26 Key Medical Terms That Everyone Should Know (2024)

Imagine going to an appointment at your primary care office. Your doctor throws a string of medical jargon and acronyms your way. It may sound something like this: “I see you were in the ED last week with complaints of a headache and productive cough. Your assessment shows that your UA was negative, your CBC was normal, and your comp panel (BMP) looks pretty good. Your chest CT showed some bibasilar atelectasis, so they sent you home on antibiotics, a steroid and an inhaler. I’d like you to have a repeat CBC and basic done. I’m going to add a lipid panel and LFTs.”

Huh?!

Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals frequently use so many medical terms that it may sound like they’re speaking a foreign language. Unfortunately, many patients pretend that they understand what the doctor is saying out of embarrassment or fear of seeming uneducated. But asking questions is important.

What is Health Literacy?

To ask the right questions, you need to be health literate, or be able to read and interpret medical information. Health literacy has nothing to do with your education level or background. Medical terminology and acronyms aren’t part of day-to-day life for the average American.

According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, only 12% of U.S. adults have proficient health literacy. Unfortunately, those with low health literacy are more likely to use medications incorrectly or be hospitalized.

Cut Through the Jargon

Knowing a few key medical terms can help you better understand what your doctor is trying to tell you. It can also empower you to ask more in-depth questions about your care and overall well-being.

Let’s take a look at some common abbreviations, buzzwords and medical terms that we all hear but may not truly “get.” Keep this list handy for your next doctor visit!

Acute: Acute conditions are severe and happen suddenly. This could describe anything from a broken bone to an asthma attack.

Ambulatory: Based on the term “ambulator,” which means “a person who walks.” In ambulatory care settings, patients come in for treatment and then leave the same day. They are not admitted as patients to a hospital.

BMI: Body mass index, the most widely used measure of weight relative to height. A normal BMI for an adult is between 18.5 and 24.9.

BMP: Basic metabolic panel. This test includes levels of sodium, potassium, calcium, glucose (sugar), and measurements of kidney function.

CBC: Complete blood count. This test contains four separate measurements, the two most important being the white blood cell (WBC) count and the hemoglobin level.

Chronic: A long-developing syndrome or disease, such as osteoporosis or asthma.

Comorbidity: Having two or more disorders or diseases at the same time.

CT scan: Computed tomography (CT) scan. An imaging method that uses X-rays to create pictures of cross sections of the body. May also be referred to as a CAT scan.

ED: Emergency department, which is the same as the emergency room.

HDL: High-density lipoprotein, or “good cholesterol.” These act in a variety of helpful ways that tend to reduce your risk for heart disease.

Hypertension: High blood pressure.

Inpatient: A patient who comes to a hospital or health care facility for diagnosis or treatment that requires an overnight stay.

LDL: Low-density lipoprotein, better known as “bad cholesterol.” The less you have in your blood, the lower your risk for heart attack or stroke.

LFTs: Liver function tests. Doctors usually check LFTs when starting or tweaking the dose of medicines that lower cholesterol.

Multi-D Care: Multidisciplinary care. Doctors who specialize in different medical areas working together to provide the most comprehensive treatment plan for patients.

NSAID: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. These medicines (think over-the-counter ibuprofen, such as Advil or Motrin) treat occasional aches and pains, as well as chronic arthritis.

Negative: Doctors use this word to mean “normal.” Conversely, we call abnormal test results “positive,” which actually means bad news.

NP: A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse (RN) with advanced training in diagnosing and treating illnesses.

OTC: Over the counter. A drug or medicine sold without a prescription from a health care professional.

Outpatient: A patient who receives medical treatment without being admitted to a hospital.

PA: A physician assistant provides health care as part of a team with physicians and other providers.

Palliative care: Specialized medical care that focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.

PCP: Primary care physician. He or she provides the first contact for a person with a health concern, as well as continuing care of various medical conditions.

Population health: Taking responsibility for managing the overall health of a defined population and being accountable for its health outcomes.

Script: Prescription.

UA: Urinalysis. It tests the physical, chemical and microscopic examination of urine.

Although this list can be useful, make sure that you ask your doctor to explain something in simpler terms if you don’t understand. There truly are no “dumb” questions when it comes to your health!