50 Common Medical Abbreviations You Should Know
In medicine, abbreviations and acronyms are very important because they help professionals communicate quickly and clearly. They can also help patients better understand their diagnosis, test results, and doctor’s advice. However, medical language can sometimes be difficult for people who are not familiar with it. Below, you can find a list of 50 common medical abbreviations and their full forms.
Tests and Measurements
An important part of patient care is identifying the cause of a patient’s symptoms. For this reason, patients often undergo a range of tests and measurements. To make communication more efficient, medical abbreviations are commonly used in this area.
BP – blood pressure
CBC – complete blood count
CT – computed tomography
ECG – electrocardiogram
FBS – fasting blood sugar
HDL – high-density lipoprotein
LDL – low-density lipoprotein
MRI – magnetic resonance imaging
RBC – red blood cells
TSH – thyroid-stimulating hormone
WBC – white blood cells
Medical Specialties
In hospital settings, abbreviated names of departments and specialties are used very often, especially where fast and efficient communication is essential. This is particularly true in high-intensity areas such as the emergency room (ER) and the intensive care unit (ICU).
ER – emergency room
GI – gastrointestinal
ICU – intensive care unit
OB/GYN – obstetrics and gynecology
PT – physical therapy
Diseases and Disorders
Abbreviations related to diseases and disorders are among the most commonly used in medicine. Many of them are familiar not only to healthcare professionals but also to patients. They are widely used in medical documentation because they make it faster to record important information.
ADHD – attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
AF – atrial fibrillation
ALS – amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
ARDS – acute respiratory distress syndrome
BP – bipolar disorder
BPH – benign prostatic hyperplasia
CAD – coronary artery disease
COPD – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
DVT – deep vein thrombosis
ED – erectile dysfunction
GERD – gastroesophageal reflux disease
HIV – human immunodeficiency virus
IBS – irritable bowel syndrome
MS – multiple sclerosis
OCD – obsessive-compulsive disorder
PMS – premenstrual syndrome
STD – sexually transmitted disease
TBI – traumatic brain injury
TIA – transient ischemic attack
UTI – urinary tract infection
URI – upper respiratory infection
VTE – venous thromboembolism
Treatment and Therapy
At the treatment stage, medical abbreviations are also commonly used. They are applied, for example, to describe medications, methods of administration, and different types of therapy.
DNR – do not resuscitate
IM – intramuscular
IV – intravenous
NKDA – no known drug allergies
NSAID – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
PPE – personal protective equipment
OTC – over-the-counter
CTA – clear to auscultation
