Health Glossary

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Also: 988, Suicide hotline

988 is the US three-digit phone number and text shortcut for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Calls and …

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A1C

Also: Hemoglobin A1C, HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin

The A1C test (also called HbA1c) measures your average blood sugar level over the past two to three …

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ACE inhibitor

Also: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor

ACE inhibitors are a class of blood-pressure medication (lisinopril, enalapril, ramipril) that work by blocking production of angiotensin …

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Advance Directive

Also: Living will, healthcare proxy, POLST

An advance directive is a legal document expressing your wishes regarding medical treatment if you become unable to …

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Allostatic load

Also: Cumulative biological wear, chronic stress burden

Allostatic load is the cumulative biological cost of repeated or chronic stress on the body. The concept names …

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AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone)

Also: Ovarian reserve test

AMH is a blood test that measures ovarian reserve, an indicator of remaining egg supply. Levels decline with …

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APGAR score

Also: Apgar score

The APGAR score is a 0-10 assessment of a newborn's condition performed at 1 minute and 5 minutes …

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APOL1

Also: Apolipoprotein L1, APOL1 kidney risk variants

APOL1 is a gene that produces a protein protecting against African sleeping sickness. Two genetic variants (G1 and …

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APOL1 testing

Also: APOL1 genetic testing

APOL1 testing is a genetic test that identifies variants in the APOL1 gene associated with markedly higher risk …

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Asthma controller vs rescue inhaler

Also: Maintenance vs rescue inhalers

Asthma medications come in two categories. Controller (maintenance) inhalers contain inhaled corticosteroids (Flovent, QVAR, Pulmicort) or combination ICS …

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Biopsy

Also: Tissue sample, surgical biopsy

A biopsy removes a small tissue sample for laboratory examination. Used to diagnose cancer, infections, and various inflammatory …

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Blood pressure cuff size

Also: BP cuff sizing

Blood pressure readings are systematically inaccurate when the cuff size does not match the patient's arm. Cuffs that …

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BMI

Also: Body mass index

Body mass index (BMI) is a numerical value calculated from weight and height, used to categorize people as …

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Buprenorphine

Also: Suboxone, Subutex, Sublocade

Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist used for medication-assisted treatment of opioid use disorder. Branded as Suboxone (combined …

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CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)

Also: Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a structured, time-limited form of psychotherapy that focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought …

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Cesarean section

Also: C-section, cesarean delivery

A cesarean section is the surgical delivery of a baby through incisions in the abdominal wall and uterus, …

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CGM (continuous glucose monitor)

Also: Continuous glucose monitor, Dexcom, FreeStyle Libre

A continuous glucose monitor is a small wearable device (usually placed on the upper arm or abdomen) that …

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Coinsurance

Also: Cost-sharing percentage

Coinsurance is the percentage of a medical bill you pay after meeting your deductible, with the insurer covering …

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Colonoscopy

Also: Colorectal cancer screening

A colonoscopy is a 30-minute endoscopic procedure where a flexible scope examines the entire colon, with biopsy or …

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Colorectal Cancer Screening

Also: Colon cancer screening, colonoscopy, CRC screening

Colorectal cancer screening tests people without symptoms to find cancer or precancerous polyps early. Methods include colonoscopy, stool-based …

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Colposcopy

Also: Cervical biopsy procedure

A colposcopy is a 15-minute office procedure where a clinician uses a magnifying scope to examine the cervix …

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Community health worker (CHW)

Also: CHW, promotora, peer health navigator

A community health worker is a frontline public-health worker who is a trusted member of, or has an …

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Copay

Also: Copayment

A copay is a fixed dollar amount you pay for a covered health service at the time of …

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Deductible

Also: Annual deductible

A deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for covered health services before your insurance plan …

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Dialysis

Also: Hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, kidney dialysis

Dialysis is medical filtering of the blood when the kidneys can no longer do so. Two main types: …

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Doula

Also: Birth doula, labor support professional

A doula is a trained, non-medical birth worker who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support before, during, …

