medical dictionary

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abuse
To hurt by treating badly.

accident
An unfortunate event that happens without being planned.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
A condition caused by a virus that causes a dangerous illness. It almost always results in death.

AFP
Acronym for alpha-fetoprotein.
See, Alphafetoprotein

AIDS
Acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
See, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

alcoholism
A disease in which there is a strong need or desire to drink a large amount of alcohol.

allergic
Having an allergy.

allergy
An abnormal reaction to some kinds of things such as animals, plants, molds, or foods. Coughing, sneezing, or getting a rash could be a sign that a person has an allergy.

alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
A substance in the blood that may indicate disease is present. In pregnancy, an increase in alpha-fetoprotein can be a sign of a defect in the nervous system.

Alzheimers Disease
A disease that involves a failure of brain functions. They include losing memory, being able to talk, and other daily tasks. This disease worsens over a period of 4 or 5 years.

angina
Pain in the heart area that happens when the heart does not get enough oxygen.

anorexia
A state of not wanting to eat (loss of appetite).

anorexia nervosa
Not wanting to eat because of an illness of the mind. Anorexia nervosa is most common in females between 12 and 21; but men and older people can have this disorder too.

anxiety
A condition of feeling on edge or worried about what might happen.

arrhythmia
A state in which the heart does not have a regular beat.

artery
A blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to other parts of the body.

arthritis
A disease that makes the joints of the body swell up and become sore and stiff.

Asperger’s Syndrome
A disorder that is similar to autism. It affects more boys than girls. People with Asperger’s Syndrome have trouble making friends and relating to family and others. Often, they repeat certain actions over and over.

asthma
A chronic disease in which there are attacks of wheezing, coughing, and hard breathing. It is usually caused by an allergy.

atrial fibrillation
A condition in which part of the heart muscle contracts irregularly. It usually means there is heart disease.

atrium
The heart has four sections (chambers). The upper right and left chambers of the heart are the atria (plural).

autism
A disorder that starts in childhood. The child is not able to relate to people in a normal way. A child with autism is not interested in things a normal child might be.

basal cell
Cells from the deepest layer of the skin.

biopsy
A test that involves taking out a small piece of tissue to look at under a microscope. It is usually done to make a diagnosis.

bipolar disorder
A major disorder of the mind marked by severe mood swings. The person can be manic or depressive.

birth control
Being in charge of the size of one’s family; preventing pregnancy.

blood pressure
Pressure of the blood within the arteries and other blood vessels.

breast
The upper front part of the body between the neck and the stomach. The glands on this part of the body that give babies milk from their mother.

bronchial tubes
These are tubes that let air in and out of the lungs. The two main branches of the windpipe.

bronchoscopy
An examination of the windpipes to look for disease.

bug
A germ that causes sickness.

bulimia
Episodes of binge eating. A person who binges may be afraid they are not able to stop eating or may be depressed.

CABG
Acronym for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
See, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft for definition.

cancer
A disease in which certain cells can grow out of control and spread to other parts of the body.

cataract
A clouding of a part of the eye called the "lens". This can result in a slow loss of sight.

CDE
Acronym for Certified Diabetes Educator
See, Certified Diabetes Educator for definition.

cell
The basic unit of all plants and animals. Cells are very small and can be seen under a microscope.

Cerebral Palsy (CP)
A condition in which there is difficulty moving or speaking. It is caused by an injury to the brain before birth or during birth.

certified diabetes educator (CDE)
A health care worker who teaches people with diabetes how to live with this disease.

chemotherapy
Treating disease by using drugs (medications).

chlamydia
A bacteria that causes a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

cholesterol
A substance present in our blood. Having a high level of "Good" cholesterol is associated with having a healthy heart; if you have an increase in "Bad" cholesterol, you have a higher chance of getting heart disease.

chromosome
Structures in cells that contain the genes.

chronic
Going on for a long time (chronic disease).

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Diseases that prevent air from flowing with ease through the airways. They include asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema.

cold
A virus that causes coughing, sneezing, and a runny nose.

compulsive
Doing something over and over. Examples of compulsive behavior are twirling hair and checking something over and over.

condition
1. An illness. 2. The right or healthy way to be (in condition).

condom
A thin cover worn over the penis. It can be used to prevent pregnancy and prevent sexually transmitted diseases.

contraception
A method of preventing conception (pregnancy).

COPD
Acronym for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
See, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease for definition.

coronary artery
Arteries that supply blood to a special part of the heart. If coronary arteries are diseased, a person can have angina.

coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
An operation to repair a damaged coronary artery.

