Medical terms - Letter H (page 16) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Hyperplasia

A condition in which there is an increase in the number of normal cells in a tissue or organ
Hyperplasia of the prostate, nodular

See: Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Hyperplasia, benign prostatic

A condition characterized by overgrowth of the lining of the uterus. Hyperplasia means overgrowth. The endometrium is the inner layer of the uterus.
Hyperplasia, endometrial

A condition characterized by overgrowth of the lining of the uterus. Hyperplasia means overgrowth. The endometrium is the inner layer of the uterus
Hypertension

High blood pressure, defined as 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…
Hypertension, gestational

High blood pressure that develops during pregnancy and may subside after delivery. Women who have experienced gestational hypertension are more likely to develop hypertension and suffer a stroke later in life
Hypertension, pulmonary

See: Pulmonary hypertension
Hypertension, white coat

A transient increase in blood pressure (hypertension) triggered by the sight of medical personnel in white coats (or other attire)
Hypertensive

Having abnormally high blood pressure (hypertension). See also: Hypotensive; Normotensive
Hyperthermia

: Overheg of the body. This may be due to extreme weather conditions. Unrelieved hyperthermia can lead to collapse and death, particularly in the elderly. Prevention via air conditioning, ventilation, and drinking extra…
Hyperthermia, malignant

A series of potentially fatal problems that can occur during surgery, malignant hyperthermia is caused by a reaction to anesthesia. The body's metabolism rises suddenly, causing a sudden jump in body temperature and…
Hyperthyroid

Excess of thyroid hormone resulting from an overactive thyroid gland (or taking too much thyroid hormone). Symptoms can include increased heart rate, weight loss, depression, and cognitive slowing. Treatment is by…
Hypertonia

Increased tightness of muscle tone. Untreated hypertonia can lead to loss of function and deformity. Treatment is by physical and/or occupational therapy, and in some cases muscle relaxant medication. Injections of…
Hypertonic solution

A solution with a higher salt concentration than in normal cells of the body and the blood. As opposed to an isotonic solution or a hypotonic solution
Hypertrophic

Exhibiting hypertrophy (enlargement or overgrowth of an organ or part of the body due to increased size of the constituent cells), as in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

See: Giant hypertrophic gastritis.
Hypertrophic gastritis

See: Giant hypertrophic gastritis
Hypertrophic hypoproteinemic gastropathy

See: Giant hypertrophic gastritis
Hypertrophy

Enlargement or overgrowth of an organ or part of the body due to the increased size of the constituent cells. Hypertrophy occurs in the biceps and heart because of increased work. Cardiac hypertrophy is recognizable…
Hypertrophy, benign prostatic

Abnormally elevated blood level of uric acid. Uric acid is a breakdown product of purines that are part of many foods we eat. While hyperuricemia may indicate an increased risk of gout , the relationship between…
Hyperuricemia

Abnormally elevated blood level of uric acid. Uric acid is a breakdown product of purines that are part of many foods we eat. While hyperuricemia may indicate an increased risk of gout , the relationship between…
Hyperventilation

Overbreathing. This can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, weakness, shortness of breath, a sense of unsteadiness, muscle spasms in the hands and feet, and tingling around the mouth and fingertips. All of these symptoms…
Hypervolemia

An abnormal increase in blood volume or, strictly speaking, an abnormal increase in the volume of blood plasma. From hyper- + volume + emia (blood)
Hypervolemic

Pertaining to hypervolemia, an abnormal increase in blood volume. For example, hypervolemic hyponatremia refers to the lowering of the blood sodium level due to hypervolemia, expansion of the blood volume
Hypnagogic

Concerning the drowsiness one commonly feels before sleep, the transitional state preceding sleep, and also the hallucinations that may occur at that time. The original French word 'hypnagogique' was derived from Greek…
Hypnagogic hallucination

A vivid dreamlike hallucination that occurs as one is falling asleep. The opposite of an hypnopompic hallucination which is a vivid dreamlike hallucination that occurs as one is waking up
Hypnic

1. Inducing sleep. 2. Pertaining to sleep. A hypnic jerk is a sleep start or jerk. From the Greek hypnikos, from the Greek hypnos, sleep.
Hypnic headache

