Common Medical Illnesses Flashcards
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
An enlarged area in the lower part of the aorta, the major blood vessel that supplies blood to the body.
Alzheimer’s Disease
A degenerative brain disease of unknown cause that is the most common form of dementia, that usually starts in late middle age or in old age, that results in progressive memory loss, impaired thinking, disorientation, and changes in personality and mood.
Arthritis
Inflammation of one or more joints, causing pain and stiffness that can worsen with age.
Cerebrovascular Attack (CVA)
A stroke, accompanied with the rapid loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Damage or disease in the heart’s major blood vessels. Occasionally referred to as atherosclerotic heart disease.
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
A chronic condition in which the heart doesn’t pump blood as well as it should.
Diabetes Mellitus (DM)
A metabolic disorder that results from inadequate insulin secretion.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Digestive disease in which stomach acid or bile irritates the food pipe lining. Commonly referred to as “acid reflux.”
Hepatitis
An infection or inflammation of the liver.
Hyperlipidemia (HLD)
A condition in which there are elevated levels of cholesterol, a type of fat or lipid, in the blood. Commonly referred to as “high cholesterol.”
Hypertension (HTN)
A condition in which the force of the blood against the artery wall is too high. Commonly referred to as “high blood pressure.”
Myocardial Infarction (MI)
Also know as acute myocardial infarction (AMI). A blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle. If the blood flow is blocked, the heart is starved oxygen and heart cells die. Commonly know as a “heart attack.”
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
A brief attack, like a stroke, but lasts only minutes and causes no permanent damage. Also know as a “mini stroke.”
