xerostomia - a dry mouth condition; can be caused by a number of things, including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, kidney failure, infection with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), drugs used to treat depression, and radiation treatment for mouth or throat cancer.

x-ray - a diagnostic test which uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film.

yeast infection (Also called Candida.) - one type of vaginitis caused by the Candida fungus characterized by itching, burning, or redness of the vaginal area.

yellow fever - a viral disease that is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Yin and Yang - Chinese words for complementary and opposite forces that make up the life force (Qi).

yoga - Indian word for "union." Yoga is a posturing and breathing technique to induce relaxation.

Zenker's diverticulum - Pouches in the esophagus from increased pressure in and around the esophagus.

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome - Group of symptoms that occur when a tumor called a gastrinoma forms in the pancreas. The tumor releases large amounts of the hormone gastrin, which causes too much acid in the duodenum, resulting in ulcers, bleeding, and perforation.

zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) - method of treating infertility by removing eggs from a woman's ovaries, fertilizing them in the laboratory with sperm from her partner or a donor, and inserting one or more of the fertilized eggs into one of her fallopian tubes.

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