time, often for months or years. It usually doesn't go away quickly and may come back again and again
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A long-term lung disease (often linked to smoking or polluted air) where airways and tiny air sacs in the lungs are damaged, causing breathing difficulties.
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS): A condition defined by long-lasting inflammation inside the nose and sinuses, causing symptoms like a stuffy nose, runny nose, loss of smell, and facial pain.
Comorbidities: Other conditions or diseases that occur at the same time as the main condition. For example, many people with asthma also have chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) or allergies.
CT scan: An imaging test that takes detailed pictures of the inside of your body (in this case, your lungs) to check for other problems or complications that might be causing symptoms or making asthma harder to control.
Diagnosis: The process where a doctor determines what health condition a person has.
Differential diagnosis: A list of possible conditions that could explain a patient’s symptoms. Before confirming CRS, your doctor will consider other conditions that could cause your symptoms.
Eosinophils: Eosinophils are a type of white blood cells responsible for inflammation. People who have high levels of eosinophils can have increased swelling in the airways which can lead to asthma symptoms.
Eosinophilic asthma: A subtype of asthma characterized by high levels of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, in the airways
Endotyping / Phenotyping: Specialist terms for classifying a disease by looking at the exact type of inflammation or cells involved. This helps doctors tailor treatments, like deciding what type of biologics to use.
ENT doctor (Ear-Nose-Throat specialist): A doctor who specialises in conditions affecting the ear, nose, and throat. Also called an otolaryngologist.
Exacerbation: A sudden worsening or flare-up of symptoms. If you understand when you’re having an exacerbation, you can see your doctor sooner and adjust medications if needed.
FENO (Fractional exhaled nitric oxide) test: A simple breathing test that measures the level of nitric oxide in the air you breathe out. Higher levels can be a sign of inflammation in your airways.
Forced oscillation technique (FOT): A lung function test that uses gentle pressure waves during normal breathing. It’s especially useful for people who can’t perform traditional tests like spirometry.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): A common condition in which the stomach contents move up into the esophagus and cause heartburn.
Glaucoma: An eye condition that damages the optic nerve, often due to high pressure inside the eye. This damage can lead to vision loss or even blindness if not treated.
House dust mite: Tiny insect-like pests found in household dust that can trigger allergies and make asthma or CRS symptoms worse if you are allergic.
Immune system: Your body’s defence against infections and foreign substances. In asthma, this system may overreact, causing ongoing inflammation.
Immunotherapy: A treatment that may help the body get used to allergens so it reacts less over time. Often given as injections or drops/pills under the tongue.
Inflammation: Swelling or irritation in the body’s tissues, often due to the immune system’s response to infection or irritants. Asthma is driven by long-lasting inflammation.
Inherited: Refers to traits or a higher chance of developing certain conditions that are passed from parents to children through genes.
In remission: When a chronic condition is no longer causing significant symptoms.
-itis (suffix): A medical ending that means “inflammation.” Whenever you see “-itis” in a word (like rhinitis or sinusitis), it indicates that the tissue or organ named is swollen or inflamed.
Irritant: A substance or environmental factor that can set off or worsen asthma symptoms by irritating the airways. It’s different from an allergy because it doesn’t involve your immune system — it just directly irritates your lungs.
Leukotriene modifiers: A group of asthma medicines that helps prevent symptoms like swelling and inflammation in your airways. It also helps with seasonal allergies. It may be used if standard asthma treatment isn’t enough.
Long-acting beta-agonist (LABA): A type of asthma medication that helps relax the muscles around the airways to help open them up.
Long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonist (LAMA): A type of asthma medication that relaxes the muscles in the airways, making it easier to breathe. It’s a type of add-on treatment that can be considered in case basic maintenance therapy is not sufficient.
Maintenance/controller treatment: Medications that are taken on a daily basis to reduce the inflammation in the airways, prevent asthma symptoms, and minimize the risk of asthma flare-ups.
Maintenance And Reliever Therapy (MART): An asthma treatment regimen where a single combination inhaler is used instead of a separate maintenance and reliever inhaler.
Modulate the immune system: To adjust or regulate how strongly your body’s defence system reacts.
Mucous membranes: A synonym for mucosa. The mucosa lines the inside of many body cavities and organs. It secretes a mucus to lubricate and protect the lining of the organs and cavities from various particles and pathogens.
Mucolytics: A type of medication that helps thin and loosen mucus, making it easier to cough up and clear from the airways.
Mucus: A slimy substance produced especially by mucous membranes, such as the nose, throat, and lungs, which it moistens and protects. Phlegm is a specific type of mucus specifically produced in the lungs and throat, also referred to as sputum.
