language of health

Does it sometimes feel like your doctor or provider speaks a different language?  Well they do!  Doctors and other providers such as nurses are trained to speak in clinical terms, where we, the patients are not.  It is okay to ask your provider to explain terms, names for things that you don’t understand or to write them down for you. 

Below is a list of terms, names and clinical items that you may have heard but want to know what it means.  Information will be added to this page over time; be sure to check back here often for updates.

Click on the letter of the alphabet below to skip to a section of the glossary or just scroll down.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A
Aerobic activity – Also called "cardio" gets you breathing harder and your heart beating faster. From pushing a lawn mower, to taking a dance class, to biking to the store – all types of activities count.

Atherosclerosis - Is a term for that means the thickening and hardening of large or medium size arteries.

B
Blood Glucose - The main sugar that the body makes from the food we eat. Glucose is carried through the bloodstream to provide energy to all of the body’s living cells. The cells cannot use glucose without the help of insulin.

Blood Pressure - The force of blood against your artery walls as it circulates through your body. Blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day, but it can cause health problems if it stays high for a long time.

Body Mass Index or BMI - This is a number calculated from a person's weight and height. BMI provides a guide of body fatness that can be used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.

C

Cholesterol - Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in your body and many foods. Your body needs it to work properly and makes all that you need. Too much cholesterol can build up in your body depending on the kind of foods you eat and the rate at which your body breaks cholesterol down.

D

E

Endocrinologists - These are trained doctors who diagnose and treat hormone imbalances and problems by helping to restore the normal balance of hormones in your body. They take care of many conditions including: diabetes, thyroid diseases and metabolic disorders.

F


G
Gestational diabetes - Type of diabetes that can occur in pregnant women who have not been known to have diabetes before.

H
Heart Disease - The term "heart disease" refers to several types of heart conditions. The most common type in the United States is coronary artery disease, which can cause heart attack, chest pains, heart failure and other conditions.

Heart Attack - This is also called a myocardial infarction. A heart attack occurs when a section of the heart muscle dies or gets damaged because of reduced blood supply.

Hepatitis C Virus - Also known as HCV, this virus causes Hepatitis C, a serious infection of the liver. HCV can lead to a lifelong illness, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and even death.

High-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol - HDL absorbs cholesterol and carry it back to the liver, which flushes it from the body. High levels of HDL, or "good" cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Hypercholesterolemia - This is a medical term that means having high levels of cholesterol in your blood.

Hyperglycemia –  Hyperglycemia is high sugar levels in the blood, or high blood glucose. 

Hypertension – Hypertension is the clinical name for high blood pressure. It is diagnosed when your blood pressure is 140/90 or higher

Hypoglycemia – Hypoglycemia is low sugar levels in the blood, or low blood glucose.

I
Insulin - A hormone that helps the body use blood glucose for energy. The beta cells of the pancreas make insulin. When people with diabetes can’t make enough insulin, they may have to inject it from another source.

Intensity is how hard your body is working during aerobic activity.

J

K

Ketoacidosis - This is a serious complication of diabetes. It happens when the body cannot use sugar (glucose) as a fuel source because the body has no insulin or not enough insulin, and fat is used instead.

Ketones - Chemical substances that the body makes when it doesn’t have enough insulin in the blood. When ketones build up in the body for a long time, serious illness or coma can result.

L
Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol - LDL makes up the majority of the body's cholesterol. LDL is known as "bad" cholesterol because having high levels can lead to a buildup in the arteries and result in heart disease.

M

Myocardial Infarction - This is also called a heart attack.This occurs when a section of the heart muscle dies or gets damaged because of reduced blood supply.

Moderate-intensity aerobic activity- Any physical activity where you working hard enough to raise your heart rate and break a sweat. One way to tell is that you'll be able to talk, but not sing the words to your favorite song.

N

O
Obese - A weight that is more than what is healthy for a person of a given height. Usually carries a higher risk of health problems than being overweight.

Overweight - A weight that is more than what is healthy for a person of a given height. Carries a higher risk of certain health problems than being a normal weight.

P
Pancreas - An organ in the body that makes insulin so that the body can use glucose for energy. The pancreas also makes enzymes that help the body digest food.

Peripheral Vascular Disease - A disease of blood vessels outside the heart and brain. Peripheral vascular disease often is a narrowing of vessels that carry blood to the legs, arms, stomach or kidneys.

Q

R

S

Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose - A way for people with diabetes to find out how much glucose is in their blood. A drop of blood from the fingertip is placed on a special coated strip of paper that “reads” (often through an electronic meter) the amount of glucose in the blood.

Stroke - Sometimes called a brain attack, happens when a clot blocks the blood supply to the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts.

T
Triglycerides - The chemical form in which most fats exist inside the body and in food. Triglycerides make up part of your total cholesterol number.

Tuberculosis - Also called TB, this is a disease caused by a germs that are passed from person to person. Tuberculosis usually affects the lungs.

Type 1 Diabetes - A condition in which the pancreas makes so little insulin that the body can’t use blood glucose as energy. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day.

Type 2 Diabetes - A condition in which the body either makes too little insulin or can’t use the insulin it makes to use blood glucose as energy. People with type 2 often need to diabetes have to take diabetes pills or insulin. Type 2 diabetes is the most common from of diabetes.

U

Underweight - a weight that is lower than what is considered healthy

V
Vigorous-intensity aerobic activity - Any physical activity where you're breathing hard and fast, and your heart rate has gone up quite a bit. If you're working at this level, you won't be able to say more than a few words without pausing for a breath.

W
X
Y
Z