Medical terminology | Medications by organ system | Medications

Definitions

Hypotension: Low blood pressure
Bradycardia: Decrease in heart rate
Tachycardia: Increase in heart rate
Reflex tachycardia: Increase in heart rate, which happens due to a neural response to hypotension
Edema: Swelling as a result of fluid buildup in the body. Commonly seen over feet, abdomen, etc.
Hyperkalemia: High potassium levels in the blood
Angioedema: Swelling of the deeper layers of the skin and tissues, commonly affecting the face, lips, throat, and feet. Usually caused by allergies.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia: A non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland
Angina: Chest pain or discomfort that occurs as a result of insufficient blood supply to the heart
Heart failure: A condition where the heart is unable to efficiently pump enough blood to meet the requirements of the body
Thrombocytopenia: A condition where the number of platelets in the body decreases
Blood clot: A clump of blood cells and a mesh-like protein called fibrin. Typically, it starts with the formation of a clump of platelets, which then grows larger with the deposition of fibrin, followed by the trapping of red blood cells into the fibrin mesh. Fibrin itself is the end product of multi-step blood clotting pathways, in which chemicals known as clotting factors are ultimately converted into fibrin.
Embolism: Blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus, which is a dislodged blood clot
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): A disease where a clot forms in the deep veins, most commonly seen in the legs. Such clots may dislodge and travel to other parts of the body, like the lungs.
Teratogen: A drug or any substance that can cause birth defects in the fetus
Glaucoma: A disease characterized by increased pressure within the eye
Enterohepatic recycling: It involves the recycling or recirculation of compounds like bile acids between the small intestine and the liver
Osteoporosis: A condition caused by demineralization of bone that leads to weakening of the bone structure and predisposes to fractures
Diabetes mellitus: Commonly known as diabetes, it is a disease characterized by chronically elevated blood glucose levels. Two main types are type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas has little to no insulin production, and it often presents in childhood. Type 2 diabetes is seen mostly in adults and is characterized by relative insulin deficiency and insulin resistance, where the body’s ability to use insulin is affected.
Lactic acidosis: A serious condition marked by the build-up of lactic acid in the body, which reduces the body’s pH
Transcription: The process of making messenger RNA or mRNA from DNA. It is vital for gene expression.
Replication: Copying or reproducing, e.g., DNA replication
Progeny: Offspring or children
Cushing’s syndrome: A disease characterized by high cortisol levels leading to weight gain, increased blood glucose and lipids, high blood pressure, and other effects of elevated glucocorticoids
Anaerobes: Microorganisms that grow in the absence of oxygen
QTc: A measure of electrical conduction in the heart that can be recorded on the EKG. Prolonged QTc may be caused by certain drugs and may result in cardiac arrest.
Pseudomembranous colitis: Inflammation of the colon presenting with abdominal pain and diarrhea caused by overgrowth of Clostridium difficile bacteria following prolonged exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics
Stevens-Johnson syndrome: Life-threatening immune reaction to medications or infections causing blistering and peeling of skin and mucous membranes
HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus
HBV: Hepatitis B virus
HSV: Herpes simplex virus
RSV: Respiratory syncytial virus
Neutropenia: Low white blood cell count
Encephalopathy: Dysfunction of the brain characterized by confusion, memory loss, seizures, and altered consciousness
Metabolic syndrome: A group of conditions like high blood pressure, abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia that lead to a high risk of heart disease and stroke
Rhabdomyolysis: Breakdown of muscle tissue, which may cause kidney failure. It may be precipitated by extreme heat, extreme physical activity, muscle injuries, etc.
Insomnia: Sleep disorder where it is difficult to fall or stay asleep or to get good quality sleep
Hirsutism: Growth of excessive, coarse hair on the face and body in females