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Doula vs midwife

Also: Birth team distinction

A doula provides non-clinical emotional and physical support during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Doulas do not deliver babies …

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eGFR

Also: Estimated glomerular filtration rate

eGFR is a calculated estimate of kidney function based on a blood creatinine level, age, and sex. Used …

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EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing)

Also: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing

EMDR is a trauma-focused psychotherapy developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. The treatment combines elements of …

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Endometriosis

Also: Endo

Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, on the …

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EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale)

Also: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a 10-question self-report screening tool for postpartum depression in birthing parents. …

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Episiotomy

Also: Perineal incision

An episiotomy is a surgical cut made in the perineum (the tissue between the vagina and anus) during …

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Fentanyl

Also: Synthetic opioid, fent

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50-100x more potent than morphine. Used medically for severe pain (surgery, cancer). Illicit …

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Fibroids

Also: Uterine fibroids, leiomyomas, myomas

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus that appear most often during childbearing years. They range in …

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Food Apartheid

Also: Food desert (related), food insecurity

Food apartheid is a term coined by food justice activist Karen Washington to describe the systemic destruction of …

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FSA (flexible spending account)

Also: Flexible spending account, healthcare FSA

An FSA is an employer-offered account that lets you set aside pre-tax dollars (up to $3,300 in 2026) …

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G6PD Deficiency

Also: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency

G6PD deficiency is an inherited enzyme disorder affecting red blood cells. When people with G6PD deficiency are exposed …

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GAD-7

Also: Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7

The GAD-7 is a 7-question anxiety screening tool. Scores 0-21; a score of 10+ is the standard cutoff …

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GLP-1 agonist

Also: GLP-1 receptor agonist, glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist

GLP-1 agonists are a class of injectable (and some oral) medications that mimic the gut hormone glucagon-like peptide-1. …

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Health Equity

Also: Health justice, health disparities (related but distinct)

Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. This …

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HEDIS

Also: Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set

HEDIS is a set of standardized performance measures used by more than 90 percent of US health plans …

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Hemoglobin A1C

Also: HbA1c, A1C, glycated hemoglobin

Hemoglobin A1C is a blood test that measures the percentage of glycated hemoglobin in the blood over the …

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HIV

Also: Human immunodeficiency virus, AIDS

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the body's immune system, specifically CD4 T cells. Without …

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HPV vaccine

Also: Gardasil

The HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9) protects against the most carcinogenic strains of human papillomavirus that cause cervical, anal, …

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HRT (hormone replacement therapy)

Also: Menopause hormone therapy, MHT

Hormone replacement therapy is the use of estrogen, progesterone, or both to manage moderate-to-severe menopausal symptoms. HRT is …

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HSA (health savings account)

Also: Health savings account

An HSA is a tax-advantaged savings account paired with a high-deductible health plan. You contribute pre-tax dollars (up …

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Hyperpigmentation

Also: Skin darkening, melasma (one type)

Hyperpigmentation is the darkening of skin caused by excess melanin production. It includes melasma (hormonally driven patches, often …

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Hypertension

Also: High blood pressure

Hypertension (commonly called high blood pressure) occurs when the force of blood pushing against artery walls is consistently …

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Hysterectomy

Also: Uterus removal surgery

A hysterectomy is surgical removal of the uterus. Used to treat fibroids, endometriosis, uterine prolapse, gynecologic cancers, and …

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Implicit Association Test (IAT)

Also: IAT, implicit bias measurement

The Implicit Association Test is a computerized reaction-time task developed at Harvard that measures the strength of automatic …

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Implicit Bias

Also: Unconscious bias, racial bias in medicine

Implicit bias refers to attitudes and stereotypes that affect our decisions unconsciously, outside our awareness or intentional control. …

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Iron deficiency anemia

Also: IDA, low iron

Iron deficiency anemia is a low red-blood-cell count caused by insufficient iron. Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, …

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IUD (intrauterine device)

Also: Coil, intrauterine device

An IUD is a small T-shaped device placed in the uterus to prevent pregnancy. Two types: hormonal (Mirena, …

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IVF (in vitro fertilization)