CP
Acronym for Cerebral Palsy. See, Cerebral Palsy for definition.

damage
Injury or harm.

depression
Gloomy feeling, sadness.

diabetes
A disease in which the body makes little or no insulin. Insulin helps the body use any sugar that is eaten. A person can also have diabetes if the body cannot use the insulin it makes.

diagnosis
The name of the disease a person has. An opinion about a patient’s disease after examining the patient and studying the symptoms.

disability
Not being able or fit to do something in a normal way.

disk
A flat round structure in between the bones in the spine (vertebrae). A disk acts as a cushion for the vertebrae.

disease
A condition of not being healthy.

disorder
A sickness, ailment.

domestic
Relating to the home or family.

dose
An amount of medicine that is taken at one time.

dosage
The right amount and number of doses of medicine to take.

Down Syndrome
A chromosome disorder that causes different degrees of mental retardation.

drugs
1. Substances that prevent or cure disease. 2. Substances that dull senses, cause sleep, or can cause a person to become addicted.

eating disorder
A condition featured by disturbances in appetite or food intake.

ECG
Acronym for Electrocardiogram.
See, Electrocardiogram for definition.

echocardiogram
An ultrasound test that gives the size, movement, and make up of the heart.

educator
A person who teaches.

electrocardiogram (ECG)
A test that gives a record of the beats of the heart. Can help diagnose heart disease.

emphysema
The disease in which there are changes in the make up of the lungs. People with emphysema have great trouble breathing.

exercise
Regular activity that makes the body stronger.

eye
The part of the body we use to see.

FAS
Acronym for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
See, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome for definition.

fetal alcohol syndrome
A disorder that occurs in children born to women who drink a lot during pregnancy. Results in low birth weight babies, children whose growth rate is below normal, changes in looks, and mental retardation.

fetus
The unborn child from the end of the eighth week after pregnancy begins until birth.

fibrillation
Disorder of heart that results in heart beats that do not function properly.

flu
A disease caused by a virus. It is more serious than a cold virus. (short word for influenza)

folic acid
A member of the Vitamin B family. If you are able to become pregnant, you need to take in enough folic acid. You need a dosage of at least 400 micrograms of folic acid before pregnancy begins and during early pregnancy. If you take enough folic acid, the risk that your baby will be born with a neural tube defect will be lower.

formula
A special food made for babies to drink from a bottle.

fracture
A break in a bone.

giardia
A one-celled organism that can be seen under a microscope. It can give you an infection that causes diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss. It can be treated with medication.

gene
The basic unit of life. Genes have special codes that give us traits of our parents.

generic
Common name of a drug. Drug can be made by more than one company. Can be made after a drug’s patent expires.

genetic
Refers to genes.

germ
A tiny organism that can cause disease. A slang term for viruses or bacteria.

glaucoma
An eye disease caused by increased pressure in the eye. Causes many problems with sight, headaches.

gonorrhea
A sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacteria. It causes an infection in the parts of the body used for sexual reproduction.

health
State of being well in body or mind, not sick.

hearing
The power to hear using the ears.

heart
The muscle that pumps blood through the body. It is made up of chambers.

heart disease
A sickness or illness of the heart.

heart valve replacement
Surgery to repair a heart valve. The heart valves control the flow of blood through the heart.

high blood pressure (hypertension)
A condition in which a person’s blood pressure is higher than an average number. Can be present with kidney diseases, diabetes, and thyroid diseases. People with high blood pressure may have dizziness, headache, or nervousness.

HIV
Acronym for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
See, Human Immunodeficiency Virus for definition.

hives
A skin disorder caused by an allergy. Raised, itchy, red patches are present on the skin. Also called urticaria.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
A virus that destroys the immune system. It causes AIDS.

hypertension (high blood pressure)
When a person’s blood pressure is higher than an average number. Can be present with kidney diseases, diabetes, and thyroid diseases. If you have high blood pressure, you could be dizzy, nervous, or have a headache.

ill
Not healthy, being sick.

illness
The state of being sick, sickness, disease.

immunization
A method of giving a person protection from disease.

infection
A disease that is caused by a bacteria, viruses, or other living things that can enter the body.

inflammation
A swollen area on the body. It can be caused by disease or injury.

influenza
A disease that is caused by a virus.

inhaler
A small piece of equipment people can use to help them breath better.

injury
harm or damage that happens to a person.

insulin
A substance in the body made by an organ called the pancreas. Many people who have diabetes need to take shots of insulin each day.

