22/01/2025
Medical jargon can sometimes feel like a foreign language. Here's a breakdown of common medical terms and their simpler meanings to help you understand them better:
1. Acute vs. Chronic
Acute: Sudden onset and usually short-term (e.g., acute pain or infection).
Chronic: Long-term or ongoing condition (e.g., chronic arthritis).
2. Inflammation
Swelling, redness, warmth, and pain in a part of the body, often a sign of infection or injury.
3. Lesion
Any abnormal tissue change, such as a sore, wound, or tumor.
4. Benign vs. Malignant
Benign: Non-cancerous growth that doesn’t spread to other parts of the body.
Malignant: Cancerous growth that can invade nearby tissues and spread.
5. Hypertension vs. Hypotension
Hypertension: High blood pressure.
Hypotension: Low blood pressure.
6. Edema
Swelling caused by fluid retention in tissues.
7. Tachycardia vs. Bradycardia
Tachycardia: Fast heart rate (over 100 beats per minute).
Bradycardia: Slow heart rate (under 60 beats per minute).
8. Prognosis
The expected outcome or course of a disease.
9. Biopsy
A procedure where a small sample of tissue is taken for examination under a microscope.
10. Sepsis
A life-threatening response to infection that can cause organ failure.
11. Hemorrhage
Excessive bleeding, either internally or externally.
12. Metastasis
The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another.
13. Anemia
A condition where there aren’t enough red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen.
14. Immunosuppression
Reduced ability of the immune system to fight infections or diseases.
15. Neuropathy
Damage to nerves, often causing pain, numbness, or weakness.
16. Dyspnea
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
17. Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)
A test that measures the electrical activity of the heart.
18. Intravenous (IV)
Delivering fluids or medication directly into a vein.
19. Congenital
A condition present from birth.
20. Pathology
The study of diseases, including their causes and effects.
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