Basic Medical Terminology
chronic
refers to a condition that lasts a long time or is persistent
anesthesia
loss of sensation or feeling, usually achieved through medication
anemia
a condition in which the body lacks enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues
acute
a sudden and severe onset of symptoms or illness
acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
a severe lung condition that can occur in response to injury or infection
diagnosis
the identification of a disease or condition based on its symptoms and medical tests
anticoagulant
a medication that prevents blood clots
artery
a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart to other parts of the body
chronic
a condition or disease that is long lasting or recurrent
asthma
a chronic lung disease that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways
inflammation
the body’s response to injury or infection, characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain
arrythmia
an irregular heart beat
benign
refers to a tumor or growth that is not cancerous and does not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart
cancer
a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells
abdomen
the part of the body that contains the stomach, intestines, and other organs
catheter
a flexible tube inserted into the body to remove or deliver fluids
prognosis
the likely outcome of a disease or condition based on medical treatment and other factors
hypertension
high blood pressure
cardiovascular disease (CVD)
a class of diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels
symptom
a physical or mental indication of a disease or condition, such as pain or fatigue
embolism
a blockage in a blood vessel, usually caused by a blood clot or other debris
virus
a microscopic infectious agent that can replicate only inside a host cell and causes various diseases
hemoglobin
a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body
diabetes
a chronic condition characterized by high blood sugar levels