insurance
An agreement you have with an insurance company. The insurance company agrees to pay the cost of your medical care. Your employer may offer you a health insurance plan. Usually you and the employer share the cost of the plan. The insurance company has rules you must follow. The companies usually have different plans to choose from.

jaundice
A yellow coloring of the skin. It can take place in newborns. It can also happen in people who have liver disease.

kidney
Organs in the body that filter the blood. Your kidneys take out extra water and waste products. The kidneys make urine.

leukemia
A type of cancer in which the body makes too many white blood cells.

lice
Small bugs that lives in a person’s hair. They can be spread from person to person by sharing a comb or brush.

lipid profile
A group of lab tests that can tell the level of fats in your blood. A high level of lipids (fats) is a risk factor for heart diseases.

lipoprotein
A type of fat in your blood.

liver
An organ in the body that helps break down foods so that the body can use the food we eat.

louse
A small bug that lives in a person’s hair.
See also lice.

lung
Organs that we use to breathe. They bring oxygen in and take carbon dioxide out.

Lyme Disease
A disease spread by a deer tick. It can cause rashes and can get into the nervous system, heart, eye, and joints. It can cause a type of arthritis.

manic-depressive disorder
An illness of the mind in which a person has great mood swings (highs and lows). The person goes between being manic (high) and depressed (low).

mass
A growth in or on the body. Sometimes called a growth or tumor. May or may not be caused by cancer.

medications
A medicine used to treat disease.

melanoma
A type of cancer that turns up on the skin. It can spread to organs throughout the body.

malignant
Very dangerous, may cause death.

menopause
A time when your monthly periods stop. It usually happens between the ages of 45 and 50.

menstruate
A discharge of blood and tissue from the uterus. This happens to females about once a month. It begins after you ovulate the first time.

mental health
Relates to the health of one’s mind.

mitral valve
A valve in the heart that separates two chambers in the heart.

nebulizer
A medication that is sprayed into your mouth and breathed in. It is used for asthma and other breathing disorders.

neoplasm
A growth. It may or may not be cancer.

nerve
Nerves bring messages to and from the brain.

neural tube defect
A birth defect in which the brain and spinal cord do not form correctly.

neuropathy
A disorder in which there is damage to the nerves. If you have this condition, using the part of the body where the damaged nerves are may hurt or be difficult.

nutrition
Eating; what you eat.

obese
Very fat; weighing way too much.

obesity
A state of being way too fat.

obsessive
Always thinking about an idea or feeling. These thoughts do not make sense.

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
A disorder of the mind in which a person has ideas or thoughts that do not make sense. If a person has this disorder, he/she also performs certain behaviors (like washing hands, checking to see if a door is locked) over and over.

obstructive
Blocked or stopped up.

OCD
Acronym for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
See, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder for definition.

organ
A part of the body that performs a certain function. Eyes, ears, the heart, the kidney are all organs.

otitis
An ear infection.

otitis media
A middle ear infection. Young children may get a lot of middle ear infections.

ovulate
Releasing an egg from the ovary. If you ovulate, you are able to get pregnant. This means that you can get pregnant before you have your period (menstruate).

palsy
When the body (or part of the body) shakes. The person has no control over this.

pancreas
One of the body’s organs. It helps digest food. Insulin is one of the substances produced in the pancreas.

panic
A sudden fear that you cannot control.

panic disorder
A disorder of the mind that can last minutes or, sometimes for hours. Panic attacks start with fear. Often you feel that something very bad is about to happen. During a panic attack you can feel like you cannot breathe. There are many other feelings you can have. Examples are losing balance, being dizzy, sweating, a fast heart beat, a fear of dying, or going crazy.

pathology
The study of what causes a disease.

PDD
Acronym for Pervasive Developmental Disorder.
See, Pervasive Developmental Disorder for definition.

pervasive developmental disorder
A group of disorders in which a child’s mind does not develop the right way. The child does not know how to relate to family or friends, cannot talk correctly, and moves in a strange way.

phobia
When you are very afraid of something for no reason.

physical therapy
A treatment that involves working with a therapist. The therapist moves parts of the body and gives you exercises to do.

pica
Wanting to eat strange things such as dirt, ice cubes. It can be a sign of disease.

poison
A substance that can make you very sick. It sometimes causes a person to die.

postpartum
The period of time right after a baby is born.

pregnancy
The time when a baby is growing inside his/her mother. Pregnancy can happen from the time you first ovulate (release an egg) until the time you stop ovulating.

prenatal
The period of time before the baby is born.

prescription
A medicine that you can get from a doctor’s order. The doctor tells what medicine to give you and how many times a day to take it.

