Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «H»:
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Hiatus hernia
Hiatus hernia (hiatal hernia): An anatomical abnormality in which part of the stomach protrudes up through the diaphragm into the chest.
Normally, the esophagus passes down through the chest, crosses the diaphragm, enters the abdomen through a hole in the diaphragm called the esophageal hiatus an...
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HIB
HIB: Abbreviation for Haemophilus influenzae type B....
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HIB immunization
HIB immunization: This immunization is designed to
prevent diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB), a
bacteria responsible for a range of serious "invasive"
diseases including meningitis with potential brain damage and
epiglottitis with airway obstruction.
More than 90% of all H...
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Hibernation reaction
Hibernation reaction: See: SAD....
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Hiccough
Hiccough: A hiccough is an extraordinary type of breathing movement involving a sudden intake of air (inspiration) due to an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm accompanied by closure of the vocal apparatus (glottis) of the larynx. A hiccough is also called a hiccup.
The abrupt inspiration is t...
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Hiccups
Hiccups: A hiccup is an extraordinary type of
respiratory movement involving a sudden inspiration (intake of air)
due to an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm accompanied by
closure of the glottis (the vocal apparatus of the larynx).
The abrupt inspiration is the result of a sudden
contra...
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Hidradenitis suppurativa
Hidradenitis suppurativa: This is an illness
characterized by multiple abscesses that form under the arm pits and in the groin area....
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Hidrosis
Hidrosis: Sweating, the production of perspiration. Hidrosis is the Greek word for sweating....
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Hidrotic
Hidrotic: Pertaining to hidrosis, sweating, the production of perspiration. Hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia is the form of
this hereditary disease in which the patient can sweat, as opposed to anhidrotic
ectodermal dysplasia in which the patient is unable to sweat....
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High altitude
High altitude: Altitude sickness occurs at high altitude. So what is high altitude?
Altitude is defined on the following scale:
High altitude: 8,000 - 12,000 feet (2,438 - 3,658
meters);
Very high altitude: 12,000 - 18,000 feet (3,658 -
5,487 meters); and
Extremely high altitude: 18,...
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High altitude pulmonary edema
High altitude pulmonary edema: Known for short as HAPE, the accumulation in the lungs of extravascular fluid (fluid outside of blood vessels) at high altitude, a consequence of rapid altitude ascent, especially when that ascent is accompanied by significant exercise.
HAPE leads to dyspnea (shortne...
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High blood pressure
High blood pressure: Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure is, by definition, a repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg -- a systolic pressure above 140 with a diastolic pressure above 90.
Chronic hypertension is a "silent" condition. Stealthy as a cat, it c...
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High blood sugar
High blood sugar: An elevated level of the sugar glucose in the blood. Also called hyperglycemia.
High blood sugar is a finding in a number of conditions, most notably diabetes mellitus. Elevated blood glucose leads to spillage of glucose into the urine (glucosuria) so that the urine is sugary. (The...
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High protein diet
High protein diet: A high protein diet is a type of weight loss plan that
emphasizes consumption of high-protein-containing foods. There are many
different kinds of high protein diets. Many high protein diets may be risky for
overall health because they stress the consumption of meats and high pr...
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High-grade lymphoma
High-grade lymphoma: A lymphoma that grows and spreads quickly but has a better response to anticancer drugs than that seen with low-grade lymphomas. High-grade lymphomas include large cell, immunoblastic, lymphoblastic, and small noncleaved cell lymphomas. Also called an aggressive lymphoma....
