Medical Conditions: English Vocabulary List

a medical condition caused by drinking an excessive amounts of alcohol on a regular basis

"Alcoholism destroyed his family and his health."

"His battle with alcoholism destroyed his marriage and cost him his job as a lawyer."

a medical condition in which one's body severely reacts to a specific substance if it is inhaled, touched, or ingested

"Peanut allergy can trigger severe reactions rapidly"

"Her allergy to peanuts is so severe that even touching a surface that had contact with peanuts could trigger a dangerous reaction."

a medical condition characterized by hair loss or baldness, which can occur on the scalp or other parts of the body

"Alopecia causes sudden hair loss."

"Alopecia areata causes patchy hair loss that can progress to complete baldness on the scalp."

the absence or abnormal cessation of menstruation in women of reproductive age

"Amenorrhoea means no menstrual periods."

"Amenorrhoea is the absence of menstruation often defined as missing one or more menstrual periods."

a severe medical condition that leads to partial or complete loss of memory

"The accident caused amnesia."

"Following the head injury, the patient developed retrograde amnesia, forgetting events that occurred before the accident."

severe, life-threatening allergic reaction causing rapid onset, breathing difficulty, low blood pressure, and potential loss of consciousness

"Anaphylactic shock can kill quickly."

"Anaphylactic shock is a severe life threatening allergic reaction that requires immediate emergency medical treatment."

severe and life-threatening allergic reaction with rapid and serious symptoms

"Anaphylaxis requires immediate epinephrine."

"Anaphylaxis is a severe potentially life threatening allergic reaction that can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to an allergen."

a neurological disorder affecting language comprehension or production

"Aphasia results from brain damage."

"Aphasia is a language disorder caused by brain damage affecting speech production or comprehension."

hardening and thickening of arteries, restricting blood flow and increasing the risk of cardiovascular issues

"Arteriosclerosis hardens the arteries."

"Arteriosclerosis is the thickening and hardening of the walls of the arteries which can restrict blood flow."

complete and permanent loss of all brain functions, indicating irreversible cessation of activity

"Brain death is irreversible."

"Brain death is the complete and irreversible loss of brain function including the brainstem which means a person is legally dead."

a medical condition during which mucus accumulates in one's nose, throat, or sinuses and blocks them

"The catarrh made his voice sound nasal and stuffy."

"The common cold often causes catarrh which leads to a stuffy nose and excess mucus production."

a congenital condition where there is an opening or gap in the roof of the mouth, often present from birth

"Cleft palate is a birth defect."

"A cleft palate is a birth defect where the roof of the mouth does not close completely leaving an opening."

a severe medical condition caused by a blood clot that is formed in one or more of the deep veins in one's body, particularly in one's legs

"Deep vein thrombosis is very dangerous."

"Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot that forms in a deep vein usually in the leg causing pain and swelling."

a serious alcohol withdrawal condition causing confusion, hallucinations, and tremors

"Delirium tremens follows heavy drinking."

"Delirium tremens is a severe form of alcohol withdrawal that involves sudden and severe confusion shakes and hallucinations."

a serious medical condition in which the body is unable to regulate the blood sugar levels because it does not produce enough insulin

"She has diabetes illness."

"She has diabetes illness and must control her blood sugar level carefully every single day with medicine."

a severe medical condition during which a blood clot in a coronary artery causes a blockage in the flow of blood that leads to heart

"Coronary thrombosis causes heart attack."

"Coronary thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot inside a coronary artery that supplies blood to the heart muscle."

a condition in which the number of healthy red blood cells in one's body is low

"Anemia causes fatigue and weakness."

"Anemia is a condition where the body lacks enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to the tissues."

a condition when the body temperature rises, usually when we are sick

"He has a high fever."

"The child's fever spiked overnight, so his parents decided to take him to the doctor."

a solid particle that forms in the gallbladder, often composed of cholesterol or bilirubin, causing pain or other symptoms

"Gallstones cause severe abdominal pain."

"Gallstones are hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can form in the gallbladder and cause severe abdominal pain."

a chronic condition during which tissues in one's body die as a result of an obstruction in circulation or a bacterial infection

"Gangrene is tissue death."

"Gangrene is the death of body tissue caused by a lack of blood flow or a serious bacterial infection."

swollen and painful veins in the lower part of the anus and rectum

"Hemorrhoids cause anal itching and bleeding."

"Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the lowest part of the rectum and anus that can cause discomfort and bleeding."

a medical condition where the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and fluid retention

"Heart failure pumps blood poorly."

"Heart failure is a chronic condition where the heart muscle cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs."

a serious condition that happens when the body gets too hot due to a lengthly exposure to high temperature

"Heatstroke is dangerous."

"The construction worker suffered heatstroke after working outside for hours in the hot sun without drinking enough water."

a condition in which part of an organ squeezes through an opening in the muscle or tissue that holds it in place

"The hernia creates a painful bulge."

"A hernia occurs when an organ pushes through a weak spot in the surrounding muscle or tissue wall."

a condition when the tubes that carry air to one's lungs get infectious

"Bronchitis inflames the bronchial tubes."

"Bronchitis is inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes which carry air to and from the lungs."

a medical condition characterized by higher than normal levels of blood glucose, often associated with diabetes or other underlying health issues

"Hyperglycaemia is high blood sugar."

"Hyperglycaemia is the medical term for high blood sugar which can occur in people with diabetes."

a medical condition characterized by lower than normal levels of blood glucose, often associated with diabetes or excessive insulin

"Hypoglycaemia is low blood sugar."

"Hypoglycaemia is the medical term for low blood sugar which can cause shakiness confusion and fainting."

a medical condition where the body loses heat faster than it can generate it, resulting in a dangerously low body temperature

"Hypothermia dangerously lowers body temperature."

"Hypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it causing a dangerously low body temperature."

a condition where the immune system is weakened, making the person more vulnerable to infections and illnesses

"Immunodeficiency increases vulnerability to dangerous infections"

"Patients with immunodeficiency need extra protection from germs."

a disorder in which one is unable to sleep or stay asleep

"Insomnia kept him awake all night."

"Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is a structured program that helps identify and replace thoughts and behaviors that cause or worsen chronic sleep problems."

a condition in which a person does not have enough food or good food to eat in order to stay healthy

"Malnutrition is dangerous."

"Malnutrition affects growth and weakens the immune system."

a severe recurring type of headache, particularly affecting one side of the head, and often causing visual disturbances and nausea

"The migraine made her sensitive to light."

"The bright lights triggered a severe migraine that forced her to lie down in a dark room for hours."

a neurological condition causing sudden, uncontrollable episodes of sleep, often accompanied by muscle weakness or vivid dreams

"She has narcolepsy."

"Narcolepsy causes sudden sleep attacks during the day."

a type of cell death that occurs due to injury, infection, inflammation, or other forms of cellular stress

"Necrosis is premature cell death."

"Necrosis is the death of body tissue that occurs when not enough blood flows to the tissue usually due to injury or infection."

the condition of having such a high amount of body fat that it becomes very dangerous for one's health

"Obesity increases the risk of heart disease."

"Obesity is a serious health problem that increases the risk of heart disease diabetes and high blood pressure."

a medical condition characterized by weakened bones, making them fragile and more prone to fractures

"Osteoporosis weakens fragile bones."

"Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone or makes too little bone causing weak brittle bones."

a type of paralysis that affects the legs and the lower body as the result of spinal cord damage

"She has paraplegia."

"The doctor explained that the spinal cord injury had resulted in paraplegia, affecting her mobility."

an open sore in the stomach or upper part of the small intestine caused by stomach acid erosion, often leading to abdominal pain and discomfort

"Peptic ulcer hurts the stomach lining."

"Peptic ulcers are open sores that develop on the inside lining of the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine."

a physical condition in which a part of the body becomes swollen, painful, and red as a result of an infection or injury

"Inflammation caused swelling."

"The doctor noticed significant inflammation around the wound and prescribed an antibiotic cream."

a severe, life-threatening response to infection causing widespread inflammation and potential organ failure

"Untreated infections may develop into dangerous sepsis"

"Doctors quickly treated her sepsis before it caused permanent damage."

a painful condition resulting from one of the discs in one's spine moving out of its proper position

"Slipped disc compresses spinal nerves."

"A slipped disc occurs when the soft inner gel of a spinal disc leaks out through a tear in the tougher outer layer."

the unexplained and sudden death of an otherwise healthy infant, usually during sleep

"Sudden infant death syndrome is tragic."