prevent
To stop something from happening.

prevention
The act of stopping something from happening. There are many ways that you can prevent getting certain diseases.

prolapse
Slipping of an organ or part of an organ from its usual space.

prostate
A gland males have that makes semen a liquid.

pulmonary
Refers to the lungs or breathing.

quarantine
Keeping a person who has a catchy disease away from others. If your child has chickenpox, you should keep him/her at home.

radiation therapy
A treatment that uses x-rays. Radiation therapy is often used in cancer therapy.

rape
Sexual intercourse against one of the partner’s will. Rape is against the law.

rash
A condition in which there are red spots on the skin.

red blood cell
Cells in the blood that carry oxygen.

retardation
1. Slow to develop. 2. Low level of intelligence. Low IQ.

retina
A part of the eye made of special cells. The cells react to light.

retinopathy
A disease of the retina. It can be caused by diabetes that is not under control. It can cause blindness.

rhythm
Refers to something that happens at regular times. A healthy heart has an even rhythm.

Rhythm Method
A form of birth control. It is based on not having intercourse a few days before and after the release of an egg (ovulation).

risk
To put in danger.

SAD
An acronym for Seasonal Affective Disorder.
See, Seasonal Affective Disorder for definition.

screening
Planned periodic testing performed on large groups of people. Used to detect disease. Sometimes, health fairs may have diabetes or blood pressure screenings.

script
A medicine that you can get from a doctor’s order. The doctor tells what medicine to give you and how many times a day to take it. A prescription.

seasonal affective disorder
A type of mental illness that makes one depressed either in the winter or the summer.

semen
Thick white fluid from male sex organs. It contains sperm and liquid made in the prostate.

serious
Causing worry, dangerous.

sexually transmitted disease (STD)
Disease spread by sexual contact.

shot
Medicine given by way of an injection (a jab in the arm or back side with a needle).

sick
When you don’t feel well. Ill.

skin
The tissue that covers the body of a person.

spinal cord
A thick cord of nerve tissue inside the spine.

spine
The backbone.

sprain
A quick twist of a joint. The sprained area can swell and bruise.

STD
Acronym for Sexually Transmitted Disease.
See, Sexually transmitted disease for definition.

stress
Strain or pressure

stress test
A test for heart function. A person taking a stress test walks briskly on a treadmill. An electrocardiogram (ECG) is done at the same time.

stroke
A sudden illness caused when blood cannot get to the brain. It can be caused by a blockage or a breaking of a blood vessel.

substance abuse
Using too much of a drug (such as alcohol, narcotics, or cocaine), using a drug for a reason that is not medical.

surgery
Treating a disease or injury by having an operation. During the operation, a surgeon cuts into your body. The surgeon then removes or repairs parts of the body.

syndrome
A number of symptoms that a person might have that make up a disease.

syphilis
A sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a bacteria. A person can have this disease for many years. It causes rashes and lesions all over the body and can harm the nervous system.

temperature
Body heat that is above normal. A fever. It can mean that you are ill.

therapy
A treatment, a way of healing.

Tourette Syndrome
A disease in which a person makes noises, movements, or strange faces. The person has no control over these actions.

trade name
Brand name of a drug.

trauma
An injury to tissue caused by a blow to the body (accident, surgery). Can also refer to an emotional state caused by stress.

traumatic
Relating to an event that caused trauma.

treatment
A way of trying to cure or heal a disease or sickness.

tumor
A growth in the body. Also called a mass. They serve no purpose and can do harm.

ultrasound
A test used to diagnose disease. It uses sound waves. It makes a picture. The picture can show the structure of some organs in the body. It is done on your skin.

urticaria
A skin disorder caused by an allergy. Raised, itchy, red patches are present on the skin. Also called "hives".

valve
A membrane in the heart that controls the flow of blood through the heart.

violence
Force used to cause harm or damage.

virus
A particle you can see using a strong microscope. In order to cause disease, a virus grows in cells of other living things. Smallpox, measles, chicken pox, the cold virus, and the flu are all viruses.

vision
The act of seeing.

wean
Slowly giving a baby food (formula) other than breast milk; slowly taking a person off of a certain treatment.

wheeze
Having a hard time breathing; breathing that sounds like a whistle.

white blood cell
A type of cell in the blood. There are different types of white blood cells. They help fight infections.

x-ray
A test used to study bones and organs inside the body. It can also be a treatment.

yeast infection
An infection that females get. It is caused by a small organism you can see under the microscope. It infects the genital area. It causes itching, swelling and a discharge.