List of Common Medical Abbreviations and Acronyms

Get the facts on the most common causes of abdominal pain. Learn the difference between a stomach ache and more serious causes of abdominal pain. Diagnosis of abdominal pain is based on symptoms and the location of pain, like sharp pain in the lower abdomen.

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix. Appendicitis often causes sings and symptoms such as:

• Abdominal pain in the lower right quadrant
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal tenderness
• Fever
• Loss of appetite

Delay in surgery can result in appendix rupture with potentially serious complications.

Blood in the stool or rectal bleeding (hematochezia) refers to the passage of bright red blood from the anus. Common causes include

• anal fissures,
• hemorrhoids,
• diverticulitis,
• colitis,
• Crohn's disease,
• colon and rectum polyps, and
• cancer.

The color of the blood in the stool may provide information about the origin of the bleeding. The color of stool with blood in it may range from black, red, maroon, green yellow, gray, or white, and may be tarry, or sticky. Treatment of blood in the stool depends on the cause.

The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. See a picture of Blood Pressure and learn more about the health topic.

A complete blood count (CBC) is a calculation of the cellular makeup of blood. A CBC measures:

• the concentration of white blood cells,
• red blood cells,
• platelets in the blood, and
• aids in diagnosing conditions and disease such as
  • malignancy,
  • anemia, or
  • blood clotting problems.

Dialysis is a procedure that performs many of the normal duties of the kidneys, like filtering waste products from the blood, when the kidneys no longer work adequately. There are two types of dialysis: Hemodialysis uses a filter to remove waste products and water from the body; and peritoneal dialysis removes excess waste and fluid with a fluid that is placed into the patient's stomach cavity through a special plastic tube.

Hematocrit in the blood is the proportion of the blood that consists of red blood cells, by volume. A low hematocrit level may signal anemia, or other conditions such as loss of blood, nutritional deficiency, bone marrow problems, and abnormal hematocrit. High hematocrit levels may be due to chronic smoking, living at high altitudes, dehydration, or other conditions and diseases.

Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying protein molecule in the blood, specifically in the red blood cells. High hemoglobin count may be caused by dehydration, smoking, emphysema, tumors, or abuse of Epogen. Low levels of hemoglobin may be caused by anemia, blood loss, nutritional deficiency, bone marrow problems, chemotherapy, kidney failure, or sickle cell disease.

A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure in which the uterus is removed. There are a variety of surgical techniques for performing hysterectomies, which include:

• vaginal hysterectomy,
• total hysterectomy,
• laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH),
• supracervical hysterectomy,
• laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy,
• radical hysterectomy,
• and oophorectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy hysterectomies.

Complications include infection, pain, and bleeding. The type of hysterectomy performed is dependant upon the woman and the reason for the procedure.

Do you suffer from low back pain? Watch this slideshow to see common triggers of lower back pain and what kind of treatments you can get to help find relief.

Low blood pressure, also referred to as hypotension, is blood pressure that is so low that it causes symptoms or signs due to the low flow of blood through the arteries and veins. Some of the symptoms of low blood pressure include:

• light-headedness,
• dizziness, or
• even fainting if not enough blood is getting to the brain.

Diseases and medications can also cause low blood pressure. When the flow of blood is too low to deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys; the organs do not function normally and may be permanently damaged.

Is pain all in the brain? Take the Pain Quiz to learn everything you've ever wanted to know about the unpleasant sensation we call pain.

Examine the varying causes of pain. Pain may be caused by simple, everyday objects, tasks and activities such as the way you sit, wear your hair, what you eat and many other surprising reasons you are in pain.

Stool color changes can very from green, red, maroon, yellow, white, or black. Causes of changes of stool color can range from foods a person eats, medication, diseases or conditions, pregnancy, cancer, or tumors. Stool can also have texture changes such as greasy or floating stools. Stool that has a uncharacteristically foul odor may be caused by infections such as giardiasis or medical conditions.

Take the Stroke Quiz to learn about stroke risks, causes, treatment, and most importantly, prevention.

Tummy Troubles? Get a better idea of what's causing the nausea, vomiting, bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, pain, and other gastrointestinal discomforts and problems. Take the Tummy Troubles Quiz!

Learn about type 2 diabetes warning signs, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options. Read how diet and exercise can help manage type 2 diabetes.

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the bladder, kidneys, ureters, or urethra. E. coli, a type of bacteria that lives in the bowel and near the anus, causes most UTIs. UTI symptoms include pain, abdominal pain, mild fever, urinary urgency and frequency. Treatment involves a course of antibiotics.