"Sudden infant death syndrome is the unexplained death of a seemingly healthy baby usually during sleep."

a severe medical condition in which the blood clots and blocks the blood vessels, particularly those leading to one's heart

"Thrombosis blocks a blood vessel."

"Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel which can obstruct the flow of blood."

a severe medical condition resulting from excessive consumption of alcohol during pregnancy that can cause the child to be born with birth defects and developmental disabilities

"Fetal alcohol syndrome affects many babies."

"Fetal alcohol syndrome is a condition in a child caused by alcohol exposure during the mother's pregnancy that causes physical and behavioral problems."

a severe medical condition during which voice cords in one's voice box become painful and swollen, often resulting in loss of the voice or having difficulty breathing

"Laryngitis inflames the voice box."

"Laryngitis is inflammation of the voice box or larynx usually caused by overuse irritation or infection."

a condition of being temporarily unable to see due to one's eyes being exposed to ultraviolet rays reflected off snow or ice

"Snow-blindness damages eyes from UV reflection."

"Snow blindness is a painful eye condition caused by overexposure to ultraviolet light reflected from snow or ice."

a condition that makes one breath too fast or with difficulty

"Breathlessness makes breathing difficult."

"Breathlessness is an uncomfortable feeling of not being able to breathe properly which can be caused by many medical conditions."

abnormal pregnancy condition marked by high blood pressure, swelling, and protein in the urine, often known as preeclampsia

"Toxemia is a pregnancy issue."

"Toxemia is a condition in pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure and swelling also known as pre eclampsia."

a disease caused by severe lack of vitamin C

"Scurvy results from vitamin C deficiency."

"Scurvy is a disease caused by a severe lack of vitamin C in the diet leading to weakness anemia and gum disease."

a chronic respiratory condition where the air sacs in the lungs are damaged, leading to difficulty in exhaling air and causing shortness of breath

"Emphysema makes breathing very difficult."

"Emphysema is a lung condition that causes shortness of breath due to damage to the air sacs or alveoli over time."

a medical condition in which body waste turns to liquid and comes out frequently

"The traveler got diarrhea from drinking the dirty water in the village."

"After eating the spoiled food, he suffered from diarrhea and had to stay home from work."

a medical emergency that happens when blood flow to the heart is suddenly blocked, which is fatal in some cases

"He had serious heart attack."

"He had a serious heart attack last year and had to stay in hospital for two weeks under medical care."

an illness resulting from reduced air pressure and oxygen at high altitudes, causing symptoms like headache and nausea

"Altitude sickness occurs at high elevation."

"Altitude sickness is a group of symptoms that can affect people who go to high altitudes too quickly."

wooziness and nausea caused by the rocking motion of a boat or ship

"She had bad seasickness."

"She had bad seasickness during the boat trip and felt very uncomfortable for the whole journey across the sea."

an illness characterized by high fever and caused by prolonged exposure to excessive heat or sunlight

"Sunstroke is severe heatstroke."

"Sunstroke is a severe form of heatstroke caused by prolonged exposure to extremely high temperatures and direct sunlight."

a sudden and abrupt loss of heart function, leading to the cessation of blood circulation and vital organ function

"Cardiac arrest stops the heart."

"Cardiac arrest is the sudden loss of heart function breathing and consciousness often caused by an electrical disturbance in the heart."

a heart attack, occurring when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked, causing damage or death to the affected tissue

"Myocardial infarction is heart attack."

"A myocardial infarction is the medical term for a heart attack which occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked."

the death of tissue, typically caused by a lack of blood supply, leading to irreversible damage

"Infarction is tissue death from blocked blood."

"Infarction is tissue death caused by a lack of blood supply usually due to a blockage in the blood vessel supplying that tissue."

an excessive and uncontrollable loss of blood from a damaged blood vessel

"Hemorrhage is severe bleeding."

"Hemorrhage is the medical term for heavy bleeding inside or outside the body which can be life threatening."

a condition in which one or more arteries in the lungs become blocked by a blood clot

"Pulmonary embolism is very dangerous."

"A pulmonary embolism is a sudden blockage in a lung artery usually caused by a blood clot that traveled from the leg."

the obstruction of a blood vessel by an embolus which is a particle that travels through the bloodstream and blocks a vessel

"Embolism travels through the bloodstream."

"An embolism is the sudden blockage of a blood vessel by a clot or other foreign material that travels through the bloodstream."