Mucus plugs: Thick clumps of mucus that block the airways. They are an important feature of severe asthma, and can make it harder to breathe by causing more airway obstruction.
Nasal: Refers to anything related to the nose (for example, “nasal spray”).
Nasal endoscopy: A procedure where a thin tube with a camera is gently inserted into the nose to see deep inside the nasal passages and sinuses.
Nasal polyps: Soft growths in the nose or sinuses due to inflammation that look like small grapes. They can block airflow and reduce your sense of smell.
Nasal Polyp Syndrome (CRSwNP): A type of chronic rhinosinusitis where patients have nasal polyps, leading to issues like blocked nose, loss of smell, facial pressure, and/or frequent sinus infections.
N-ERD (NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease): A condition in which painkillers like aspirin or ibuprofen make respiratory symptoms (nasal or asthma) worse. Also called Samter’s triad. People with N-ERD typically have a combination of three problems: asthma, nasal polyps, and sensitivity to aspirin or similar anti-inflammatory drugs.
NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs): Medications like ibuprofen or aspirin that reduce pain, fever, and inflammation but can trigger attacks in people with N-ERD.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): A condition where the upper airway briefly collapses during sleep, causing repeated pauses in breathing.
Occupational: Relating to or caused by a person’s work or activity
Oral: Relating to the mouth. For instance, “oral medications” are taken by mouth.
Osteoporosis: A condition that causes bones to become weak and brittle
Pen (prefilled) or Syringe (prefilled): Devices used to inject biologic medicines. Prefilled means the correct dose is already in the device, ready to use.
Phenotyping: (See Endotyping) Another way of classifying disease based on how the condition appears or behaves—helps personalise treatment choices.
Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) test: A quick and simple test, using a handheld device, to measure how fast you can blow air out of your lungs
Peak flow reading: The result from using a peak flow meter, showing how fast you can blow air out of your lungs. It helps indicate how well your lungs are working.
Pulmonologist: A doctor who specialises in lung conditions like asthma or COPD, also called a ‘lung specialist’ or ‘respiratory physician’.
Red-flag symptoms: Severe signs in asthma (like difficulty walking/talking, blue lips or fingernails, or symptoms that worsen quickly) that mean you should seek emergency care immediately.
Reliever (inhaler): A fast-acting inhaler used during an asthma flare-up. It quickly opens the airways to make breathing easier. Some relievers also help reduce inflammation.
Remission: Asthma remission is a state in which symptoms are minimal or even completely absent for an extended period.
Rhinitis: Inflammation of the inside lining of the nose, often causing sneezing, itchiness, or runny nose.
Rhinosinusitis: Inflammation that affects both the nose (rhino) and the sinuses (sinusitis). Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is when this lasts more than 12 weeks. When symptoms have been present for less than 12 weeks, it’s called acute rhinosinusitis. This is often triggered by a viral infection (like the common cold) or sometimes by bacteria.
Samter’s triad: Another name for N-ERD (NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease) . A condition in which painkillers like aspirin or ibuprofen make respiratory symptoms (nasal or asthma) worse. People with Samter’s triad typically have a combination of three problems: asthma, nasal polyps, and sensitivity to aspirin or similar anti-inflammatory drugs.
Shared decision-making: A joint process where healthcare professionals and patients work together to make informed decisions about care.
Short-acting beta-agonist: A quick-relief asthma medicine that relaxes the muscles around your airways, making it easier for you to breathe.
Sinuses: Air-filled spaces in your face (behind the nose, cheeks, and forehead) that help filter, warm, and moisten the air you breathe. They also affect how your voice sounds.
Skin prick test: A quick test for allergies. A doctor or nurse pricks your skin with a tiny amount of allergen to see if you react.
Specialist: A doctor with advanced training in a certain area, like ENT (ear-nose-throat), lung (pulmonology), or allergy (allergology).
Spirometry: A lung function test that measures the amount of air you can blow out in one forced breath.
Steroids: Medicines used to treat conditions that cause redness and swelling (inflammation) in the body, such as asthma. Steroids can be used in different forms, such as tablets (oral steroids) or inhalers (inhaled steroids).
Triggers: Things that can set off or worsen your asthma symptoms, like allergens, cigarette smoke, pollution, or cold air.
Wheezing: A whistling sound when breathing, especially when you breathe out.
Workplace irritants: Dust, chemicals, fumes, or other substances at work (or hobbies) that can irritate your nose and airways, leading to inflammation and worsened asthma symptoms.
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