nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory

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Word: Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (often abbreviated as NSAID) is a type of medication that helps reduce inflammation (swelling) and pain in the body. Unlike steroids, which are another kind of anti-inflammatory medication, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories do not contain steroid substances.

Usage Instructions:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories are commonly used to treat pain from injuries, arthritis, and other conditions.
• They can be bought over-the-counter (without a prescription) or prescribed by a doctor.

Example:

• "When I had a headache, I took a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory to feel better."

Advanced Usage:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories work by blocking certain enzymes in the body (specifically COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes) that contribute to inflammation and pain.

Word Variants:

• NSAID: The abbreviation for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
• Inflammation: The body’s response to injury or infection, often resulting in redness, swelling, and pain.

Different Meanings:

• In a medical context, "nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory" strictly refers to those specific drugs. However, in general conversation, people might use "anti-inflammatory" to refer to any substance that reduces inflammation, which could include both nonsteroidal and steroidal medications.

Synonyms:

• Pain reliever
• Anti-inflammatory drug
• Analgesic (though this is broader and may include drugs that do not reduce inflammation)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• While there are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that involve "nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory," you might hear phrases like "take the edge off," which means to lessen pain or discomfort. For example, "Taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory really helped take the edge off my back pain."

Summary:

In summary, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory is a drug used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation in the body without the use of steroids.

Academic

Noun

1. an anti-inflammatory drug that does not contain steroids
   • NSAIDs inhibit the activity of both Cox-1 and Cox-2 enzymes

Synonyms

• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
• NSAID