Medical Dictionary

BMI (Body Mass Index) is a number calculated from a person's weight and height that is used as a screening tool to categorise underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity. It is widely used in clinical settings in Korea.

Inflammation is the body's immune response to injury, infection, or harmful stimuli. It can be acute (short-term, protective) or chronic (long-term, harmful). Many common diseases involve chronic inflammation.

A chronic disease is a long-lasting health condition that generally cannot be cured but can be managed with treatment, lifestyle changes, and regular medical follow-up. Korea has high rates of several chronic diseases including diabetes and hypertension.

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a chronic condition in which the force of blood against artery walls is persistently too high. It is one of the most common conditions managed by doctors in Korea and a leading risk factor for heart attack and stroke.

Prognosis is a medical term for the predicted outcome of a disease or condition — how it is likely to progress, what the recovery chances are, and the expected impact on quality of life. It is an estimate, not a certainty.

Anaemia is a reduction in the number of red blood cells or their haemoglobin content, impairing oxygen delivery to tissues — causing fatigue, pallor, and breathlessness.

An arrhythmia is any deviation from the normal, regular heart rhythm — encompassing slow rhythms (bradycardia), fast rhythms (tachycardia), and irregular rhythms (such as atrial fibrillation).

Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells and tissues — there are over 80 distinct autoimmune conditions affecting different organ systems.

Cholesterol is a lipid molecule essential for cell membranes, hormones, and bile acids — but elevated LDL cholesterol significantly increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Inflammation is the body's fundamental protective response to injury, infection, or irritants — producing redness, swelling, heat, and pain. Chronic inflammation underlies many major diseases.

Hypertension — persistently elevated blood pressure — is the most common cardiovascular risk factor globally, affecting over 1 billion people and often causing no symptoms until serious complications occur.

Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency — a dysregulated immune response to infection causing organ dysfunction. Rapid recognition and treatment saves lives.

Remission is the partial or complete disappearance of the signs and symptoms of a disease — particularly used in cancer and autoimmune conditions.

Prognosis is a medical estimate of the likely course and outcome of a disease — used to guide treatment decisions, set realistic expectations, and plan care.

Comorbidity refers to the presence of two or more medical conditions in a patient — which can interact, complicate treatment, and affect overall prognosis.

Triage is the clinical process of prioritising patients based on urgency — ensuring those who are most critically ill receive immediate care, while stable patients wait appropriately.

Palliative care is specialised medical care focused on relieving suffering and improving quality of life for patients with serious illness — it complements curative treatment and is not only for end of life.

Insulin resistance is the reduced ability of body cells to respond to insulin — the driver of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and PCOS.

Haemoglobin is the iron-containing protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to body tissues — its measurement is central to diagnosing anaemia and haemoglobin disorders.

Malignant means cancerous — capable of invading and spreading. Benign means non-cancerous — growing locally without invading surrounding tissue or spreading to distant sites.

Electrolytes are dissolved minerals carrying an electrical charge — essential for nerve transmission, muscle contraction, fluid balance, and cellular function.

Diagnosis is the process of identifying what disease or condition a patient has — combining clinical history, physical examination, and investigations to reach a conclusion.

A biopsy is a procedure in which a small sample of tissue or cells is removed from the body and examined under a microscope to diagnose disease — most often to test for cancer.

Glucose is the main sugar in the blood and the body's primary source of energy. Blood glucose levels are tightly regulated by insulin and are central to the diagnosis and management of diabetes.

Metabolism is the sum of all chemical reactions in the body that convert food into energy and build or break down tissues. It determines how quickly your body burns calories and is central to weight management and overall health.