If you don’t happen to have a physician you regularly see, it’s wise to start looking so you can maintain good health. It’s clear that you can benefit from having these medical terms at your disposal, especially when it comes to speaking one-on-one with your physician. Advance your knowledge of medical terminology Some evidence shows the most engaged patients tend to have better outcomes. In fact, engaging with your doctor could result in a healthier life. Having thoughtful conversations with your physician is about more than just gaining knowledge. Doctors aim to foster an environment that generates dialogue.

Patient education is a huge part of a physician’s job. When you come across a medical term you don’t recognize, be sure to ask for clarity. This medical terminology cheat sheet covers a lot of ground, but there will likely be times when you hear something unfamiliar. What if you don’t see the medical term you’re looking for? Rx: Prescription, usually for medication but can also signify another treatment.ħ5. PT: Physical therapy, a type of treatment to help patients move and feel better.ħ4. Psych: Refers to psychiatry or the psychiatric ward.ħ3. OR: Operating room where surgeries are performed.ħ2. NICU: Neonatal intensive care unit, a specialized unit that cares for premature infants.ħ0. LDL-C: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, often called “bad” cholesterol.Ħ9. HR: Heart rate, expressed as beats per minute.Ħ7. HDL-C: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, often called “good” cholesterol.Ħ6. EKG: Electrocardiogram, a way of monitoring the heart and testing for problems.Ħ5. ED/ER: Emergency department or emergency room.Ħ4. DNR: Do not resuscitate, a medical order indicating providers should not perform CPR.Ħ3. CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a life-saving technique that’s also called mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.Ħ2. BMI: Body mass index, a measure of body fat based on height and weight.ĥ9. But unless you’re planning to become a doctor or another type of provider, this condensed lineup should get you up to speed.ĥ7. There are many more medical acronyms and abbreviations than what’s listed below. Stasis: Slowing or stopping the flow of a bodily fluid.ĥ4. Derm/a/o, dermat/o: Pertaining to the skin.ĥ3. If you’re an athletic person, for example, you probably know cardiovascular exercise is any activity that gets your heart rate pumping.Ĥ4. Some medical root words are intuitive simply based on your experiences. Pseudo-: False or deceptive, usually in regard to appearance.Ĥ2. osis: Indicates something that is abnormal.Ĥ1. ology: The study of a particular concentration.ģ6. lysis: Decomposition, destruction, or breaking down.ģ5. ismus: Indicates a spasm or contraction.ģ1. ectomy: Surgical removal of something.Ģ9. Dys-: Abnormal, difficult, or painful.Ģ8. You may be familiar with some of these from words outside the realm of medicine.Ģ7.

Medical terminology follows the same structural rules all language does, including use of prefixes and suffixes. Zoonotic disease: A disease that is transmissible from animals to humans. Vaccine: A substance that stimulates antibody production to provide immunity against disease.Ģ4. Transplant: The removal of an organ or tissue from one body that is implanted into another.Ģ3. Sutures: Stitches, which are used to join tissues together as they heal.Ģ2.

Relapse: Return of disease or symptoms after a patient has recovered.Ģ1. Prognosis: The predicated outcome of disease progression and treatment.Ģ0. Outpatient: A patient who receives care without being admitted to a hospital.ġ9. Malignant: Indicates the presence of cancerous cells.ġ8. Intravenous: Indicates medication or fluid that’s delivered by vein.ġ7. Inpatient: A patient who requires hospitalization.ġ6. Gland: An organ or tissue that produces and secretes fluids that serve a specific function.ġ5. Epidermis: The outer layer of the skin.ġ3. Embolism: An arterial blockage, often caused by a blood clot.ġ1. Edema: Swelling caused by fluid accumulation.ġ0. Defibrillator: A medical device that uses electric shocks to restore normal heartbeat.ĩ. Chronic: Signifies a recurring, persistent condition like heart disease.Ĩ. Biopsy: A small sample of tissue that’s taken for testing.Ħ. Acute: Signifies a condition that begins abruptly and is sometimes severe, but the duration is short.ĥ. Abscess: A tender, fluid-filled pocket that forms in tissue, usually due to infection.ģ. Abrasion: A cut or scrape that typically isn’t serious.Ģ. You might even know some of them by a different name.ġ. The charts providers use for making notes are often filled with this kind of medical terminology.

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