A relatively rare form of headache disorder in which the patient is awakened from sleep nightly, usually between 1 and 3am, with intense dull or throbbing pain over the whole head. Each episode may last up to 1 hour and…
Hypnic jerk

The common normal phenomenon of jerking awake, usually accompanied by a feeling of falling, just as one is drifting off to sleep. Also called a sleep jerk or sleep start
Hypnolepsy

A neurological disorder marked by a sudden recurrent uncontrollable compulsion to sleep. Also known as narcolepsy. The disorder is often associated with cataplexy (a sudden loss of muscle tone and paralysis of voluntary…
Hypnopompic hallucination

A vivid dreamlike hallucination that occurs as one is waking up. The opposite of an hypnagogic hallucination, which occurs as one is falling asleep
Hypnos

The Greek and Roman god of sleep. From his name is derived the term hypnosis. Hypnos was the twin of Thanatos, the personification of death. Both Hypnos and Thanatos lived in the underworld
Hypnosis

A part of healing from ancient times. The induction of trance states and the use of therapeutic suggestion were a central feature of the early Greek healing temples, and variations of these techniques were practiced…
Hypo-

Prefix meaning 'low, under, beneath, down, below normal' as in hypocalcemia (low calcium in the blood), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyposensitivity. The opposite of hypo- is hyper-. See also: Sub-.
Hypoalbuminemia

An abnormally low blood level of albumin. Normally, albumin is the most plentiful protein in human blood and the key to the regulation of its osmotic pressure
Hypocalcemia

Lower-than-normal blood calcium. Low blood calcium makes the nervous system highly irritable with tetany (spasms of the hands and feet, muscle cramps, abdominal cramps, and overly active reflexes). Chronic hypocalcemia…
Hypocapnia

Less than the normal level of carbon dioxide in the blood. Hypoapnia is the opposite of hypercapnia. The origin of the suffix '-capnia' is curious. It comes from the Greek 'kapnos' referring to carbon dioxide which is a…
Hypocarbia

Less than the normal level of carbon dioxide in the blood. The opposite of hypercarbia
Hypochloremia

Low blood levels of chloride. Chloride is the major anion found in the fluid outside of cells and in blood. An anion is the negatively charged part of certain substances such as table salt (NaCl) when dissolved in…
Hypochondria

1. Synonym for the disorder officially called hypochondriasis. 2. The plural of hypochondrium, referring to both sides of upper abdomen just below the rib cage.The ancients believed hypochondiasis was due to disturbed…
Hypochondriac

A person who has hypochondriasis, a disorder characterized by a preoccupation with body functions and the interpretation of normal body sensations (such as sweating) or minor abnormalities (such as minor aches and…
Hypochondriacal neurosis

See: Hypochondriasis
Hypochondriasis

The belief and fear of serious illness which lasts for six months, beyond and despite medical reassurance. Hypochondriacs were once viewed unsympathetically as comical figures in the way Moliere depicted them in his…
Hypochondriasm

See: Hypochondriasis
Hypochondroplasia

Hypochondroplasia is a type of short-limb dwarfism with shortening especially of the ends of the limbs (termed rhizomelic dwarfism). The short stature and limb shortening can be mild. The diagnosis is often made at 2-4…
Hypocol

One of the three major preparations of red yeast rice, a tradition Chinese medicine now used to lower cholesterol. Hypocol is also known as cholestin
Hypodontia and nail dysgenesis

A genetic disorder characterized by the absence of several teeth (hypodontia) and abnormalities of the nails (nail dysgenesis) at birth. The disorder is also known as Witkop syndrome or the tooth and nail syndrome…
Hypogeusia

A reduced ability to taste things (to taste sweet, sour, bitter, or salty substances). Some people cannot detect tastes and are said to have ageusia.
Hypoglossal nerve

The hypoglossal nerve is the twelfth cranial nerve. The twelve cranial nerves, the hypoglossal nerve included, emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium), as opposed to the spinal nerves which emerge from the…
Hypoglossal neuropathy

Disease of the hypoglossal nerve, the twelfth cranial nerve. The twelve cranial nerves, the hypoglossal nerve included, emerge from the skull, as opposed to the spinal nerves which emerge from the vertebral column. The…