Lost in Medical Jargon? 15 Common Terms Your Physician Uses (And What They Really Mean)

15 Common Medical Terms Decoded:

1. “Acute vs. Chronic”
   • What physicians say: “This appears to be an acute condition.”
   • What it really means: Your condition started recently (acute) rather than developing over time (chronic). Think of acute as “new and now” while chronic as “long-term and lasting.”
     
2. “Idiopathic”
   • What physicians say: “The condition appears to be idiopathic.”
   • What it really means: We don’t know the exact cause. The word idiopathic comes from the ancient Greek ιδιοσ (idios, one’s own, proper, particular) and πάθος (páthos, suffering, i.e. disease). Therefore, idiopathic literally means something like “a disease of its own”. While “idiopathic” might sound unsettling, it’s actually quite common in medicine and doesn’t necessarily mean your condition can’t be treated.
     
3. “Comorbidities”
   • What physicians say: “We need to consider your comorbidities.”
   • What it really means: Other health conditions you have alongside your main medical issue. For example, having both diabetes and high blood pressure.
     
4. “Differential Diagnosis”
   • What physicians say: “Let’s work through the differential diagnosis.”
   • What it really means: It’s your physician’s detective work – figuring out the possible causes of your symptoms.
     
5. “Presenting”
   • What physicians say: “The patient is presenting with chest pain.”
   • What it really means: This is the main symptom or problem that brought you to seek medical care.
     
6. “Contraindicated”
   • What physicians say: “That medication is contraindicated.”
   • What it really means: Something (like a medication or treatment) that could be harmful in your specific situation and should be avoided.
     
7. “Benign vs. Malignant”
   • What physicians say: “The growth appears benign.”
   • What it really means: Benign comes from the Latin benignus, which was formed from bene, meaning “well,” and gignere, “to beget.” In medical terms, benign means not cancerous and unlikely to spread or cause serious harm. Malignant means cancerous and may spread.
     
8. “Prognosis”
   • What physicians say: “The prognosis is favorable.”
   • What it really means: The likely outcome or course of your condition. A favorable prognosis means the outlook is good.
     
9. “Subcutaneous”
   • What physicians say: “The medication is given subcutaneously.”
   • What it really means: Just under the skin – like an insulin injection. The prefix “sub” comes from the Latin word meaning under, and the word cutaneous comes from the Latin word “cutis,” which means skin. “Subcutaneous” literally translates to “under the skin” in Latin. 
     
10. “NPO”
    • What physicians say: “Remain NPO after midnight.”
    • What it really means: “NPO” stands for “nil per os,” which is a Latin phrase meaning “nothing by mouth.” What this means for you is no eating or drinking, usually before a procedure or surgery.
      
11. “Prophylaxis”
    • What physicians say: “We’ll start prophylactic antibiotics.”
    • What it really means: From the Greek ‘prophulaktikos’ (“to guard against”), prophylaxis means preventive treatment to stop something before it starts or returns, like taking an antibiotic before a procedure to prevent infection.
      
12. “Sequelae”
    • What physicians say: “These symptoms are sequelae of your previous condition.”
    • What it really means: From the Latin for “that which follows,” a sequela is a condition that arises as a result of a previous disease, injury, or condition. Understanding potential sequelae helps you anticipate and manage long-term health challenges.
      
13. “Empiric Treatment”
    • What physicians say: “We’ll start empiric treatment.”
    • What it really means: Starting treatment based on clinical experience before having all test results back. “Empiric” originates from the Greek word “empeirikos,” which means “based on observation” or “experienced.”
      
14. “Refractory”
    • What physicians say: “The condition is refractory to standard treatment.”
    • What it really means: The condition isn’t responding to usual treatments as expected.
      
15. “Hemodynamically Stable”
    • What physicians say: “The patient is hemodynamically stable.”
    • What it really means: Your vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, etc.) are normal and steady. “Hemodynamic” comes from the Greek words “haima” meaning “blood” and “dunamis” meaning “power” or “force,” essentially translating to “blood movement” or “dynamics of blood flow.”