25 Common Medical Abbreviations You Need To Know

Medical Abbreviations

In the fast-paced world of medical, efficiency is key. Medical professionals often use abbreviations to communicate quickly and accurately, saving time and ensuring clarity in documentation and patient care. However, for patients and those outside the medical field, these abbreviations can seem like a foreign language.

Here, we listed 25 common medical abbreviations to shed light on their meanings:

S.No. Abbreviation Full Form Description
1 A & E Accident & Emergency Department for immediate medical attention
2 AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Viral infection affecting the immune system
3 BMR Basal Metabolic Rate Energy expenditure at rest
4 CAT Computerised Axial Tomography Imaging technique for detailed internal structures
5 CHD Coronary Heart Disease Condition affecting blood vessels of the heart
6 D & V Diarrhoea & Vomiting Symptoms of gastrointestinal distress
7 DOA Dead On Arrival Refers to patients who arrive deceased
8 GP General Practitioner Primary care physician
9 HAV Hepatitis A Virus Viral infection affecting the liver
10 HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus Virus causing AIDS
11 MI Motor Neurone Disease Neurological disorder affecting muscle control
12 OTC Over The Counter Medications available without prescription
13 PM Post Mortem Examination after death to determine cause
14 PMA Progressive Muscular Atrophy Degenerative condition affecting muscle function
15 PMT Premenstrual Tension Symptoms before menstruation
16 RQ Respiratory Quotient Ratio of CO2 produced to O2 consumed during metabolism
17 RSI Repetitive Strain Injury Overuse injury due to repetitive movements
18 SAD Seasonal Affective Disorder Mood disorder related to seasonal changes
19 SIDS Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Unexplained death of an infant
20 STI Sexually Transmitted Infection Infections transmitted through sexual contact
21 TB Tuberculosis Bacterial lung infection
22 TBI Total Body Irradiation Radiation treatment for certain medical conditions
23 UV Ultraviolet Electromagnetic radiation beyond visible light
24 VDH Valvular Disease of the Heart Heart valve-related conditions
25 WHO World Health Organization International public health agency

Remember that these abbreviations are commonly used in medical contexts to facilitate communication among healthcare professionals. If you encounter any of these terms, now you’ll know what they stand for!

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