Also: In vitro fertilization, assisted reproductive technology

IVF is a fertility treatment where eggs are retrieved from the ovaries, fertilized with sperm in a laboratory, …

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John Henryism

Also: High-effort coping, JHAC

John Henryism is a behavioral disposition characterized by high-effort active coping with chronic psychological and social stressors. The …

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Keloid

Also: Keloid scar

A keloid is a type of raised scar that grows beyond the boundaries of the original wound. Unlike …

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Kidney transplant

Also: Renal transplant

A kidney transplant replaces a failed kidney with a healthy donated kidney, either from a deceased donor or …

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Lactation consultant (IBCLC)

Also: IBCLC, lactation counselor

An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is a credentialed healthcare professional specializing in breastfeeding and lactation. IBCLCs …

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Low-dose CT lung screening

Also: LDCT, lung cancer screening

Low-dose CT (LDCT) is an annual chest CT scan used to screen for early lung cancer in current …

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Lupus

Also: Systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE

Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy …

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Lupus anticoagulant

Also: LA, antiphospholipid antibody

Lupus anticoagulant is an autoantibody, despite its name, that increases the risk of blood clots. It is one …

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Lupus Nephritis

Also: LN, lupus kidney disease

Lupus nephritis is a serious complication of lupus (SLE) in which the autoimmune disease causes kidney inflammation. Without …

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Mammogram

Also: Breast X-ray, mammography

A mammogram is an X-ray picture of the breast used to look for early signs of breast cancer. …

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Managed care

Also: Medicaid MCO, MMC, managed care organization

Managed care is a model where a health plan (the managed care organization, or MCO) contracts with the …

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Maternal Mortality

Also: Maternal death, pregnancy-related death

Maternal mortality refers to the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of the end …

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Medicaid

Also: Medical assistance

Medicaid is a joint federal and state health insurance program for people with limited income and resources. It …

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Medicare

Also: Federal health insurance for seniors

Medicare is the federal health insurance program primarily for people aged 65 and older, as well as certain …

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Midwife

Also: CNM, CM, CPM, certified nurse-midwife

A midwife is a healthcare professional trained to provide care during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period, …

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MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

Also: Magnetic resonance imaging

MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves to produce detailed images of soft tissues without radiation. Used for …

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Myomectomy

Also: Fibroid removal surgery

A myomectomy is surgical removal of fibroids while preserving the uterus. Three approaches: hysteroscopic (through the vagina, for …

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Naloxone

Also: Narcan

Naloxone is an opioid-overdose reversal medication. Available over the counter (Narcan brand) as a 4 mg nasal spray …

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Naltrexone

Also: Vivitrol, low-dose naltrexone (LDN)

Naltrexone is an opioid-receptor antagonist used to treat alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder. Available as daily …

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Pap Smear

Also: Pap test, cervical cytology, cervical smear

A Pap smear (Pap test or cervical cytology) is a screening procedure for cervical cancer in which cells …

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Pap smear vs HPV test

Also: Cervical cancer screening

The Pap smear (cytology) checks cervical cells for pre-cancerous changes. The HPV test checks for high-risk human papillomavirus …

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PCOS

Also: Polycystic ovary syndrome, polycystic ovarian syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal disorders affecting women and people assigned female …

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PHQ-9

Also: Patient Health Questionnaire-9

The PHQ-9 is a 9-question depression screening tool used in primary care, mental-health, and telehealth settings. Scores range …

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PMID (PubMed identifier)

Also: PubMed ID

A PMID is a unique numeric identifier assigned to every article indexed in PubMed, the US National Library …

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Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)

Also: PIH, acne marks, dark spots

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is dark patches that form on skin after an inflammatory event (acne, eczema, cut, burn, ingrown …

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Postpartum psychosis

Also: Puerperal psychosis

Postpartum psychosis is a rare (about 1-2 per 1,000 births) but severe psychiatric emergency that typically appears within …

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Preeclampsia

Also: Toxemia of pregnancy, pregnancy-induced hypertension

Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of organ damage, typically developing …

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Prostate Cancer

Also: PCa, prostate adenocarcinoma

Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs in the prostate gland. It is one of the most common cancers …

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PSA test

Also: Prostate-specific antigen test

The PSA test measures the level of prostate-specific antigen in the blood. Elevated PSA can indicate prostate cancer, …

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Psychiatrist vs psychologist vs LCSW

Also: Mental health credentials

A psychiatrist is an MD (medical doctor) who completed psychiatric residency. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication. A psychologist holds …

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RhoGAM

Also: Anti-D immunoglobulin, Rh immune globulin

RhoGAM is an injection of Rh-immune globulin given to Rh-negative pregnant women during pregnancy and after delivery to …

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Sarcoidosis

Also: Sarcoid

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease characterized by the growth of tiny collections of inflammatory cells (granulomas) in one …

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Section 1557 (ACA)

Also: ACA anti-discrimination

Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act is the federal civil-rights provision prohibiting discrimination in health programs and …

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Sickle Cell Disease

Also: SCD, drepanocytosis

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder in which red blood cells become rigid and shaped …

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Sickle cell trait

Also: SCT, HbAS

Sickle cell trait (SCT) is the inheritance of one copy of the sickle-cell hemoglobin gene (HbS) from one …

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Social Determinants of Health

Also: SDOH, social drivers of health

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, …

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Spirometry

Also: Pulmonary function test, PFT

Spirometry is a breathing test that measures lung function. You exhale forcefully into a tube; the test measures …

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SSRI

Also: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

SSRIs are a class of antidepressant medications that work by increasing serotonin signaling in the brain. Common SSRIs …

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Statins

Also: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, lipid-lowering drugs

Statins are a class of medications that lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol by blocking an enzyme in the liver. …

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Structural Racism

Also: Systemic racism, institutional racism

Structural racism refers to the cumulative and compounding effects of factors that systematically privilege white people and disadvantage …

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Superwoman Schema

Also: SWS, strong Black woman schema

The Superwoman Schema is a five-component framework named by Cheryl Woods-Giscombé in 2010 to describe the internalized expectations …

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Tdap vaccine

Also: Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis booster

The Tdap vaccine protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). CDC recommends one Tdap booster in adulthood, …

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Telehealth

Also: Telemedicine, virtual care, online doctor visits

Telehealth is the delivery of clinical care via video, audio, or messaging instead of an in-person visit. It …

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Thiazide diuretic

Also: HCTZ, chlorthalidone

Thiazide diuretics (hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, indapamide) are a class of blood-pressure medication that increases urine output and reduces blood …

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TIA (transient ischemic attack)

Also: Mini-stroke, transient ischemic attack

A TIA is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain that produces stroke-like symptoms which resolve …

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Title VI (Civil Rights Act)

Also: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs that receive federal …

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Type 2 Diabetes

Also: T2D, adult-onset diabetes, type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body doesn't use insulin properly (insulin resistance), causing …

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Ultrasound (medical)

Also: Sonogram, US

Ultrasound is a non-radiation imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves. Used for pregnancy monitoring, thyroid evaluation, abdominal …

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U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable)

Also: Undetectable equals Untransmittable

U=U is the scientific consensus that a person living with HIV who has a sustained undetectable viral load …

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Vasomotor symptoms

Also: Hot flashes, night sweats

Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) are the hot flashes and night sweats associated with the menopausal transition. They reflect estrogen-driven …

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Weathering

Also: Biological weathering, racial weathering

Weathering is a hypothesis, first proposed by Dr. Arline Geronimus in 1992, that describes the physical health deterioration …

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Wegovy

Also: Branded semaglutide for weight loss

Wegovy is the branded semaglutide formulation approved by the FDA in 2021 for chronic weight management in adults …

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Zepbound

Also: Branded tirzepatide for weight loss

Zepbound is the branded tirzepatide formulation approved by the FDA in 2023 for chronic weight management. Same active …

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Zuranolone

Also: Zurzuvae, brand name Zurzuvae

Zuranolone (brand name Zurzuvae) is the first oral medication approved by the FDA specifically for postpartum depression. Approved …

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